Facing Jun Buli’s furious rage, Nanny Xu mustered her courage and recounted the entire course of events in detail. Jun Buli’s already cold, stern face grew as dark as a beast about to lash out at any moment.

No one knew whether he was enraged because Consort Li had been schemed against by the Empress Dowager, or because of the useless servants standing before him.

In any case, no one dared ask. Once Nanny Xu finished speaking, she didn’t dare say anything more either, retreating timidly to one side to wait.

Jun Buli’s chest heaved violently with harsh breaths. He said not a word — yet just as everyone assumed he was angry over the Empress Dowager’s treachery, assuming he would rush straight to Prince Yao’s residence, he instead abruptly swept every ornament off the table onto the floor, saying coldly, “Useless things, all of you, get out of my sight!”

At those words, everyone scrambled out in a panicked rush. Once it was confirmed the Emperor’s fury was directed at their uselessness, they were certain they were as good as dead!

This bunch of servants, having served Consort Li for so long, were nothing but servants in the end. In their terror, they failed to notice that after they’d left, every door and window in the entire palace hall had been shut, sealed completely airtight.

Their master had no time to spare a single thought for them.

Not only was this palace hall sealed completely airtight, but every entrance and exit, every part of the roof, had been occupied by poisonous beasts — not even a fly could get in or out.

Back when Consort Li had lived at Prince Yao’s residence, everyone assumed she enjoyed Jun Buli’s exclusive nightly favor.

Later, when Consort Li moved into the palace and Jun Buli frequently went in and out of Prince Yao’s residence, sometimes not even returning at night, everyone assumed Consort Li was gradually falling out of favor.

Yet no one knew that Jun Buli only ever sought out Consort Li when he needed her. Before, staying at Prince Yao’s residence had simply been more convenient; now, coming to the palace was simply to avoid his mother’s troublemaking.

Needed?

Yes — only when he needed her would he come find her. So it was no surprise that he’d only just now learned Consort Li had been missing for so long — after all, quite a few people within the palace had already been replaced by Ziqing’s people.

Now, in the empty room, Jun Buli was alone. Even though every door and window in the palace hall had been sealed, he still shut every door and window within the room itself, unable to bear leaving it, even to himself.

He pressed both hands against the table. At some point, sweat had beaded on his forehead, and his entire back had soaked through with it.

His face gradually turned pale, while his lips gradually turned blood-red. He kept his head lowered the whole time, as though forcibly suppressing something. Viewed from the side, his expression looked almost ferocious.

Soon, his body began to tremble, his hands pressed on the table curling into fists, as though something inside him were about to erupt!

Before long, a strange clicking sound gradually emerged, growing louder and louder — like the grinding of teeth, or like gnawing on something, the kind of sound that made one shudder involuntarily just imagining it.

Suddenly, the giant beast Zizhu appeared out of nowhere, landing at once on the table in front of him.

“Young master, hold on — Jiuwei has gone to find someone, he’ll be here soon,” Zizhu said urgently, its fur standing completely on end.

Among all who knew of the young master’s secret, only these four poisonous beasts were privy to it. Never had they imagined Consort Li would be unavailable — at a time like this, they had to help the young master get through it, had to keep his secret safe!

But upon hearing Zizhu’s words, Jun Buli abruptly swept it off the table with a swing of his hand, growling coldly, “Who told you to go find anyone? I can hold on!”

“Young master, forcing it down like this will end badly. It’s just one person — Jiuwei’s gone to find a criminal, not worth mourning!” Zizhu explained hastily.

Their master’s teeth had begun to itch — he needed to bite, had to bite someone. In the past, it had always been Consort Li who let him bite her. Her constitution was special — as long as the young master bit her a few times, it would pass.

But for a person of normal constitution, that would certainly get him killed, torn to shreds!

“I won’t bite anyone. Never!” Jun Buli roared in fury, suddenly raising his head. In that instant, his eyes turned blood red, his mouth stretching open to reveal two blood-red fangs!

“Young master, then tell me where Consort Li is, and I’ll go get her for you!” Zizhu said urgently, terrified of losing control of the situation, of being unable to control the young master, lest he do something he would regret.

Fortunately, Jun Buli still retained a shred of reason. He knew Consort Li was either locked in Prince Yao’s residence’s dungeon or being held at the Glazed Pavilion outside the city. He didn’t tell Zizhu where she was — he knew it was a trap. His mother had ordered Nanny Xu to keep this secret, precisely so she could catch him going there herself.

He couldn’t go now — and Zizhu couldn’t go either!

The secret carried within his body was an unsolvable riddle, one that would strike fear into anyone’s heart. He didn’t want his mother and father, who had endured so much to finally reach happiness, to worry over him further. Nor did he want his secret known by a third person beyond himself and Consort Li.

With one Consort Li, he could get through the rest of his life smoothly enough — but why did his mother have to go investigating him now!

Jun Buli forced himself to think about other things, trying to distract himself. But he’d overestimated his own control.

Before long, he couldn’t take it any longer, and bit down into his own hand!

“Young master!” Zizhu cried out in alarm, rushing to stop him, and at that very moment, Jiuwei the nine-tailed fox dragged in a living person.

It was a condemned prisoner, reeking all over, disheveled — Jiuwei hadn’t had time to clean him up at all.

It had spent a long time choosing carefully, precisely because it feared the young master might refuse if not given a prisoner already condemned to die by beheading the next day.

The moment the prisoner saw Jun Buli’s state, he fainted on the spot from fright.

“Get out! Get him out! I don’t want it! All of you, get out!” Jun Buli roared furiously, wishing he could kick Jiuwei clean out of the room.

“Young master, he’s a condemned criminal, look closely — a condemned criminal, set to be beheaded tomorrow! You’re not killing an innocent!” Jiuwei explained hastily.

“Take him and get out! Did you hear me!” Jun Buli roared in fury, his already blood-red eyes growing even more terrifying with agitation.

“Young master, just this once, the last time! Consort Li will be back soon!” the rabbit spirit, who had been hiding off to the side, couldn’t help but urge as well.

Jun Buli said nothing more, biting down hard on his own arm, forcing himself under control.

But to his shock, Zizhu, hardening its resolve, kicked the condemned prisoner right in front of Jun Buli!

In that instant, a flash of savagery crossed Jun Buli’s eyes. Unable to help himself, he released his arm, glaring viciously at the prisoner! All at once, the entire room fell silent. All four poisonous beasts held their breath, hearts pounding, not daring to move a muscle.

Jun Buli abruptly lowered his head, and at the same moment, all four poisonous beasts turned their faces away.

Yes — it was too cruel. Cruel enough that even they, accustomed as they were to tearing and biting, couldn’t bear to watch.