The day after Shang Zhuo met with Prince Rong.

Early morning.

The imperial palace Buddhist hall.

This place was probably the most tranquil location in the imperial palace, and also the most secluded. If one didn’t look carefully, no one would even notice this place situated at the far left of the palace.

As if isolated from the world.

Because it was late autumn, the yellowing leaves were already rustling down continuously.

The entire courtyard was full of fallen leaves. Swept clean today, by tomorrow morning it would be full again—they couldn’t be swept fast enough.

In the courtyard, the elderly Eunuch Zhang was holding a broom and sweeping. Because of his advanced age, his hands moved much more slowly. With a head full of white hair and a stooped back, he appeared quite strained.

Ever since Emperor Qizhen’s death, he had come here.

He had stayed for nearly a year.

But his ears had also become much more peaceful. He no longer needed to shuttle through those resplendent golden halls, nor accompany the new emperor left and right with exhausting effort. Now in this place, keeping company with Buddha, all troubling matters had passed.

Shang Zhuo walked to the entrance and knocked several times with the somewhat rusted iron ring.

“Dong…”

It had been so very long since anyone had come here!

That knocking sound had not rung out for so very long!

Hearing the sound, Eunuch Zhang’s palms tightened. As if anticipating something, he sighed, placed the broom in his hands against the large tree beside him, then shuffled forward with faltering steps to open the door.

“Creak…”

The door only opened a very narrow crack.

Shang Zhuo waited outside the door.

Extremely courteous!

When Eunuch Zhang saw clearly who had come, his eyes tightened. He pulled the door open a bit more, but only wide enough to admit one person.

“Lord Shang?” His voice was desolate.

Shang Zhuo bowed to him: “Eunuch Zhang, it’s been quite a while.”

“Yes! It has been quite long.”

“I’ve come today hoping to retrieve something from Eunuch Zhang.”

Something!

Eunuch Zhang lowered his gaze. A trace of sorrow flashed across his deeply lined face. After opening the door halfway, he turned and went inside.

Shang Zhuo stepped in and closed the door behind him.

He followed Eunuch Zhang into the Buddhist hall!

He didn’t call out to him!

The Buddhist hall was permeated with a thick incense fragrance. In the place of honor inside sat a large Buddha statue, surrounded by lit candles—not a single one extinguished.

Eunuch Zhang lit three incense sticks, bowed to the great Buddha, then inserted the incense into the censer full of ashes.

“Alas…”

Actually, the moment he had opened the door and seen it was Shang Zhuo, he had known what had happened!

And this day had finally come after all!

He gazed at the great Buddha and said, “Years ago, before the late emperor passed away, he grasped Prince Rong’s hand and told him he must guard this realm! That was the late emperor’s only dying wish, yet in the blink of an eye, his wish truly remained just a wish.”

“Eunuch Zhang…”

“This old servant came here actually to atone for his sins. Having served the late emperor his entire life, yet unable to preserve even his final wish.”

Sighing!

Guilt-ridden!

Shang Zhuo’s expression grew grave as he said, “Presumably Eunuch Zhang has guessed the purpose of my visit here.”

“This old servant may be advanced in years, but his mind is not muddled!”

“Then please, Eunuch, present that item.”

Eunuch Zhang didn’t respond. His gaze remained on the great Buddha before him. After a long while, he finally turned to look at Shang Zhuo and asked, “Is this Prince Rong’s intention?”

Shang Zhuo replied, “If it were not Prince Rong’s intention, I would not have come.”

“Yes! Now that the emperor has become like this, and the court above and below is in chaos, even though Prince Rong still has the will and shows such tolerance, ultimately this step must be taken.”

“Then I must trouble you, Eunuch.”

“Very well.”

After Eunuch Zhang responded, he walked with difficult steps behind the great Buddha. He moved aside an empty censer, revealing a hidden compartment beneath with a small lock opening. From inside his clothing he withdrew a very small key and opened it.

Dust scattered!

Inside the hidden compartment, a rectangular box lay perfectly placed, long cloth strips wrapped around it.

He carefully lifted it out!

When holding it in his hands, his palms trembled.

His eyes grew moist.

He carried the box before Shang Zhuo, took a deep breath, and said, “The item… is inside here. It’s only been opened once, back when it was first entrusted to Prince Rong.”

Shang Zhuo: “I understand.”

He took the box.

This item within the box weighed a thousand pounds!

Inside was not merely an object, but the entire realm of Great Lin.

He bowed to Eunuch Zhang: “Eunuch Zhang, my thanks.”

Sincere!

Eunuch Zhang also turned and exited the Buddhist hall’s door, sighing again as he said, “Flowers bloom and fade in mist, another winter comes again.”

Flowers bloom and fade in mist, another winter comes again.

He shuffled to that tree, picked up the broom, and continued sweeping the fallen leaves on the ground.

Slowly!

Stroke by stroke!

Shang Zhuo secured that box and left the Buddhist hall…

Not long after—

On the other side, a young eunuch hurried into the Imperial Garden.

Wei Yi stood at the edge of the pond, holding a handful of fish food in his hand, tossing it into the pond intermittently.

A large school of fish all swam over.

Competing eagerly to snatch the food.

The eunuch hurried forward: “Your Majesty.”

Wei Yi’s motion of about to throw fish food paused. He pulled back the fish food he was about to toss out.

Then—

He scattered all the fish food in his hand into the pond.

Drawing even more fish!

Wei Yi dismissed all the extra people, leaving only that eunuch.

“Speak!”

One word, extremely cold and severe.

The eunuch said, “Following Your Majesty’s instructions, we’ve been secretly having people watch Prince Rong. After he was arrested and taken to the inner palace dungeon, Lord Shang from the Hanlin Academy went to see Prince Rong. I don’t know what was said. But early this morning, Lord Shang went to the Buddhist hall, and he went quietly. But this servant also followed quietly.”

“The Buddhist hall?”

“Yes! It’s where Eunuch Zhang, who served by the late emperor’s side, resides.”

Wei Yi was puzzled: “What is Lord Shang doing seeking out Eunuch Zhang?”

“This servant doesn’t know. I didn’t dare bring people inside.”

“First going to see Prince Rong, then going to see Eunuch Zhang—this matter… is definitely not simple.”

“Then what is Your Majesty’s intention?” the eunuch inquired.

Wei Yi took a deep breath and walked several steps along the pond’s edge, his brow tightly furrowed, pondering all the while.

Why would Shang Zhuo go see Eunuch Zhang after meeting with Prince Rong? Matters related to Eunuch Zhang were also related to the late emperor. And what matters related to the late emperor could there be?

Thinking and thinking…

His body suddenly stiffened.

He turned and commanded: “Go bring Eunuch Zhang here.”

“Yes!”

That evening.

Eunuch Zhang stood in the Buddhist hall’s courtyard, as if waiting for someone.

Sure enough, several eunuchs truly did rush in.

The lead eunuch wore an arrogant expression: “Eunuch Zhang, come take a trip with us.”

He responded: “Very well.”

Quite obedient indeed!

Eunuch Zhang slowly rose, with a pleading tone he said, “May I ask if this old servant could be given a bit more time?”

This… that eunuch became somewhat troubled!