The imperial palace.

The heavy vermilion doors creaked open slowly.

Crown Prince Zhao Yanluo was supported by two palace attendants, stepping across the high threshold, then helped onto the imperial carriage.

The palace messenger had urged hastily. He was corpulent, his leg was lame, and in the rush, he hadn’t even fastened his collar buttons.

The dignified Crown Prince of the nation looked rather disheveled no matter how one looked at it.

Zhao Yishi lifted his robe hem, quickly following behind the imperial carriage.

His figure was upright, wearing a gray-blue cloud-pattern robe. Even with swift steps, his posture remained steady.

Only in his silent expression was there a trace of deep worry.

After Prince Han’s failed plot, His Majesty’s mood had indeed been poor, but there had been no word of physical problems. Just a few days ago when the imperial physicians checked his pulse, all had been well.

Anxious in heart, Zhao Yishi’s steps quickened, almost drawing level with the imperial carriage.

Zhao Yanluo turned his head slightly, glancing at him coldly. In the dim light, the disgust in his eyes was undisguised.

As they crossed the Golden Water Bridge, suddenly a heartbroken cry came from the distance—

“His Majesty has passed away!”

The carriage wheel cracked with a snap, breaking apart. The carriage body shook violently, and Zhao Yanluo nearly rolled off the imperial carriage.

Palace attendants quickly surrounded him, supporting and assisting…

Zhao Yishi’s legs buckled and he knelt straight down on the ground, oblivious to everything around him.

His Majesty was gone?

Why so suddenly?

…

Zhu Manor.

Bedchamber.

In his sleep, Zhu Yuanmo vaguely heard knocking at the door.

“First Master, Third Master Xie’s man Ding Yi has arrived.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s eyes flew open. After a moment’s daze, he hurriedly threw on a robe and went out.

Seeing the person, he asked urgently, “Has something happened with Miss Yan?”

Ding Yi: “Third Master asks First Master to quickly check the ice cellar for any changes.”

Without another word, Zhu Yuanmo lifted his legs and walked. Halfway there, he suddenly thought of something and called to the personal servant following him, “Quickly summon Second and Third Masters.”

“Yes!”

Before long, everyone had arrived at the ice cellar entrance.

The three brothers exchanged glances, then Zhu Yuanmo took out the key and opened the ice cellar door.

Ding Yi, holding a lantern, walked in front.

Descending into the ice cellar, he raised the lantern high—then screamed in terror, flinging the lantern away.

Zhu Yuanmo took a few steps forward, his heart pounding like a drum.

Zhu Xuanjiu on the door plank had somehow turned into a skeleton, pale and ghostly, gleaming coldly in the lamplight.

“Elder Brother?”

“Elder Brother?”

The two brothers gathered around, hearts trembling, also stunned for a moment.

Zhu Yuanmo stood motionless for a good while before tremblingly pulling three copper coins from his clothes and tossing them to the ground.

All three landed face up.

Great fortune.

Tears suddenly welled up in Zhu Yuanmo’s eyes as he choked out, “Second Brother, Third Brother, Miss Yan has already resolved the heart demon for us.”

Resolved?

Zhu Yuanzhao and Zhu Yuanhao looked at each other, seemingly still unable to believe it happened so quickly.

Zhu Yuanhao said suspiciously, “Should we… first place him in the coffin?”

Zhu Yuanmo: “Do it.”

The coffin had long been prepared. The three brothers worked together to place the skeletal remains in the coffin, then closed the lid.

The coffin didn’t crack or explode, made no sound.

Zhu Yuanhao slapped his thigh and burst into tears. “The Zhu family is saved! Elder Brother is saved!”

Ding Yi stared at the coffin for a long while. His scattered soul returned to his body. “Three Masters, since the matter is concluded, I’ll return now to report to my master.”

Zhu Yuanmo grabbed him. “How did Third Master know there was activity in the ice cellar? Has Miss Yan returned?”

Miss Yan could be anywhere—who knew where she was!

Ding Yi scratched his head, about to speak when suddenly someone at the ice cellar entrance shouted loudly:

“First Master, terrible news! His Majesty has passed away—you’re ordered to enter the palace immediately.”

Zhu Yuanmo staggered, nearly falling.

So that star that fell from the heavens had ultimately landed upon His Majesty.

Seeing their elder brother frozen in place, Zhu Yuanzhao and Zhu Yuanhao quickly supported him from both sides, helping him up.

When mountains collapse, the Directorate of Astronomy was the busiest office. Their elder brother was still in his position—he really needed to enter the palace immediately.

Delaying the auspicious time would be a capital offense.

Just as they emerged from the ice cellar, another person came running toward them through the darkness.

Drawing near, they discovered it was the old chief steward’s son.

Zhu Yuanmo’s heart sank. He quickly asked, “What’s happened to the old chief steward?”

“Replying to First Master, my father… he just passed away.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s eyes nearly popped out. Why not earlier, why not later—why at this precise moment?

“Second Brother.”

“Elder Brother, rest assured.”

Zhu Yuanzhao gently pushed Zhu Yuanmo, indicating he shouldn’t delay. “I’ll handle this matter.”

“The old chief steward worked hard for our family his entire life. We must give him a proper, dignified funeral. Don’t worry about the cost.”

“Yes!”

“I have urgent business at the palace. I must go first.”

Zhu Yuanmo patted the old steward’s son on the shoulder, returned to his room to put on court robes, then hurried out again.

A carriage waited at the manor gate.

Just as he was about to board, he saw someone on horseback galloping from the distance.

Reaching the Zhu manor gate, the person dismounted. Seeing Zhu Yuanmo, he too was startled.

“What a coincidence, meeting Lord Zhu here.”

The person stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “I’m the steward from the Shen manor’s old imperial physician’s household. Our old imperial physician just passed away. My master asks you to come quickly to assess the fortune.”

As he spoke, the person pulled several banknotes from his clothes and handed them over.

Old Imperial Physician Shen had also died?

At this point, Zhu Yuanmo actually calmed down.

Since ancient times there had been an unwritten belief that before and after important figures died—emperors, generals, ministers—Heaven would arrange for them to take some people along.

He pushed the banknotes away.

“Tell your master that when mountains collapse, I must urgently attend to palace duties and have no time to help with this. Please seek someone else more capable.”

Having said this, he took the servant’s hand and boarded the carriage.

As the curtain fell, Zhu Yuanmo spat forcefully toward the outside.

…

“Dong—”

“Dong—”

“Dong—”

The funeral bell belonging exclusively to Emperor Yonghe Zhao Ji rang out, one peal after another.

Eighteenth year of Yonghe, third day of the third month, three-quarters past the hour of Zi.

Emperor Zhao Ji died in Qianqing Palace at the age of sixty-three.

According to palace attendants from Qianqing Palace, Emperor Yonghe’s death was somewhat suspicious.

At dinner he had been fine, eating his usual amount. After reviewing memorials, he also retired at the normal time.

At midnight, the attendant on duty heard ghostly wailing sounds.

Immediately after, a “thud” came from the inner chamber. The attendant rushed in to look, only to see the Emperor disheveled, lying stiffly on the stone floor.

The attendant thought the Emperor had suffered a nightmare and rolled off the dragon bed, quickly moving forward to help him up.

With this attempt at assistance, he was scared out of his wits.

The old Emperor’s body had long grown cold.

That night, a huge catalpa wood coffin was carried into Qianqing Palace.

The Emperor was bathed and dressed by old palace attendants before being placed in the coffin.

The coffin was made from golden thread nanmu wood from Yunnan Prefecture—precious materials, exquisite craftsmanship.

Crown Prince Zhao Yanluo and Crown Prince’s son Zhao Yishi observed mourning and kept vigil.

Because the old Emperor left no final words, the Crown Prince smoothly succeeded to the throne.

A state cannot be without a ruler for a single day. After deliberation by the Ministry of Rites, the enthronement ceremony was scheduled for ten days hence, on the thirteenth of the third month.

Thus fell the curtain on a generation of emperors.

Zhao Yanluo, who had endured bitterly for eighteen years, finally sat upon that dragon throne of supreme power.

That year, he was forty-three.