The grand empress dowager is now under house arrest inside her hall. Well, this verdict is kind of a light one for a grave crime as to kill the emperor. She's just staying mostly in her hall after all so there are not many changes in her life from now on.
Yes, this is very frustrating for our protagonists' side but what can they do? They still have to consider what the high-ranking eunuchs suggest. Since she served as the ruler in the empire when her son died until Emperor Yin Renshu got the throne, she still has the privilege to be treated nicely. Plus she's already old so they can't give her a heavy punishment.
The only changes she'll face from now on are that her hall is highly guarded, she's not allowed to leave her hall, and no guests are allowed to visit her. Not even her court lady or any of her personal maids. Not even the empress dowager.
As for the empress dowager, she didn't receive any punishments. She said that the grand empress dowager is only u
The sun is only starting to rise yet there's a commotion ongoing in the imperial palace. "Um... Your majesty? Can you loosen your grip a bit? It hurts!" The palace servants that Xu Zhengming and Prince Yin Wenyan meet on the way all follow these two with their gazes. Suspicious looks are on their faces, and some even murmured. Who would not be intrigued if his majesty the emperor is dragging his personal eunuch around with such a dark expression, and first thing in the morning on top of that? The usual gentleness in his face has left without a trace. The prince didn't say anything, not even giving a single glance to the silly eunuch but he indeed loosens his grip on Xu Zhengming's wrist a little. Truth be told, Xu Zhengming never saw his majesty like this. Not even when he's in his bad-temper state. It's like he really made a big mistake and offended his majesty that much to the point he showed the angriest expression that his face could make.
"Empress Dowager, what took you so long?" The grand empress dowager asks annoyingly the moment the empress dowager managed to break into her hall. She really used the main door and just walks in like nothing. The empress dowager is even carrying a tray with a teapot and a teacup on it. The old empress doesn't know how did she pass through the guards outside her hall but not that it matters to her. "Forget it, it's not important. Quick, do something. We cannot remain like this while they're enjoying their reign. Where's the head eunuch?" The empress dowager gracefully walks closer to the grand empress dowager and puts the tray on the nearby tea table. "I apologize for my late arrival, Grand Empress Dowager. Your hall is highly guarded day and night. It's hard for me to come in without anyone noticing." The smile on the empress dowager hides her annoyance. She's thinking that this old woman thinks too highly of herself when she doesn't possess t
Empress Xue Chi is currently fixing her hair with her wooden comb while facing the mirror. She's still inside the empress dowager's hall and is planning to ask permission to go outside. She wants to see Xu Zhengming and check his condition now. Ever since the empress is hidden in this hall, she hasn't heard anything about this eunuch. And so, she can't help herself from worrying about his well-being. "Ah Chi." The empress dowager is back in her palace. She went somewhere and the empress didn't bother to ask where she's gone from. "Your highness!" Empress Xue Chi puts her comb down and comes closer to the empress dowager. "Can I go out of this hall now?" The empress dowager doesn't seem to like her request. Despite that, she still asked, "Why? Where are you planning to go?" The empress lowers her head and plays with her fingers. Her cheeks slightly turn rosy. "I'd like to check Ming--- I mean, Eunuch Xu's condition. The last time I heard about
Sect Leader Zhao slides the door open. He sighs the moment he saw his child sulking inside his room. This child of his has been acting like this since yesterday and seems he's not planning to get out of his bed any time soon. It's like an important thing from him got snatched away from his tight grip. He's too upset. Zhao Yangguang enters the room and headed towards the sulking man. The sect leader sits on the edge of the bed and reaches his hand to stroke the other's hair. "Renshu, are you sure you're not going?" He said in the most soothing voice he can. Sect Leader Zhao knows very well that this child of his is aching and devastated about the news he heard yesterday. So, the former eighth-generation emperor of the current Dynasty, Yin Renshu, arrived two days ago in Wan Moli Hua Palace. At first, the sect leader, as well as all the elders in the sect, thought that he's just paying the sect a visit. Turns out, he wants to live here for good. Even th
Empress Xue Chi is currently fixing her hair with her wooden comb while facing the mirror. She's still inside the empress dowager's hall and is planning to ask permission to go outside. She wants to see Xu Zhengming and check his condition now. Ever since the empress is hidden in this hall, she hasn't heard anything about this eunuch. And so, she can't help herself from worrying about his well-being. "Ah Chi." The empress dowager is back in her palace. She went somewhere and the empress didn't bother to ask where she's gone from. "Your highness!" Empress Xue Chi puts her comb down and comes closer to the empress dowager. "Can I go out of this hall now?" The empress dowager doesn't seem to like her request. Despite that, she still asked, "Why? Where are you planning to go?" The empress lowers her head and plays with her fingers. Her cheeks slightly turn rosy. "I'd like to check Ming--- I mean, Eunuch Xu's condition. The last time I heard about
"Your highness!" Xu Zhengming rushed inside the hall. He's heading straight to where the empress is. But before he could even step on the circumference of the array, a hand pulled him back. It's the princess being cautious of what the array may do to them once they stepped upon it. On the other hand, the empress lifts her hand, about to reach it to Xu Zhengming but she stopped halfway the moment she sees the crimson red blood streaming across her arms, and the bruises on it. She looks at him again for some time, and then put her hand back down. There's no way Xu Zhengming would reach for her filthy hand. Too late, she can't be saved now... or rather no one will save her now. The weakened empress can only whisper in the thin air. "Why are you here of all times? I don't want you to see me like this." Even though she wants these words to reach Xu Zhengming, she can't say them any louder. Maybe there are really some things that are better left unsaid.
"Xiulan! Watch out!" A white shadow shows up in the skies and throws a flame on the enemy that's about to attack the first princess. Bull's eye! The flame hits on the opponent's forehead. Princess Yin Xiulan is occupied with dealing with these bloodthirsty creatures. Yes, another wave of these monsters is causing havoc inside the imperial palace. The innocent people who turned into these hideous creatures? The palace servants. She turns her head to the direction where the flame came from and saw his other twin, the previous emperor. "Renshu... why are you here?!" Even though he's wearing white robes underneath the white cloak that conceals his face, she could tell that it really is Yin Renshu. His built, the fire element of his spiritual root, and even his voice that is very much similar to Emperor Yin Wenyan. "Wrong. You should tell me 'thank you'." Yin Renshu landed on the ground near his sister. It was a smooth landing, he almost looks like
Xu Zhengming let go of the empress and immediately distanced himself from her highness. His throat is acting up again. And his pair of canine teeth aches. His heart starts to race and his blood rushes through his veins at an abnormally fast pace. He can feel that the poison within him got triggered. He grits his teeth as he clutches on his lapels. He thought the spirit herb already healed him completely. Turns out, there's still remaining poison that circulates in his body. Although it's not as intense and as painful as his previous metamorphosis, he's still afraid that he'll lose his consciousness again, and worse, he might attack people. It was hard for him to stand but he still managed to rise on his feet. He needs to get away from here or else, he might end up harming the empress. "Ming'er... you still have..." The empress couldn't finish what she wants to say. Uttering a word is too painful and hard for her in her state. She's very exhausted and