In the great hall, well-equipped imperial guards surrounded everyone. Mutilated bodies were being continuously carried out. In the silence, only faint crying could be heard.
The newly appointed scholars gathered in a corner of the hall. Their faces were pale, their clothes stained with someone’s blood. However, looking at each other, not one of them was injured or dead. Xun Yang and Liu Binbai exchanged glances, both filled with doubt and uncertainty.
The families of those “unfortunate” officials who had died were separately “invited” by the imperial guards to a side hall and placed under guard. The officials who luckily survived were invited to other palaces. As for important ministers like Wen Zong, Yan Ze, and Cui Yun, they were politely invited to the conference hall.
“Wen Daren, I admire you,” Yan Ze said, his face extremely unpleasant. Now, thinking back to the arrow that had been shot at him earlier, he still felt a lingering fear. He didn’t know why this old man Wen Zong was so strong, actually managing to lift him with one hand to dodge, saving his life.
However, his ungracious expression showed not a hint of gratitude.
Wen Zong calmly gathered his sleeves and said, “Yan Daren, there’s no need to thank me. This old man merely acted on impulse.”
Yan Ze’s face turned blue with anger at being rebuked. “His Majesty is so brutal and bloodthirsty.”
“Yan Daren, have you perhaps been frightened out of your wits?” Wen Zong said with concern. “This is clearly the work of the Black Armored Guards, rebellion and regicide. His Majesty’s life is now in grave danger. How dare you slander His Majesty like this?”
Yan Ze knew that Cui Yuxian would likely be unable to turn the tables this time. He closed his mouth in resentment.
Wen Zong sighed and looked at Xu Xiude, who was trembling and holding his large belly nearby. “Quickly, support your teacher. He’s been frightened out of his mind.”
“Yes, yes.” Xu Xiude obediently went to support Yan Ze, who gave him a cold look. However, Xu Xiude squinted his eyes and smiled sheepishly, whispering, “Teacher, times have changed. Since His Majesty has spared our lives… he must have more long-term plans. We must… learn to bow our heads.”
Yan Ze’s gaze finally darkened.
In the great hall, Zhao Qi fearfully hugged the arm of the person next to him. “Damn, so many dead people!”
The person next to him gave him a cool glance. When the imperial guards asked them to move, he shook off Zhao Qi’s arm. “Zhao Dashan, are you coming or not?”
Zhao Qi rolled his eyes to the sky, stood up with his hands behind his back, and walked while shaking his head and clicking his tongue. “The state of this brother’s death is quite miserable. This old man must have eaten so much of the people’s fat and grease… Hey, this thumb ring looks expensive—”
The person next to him grabbed his collar and said through gritted teeth, “Show some respect for the dead.”
Zhao Qi patted his belly and asked in surprise, “Are you pregnant? How many months along? How come I, the father, didn’t know? Oh my, this is truly a double blessing!”
The imperial guards escorting them all turned to look. The person pulling him turned red with anger and quickened his pace again.
Right behind them, the Loufan envoys, two burly old men, carefully supported the coughing Crown Prince, feeling terrified. The imperial guards escorting them were also startled by his coughing. The handkerchief he clutched was stained red. The Crown Prince smiled apologetically at them, “I’m sorry, it’s cold today, and my cough is rather severe.”
The deputy envoy next to him immediately wrapped him tightly in a fur coat. His face was already hidden, and now he looked even more like a snowball. Everyone around was afraid this snowman might melt in the rain, so they held twice as many umbrellas over him compared to other nobles.
Shen Yueli walked forward with a calm expression, passing by the Loufan and Southern Zhao envoys. She asked the leader at the front, “Is your His Majesty alright?”
However, the person only bowed politely without any response, “Princess, please.”
Shen Yueli frowned, looking towards the direction of the sleeping palace, and pressed her lips tightly.
The rain grew heavier.
In a narrow, secluded corner of the palace walls, a young man in light black armor wore a rain hat. Despite his thin frame, he almost completely blocked the small path.
Yang Man clutched the token in his hand. The rain made it difficult for him to keep his eyes open as he shouted shrilly, “Where did this dog slave come from? Get out of the way quickly.”
The rain hat lifted, revealing the young man’s pale face.
“Wujiu?” Yang Man’s heart instantly calmed. He quickly walked up to him and scolded, “What are you doing here? The palace is in chaos now. Quickly go home—no, take some gold and silver, and leave the capital immediately! Wait until things settle down before coming back. If anything happens to me, go to the villa in the southern suburbs outside the city. Dig up what I’ve hidden under that pond. It will ensure you a life of luxury. Go quickly!”
Yang Wujiu looked at him and slowly shook his head.
“You ungrateful thing! Is this the time to throw a tantrum?” Yang Man scolded in a lowered voice. The wrinkles on his face looked eerie and terrifying in the rain, but they also exposed his old age and fear. “If the Empress loses power, we’ll certainly meet a bad end. Leave quickly!”
“Father,” Yang Wujiu sniffled, “This son is unfilial.”
Yang Man frowned and said, “What nonsense are you talking?”
“I can’t let you pass,” Yang Wujiu clenched his fists and said in a deep voice, “Give me the token for mobilizing Cui family’s troops.”
Yang Man looked at him in shock, “Wujiu? Do you know what you’re saying!?”
“I do! I’m sorry, father!” He struck Yang Man on the back of the neck, then quickly supported him and placed him under a corner gate where he could avoid the rain.
The next moment, the people secretly protecting Yang Man rushed at him. However, before they could reach him, they were surrounded by dozens of suddenly appearing secret guards. The narrow palace path was instantly filled with a mixture of rain and blood.
Yang Wujiu looked down deeply at the old and frail Yang Man on the ground, clutched the token tightly, and walked into the rain without looking back.
A clap of thunder exploded in the sky.
Wang Dian suddenly startled awake. The candle by the bed flickered slightly. He instinctively reached for Liang Ye’s hand, only calming down after confirming his pulse was still beating. He reached out to feel Liang Ye’s forehead temperature – it was burning hot, he indeed had a fever.
Li Bu brought several imperial physicians who prepared two pots of medicinal soup, instructing him to feed it to Liang Ye at specific times. Wang Dian also had Yun Fu find some strong alcohol, using it to dampen a cloth and wipe Liang Ye’s palms and soles. Although he wasn’t sure if the alcohol would help, it was better than nothing.
In the middle of the night, Liang Ye began to talk deliriously, his body covered in cold sweat, trying to curl up into a ball. Wang Dian held his shoulders to keep him from moving, afraid he might tear his wounds.
“Get out…” Liang Ye was probably delirious from the fever. Even though he was unconscious, he was still fiercely aggressive, though his voice was hoarse and weak, with a hint of false bravado.
“Don’t move around,” Wang Dian held him down. Fortunately, the unconscious Liang Ye didn’t have much strength, and he could restrain him with one hand, freeing the other to wipe his sweat.
Liang Ye frowned, trying to push him away, but without much strength, he loosely grabbed his collar, mumbling something indistinctly. Wang Dian couldn’t hear clearly, so he leaned in to listen, “Zhen… will kill you all…”
“…” Wang Dian marveled at how diligently he played the tyrant even in his delirium. He placed a wet cloth on his forehead and sighed, “You’ve killed quite a few already, calm down a bit…”
Liang Ye seemed to recognize his voice, and after a long while, he murmured, “Wang Dian… Wang Dian…”
He called Wang Dian’s name over and over. At first, Wang Dian didn’t think much of it and was too lazy to respond. But Liang Ye’s voice sounded urgent and scared, so he finally couldn’t resist and responded, “I’m here.”
Liang Ye seemed to relax a bit, but his breathing was still heavy, and he couldn’t sleep peacefully in bed. “Wang Dian… it hurts, it’s painful.”
Wang Dian’s heart felt like it was being tightly wrung. He stroked Liang Ye’s face and coaxed him gently, “It won’t hurt after you take the medicine. I’ll blow on it for you.”
Liang Ye struggled to open his eyes and looked at him. Those eyes looked innocent and beautiful, but his gaze was unfocused and empty. He quickly closed them again and said softly, “Zhen is not in pain.”
However, he tightly held onto Wang Dian’s hand, not letting him leave. “Don’t run around.”
Wang Dian looked at him with a complicated expression. “…Alright.”
Unfortunately, Liang Ye seemed to be lucid for only this moment. He was restless the entire night, alternating between wanting to kill people and asking for white jade soup, either thirsty or cold, gritting his teeth fiercely saying he wasn’t wrong, and constantly calling Wang Dian’s name.
As dawn approached, this ancestor finally settled down, his fever having mostly subsided. Wang Dian, with dark circles under his eyes, leaned against the bed. His uninjured hand was still tightly held by Liang Ye, his palm damp with sweat.
His mother used to say that when he was sick with a fever, he could torment people for a whole night, harder to serve than an ancestor, unable to leave for even half a second. He always thought she was exaggerating, but now, having been worn out by Liang Ye, he believed it.
“Fortunately, His Majesty has a strong constitution. If it were an ordinary person, let alone recovering, they might not have made it through the first half of the night,” Li Bu also heaved a sigh of relief. “His Majesty should wake up soon. Please rest assured, Wang Daren.”
The imperial physician left to decoct medicine, feeling relieved. Wang Dian slid down from the bedside, sat on the footstool leaning against the bed, gently squeezing Liang Ye’s palm. He finally felt sleepy and tired, his eyelids heavily closing.
Half asleep, Wang Dian vaguely felt someone pinching his nose. He irritably opened his eyes.
Then he met Liang Ye’s bright eyes. Before he could feel joy, the next second, seeing Liang Ye’s position, he was so frightened his soul almost left his body. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”
Liang Ye’s wound was on his chest. He was originally lying flat on the bed, but now his whole body was twisted, lying face down, with the wound pressing against the edge of the bed. Wang Dian hurriedly supported his shoulders to position him correctly. Liang Ye lay on the bed, blinking innocently at him, “See, Zhen said nothing would happen.”
Wang Dian had a mouthful of curses stuck in his throat. He glared at him for a while, watching his mischievous hand reach for the tassels on the bed curtain. Finally seeming to come to his senses, his whole body suddenly lost strength. He sat down on the edge of the bed, rubbing his face hard, and said hoarsely, “It’s good that you’re alright.”
Liang Ye grinned at him. Wang Dian smiled back, reaching out to touch his pale face. Liang Ye instinctively nuzzled against his warm palm.
“First, drink your medicine,” Wang Dian picked up the still-warm medicinal soup from the side, removing the spoon inside.
Wang Dian supported the back of his neck and brought the bowl to his lips. Liang Ye licked his lips, “Aren’t you going to feed Zhen?”
“Hm?” Wang Dian’s gaze left the bowl.
“Like the previous times, mouth to mouth,” Liang Ye said brazenly. “Although Zhen was not fully conscious, Zhen vaguely remembers you personally feeding Zhen medicine, not only wiping Zhen’s body, but also gently coaxing Zhen—”
“The medicine is about to get cold,” Wang Dian expressionlessly pushed the bowl against his lips, then poured it all down in one go.
Liang Ye’s face instantly contorted with bitterness.
