Not long after the Emperor’s birthday passed came the Qianqiu Festival—the so-called Qianqiu Festival being the Empress’s birthday. After enduring the recent rumors and gossip, Empress Pei showed no sign of irritation whatsoever. On the contrary, she followed palace custom by holding a grand banquet on the day of the Qianqiu Festival, widely entertaining the assembled officials.

In the main hall of Changchun Palace, the Emperor and Empress Pei sat together in the seats of honor while the Crown Prince led a group of imperial princes, important court ministers, and the female family members of officials ranked third grade and above in kowtowing to them both. The Crown Prince wore magnificent robes that made him appear even more handsome and distinguished, like a jade tree standing in the wind. He personally offered a wine cup to the Empress, proclaiming loudly: “May Mother Empress enjoy fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity comparable to the Southern Mountains.”

The princes, officials, and ministers immediately chimed in: “Long live Your Majesty, long live, long, long live!”

Empress Pei’s face revealed a smiling expression, appearing especially dignified and magnificent. She turned her head toward the Emperor and said: “This consort must first thank His Majesty for his grace!” Then she addressed the crowd: “Everyone, you may dispense with formalities and rise.”

Because this was the Empress’s birthday banquet, the palace continuously echoed with happy voices and laughter, while melodious songs lingered in the air. The Emperor issued an edict commanding officials below third rank and their female family members to present congratulatory gifts outside the Meridian Gate, while those of third rank and above all enjoyed the banquet within the palace. From morning to evening, throughout the day and night, fireworks and ceremonial cannons were lit, bringing the celebratory activities to their peak.

To celebrate today’s Qianqiu Festival, the Crown Prince had specially trained over a hundred dancing horses and selected forty beautiful young women to accompany with music. The musical piece was the Qianqiu Song, and the dancing horses either tossed their heads and swished their tails to the music, moving in harmony with the rhythm, or spun like flying objects on a three-tiered wooden platform, or leaped onto beds raised by strongmen. Finally, the dancing horses slightly bent their hind legs and held wine cups in their mouths to toast Empress Pei in celebration of her birthday, pushing the performance to its climax.

Not only that, he had specially invited the currently most popular theater troupe from outside the palace to perform “The Drunken Imperial Consort.” When the gongs and drums sounded, the actors’ masterful performance immediately captivated all the distinguished guests. Everyone heard the actors on stage singing softly along with the melody, watching this Imperial Consort sway with every three steps, her drunken state hazy and charmingly about to collapse.

Empress Pei blurted out: “Good, very good!” Then she lightly patted her chair’s armrest several times to show her appreciation. Seeing the expression on Empress Pei’s face, everyone had their own private thoughts. Princess Ali quietly leaned toward Li Weiyang’s ear and said: “Look at them, mother and son in perfect harmony, showing not the slightest sign of being affected. All our great efforts were wasted!”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly: “What kind of person is Empress Pei? How could she let you see her thoughts? Moreover, today’s birthday banquet was personally arranged by the Crown Prince for her—doesn’t that itself say something?”

Princess Ali furrowed her brow. She thought left and right but couldn’t figure out any clues, so she said: “I still don’t understand.”

Li Weiyang’s smile deepened: “If there were no rift between Empress Pei and the Crown Prince, why would the Crown Prince need to put on such a display of filial piety? This is clearly for everyone to see. Can such mother-son affection still be considered unbreakable?”

As she spoke, she cunningly winked at Princess Ali. Ali looked at her in complete shock, then lowered her head to think carefully before having to admit that Li Weiyang was right. Empress Pei had absolutely no need to display such a loving mother’s appearance before everyone—this was vastly different from her usual image. This mother and son were behaving this way now simply to let everyone know that the Crown Prince was her biological son, and all those rumors were nothing but baseless talk.

Even so, people still discussed at length that corpse inadvertently washed out by the rain, with some even presenting countless pieces of evidence proving she was the Crown Prince’s birth mother. Back and forth, even if the Crown Prince didn’t want to believe it, he had to believe it. But Empress Pei’s authority was very heavy, so no one dared raise it publicly. Even those normally bold censors who constantly impeached others kept their mouths tightly shut—this was an imperial family secret! Setting aside whether there was evidence, just such groundless rumors alone were enough to shake the Crown Prince’s foundation, showing how serious the matter was. And amid this strange calm, Prince Jing and several other princes were all silently observing how the situation developed. They understood very well that although this rumor hadn’t yet exerted its maximum effect, when the time came that it was needed, its destructive power would exceed imagination.

Amid all this commotion, the Emperor suddenly frowned, tightly pinching the center of his brow as if enduring tremendous pain. Empress Pei turned to glance at him, her face showing three parts concern as she said gently: “Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

The Emperor frowned without showing emotion: “Just an old ailment, nothing serious.”

Empress Pei smiled slightly, asking with apparent concern: “Have you summoned the imperial physicians?”

The Emperor said impatiently: “No.”

Empress Pei immediately said: “Your Majesty, you mustn’t blame this consort for reproaching you. Your dragon body’s health is Yuexi’s fortune and the fortune of the common people—how can you not treasure your dragon body?” Without further discussion, Empress Pei summoned a palace maid and ordered: “Summon the imperial physicians.” Then she turned back very gently, almost like a different person from usual: “Your Majesty, please have yourself examined properly. Don’t let it develop into a serious illness.”

No matter how impatient the Emperor felt, he couldn’t endure this tremendous tearing headache sensation. At this moment, Wang Zijin also noticed the change in the situation. She carefully discerned the Emperor’s expression, and her expression couldn’t help but change, though she nonchalantly glanced at Prince Jing. This scene fell into Li Weiyang’s eyes, making her narrow her eyes slightly. She found it strange—when had Wang Zijin had contact with Prince Jing, or had Prince Jing changed his mind and decided to marry this Wang consort who would be very helpful to him? Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but remain secretly vigilant.

Everyone was enjoying the opera on stage while the imperial physician examined the Emperor. But the Emperor’s condition was an old ailment, and the imperial physician looked and looked without discovering anything noteworthy. Empress Pei asked: “How is His Majesty’s health?”

The imperial physician lowered his head, his voice somewhat anxious: “This humble subject is ashamed. Your Majesty’s headache condition hasn’t just been a day or two—it’s a chronic illness. However, this humble subject will do his utmost. I believe that as long as Your Majesty rests peacefully and recuperates, recovery should come within ten days to half a month.”

The Emperor laughed coldly, his voice barely concealing his anger: “How many years have you been saying the same thing? Useless thing!” As he said this, the imperial physician dared not raise his head, his heart extremely anxious, cold sweat seeping from his forehead, appearing very frightened.

Empress Pei pondered for a moment, then gently shook her head: “Your Majesty, your headache condition hasn’t just been a day or two. In this consort’s opinion, why not let Ying Chu examine you?”

The Emperor was extremely impatient: “He’s just a witch doctor—what does he understand? I know my own illness in my own heart. You needn’t meddle.” The Emperor’s voice wasn’t loud, but quite a few people nearby heard it, and their expressions all underwent extremely subtle changes.

Empress Pei simply smiled faintly, as if accustomed to this, clearly not caring.

Prince Jing, amid the toasting and drinking, actively picked up his wine cup and walked to Ying Chu’s side. Ying Chu smiled: “So it’s Prince Jing.”

Prince Jing laughed heartily and said loudly: “I’ve heard that Lord Ying is skilled in medicine, even more capable than the palace’s imperial physicians. As it happens, these past days I’ve been suffering from severe toothache, and sores have erupted at the corners of my mouth. Although I’ve taken pearl powder for three days and applied considerable ice chips, they simply won’t subside, causing me extreme distress. The imperial physicians are also at their wits’ end. I wonder if Lord Ying has any cure?”

Everyone looked toward Prince Jing, all showing surprised expressions. Prince Jing and the Crown Prince’s faction had never been on good terms, and this Ying Chu was a trusted confidant by Empress Pei’s side. That Prince Jing would actually seek medical treatment from him—this scene looked strange no matter how one viewed it.

Ying Chu seemed to see through Prince Jing’s intentions but smiled nonchalantly: “If Your Highness wishes to treat this illness, I naturally have a method. You need only have this diseased tooth of yours extracted, then grind the tooth into powder and combine it with the prescription I’ll provide, apply it all to a hot towel, and carefully apply it for three days. Your Highness’s illness will cure itself without medicine.”

Hearing what he said, Prince Jing said with slight surprise: “Lord Ying, I’ve never heard of such a method. Is it truly so miraculous?”

The Minister of Personnel beside him smiled and said: “Prince Jing, you mustn’t disbelieve. Lord Ying’s medical skills are indeed extremely brilliant. My son suffered from gout some days ago, bedridden in agony, and it was he who cured it.” With this said, others also chimed in one after another. Prince Jing’s eyes swept around—quite a few people in the court had actually sought treatment from Ying Chu.

The Emperor’s brow furrowed tightly. At this moment, he heard the Crown Prince smile and say: “Father Emperor, since Lord Ying’s medical skills are so brilliant, in your son’s opinion, why not let Ying Chu examine you? Speaking of it, his elixir pills are excellent medicine for treating Father Emperor’s headaches, but I’ve never seen Lord Ying refine elixir pills!”

Ying Chu had indeed treated His Majesty before, but since he left half a year ago, the Emperor had refused to take the elixir pills he sent and wouldn’t let him provide treatment anymore. Most people felt this was related to the increasingly fierce struggle between the Emperor and Empress Pei. However, now that the Crown Prince publicly made this request, if the Emperor still considered the Crown Prince’s dignity, he wouldn’t refuse.

Hearing the Crown Prince say this, Ying Chu couldn’t help glancing at him, something strange in his eyes. He knew the Crown Prince was very dissatisfied with him and sought various methods to embarrass him and put him in an untenable position, but the Crown Prince was too hasty! To actually make things difficult for him at Empress Pei’s Qianqiu Festival. What was there to fear about refining pills before the Emperor? When had he, Ying Chu, ever feared such things! Thinking this, he laughed coldly and stood up, saying to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, this humble subject is naturally willing, but I wonder what Your Majesty thinks?”

The Emperor thought for a moment, his gaze sweeping across Prince Jing’s and the Crown Prince’s faces before finally smiling: “I have a splitting headache, my mind is troubled and confused, constantly fatigued yet unable to sleep day or night. The symptoms are three times worse than before. Ying Chu, do you have confidence?”

Ying Chu said loudly: “This humble subject will naturally do his utmost.”

The Emperor truly couldn’t endure the painful torment of this headache condition and reluctantly nodded. Everyone watched as Ying Chu instructed palace maids to bring brush, cinnabar, and paper. Before everyone’s eyes, he drew a talisman, then with a pinch of his fingers, this talisman actually ignited with a towering flame before the crowd, burning to ashes in an instant. Ying Chu quickly used a cup to catch all these falling ashes and somehow managed to easily dissolve them into clear water. He paused his movements and looked at everyone with a half-smile, then actually raised his hand and tossed that bowl of talisman water into the air. Everyone watched as water droplets floated down like rain threads, drifting to chest height before him when they suddenly stopped.

He gently blew a breath, and those countless water droplets instantly shot skyward. People watching couldn’t help but exclaim in wonder. Then they saw him raise his hand and wield his brush, condensing all the water droplets in midair to form the character for fortune. He smiled slightly, threw down the brush, stepped back three paces, raised his head, and said in a low voice: “Come!” Those water droplets, as if controlled by someone, all flew into his wide sleeves. Then he raised his hand before everyone, deliberately showing them his sleeve opening. The countless water droplets hadn’t dispersed but were emitting smoke from within his sleeve, then caught fire. Flames blazed within his sleeve, sending up towering white smoke. He shook his hand, and all the burning water droplets from within his sleeve rolled out, burning while condensing, finally forming a golden pill. Everyone watching was almost dumbfounded.

Princess Ali couldn’t control herself and wanted to clap, saying with a laugh: “Truly a remarkable person!”

Li Weiyang laughed coldly: “Indeed, this Ying Chu certainly has some tricks.” In her view, all of this was just a deliberate performance before everyone. She vaguely felt that Ying Chu was actually very clear about the Emperor’s illness, and these so-called elixir pills probably only treated symptoms without addressing the root cause, which was why the Emperor refused to take them.

She watched Ying Chu place the pill into a box, blow on it once, then hold it with both hands and present it before the Emperor, kneeling as he offered it: “Your Majesty, take this pill and your headache will surely disappear completely.”

The Emperor glanced at it, his lips moved: “Test it.”

Immediately a eunuch came forward, took out a thin silver needle, and pierced it into the pill. He gently withdrew it—it still gleamed brightly. The Emperor nodded and was about to swallow it when the Crown Prince suddenly said loudly: “Father Emperor, this matter should probably be approached with caution.”

The Emperor looked at him. The Crown Prince’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm: “It would be safer to have someone personally test for poison.”

Ying Chu’s expression changed, his heart secretly angry. Why was the Crown Prince making things difficult for him before everyone… Before the crowd, he couldn’t very well seek help from Empress Pei and could only lower his head to show humility.

Li Weiyang smiled slightly. The Crown Prince was determined to put Ying Chu to death, but how would he succeed?

Seeing the Emperor didn’t object, the Crown Prince instructed a nearby eunuch to take out a blade and cut a small piece from the pill. Ying Chu immediately stopped him: “Your Highness, I fear this action is inappropriate. The pill is only effective as a complete dose!”

The Crown Prince laughed coldly: “What harm is there? If it truly proves ineffective, you can simply refine another at that time! His Majesty hasn’t taken pills in a long time—who knows if consuming it might cause physical discomfort! I must trouble Lord Ying to take extra care!”

Ying Chu’s expression became even more unpleasant. The Crown Prince indeed indicated that half piece of cut pill to a young eunuch, saying: “You eat it and try!”

The eunuch naturally didn’t dare disobey the Crown Prince’s intentions and swallowed the half piece of pill fragment under everyone’s watchful eyes. Everyone looked at him—at first he seemed fine, but soon his brow gradually furrowed tightly. Then, clutching his stomach with his hands, he bent over and suddenly cried out: “Pain, so painful!”

The Crown Prince stepped forward and said sternly: “What did you say?”

Before everyone had come to their senses, they saw the young eunuch fall to the ground with a thud, clutching his abdomen and rolling around, his feet constantly convulsing. Someone nearby rushed over to help him up, but he let out a long, piercing scream, then his whole person stopped moving.

The young eunuch lay sprawled on his back on the ground, his eyes still wide open, black blood continuously flowing from the corners of his mouth and nostrils. Everything happened too suddenly—at first no one reacted, all standing dumbfounded like wooden chickens. Even the guards in the great hall were frightened silly by this sudden turn of events, each one like a puppet with ashen faces. The entire hall contained only the unsettling sound of window lattices when cold wind blew through.

The first to react was the Crown Prince. He darted to the Emperor’s side in a protective stance and shouted: “Seize Ying Chu immediately!”

The guards awakened from their dream and responded in unison: “Yes.” Then they all rushed at Ying Chu, knocked him to the ground in one motion, and pressed him down firmly. The Crown Prince pointed at Ying Chu furiously and said: “Ying Chu, how dare you! You actually dared to plot against Father Emperor!”

Ying Chu suddenly realized something. Although forcibly pressed to the ground, he still didn’t forget to shout loudly: “Your Majesty, see clearly—this humble subject is wronged!”

The Emperor glanced at the Crown Prince with a half-smiling expression.

Empress Pei watched from the side, her expression turning slightly cold.

Princess Ali looked on in shock, turning to Li Weiyang, her long eyelashes trembling with fright: “This… what just happened?”

Li Weiyang said in a low voice: “Just dogs biting dogs. No need to pay attention.” As she said this, she unexpectedly met Empress Pei’s gaze. The cold gleam in Empress Pei’s eyes pierced straight into Li Weiyang’s heart, yet her face remained calm and untroubled, without even a ripple of emotion. Li Weiyang sighed softly. This Empress Pei was truly a formidable character, the only opponent she’d encountered in her lifetime. Previously she could swear confidently that she feared no one, but being watched by such cold, sinister eyes, Li Weiyang felt for the first time that perhaps she’d been too confident.

The Emperor said coldly: “Did you not hear the Crown Prince’s order? Bind Ying Chu!”

The guards swiftly brought rope and bound Ying Chu after pressing him down. The Crown Prince said coldly again: “Ying Chu intended regicide, caught with evidence in hand. He should be severely punished! Lord Metropolitan Governor!”

The Metropolitan Governor quickly knelt: “This humble subject is here.”

The Crown Prince issued orders: “Take this treasonous criminal to your office and thoroughly investigate!”

The Metropolitan Governor glanced at the Emperor. The Emperor nodded, and he immediately said: “Yes.” Then he stood up and ordered the guards: “Carry this criminal out and guard him strictly!”

The guards responded in unison, then forcibly grabbed and carried Ying Chu out. The Crown Prince looked down at the young eunuch’s corpse, turned to the Emperor and said: “Father Emperor, this eunuch was utterly loyal.”

The Emperor waved his hand dismissively: “Forget it. Appreciate his loyal devotion in serving as a substitute for me. Buy a coffin to bury him and reward his family with some silver.”

“Yes.” A chief eunuch nearby responded.

The Crown Prince said gently: “Father Emperor, according to our nation’s criminal law, plotting to kill the Son of Heaven is the foremost of the Ten Abominations. When trying the case, anyone involved should be severely punished regardless of who they are. The crime Ying Chu has committed is already unforgivable. Please make your decision immediately!”

The Emperor looked at him and smiled slightly: “The Crown Prince speaks reasonably. After Ying Chu’s matter is investigated and evidence clarified, it will be handled according to law.”

Hearing the Emperor say this, a barely perceptible smile appeared in the Crown Prince’s eyes. At this moment, he felt a strange gaze fall upon him. He instinctively turned his head and saw Empress Pei’s ice-cold face. The Crown Prince’s heart jumped, and then he lowered his head.

After this incident at the banquet, who still had the mood to continue feasting? But with the Empress present, no one dared leave first, so they forcibly completed this Qianqiu Festival birthday banquet.

When leaving the palace, everyone wore expressions of shock and alarm. Although Ying Chu was an utterly wicked person, this man had once been so imposing, yet was taken down by the Crown Prince in an instant—this truly made people feel strange. If it had been anyone else who died at the Crown Prince’s hands it would have been one thing, but this Ying Chu was Empress Pei’s trusted confidant. That the Crown Prince suddenly moved against him—did this indirectly verify that earlier rumor…

The Crown Prince didn’t yet know his actions had already set people discussing privately. He followed Empress Pei back to the Empress’s palace, only to hear an angry shout: “Still not kneeling!”

The Crown Prince’s heart trembled. He lowered his head and knelt on the ground, saying loudly: “Mother Empress, I did this to eliminate a traitor for you! Didn’t you hear what everyone was saying? They all said that Ying Chu deserved his crime and death! If you continue indulging him, I fear everyone will resent you. Would you rather offend everyone for his sake?”

Empress Pei’s gaze fell coldly on the Crown Prince: “You still have the face to say this? Today’s performance—you clearly intended to deliberately eliminate Ying Chu. He’s followed me for over ten years. Even without merit, he has toil. Moreover, even if his personality is eccentric and his actions somewhat excessive angered you, wouldn’t punishing him once suffice? Why must you eliminate him completely! He is my confidant—you’re publicly slapping my face!”

Hearing Empress Pei rattle off these words, the Crown Prince could only remain silent for now. At this moment, he absolutely must not confront her directly. If he fell out with Empress Pei, he would lose his shield. So he said as calmly as possible: “Mother Empress, everything happened too suddenly. Your son also didn’t expect this Ying Chu would actually dare plot against His Majesty—truly audacious! But punishing a servant is no great matter. Why must Mother Empress feel such heartache? That Mother Empress favors him so, yet rather than knowing his fortune, he relies on your influence to offend people everywhere and cause trouble. His methods are extremely vicious—isn’t this wasting Mother Empress’s painstaking efforts? If Ying Chu isn’t severely punished, won’t rumors spread that would be detrimental to Mother Empress and detrimental to the Pei family!” The Crown Prince had also learned to be clever—he criticized Ying Chu throughout on grounds of protecting Empress Pei’s interests.

Though Empress Pei knew this, she couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “You’ve certainly learned quite a few new phrases! It seems that Leng Lian by your side truly is a clever woman.”

The Crown Prince’s heart jumped. That’s right—everything he said today was taught to him by Leng Lian, and this plan was also formulated together with her. Although it was somewhat risky, as long as he eliminated Ying Chu, he felt it was worth it no matter what!

Seeing his appearance, Empress Pei understood in her heart and smiled faintly: “It seems your wings have grown harder and harder. You’d rather listen to a woman of unknown origins than defy me!”

The Crown Prince lowered his head: “Your son feels heartache for Mother Empress. Recently rumors have been flying, Mother Empress’s health has been poor, and your son also cannot eat or sleep well. Naturally I’m unwilling to add more worries to Mother Empress, which is why I never reported this matter to you. Your son doesn’t wish to be a disloyal and unfilial person!”

Empress Pei stared at the top of his head, countless thoughts turning through her mind before she finally sighed softly: “Always acting without thinking. Do you think you can eliminate Ying Chu this way? Too naive!” As she said this, she waved her sleeve dismissively and said coldly: “Leave. You’ll pay the price for your stupidity!”

The Crown Prince froze in shock, stunned. He completely hadn’t expected Empress Pei would say such words. Then doubt surged in his heart. Last time he failed to kill Ying Chu, he’d always felt it was because Ying Chu had great fortune, or perhaps his own guards had betrayed him, which was why he’d ordered the guards in his residence replaced. This time he’d even sent Ying Chu into the heavenly prison—when the time came to execute him publicly before everyone’s eyes, even if Ying Chu had heaven-reaching abilities, he’d be powerless to save himself. Thinking this, he laughed coldly and lowered his head to withdraw.

Empress Pei turned around, watching her son’s retreating back, revealing a profound and mysterious smile, saying faintly: “Truly a fool, actually believing a woman’s words. If the empire falls into your hands, sooner or later it will be completely destroyed!” As she said this, she gently closed her eyes and spoke no more.

At the Guo residence, Li Weiyang hadn’t expected that the moment she entered, Wang Zijin would chase in after her. She invited the other woman to sit in the great hall before smiling: “Miss Wang, it’s so late and you haven’t gone home to rest. Is there some urgent matter?”

Wang Zijin said hurriedly: “I know Prince Xu has considerable influence with the Metropolitan Governor. I hope he can use this opportunity to eliminate Ying Chu!”

Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows slightly: “Eliminating Ying Chu isn’t urgent for the moment. Miss Wang needn’t be too anxious.”

Wang Zijin bit her lip: “I fear tomorrow Empress Pei will find a way to rescue Ying Chu, so tonight is our best opportunity! Of course, if you feel it’s not secure and would rather pass up this opportunity, I have nothing to say. But as long as you trust me once, I will definitely eliminate this person!”

Seeing Wang Zijin’s determined expression, Li Weiyang smiled faintly: “Miss Wang wishes to avenge your elder brother?”

Wang Zijin nodded, a flash of cold light passing through her expression: “This Ying Chu is the chief culprit who killed my two elder brothers. I absolutely won’t spare him! This time he’s fallen, but unfortunately the Crown Prince’s methods aren’t that brilliant. He could easily escape, so better to strike tonight and kill him in the heavenly prison!”

Li Weiyang remained calm: “The heavenly prison is an important court location. How could you or I casually enter?”

Wang Zijin smiled faintly: “I just said—Prince Xu and the Metropolitan Governor have an extraordinary relationship. Otherwise, how did Pei Hui die initially, or later Pei Bi? Wasn’t all of this because you manipulated things from behind the scenes?”

The other party had clearly investigated everything thoroughly before acting. Weiyang sighed softly: “In that case, I’ll accompany Miss Wang on this trip tonight. However, I cannot guarantee the outcome.”

Wang Zijin’s eyes lit up, and she nodded solemnly: “Rest assured, no matter the result, I won’t implicate you!”

In the heavenly prison, Ying Chu was sitting with eyes closed in meditation when he suddenly heard a commotion outside. Immediately someone shouted loudly: “Fire, there’s a fire!” Ying Chu jumped in alarm and immediately stood up, looking outside. At this time, the prisoners in the heavenly prison also began growing restless. But the jailers brandished their whips, constantly striking the iron bars while shouting loudly: “Sit down, all of you sit down!” As he shouted this, it proved futile. More and more prisoners surged toward the doors, constantly pounding the bars before them, crying frantically: “There’s a fire, quickly let us out!” Their voices passed through door after door, reaching all the way to Ying Chu’s ears, while a burning smell had already faintly reached his nostrils.

The entire situation became even more chaotic. For a moment, no one noticed the movements of this cell. Several black-clad, strongly-built men quietly entered the heavenly prison through the back door. Then the Wang family’s specially trained guards also appeared fully armed. Without a sound, they formed a siege around the entire heavenly prison. The fire inside was growing larger and larger, the flames gradually pressing toward the eastern cell where Ying Chu was located. He was concentrating on listening carefully when the cell door was suddenly kicked open, and several black-clad men wielding steel blades charged at him. Ying Chu laughed coldly, pushed with both hands, and a force shot through empty air. From a distance of one zhang, he actually bounced the lead man out the door. Like stacking arhats, over ten people were all swept by this palm wind and fell backward facing up.

A jailer secretly observing the situation’s development suddenly shouted loudly: “Ying Chu, you actually dare take advantage of the fire to escape from prison—truly rebellion!” Then he shouted loudly: “Seize him immediately!” Those people had already reacted and unhesitatingly raised their steel blades to stab at him again. Not only were they each highly skilled in martial arts, but they were also well-trained. Ying Chu knew the other party meant to silence him permanently and couldn’t help but laugh coldly twice before walking toward them. When the lead man stabbed at him, he actually reached out one hand and fiercely grasped the other’s throat. Blades and swords struck his body but couldn’t leave even half a scar. His five fingers tightened, and the other’s breath immediately stopped, his neck hanging down like a dead crane. He casually tossed that person aside and walked step by step toward the others with an aura of death. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight people had already died at his hands. No matter how skilled these people were in martial arts, they couldn’t harm Ying Chu in the slightest. He was simply invulnerable to blades and spears—what could anyone do to him? When he again walked toward another person, that person had never seen such a terrifying scene and actually trembled all over, retreating step by step. Accidentally stumbling, he fell backward, and the longsword in his hand flew out, which Ying Chu caught perfectly.

The assassin leader grew angry at this sight: “Anyone who dares retreat from battle will be beheaded on the spot!” This way, the remaining assassins charged forward with desperate determination. The remaining dozen or so people were organized into two groups, taking turns charging forward one by one. The first several were all bounced out by Ying Chu’s internal energy. Gradually, as Ying Chu’s breath weakened, he simply used the longsword to counter-attack, successively killing several people. The corpses piled on the ground actually blocked the road, and dark red blood pooled across the floor.

Ying Chu finally stepped out of the cell step by step. At this moment, the assassin leader laughed coldly and had someone lead over a previously prepared ox. Its tail was tied with firewood and grass. The assassin leader viciously stabbed it in the rear. The ox bellowed and charged madly at Ying Chu. The assassins shouted and followed behind with longswords raised. Seeing the maddened ox charging at him, Ying Chu calmly met it head-on and actually gave a great shout, thrusting his longsword straight at it. The sword pierced from beneath the ox’s neck straight into its internal organs, penetrating half a sword’s length deep. His strength was extremely terrifying—he actually pushed that mad ox three to five zhang away, trampling to death several assassins following behind. The ox gave a long bellow and finally collapsed dead on the ground. No one had expected Ying Chu to possess such divine strength, and all revealed fearful expressions.

The assassin leader gave a cold shout: “Increase the flames.” Then he directed the others to withdraw from the cell.

When the fire grew large, the smoke also became extremely choking. Ying Chu was smoked until tears and mucus flowed together, unable to catch his breath. He knew someone deliberately wanted him to die in the prison. The only way to survive was to break through toward the outside. Thinking this, he took a deep breath and charged out, killing countless jailers and guards along the way, forcibly cutting a bloody path. Ahead was a patch of bright light—escape and survival seemed within reach—when he suddenly heard a steady voice say: “The prisoner is attempting to escape from jail. Quickly, release the arrows!”

Swish, swish, swish—countless sharp arrows shot at Ying Chu from all directions. In the blink of an eye, his entire body was stuck full of long arrows. Viewed from the side, he looked like a giant hedgehog. Then, without a sound, he fell to the ground.

Just as predicted, Ying Chu was dead.

Li Weiyang, watching this scene from afar at a window in a small tower, couldn’t help narrowing her eyes and saying: “I want to go confirm.” Yuan Lie beside her quickly stopped her: “Just watch from here. It’s more dangerous ahead.”

Li Weiyang furrowed her brow: “Wang Zijin’s stratagem actually succeeded?” Her expression held a trace of doubt.

Yuan Lie smiled: “This Wang Zijin still has some ability. After all, Ying Chu isn’t truly invulnerable to blades and spears.” As he said this, his smile deepened: “However, this is still thanks to your previous successful provocation of the Crown Prince… Otherwise she’d have no way to pin him with the crime of escaping from prison. Although it’s somewhat derivative, the method of killing isn’t weak. Whether he escapes or not, he’s doomed either way.”

Li Weiyang gazed deeply into the distance, her smile gradually fading, her expression seemingly hesitant.

Seeing her reveal such an expression, Yuan Lie felt somewhat strange: “What’s wrong?”

At this moment, Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows and said softly: “Shh, just keep watching.”

They watched as from within the crowd, a eunuch proclaiming an edict hurried over. He called out loudly: “By His Majesty’s decree, Ying Chu suffered injustice and is innocent. The true culprit has already been captured. Ying Chu may be released.” After he finished this sentence, the Metropolitan Governor smiled faintly: “Sir, you’ve arrived too late. Today the heavenly prison caught fire for no reason, and Lord Ying escaped from the heavenly prison to avoid the flames. Who knew he would still unfortunately perish…”

That eunuch started in surprise, glancing at Ying Chu who was stuck full of arrows like a sieve: “What happened here?”

The Metropolitan Governor looked at Wang Zijin with an expression full of grievance. Wang Zijin gently explained: “I came to report a theft at my home to the Metropolitan Governor. Unexpectedly, I heard the heavenly prison suddenly caught fire. Fearing those criminals might escape and alarm the common people, at the Metropolitan Governor’s request, I had no choice but to order my guards to come help. But unexpectedly, Lord Ying escaped from the cell, and the guards protecting the heavenly prison and my guards mistook him for an escaped criminal and shot him dead.” As she spoke, she pointed at Ying Chu on the ground with infinite regret: “His Majesty’s decree arrived one step too late after all!”

Just as Wang Zijin’s words fell, they heard the person on the ground suddenly laugh loudly: “Not late, not late, just right!” The Ying Chu who should have already died thoroughly actually climbed up from the ground. He patted the dust from his body, and those sharp arrows fell off with a clatter.

Wang Zijin looked at him in shock and alarm, frightened into retreating three steps.

Ying Chu smiled without warmth: “I have survived great disaster—surely there will be future fortune. Thank you for your concern, Miss Wang!” As he spoke, he suddenly laughed loudly. That laughter disturbed the four wilds—even a bird in a nearby parasol tree was startled into falling to the ground.

Ying Chu’s cold, gleaming mask revealed a trace of ferocity under the moonlight. Wang Zijin looked at him, her eyes revealing fear.

Ying Chu walked smiling toward the edict-proclaiming eunuch: “Let’s go. I still need to enter the palace to thank His Majesty.” With that, he strode away at length.

Wang Zijin looked at his retreating back in disbelief, unable to speak a word for a long time. Not until Li Weiyang arrived at her side with light footsteps did Wang Zijin point at his shadow that could no longer be seen: “Did you see? I clearly ordered people to shoot him dead, so how can he be perfectly alive?” As she spoke, she glanced at the arrows on the ground. Those pulled-out arrowheads still faintly bore bloodstains, clearly having truly pierced human flesh. But looking at Ying Chu’s appearance, he didn’t seem to have suffered the slightest harm. This scene gave Wang Zijin too great a shock. She truly couldn’t understand—could Ying Chu possess an immortal body? A person invulnerable to blades and spears… If she hadn’t witnessed it personally, she couldn’t possibly believe it.

Li Weiyang sighed softly, her heart also extremely astonished. She said gently: “Now I finally understand why so many people wanted to kill Ying Chu, yet he remains safe and sound to this day.” Speaking of this, she furrowed her brow: “But this way, if we want to kill him… it will be somewhat difficult.”

Wang Zijin felt even her teeth trembling. She shook her head: “No, Master said there’s absolutely no such sorcery in this world—it’s just charlatan tricks to deceive people!” She couldn’t help turning to look at her own guards, her expression full of doubt. Clearly she, like the Crown Prince, felt there was a traitor among the guards who had tampered with the arrowheads.

Yuan Lie picked up a long arrow that had fallen to the ground and carefully examined it: “No need to doubt. These arrows are all genuine, and I just watched very clearly from a distance. These arrowheads did indeed pierce into his body, but somehow they had no effect on him whatsoever. If it’s not that this Ying Chu has great fortune, then he truly possesses divine powers.”

Li Weiyang said faintly: “The world is vast and full of wonders. Moreover, this person is skilled in witchcraft—he may well have life-preserving methods!” But that scene just now was truly shocking. If she hadn’t witnessed it personally, even she couldn’t believe it!

Wang Zijin clenched her hands and looked at Li Weiyang: “What should we do next?”

Li Weiyang smiled: “Every person in this world has a weakness. Ying Chu is the same. Even if he’s invulnerable to blades and spears, even if he’s immortal, as long as we can find his weakness, he can equally be sent to hell!”

Wang Zijin pressed: “Then what is his weakness?”

Li Weiyang smiled gently: “That’s not hard to guess.”

Hearing Weiyang say this, only Yuan Lie’s smile deepened. He gazed at the moon in the sky, his eyes distant: “Well, we’ve been busy for nothing all evening. I’ll escort you back.” These words were directed at Li Weiyang. After speaking, he and Li Weiyang turned and gracefully departed together, leaving Wang Zijin standing in place, silent for a long while before finally just sighing. When Li Weiyang came, she had advised her not to be too hasty. Now it seemed the other woman was right. This Ying Chu had experienced countless changes yet still lived well—perhaps he truly possessed some divine power…

At this time, Ying Chu had already swaggered into the palace. He smiled and thanked Empress Pei: “Many thanks to Your Majesty for the grace of rescue!”

Empress Pei smiled slightly: “What of it? Just finding someone to take the blame for you.”

Empress Pei’s method was simple. Since the silver needle poison test detected nothing, the answer lay with that eunuch. As long as she could prove that eunuch’s lips were poisoned to begin with, naturally she could prove Ying Chu was innocent. Speaking of it all, the Crown Prince’s methods weren’t clean, allowing Empress Pei to easily find a way to prove Ying Chu’s innocence. On the other hand… the Emperor couldn’t possibly execute Ying Chu now because he still needed him. Otherwise, the headache condition would only hasten his death.

Because Ying Chu had an audience, a female official specially led all the palace maids to withdraw. Empress Pei sat lazily in the hall: “Come here and massage my back.” At her command, Ying Chu lowered his eyes and walked forward. Then he quietly walked behind Empress Pei and gently raised both hands to massage her back. Although he was a man, his hands were neither too light nor too heavy, neither too slow nor too fast—his skill far better than anyone else’s.

Empress Pei’s eyes half-closed as she sighed softly: “Unless I want you dead, otherwise no one in this world can take your life.” Her voice was very gentle, flowing like water.

Ying Chu said respectfully: “Yes. Unless Your Majesty wants this humble subject dead, otherwise I absolutely dare not die first.”

“Smooth talker. Are you telling the truth?” Empress Pei stretched lazily. For some reason, a window moved, a cool breeze blew in, and Empress Pei’s throat tickled, making her cough softly. Ying Chu immediately and perceptively draped a fox fur cloak over Empress Pei’s shoulders. The moment his hands touched Empress Pei’s shoulders, her body trembled slightly. In her imagination, those hands were like the hands of a certain person in her memory—gentle yet broad, very strong.

Seeing Empress Pei tremble, Ying Chu couldn’t help asking with concern: “Your Majesty, are you all right?”

Empress Pei’s eyes seemed somewhat hazy: “I’m fine.” Then she deliberately moved closer to Ying Chu.

Ying Chu keenly sensed something and instinctively pressed close to that fragrant body. He sighed in his heart and gently placed his hand on her waist. Empress Pei leaned against his chest, and both could hear each other’s heartbeats.

At this moment, a palace maid pushed the door open and reported: “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Empress Pei suddenly flashed out from Ying Chu’s embrace and said viciously: “Drag her down!”

That palace maid was frightened pale and fell to her knees with a thud: “Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!” But her words came too late. Two soundless shadows immediately appeared from the darkness and dragged her away.

What the Crown Prince saw was this scene. His gaze fell on Empress Pei and Ying Chu, revealing a shocked expression. He hadn’t expected that after this incident, Ying Chu would still be alive! What happened last night at the heavenly prison had the Crown Prince fanning the flames. He deliberately sent Ying Chu into the Wang family’s hands, wanting to use the Wang family’s hands to eliminate Ying Chu—this was just a mutually exploitative relationship. But he never expected that even under pursuit and attack, Ying Chu could still safely return to the palace.

Seeing the Crown Prince’s ashen face, Ying Chu smiled faintly: “Your Highness, this humble subject already said you cannot eliminate me. I advise you not to waste your scheming and to focus more attention on government affairs instead.”

The Crown Prince’s heart raced. He repeatedly asked himself what to do—this person was actually still alive!

A trace of displeasure crossed Empress Pei’s face: “Haven’t you done enough foolish things? What are you running to the palace at this hour for?”

The Crown Prince forcibly suppressed his anger: “Mother Empress won’t let me enter the palace, yet you keep this neither-man-nor-woman thing accompanying you. What exactly do you want to do? Is he truly an indispensable person by your side, even more important than me, your son?”

Empress Pei, having had her secret discovered that she didn’t want anyone to know, showed a crack in her usually calm face: “I told you to get out!”

Just now, Empress Pei in Ying Chu’s embrace had been like a docile lamb, but now she’d become like a fierce she-wolf. This made the Crown Prince terrified. He hated his own incompetence, his inability to win Mother Empress’s favor. But then again, this Ying Chu was just a eunuch. Even if he enjoyed Mother Empress’s favor, he couldn’t overturn heaven! The Crown Prince fell to his knees with a thud, saying with a sobbing tone: “Your son was just momentarily confused. Today I came specially to apologize to Mother Empress!” As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped himself several times hard, not daring to spare his own face, hitting until even blood flowed from his mouth corners.

Empress Pei remained unmoved: “Enough, stop your false performance. The person you truly should apologize to is Ying Chu.”

Ying Chu quickly knelt: “This humble subject dares not. The Crown Prince was just momentarily confused.”

Empress Pei looked at them both and slowly exhaled: “You two reconcile here and now. If next time I discover either one of you first acts detrimentally to the other, neither of you need continue living!” As she said this, her gaze turned sinister and cold.

The Crown Prince lowered his head. He suddenly realized that in Empress Pei’s heart, he and the eunuch beside her had no difference whatsoever. Indeed, Leng Lian was right—he, this Crown Prince, was truly too pathetic, nothing but a puppet in Empress Pei’s hands. He must break free from this situation, he must!