“Immortal Lady!” Qin Yining hurried inside, but was blocked at the outermost edge by the wailing Tianji Sect disciples.

Fang Hailing, who had originally been quite reasonable, now looked like an enraged wild beast, roaring in desperate grief: “You all killed our Sect Master! How dare you come near!”

“Sect Master! Sect Master!” The other disciples knelt by the bedside, desperately checking Tianji Zi’s breathing. Finding no breath at all, they collapsed to the ground in terror and wailed loudly.

The crying in the room shook the earth, with grief too overwhelming to contain.

Bingtang was already leaning against the wall, covering her face and sobbing uncontrollably.

Qin Yining closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and tears burst forth like a dam breaking.

Tianji Zi had spent her entire life busy working for the Purple Star Emperor to ascend to the throne. Sometimes Qin Yining felt she herself had a hard life, living in turbulent times and trapped in court struggles from which she couldn’t extricate herself. But thinking now, no matter how freely Tianji Zi acted, she was still a woman. Because she devoted herself to Tianji Sect and gained fame at a young age for her skills in yin-yang divination and geomancy, she shouldered the great affairs of the world on her shoulders. Was that really easy for her?

They indeed sometimes had different positions and different goals. But someone like Tianji Zi, who spent her entire life doing just one thing and ultimately sacrificed her life to achieve her purpose, was truly admirable.

But now, this person had died to save her.

Qin Yining could no longer hold back and cried out loud with sobs.

No one could have imagined that the Immortal Lady who had once been such a troublesome divine calculator would lose her life like this.

Bingtang had a master-disciple relationship with Tianji Zi. The debt of protection from back then remained unpaid, but now Tianji Zi had already perished. She was crying beyond control.

The Tianji Sect disciples cried even more earth-shakingly, and the entire manor was immersed in an atmosphere of grief.

After a long while, Xie Yue wiped the corners of his eyes and said: “Princess Consort, I’ll go prepare the funeral materials immediately.”

“Choose only the best for everything.” Qin Yining’s voice was hoarse from crying, her eyes red and swollen.

Fang Hailing wiped tears with her sleeve, stood up and came forward: “That’s not necessary. Our Sect Master’s funeral will naturally be handled by us Tianji Sect people. No need to trouble the Princess Consort.”

Qin Yining knew that since Tianji Zi died saving her, the Tianji Sect people naturally harbored resentment. This was indeed her fault.

Qin Yining said gently: “I should naturally contribute to the Immortal Lady’s funeral. Please don’t refuse.”

“Really, it’s not necessary.” Fang Hailing said in a low voice: “We Tianji Sect people will naturally return to Tianji Valley for burial. Moreover, when our Sect Master came this time, she already anticipated the danger and had already… had already arranged her funeral affairs.” Fang Hailing choked up again, wiping tears with her sleeve while saying: “Our Sect Master said that from now on she would rest eternally in Tianji Valley and never leave again.”

Qin Yining bit her lower lip and lowered her head, tears flowing out again.

She very much wanted to help, but the Tianji Sect people seemed to have grown to hate her and absolutely wouldn’t allow her subordinates to interfere.

Fang Hailing ordered people to prepare a coffin and horse cart. They didn’t even prepare to set up a mourning hall, simply wrapping Tianji Zi’s body in white cloth, placing it in the coffin, and loading it onto the cart.

Qin Yining chased out the door: “Really no mourning hall? This doesn’t conform to custom…”

“No need to trouble yourself.” Fang Hailing interrupted Qin Yining’s words: “We Tianji Sect have our own rules. The cold weather is also convenient for our return to Tianji Valley. To let our Sect Master rest in peace early, please don’t say more, Princess Consort.”

Qin Yining indeed didn’t understand the rules within Tianji Sect, and currently the other party obviously harbored resentment and brooded over the cause of Tianji Zi’s death. Qin Yining frowned and stepped back. Bingtang and Ji Yun supported her on the left and right.

“Princess Consort, please take care of yourself. Tianji Sect has its own rules – just let them be.”

“Yes, Princess Consort. Your own body hasn’t fully recovered yet. It’s really not suitable to be exposed to the cold wind. Tianji Zi has already gone – you must take care of yourself.”

Qin Yining watched the Tianji Sect people pack their belongings and secure the coffin, not allowing any of Qin Yining’s people to help at all. She couldn’t help but sigh deeply and turn back toward the bedroom.

“How can I explain this to Young Master Mu in the future?”

Mu Jinghu’s existence was to protect Tianji Zi. And Mu Jinghu, who should have stayed by Tianji Zi’s side at all times to protect her, had left her side for Pang Xiao’s safety. If Mu Jinghu learned this news, wouldn’t he also fall into self-blame?

Qin Yining simply dared not imagine what the feelings would be of someone like Mu Jinghu, who kept his word and was full of righteousness.

“Princess Consort, don’t let your thoughts run wild. Things have come to this – thinking more is useless. The Princess Consort should focus on caring for her own health.”

“Moreover, His Lordship has also issued a proclamation. If the Emperor comes after you and the little miss and young master again, what should we do?”

Qin Yining returned to her room, removed her cloak, and wearily leaned against the heated brick bed by the window, resting on a soft large pillow and sighing deeply: “I know all this. I just feel I’ve wronged Tianji Zi. One thing is one thing – regardless of how many things she did before or whether she wanted to kill me, this time she truly died saving me.”

Bingtang and Ji Yun also felt bad. Like Qin Yining, they were people who valued relationships. When Qin Yining had gone to Shuize Kingdom in anger over Sakurai’s death, now Tianji Zi’s matter would only make her hate Li Qitian even more.

“Princess Consort, the Tianji Sect people have departed.”

Jingzhe reported from the doorway.

Qin Yining turned to push open the window and saw the Tianji Sect people driving their horse cart, slowly leaving the manor.

Night was about to fall. The falling white snow had a crystalline quality under the lamplight. The pitch-black coffin was placed in the middle of the convoy, a sight that only brought loneliness to one’s heart.

“Forget it. Let them go.”

Qin Yining sighed deeply, closed the window, and turned to instruct Xie Yue to send an obituary to the front lines.

At the same time, in the capital, the common people were all discussing the content of Pang Xiao’s proclamation.

They understood this matter better than people elsewhere because they had personally seen Prince Zhongshun’s consort imprisoned in a cage cart, disheveled and paraded through the streets in wind and snow.

“So the Emperor kidnapped the Princess Consort and also kidnapped the Prince’s children?”

“It’s all because of changing commanders before battle, right?”

“In the end, it’s all the problem of Prince Zhongshun disobeying orders. If he hadn’t been stubborn and refused to give up power, His Majesty wouldn’t have done this.”

The person speaking these words was collectively despised by the circle of people around him. Everyone looked at him strangely.

“Saying such things is against your conscience. Don’t forget – who brought troops to lift the siege of the capital, who used his own money to support disaster victims and elite soldiers? When the Emperor wouldn’t let the Prince’s troops enter the city but sent them away, he was already suspicious of the Prince. Now that the Tatars have finally been driven out and this battle is showing results, His Majesty fears Prince Zhongshun’s achievements are too great and wants to change commanders at the last minute to let someone else pick the fruit. The Prince wants to continue fighting the Tatars, so His Majesty kidnaps the Prince’s wife and children. Tell me, is this something humans do!”

“Brother, be careful with what you say. Watch your words – don’t bring trouble to your family!”

“I’m single with no one to worry about – what do I have to fear!”

…

Throughout the capital’s streets and alleys, teahouses and wine shops, people everywhere were discussing and arguing. Some said everything started because Pang Xiao disobeyed orders, but more people had sharp eyes – everyone knew who had contributed more to Great Zhou in the Tatar matter.

Pang Xiao had always had high popular support among the people. His image as a brave, patriotic, and people-loving warrior was already deeply rooted. The Emperor’s suspicion of Pang Xiao and the bizarre things he’d done from years past until now weren’t just one or two incidents. Even if people didn’t mention them openly, as long as they were people of the capital, who didn’t remember?

“In the past when the Prince achieved merit, he was still held down in the palace and beaten with boards by the Emperor! Didn’t the Prince still go fight the Tatars once his injuries healed? Even if you want to slander the Prince, come up with something new – we’re not deaf or mute!”

…

The secret agents Li Qitian had arranged wandered through the streets and alleys, in wine shops and teahouses, recording the people’s discussions. They then returned with worried and conflicted faces to report to Li Qitian.

They knew that when these words reached the Emperor’s ears, they would inevitably receive another scolding.

Sure enough, Li Qitian immediately overturned his small table, scattering the pastries and tea leaves all over the floor.

“Who dares gossip about me like this! I am the Emperor – how dare they chew their tongues behind my back!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The law doesn’t punish the masses, now…”

Before he could finish, Li Qitian roared angrily: “What a fine ‘law doesn’t punish the masses’! Are you saying all the people in the capital have rebellious hearts!”

“This subject doesn’t dare.” The secret agents helplessly lowered their heads.

Li Qitian’s fists clenched tight, grinding his teeth: “Under heaven, is there any land that isn’t the king’s? If I want someone to die, they must die – this is my power as Emperor! What is that Qin woman? Just a mere female – crushing her would be like crushing an ant. Even if she really died, why would it cause so much discussion?

“And what did Pang Zhixi say in that public proclamation! Such deliberate evasion of the main issues – in his heart I’ve become a foolish ruler who harms the court and persecutes the people! Wasn’t he the one who disobeyed orders first? When he disobeyed orders, should I have applauded him?”

Everyone pressed their foreheads to the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Li Qitian said in a low voice: “Have the Censorate draft all of Pang Zhixi’s crimes for me. Isn’t Pang Zhixi stubborn? I want all under heaven to see just how loyal and obedient this Prince Zhongshun they call righteous and virtuous really is!”

“By your command. This slave will go immediately.” Xiong Jinshui felt as if receiving amnesty and quickly bowed before going to relay the edict.

The Emperor stationed in the capital and the commander fighting Tatars at the border had started quarreling across the distance. This had become an unprecedented spectacle in Great Zhou’s history. Not only did the common people watch the excitement with great interest, even the court officials were so shocked their jaws nearly dropped.

His Majesty seemed to hate Prince Zhongshun to the bone, wishing he could immediately pin some crime on him, drag him back, and execute him.

The Prince was still His Majesty’s sworn brother and had achieved great military merit, yet might very well end up with the fate of a hunting dog cooked after the hunt. What about people like them?

Therefore, during this period, the court was full of tension and anxiety. Officials all kept their tails between their legs, and the entire capital was filled with a tense atmosphere.

In the quietest Prince Zhennan’s mansion in the capital, Yuchi Yan sat opposite Gu Shixiong.

Gu Shixiong sighed: “Master, find a way to leave the capital.”