Gong Yin’s smile suddenly froze.

Jing Hengbo had never seen such an expression appear on his face – she really wanted to appreciate it a bit longer. But the cloaked figure’s appearance surprised her too much. After lowering her finger, she immediately jumped up, about to rush over, with a cry of joyful surprise about to burst from her lips: “Yelu…”

At this moment, her joy was indescribable, like a tide filling the banks to overflowing. Ever since Yelu Qi had been captured by the old witch to protect her, not a day had passed without her worrying and being concerned. Often in the middle of the night she had nightmares that he had been killed by the old witch, crippled, cooked and eaten, or turned into a monster… Now suddenly he appeared before her like a gift from heaven, perfectly fine, and her heart nearly flew with joy.

This moment of genuine emotion was visible to all – everyone saw the Queen’s eyes shining brightly like bright pearls, like blazing sun, reflecting flowers blooming in her heart. Such immense joy made those who saw it involuntarily curve their lips in slight smiles.

Of course, not everyone was overjoyed. Gong Yin paused, finally glancing to see who the cloaked person was, his brow furrowing slightly.

The common people below whispered among themselves, wondering who this mysterious cloaked man was who could make the Queen fall in love at first sight.

Opposite them, Yelu Qi suddenly gave Jing Hengbo a restraining look, stepped back, bowed slightly, and smiled: “Ye Qi of Longdong Prefecture greets Your Majesty the Queen. Meeting for the first time, Your Majesty’s grace truly dazzles this humble one.”

Jing Hengbo’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Seeing Yelu Qi’s expression, she reacted extremely quickly, immediately changing her cry into a cheer: “Yeah! Yeah! What a peerless handsome man!”

Both Gong Yin and Pei Shu’s faces twitched…

But Jing Hengbo had already calmed down from her earlier wild joy and immediately noticed Yelu Qi’s abnormalities. Wearing a cloak in this weather, he showed no sweat, his complexion was too pale, and there was a faint deep blue color between his brows – clearly he was poisoned, and his figure seemed much thinner.

Her heart ached – how had he escaped from the old witch’s claws? How much suffering had he endured?

Additionally, Yelu Qi seemed to have concerns and actually couldn’t reveal his identity to her. Jing Hengbo swept her gaze over the crowd below, observing carefully, and discovered many burly men with bulging temples and bulges at their waists and backs, sharp gazes and tense expressions – clearly up to no good.

Those burly men were numerous, and their attention was focused on her and Yelu Qi. Was Yelu Qi being coerced?

Fury blazed up in Jing Hengbo’s chest – threatening her friend right in front of her face, courting death in creative ways!

People looked somewhat surprised to see the Queen’s face suddenly flush red.

Ah, could she really be so moved by this Young Master Ye?

It took Jing Hengbo a while to suppress her anger. She gave Pei Shu a meaningful look. Pei Shu followed her gaze to look at the crowd, reluctantly stood up, and shortly after led his people to blend into the crowd.

Jing Hengbo relaxed slightly, deciding to play along with Yelu Qi first to see what the situation was before acting.

But regardless of what was happening, whoever had done this to Yelu Qi – no matter who they were – she would definitely catch them, beat them up, and strangle them.

“Young Master Ye, you’ve finally arrived.” She smiled warmly: “Seeing you truly brings me surprising joy.”

To the crowd’s ears, her words seemed to refer to Ye Qi himself being outstanding and bringing her surprise. Everyone was curious, craning their necks and standing on tiptoes, wanting to see clearly what kind of grace this dark horse who had won the Queen’s heart at first sight possessed. But Yelu Qi was wrapped entirely in his cloak, and the crowd only saw his tall, slender silhouette.

“Shouldn’t Young Master Ye quickly express his gratitude?” The Luoyun official also said with a delighted expression: “The Queen chose you at first sight – this is truly a once-in-a-millennium fate.”

“Yes, yes, truly fate. You’re exactly my type. Seeing you, I don’t need to choose from the other cats and dogs.” The Queen smiled with particular sincerity.

Yelu Qi smiled and bowed lightly, glancing at someone whose face was like frost before saying: “Ye Qi is deeply honored by Your Majesty’s favor, extremely fortunate. However, without rules there can be no order. Previously, all the other candidates passed through many trials to be selected. Ye Qi dares not presume to skip ahead and should perhaps also undergo testing.”

Everyone was somewhat surprised, thinking this person was foolish. The Queen had chosen him at first sight, exempting him from competition – he should quickly accept, yet he was looking for trouble himself?

“I see…” Jing Hengbo was also somewhat puzzled. Seeing Yi Qi seemingly casually stroll onto the stage, she drew out her words, smiling as she tapped the table as if pondering, her eyes glancing at Yi Qi.

Yi Qi leaned against her table, casually picking up a nut to eat, chewing while a thin voice reached her ears.

“That group below are Fushui soldiers in civilian clothes, personal guards brought by the Fushui Prince, plus people from the Eastern Palace. We captured and interrogated two – they say this Ye Qi is an important figure jointly sent by the Eastern Palace and the Prince to control and harm you. These minions don’t know the specifics of how, but they say the Eastern Palace and Prince’s great shaman placed a poison trigger in this person. If they discover something wrong, or if he doesn’t complete his mission, the shaman will activate the trigger, this person will immediately succumb to poison, and no one within thirty zhang will survive.”

“Oh hehe… let me think…” Jing Hengbo continued smiling and tapping the table, her voice drawing out longer, but her eyes grew colder layer by layer – Eastern Palace! Fushui! Daring to touch her friend! Daring to plot against her! Really tired of living!

“Is the shaman present?” she asked quietly.

“No.” Yi Qi answered decisively: “There must be secret arts for remote control.”

Jing Hengbo finally understood why Yelu Qi wouldn’t approach, why he reminded her they were “meeting for the first time,” and why he wouldn’t easily accept the royal consort selection. He feared she would show signs of recognizing him, and passing too easily as royal consort would arouse the other party’s suspicion and trigger the poison. He also needed to buy time for her to quickly adapt, first paralyze the other party, then find space to locate that shaman!

“…You’re quite right!” Jing Hengbo immediately called out loudly to Yelu Qi with a smile: “Since it’s fair selection, everyone should naturally accept examination. However…” She turned her head to look around – examination, but examine what? All the others had been driven off the stage, Qiu Jinfeng had been angered away, leaving only Gong Yin who had chased away all the men. Should she have the two of them fight?

Indeed, Yelu Qi smiled: “Your Majesty’s fellow candidate beside you – this humble one would like to seek guidance.”

He emphasized the word “fellow” heavily, and Jing Hengbo immediately felt the temperature beside her drop several degrees.

“No martial arts competition!” Jing Hengbo immediately set conditions: “Fighting and killing and such – I hate watching that most!”

No matter what, she had to first control things within limits that avoided bloodshed and killing…

“Of course we won’t compete.” Gong Yin suddenly spoke, his tone very calm, though only a few could hear the ice-bucket-stirring coldness: “I wouldn’t stoop to using force against others.”

This clearly implied Yelu Qi was a weakling no match for him. Jing Hengbo chuckled, thinking – great, war has been declared.

She quickly called out loudly: “I’ll set the topic – you compete in… in… in cooking!”

Qisha burst out laughing “Puhaha,” making faces and winking.

Gong Yin beside her said coolly: “Are you certain?”

Jing Hengbo felt somewhat guilty – this favoritism was too obvious. What if the jealous type couldn’t accept such blatant partiality and killed Yelu Qi in anger?

“Well… compete in tailoring? Housework? Various domestic skills…” Under someone’s murderous aura, Jing Hengbo’s voice grew quieter and quieter. Not from fear, but from suddenly feeling dejected – only now clearly realizing that the one she liked seemed completely unsuited for domestic life, lacking all the most practical skills for being a husband…

Her expression probably stimulated Gong Yin. Men most feared being thought incompetent – incompetent in any respect!

He suddenly spoke: “Compete in sincerity.”

“Hmm?” Curious gazes turned toward him.

“Sincerity has levels of depth – the deeper, the more connected.” Gong Yin said coolly: “Since we both came for the Queen, wishing to become the Queen’s husband, naturally we should be spiritually connected with her to achieve harmony. You and I will guess what scene the Queen most wants to see, each creating a scenario that can be expressed through objects or people. The final choice belongs to the Queen.”

“Bah.” Pei Shu sneered disdainfully: “How simple is that? I’m afraid your scenarios will all be the same – scenes of yourselves marrying this woman!”

“Wedding scenes are all disqualified.” Jing Hengbo laughed melodiously.

“How about it?” Gong Yin ignored them, only staring at Yelu Qi.

Yelu Qi smiled and cupped his hands: “I think it’s excellent.”

Jing Hengbo also thought it was excellent – no weapons, no hostility, and room for cheating.

When the time came, she’d say both moved her.

Gong Yin, never one for many words, waved his hand indicating they should each prepare. The arena was cleared out, curtains pulled up on both sides, separated so they wouldn’t interfere with each other.

Yelu Qi suddenly asked: “Does Your Majesty like camels?”

Jing Hengbo paused, then smiled with narrowed eyes: “I do. I even have a camel cavalry unit.”

Yelu Qi smiled: “Once when I traveled through Ji Kingdom, I saw camels and instinctively felt Your Majesty would like them. Indeed so. When I came to Luoyun this time, I had originally purchased a camel for transportation, but lost it midway. Otherwise I could have presented it to Your Majesty.”

“That is a pity,” Jing Hengbo said: “Camels aren’t sold in the interior. If you want to buy another, you’d have to go to Ji Kingdom. If you like them so much, I’ll give you one.”

“I’m sentimental. Moreover, that camel accompanied me for quite some time and even saved my life. It was because it protected me that it fell to hunters’ pursuit and became separated from me.” Yelu Qi sighed: “I dare hope to find it again.”

Jing Hengbo gazed at him and smiled: “Where there’s sincerity, there’s success. You’ll find it.”

Yelu Qi smiled and said no more, entering the curtain.

Jing Hengbo laughed “hehe,” saying “I’ve been watching for so long, I’m tired. Let me find a place to rest. Call me when you’re finished.” She swayed gracefully down from the stage, walking while exchanging glances with Qisha and Tian Qi who were leaning against the arena edge. Tian Qi came over, and Jing Hengbo whispered: “Go handle what needs handling. Also, watch the Fushui Prince or Eastern Palace to see if the Ji Kingdom Princess is there.”

Tian Qi received his orders and left. At this time, with the hot afternoon weather, the people had all scattered to the shade, and that group from the Eastern Palace and Fushui Prince also relaxed their vigilance, each finding places to rest. Taking advantage of the crowd movement, Qisha, Tian Qi and others blended into the crowd and disappeared.

A moment later, this group entered a dark alley where two Eastern Palace spies were tightly bound – the earlier information had come from their mouths.

After another moment, Qisha and Tian Qi split up and left the alley. Yi Qi and Tian Qi had already changed into the Eastern Palace spies’ disguises and headed straight for the Eastern Palace. The others rushed toward the outskirts, to Fushui Prince Wu Weiyan’s military camp.

The Queen rested in civilian quarters temporarily requisitioned near the arena. Yong Xue and Feifei firmly guarded the door, declining the Luoyun officials’ various offerings of sour plum soup and other courtesies. The Luoyun people were very enthusiastic – unable to enter, they didn’t leave either, packed densely at the door, listening to the Queen’s occasional yawns and turning sounds from inside, their expressions quite reassured.

Inside the room it was pitch black, the bedding on the bed was rumpled, showing no outline of a human body. On the table, Er Gouzi gnawed on golden corn kernels, eating a few grains and contentedly making “ah… oh…” sounds, the voice lazy like a woman deep in spring sleep. From time to time he’d jump onto the bed board, pace around a few circles, making the bed creak, sounding like someone turning over.

…

At this time, it seemed everyone was immersed in a lazy, drowsy atmosphere.

The people rested in tree shade, waiting for another interesting competition.

Wu Weiyan and the Princess drank together, the siblings drinking while waiting for news from the arena. The news they’d received so far pleased them greatly, making their drinking even more spirited.

The Luoyun officials guarded the Queen and Zuoqiu Mo while monitoring Pei Shu. These three controlled the military – as long as they didn’t move, Luoyun would be safe.

Shadows of Yelu Qi and Gong Yin showed through the curtains, both men working earnestly.

Cicadas cried in tall trees, sunlight blazed like fire, time seemed to halt peacefully and tranquilly at this moment.

Only two pairs of eyes still burned brightly, staring unblinkingly at the house near the arena where the Queen rested.

The Ge sisters.

The two who had occupied the best position in the high building had a view that covered the entire arena and all surrounding positions, so they easily noticed Qisha and others leaving the crowd.

But the two didn’t move, only staring tightly at Jing Hengbo’s house.

A moment later, a shadow flashed across that rooftop, so fast it might have been mistaken for a sun-induced hallucination.

Ge Lian suddenly said: “Gone!”

Ge Shao said: “Indeed!”

Ge Lian stared down for a while, then said to those behind her: “Toward the Eastern Palace direction.”

Rapid footsteps headed downstairs.

Ge Shao made a sound of surprise: “Why isn’t Zuoqiu Mo moving?”

She saw that Zuoqiu Mo seemed to have actually been pulled into the curtain by Gong Yin.

Ge Lian also pondered, then said: “This matter probably has nothing to do with Zuoqiu – the Queen wants to strike at the Eastern Palace!”

Ge Shao shuddered all over, saying urgently: “Why? The Queen is after all a guest in Luoyun – how could she suddenly strike at the Eastern Palace?”

The barely contained excitement in her eyes made her pupils slightly red.

“Because the Eastern Palace struck at her first.” Ge Lian said slowly: “That cloaked person just now – I suspect he’s the Eastern Palace and Wu Weiyan’s revenge plot against the Queen. But somehow the Queen saw through this scheme and was angered.”

“Now the royal consort selection results aren’t out, and the Queen appears very fond of that cloaked person – the Eastern Palace must be lulled into complacency… Striking now, before results are announced, is more unexpected than striking after,” Ge Shao said in shock: “Such deep scheming!”

“A worthy opponent.” Ge Lian smiled lightly: “After all, she’s a Queen who rose and fell, rose again, emerged from the Imperial Capital’s storms through abolishment and restoration!”

“What do we do?”

“The Queen won’t deliver a death blow to the Eastern Palace now, besides finding who she seeks.” Ge Lian said gently: “But the Eastern Palace is about to deliver a death blow to us. How can that be allowed? The Eastern Palace must be dealt with quickly.”

Ge Shao’s eyes lit up – bright and cold, killing intent forest-like.

“Then…” she said slowly, “let’s go… add fuel to the fire!”

…

Qisha and others infiltrating the Eastern Palace wasn’t very difficult, but they were discovered shortly after entering. The Eastern Palace had recently been on high alert, with many additional guards patrolling day and night in dense numbers. No matter how skilled Yi Qi and Tian Qi were in martial arts, after consecutively evading three checkpoints, they still ran into Eastern Palace guards.

“Who goes there!” the other party challenged.

Yi Qi walked over with a smile, pulling the fellow into his arms: “Buddy, don’t you recognize me? I’m Old Wang from the front courtyard guard!”

“Who knows any Old Wang or Old Li!” The man struggled under his arm, saying coldly: “The Eastern Palace has added guards – Left Guard Rate, Five Cities Military Commission, Prince’s personal guards are all on duty here. With so many people, who knows who? The Prince has ordered password verification for all passage. Those who can’t answer the password will be killed without mercy! Quick, give the password! To avoid accidental harm!”

“Oh, so that’s how it is. Then we can’t play anymore…” Yi Qi sighed regretfully, tightened his arm, and twisted.

A bone-chilling “crack-crack” sound – the man’s neck vertebrae snapped at a grotesque angle and drooped.

Yi Qi laughed and pushed the man toward another person behind him, laughing: “Well, we’re leaving then.” Before his words finished, he and Tian Qi both leaped up, treading on guards’ heads as they departed.

With a “thud,” the corpse fell to the ground.

A moment of silence.

Then gongs, drums, and shouting suddenly erupted.

“Palace-wide alert! Enemy attack!”

The entire Eastern Palace was alarmed, people surging like a boiling pot of porridge, with most rushing toward the inner palace to protect the Prince.

Standing on the Eastern Palace walls, Jing Hengbo saw exactly this – clusters of chaotic crowds.

She knew Yi Qi and others’ plan to sneak in and find the Ji Kingdom Princess and shaman had failed. This chaos wasn’t necessarily bad – at least she could see at a glance where the Eastern Palace’s most important area was.

There was only one most important place – in the inner palace’s south courtyard, where a large group shouted “Protect the Prince” while rushing in.

Jing Hengbo frowned. She didn’t think the shaman would hide in the Prince’s inner palace. She knew that in these royal families, shamans had low status and couldn’t possibly be housed together with princes and their consorts.

The Ji Kingdom Princess, most likely Ji Wen, where would she be?

Jing Hengbo flashed to the highest palace roof, looking down from above, carefully searching the Eastern Palace’s inner courtyards.

Then she noticed something unusual.

There was a courtyard, very luxurious, positioned close to the Prince’s palace with similar size and regulations. According to royal custom, this courtyard should belong to the Princess.

Obviously the Princess wasn’t there, because there were few guards, and the courtyard was full of chattering women. Hearing the alarm, they all ran frantically into buildings, except one person who slipped out from the base of the courtyard wall, secretly walking outward.

After a few steps, she was stopped by an old woman who seemed to be questioning her. From afar, that person appeared composed, even raising her hand to smooth her hair, but in the moment of smoothing her hair, she suddenly pulled a kitchen knife from her sleeve and chopped at the old woman.

Jing Hengbo smiled.

Her figure flashed, and she was already standing before that person, smiling: “Princess, long time no see – still as heroic as ever.”

Ji Wen had just chopped down the woman guarding her and was somewhat heart-pounding. Suddenly hearing this phrase, she instinctively thrust with the knife, then realizing the voice was familiar, hurriedly stopped.

A wind passed by her side, someone patted her shoulder: “It’s alright, don’t worry.”

Ji Wen staggered, still shaken, and turned around to indeed see Jing Hengbo’s smiling face.

She drew a breath, and suddenly tears appeared in her eyes. Glancing behind Jing Hengbo, her expression changed, and she stammered: “He…” but immediately stopped.

Hearing this tone, Jing Hengbo couldn’t help sighing in her heart.

Another woman suffering for love yet forcing herself to endure.

“Yelu Qi is fine.” She said simply, then pulled Ji Wen along: “Come with me first.”

Ji Wen was also decisive, following her without a word. Jing Hengbo led her to flash onto the palace roof, and indeed confirmed from her that for absolute certainty, the Princess had personally taken the shaman to Wu Weiyan’s camp outside the city.

Jing Hengbo asked about what had happened, and Ji Wen told her everything. The more she spoke, the more frightened she became, because she discovered the Queen opposite her smiled more brilliantly the more she listened.

When finished, Jing Hengbo said: “Wait for me a moment.” Without waiting for an answer, her figure flashed and disappeared.

She went directly to the Prince’s bedchamber.

The Prince was still lying in bed, the bedchamber surrounded densely with people, even the space outside the screens filled with people, yet not even a cough could be heard.

After the Prince’s last “night with eighteen women,” he directly damaged his vitality. Subsequently seeking medical treatment and medicines, trying every remedy to restore his vigor, the more he tried the more mentally exhausted he became, finally collapsing unable to rise.

After falling ill, he feared light and noise. All windows in the bedchamber were hung with heavy black silk curtains, blocking all outside light, so even in broad daylight, several bright candles were needed for illumination.

Ge Heng’s poor health naturally made him more mentally tense. He had guards stationed outside the screens and was sleeping deeply when he suddenly woke with a start, covered in cold sweat, staring at the ceiling’s decorative well and shouting: “Someone’s there!”

Everyone rushed in, looking around – where was anyone?

“Just now! The ceiling! I saw a pair of eyes! Staring straight at me!” Ge Heng shouted.

Everyone looked at the ceiling again. The decorative well was colorfully painted with dancing dragons and phoenixes – where were any eyes?

Ge Heng’s gaze turned, suddenly pointing at the screen: “She’s outside the screen!”

Everyone rushed out again – outside the screen was empty.

“Your Highness.” His personal guard captain couldn’t help but say diplomatically: “We’re all here. Please set your mind at ease. It’s impossible for anyone to sneak in here…”

“She came in!” Ge Heng’s scream was like a pig being slaughtered.

This time no one believed him. The guard captain shook his head helplessly and ordered: “Too many people are making His Highness uneasy. Some go guard outside the palace…”

Before he finished speaking, there was a thunderous crash. Something heavy seemed to fall, accompanied by Ge Heng’s scream.

“Ah!”

Everyone rushed in again to see the low table beside the bed had overturned, the heavy candlestick was crushing Ge Heng’s leg, fire had already ignited the bedding, and Ge Heng was twitching in pain, screaming “Ah ah” while desperately trying to pull his leg out.

Everyone rushed to lift the table, remove the candlestick, pull away bedding, and carry Ge Heng. In the midst of this chaos, suddenly everything went dark – all lights in the palace were extinguished.

“What’s happening?”

“There was no wind just now!”

“Quickly take the Prince out of the palace!”

Ge Heng screamed like a slaughtered pig: “There’s a ghost! A female ghost!”

The group hurriedly carried Ge Heng outward. Behind the screen there was only the bed, a narrow space, and with so many people, they got jammed. Suddenly with a “bang,” something seemed to be kicked, then something fell down. Someone cried out “The screen fell!” and Ge Heng screamed again – being carried outward, the screen naturally fell on him first.

Everyone hurriedly set him down to move the screen. In the darkness, you stepped on my hand, I stepped on your foot, while Ge Heng hugged his leg moaning on the side. Just as everyone lifted the heavy screen, suddenly they felt a wind pass by.

Ge Heng simultaneously burst out screaming: “The female ghost is here!”

“Smack smack smack smack smack!” Kicking sounds rang out simultaneously – quick, rapid, dense, powerful, vicious!

Accompanied by a woman’s angry cursing:

“Dare to oppose your sister!”

“Dare to harm your sister’s people!”

“Dare to play those conspiracies and tricks!”

“Without teaching you a lesson, you don’t know how cheap you are!”

“First give you an appetizer, then the main course!”

…

A crackling chaos of sounds, crisp sounds – you could imagine she was kicking bones.

Ge Heng rolled around like a ball, while a large group of guards crawled around searching in the darkness: “Your Highness! Your Highness! Your Highness, where are you!”

Someone had a fire starter, finally remembering to quickly light it. As the flame lit, suddenly a black shadow swept past like wind, like a ghost, bringing a gust of fragrance and coolness. With a “puff” the fire starter went out, and with a “smack” he received a crisp slap.

Now everyone’s hearts began to grow cold – this speed was beyond human capability. Could it really be a female ghost?

After that gust of wind passed, all around fell into fearful silence. People dared not light fires again, afraid of becoming targets. Ge Heng also dared not scream anymore, realizing screaming would expose his location and invite more vicious kicks.

A whole palace of guards, the noble Prince, a large group of people, all held their breath in the darkness, staring anxiously at that mass of black, not daring to breathe loudly.

On the palace roof, Jing Hengbo looked down at the huddle of quails below and smiled contemptuously.

With anger still unresolved in her heart, she had simply come to beat up this fellow. Daring to touch her friend? First beat up Ge Heng, then immediately go teach that Fushui brother and sister a lesson. If they didn’t know their place, she didn’t mind taking on Fushui as well!

Her figure flashed and disappeared.

The people in the palace didn’t know she had left, still huddled together nervously in the darkness, waiting.

A wind rose.

A group of gray-clothed people suddenly appeared on the Eastern Palace walls.

By this time Jing Hengbo had already left the Eastern Palace with Yi Qi, Tian Qi, and Ji Wen, heading for the Fushui military camp outside the city. Most of the outer courtyard guards had been drawn away by these few.

Those gray-clothed people looked coldly at the disturbance on that side, then swept into the Eastern Palace inner palace in the opposite direction.

They headed straight for the Prince’s bedchamber.

Reaching the palace entrance, they happened to find all the guards had rushed into the palace to protect the Prince. The leading gray-clothed person, seeing no one before the palace, was delighted. With a wave of his hand, a gray-clothed person quickly stepped forward and locked the palace door with a chain.

The others positioned themselves under each window, pulling out prepared firework-like sticks from their clothing, lighting them, throwing them through windows, then quickly closing the windows tight.

The people inside had already heard sounds from the windows. Normally they would definitely go out to investigate, but having been frightened by Jing Hengbo into nervous birds, hearing sounds from multiple windows, they were greatly alarmed, thinking there were so many female ghosts!

Everyone hurriedly protected Ge Heng. Someone said: “Your Highness! It’s bright outside – no one can play ghost tricks there. We should get out first!”

“Good, good… you protect me…” Ge Heng suddenly coughed several times: “…cough cough… where’s this smoke coming from… so choking… cough cough…”

Everyone now also noticed the palace was filled with thick fog in an ominous blue-green color. Their throats and chests began to hurt, and their heads felt dizzy in waves.

Someone shouted: “Not good! Poison smoke! Quickly hold your breath…” Before finishing, his voice cut off abruptly – whether choked or unconscious was unclear.

“Quick! Quick, let’s go!” Ge Heng desperately urged. Everyone crowded around him rushing toward the palace door, but when they pulled it, there was a clatter of metallic collision. Someone shouted: “Not good, the door is locked!”

“Ah—” Ge Heng let out a cry heavy with weeping: “Heaven wants to destroy me!”

“Windows! Get out through the windows! Windows can’t be locked!” someone else shouted.

Having suffered consecutive blows and lost their composure, people rushed toward the windows.

Rushing toward the path of death.

Black silk curtains were cut down, window frames smashed, people scrambled to jump out the windows. Jump one, “swoosh,” jump one, “swoosh.”

Knives waited below the windows, white going in, red coming out, drawing precise, snow-bright arcs – accurate, decisive, continuous, ruthless.

Below the windows, long knives calculated angles and waited horizontally. Those jumping out met the knives throat-first, one cut through throat and chest bone, dying without even making a warning scream.

Kill one, immediately drag down one, throw into the courtyard, while those inside continued foolishly jumping out.

Ge Heng was supported by two people, jumping from the third window on the east side. The window wasn’t big enough for three people together, so those two loyal subordinates lifted the Prince up and pushed him out first.

Because of the lifting motion, Ge Heng’s exit angle was different. The knife positioned below the window pierced his abdomen.

“Ah!” Ge Heng let out his Nth scream of the day, but his voice was already hoarse.

The guards behind were alarmed and desperately fought their way out, then splashed a sky full of brilliant blood-colored sunset.

A quarter hour.

Just a quarter hour, and dozens of guards in this palace had all become corpses littering the courtyard.

All killed with one strike each, not even requiring finishing blows.

When the palace was completely quiet, the gray-clothed people ordered all corpses thrown back into the palace, then tossed in torches, smashing them onto the pile of bodies.

Flames blazed high.

Ge Heng wasn’t dead yet. The gray-clothed people arranged him in a pose, placing him at the window sill with half his body inside the palace, half outside, his hands hanging down long, smearing large patches of dripping blood trails on the wall base.

It looked like he had struggled to crawl out from inside the palace to escape, but in the final moment his strength gave out and he died on the window sill.

They believed such a tragic, horrifying scene full of tragic meaning would arouse all the grief and fury of the Great King who doted on the Prince, the court officials, and the Luoyun people.

The leader of the gray-clothed people crouched down, grabbed Ge Heng’s hand, dipped it in his blood, and softly wrote several characters on the wall base.

Ge Heng could no longer make sounds, only “ah ah” groans and mumbles from his throat, his other hand randomly scratching on the wall.

The gray-clothed person smiled as he watched him, whispering in his ear: “The two Princesses send their regards.”

Ge Heng’s eyes suddenly widened, mouth opening as if to shout something, but he would never have the chance to shout again.

The gray-clothed person stood up and split Ge Heng’s throat with one slash.

The blood didn’t splash – the experienced gray-clothed person caught it with the knife’s back, slowly dripping it down, thick and heavy, dyeing the black earth red.

His knife had blood grooves on both sides – truly the customary weapon of a killing expert.

The fire in the palace had already started, not large, but enough to burn away all remaining poison smoke. Before the bodies were badly burned, this fire would quickly be discovered by Eastern Palace guards.

The goal wasn’t to destroy evidence, only to eliminate traces of the poison smoke. Among royal children, it was well known that Princess Ge Lian liked using poison.

The gray-clothed people surveyed the scene, very satisfied with all the staging.

Under sunlight, gray shadows gracefully flew over the walls one by one.

High in the building, the precious sister flowers waited for their news, waited for this moment when blood would stain the Eastern Palace and open the curtain on all the chaos in Luoyun.

It was now near dusk. Because the sunset suddenly dyed the sky like blood, the sunlight was at its most brilliant yet most tragic, flickering and splashing between the green tiles and vermillion railings of the Eastern Palace Prince’s bedchamber.

Illuminating the rolling thick smoke like demon shadows within the great hall.

Illuminating Ge Heng’s eyes that would not close even in death.

Illuminating his blood-dripping hand hanging down.

Illuminating the mottled moss at the wall base soaked through with blood, large patches of blurred traces.

Illuminating those four characters written by that gripped hand:

“The Queen killed me!”