The palace was filled with gossip, yet the two paid no heed as they walked hand in hand to the pavilion in the imperial garden.
Though distracted, Gu Yanxi instinctively removed his cloak and draped it over Hua Zhi. The wind was blowing today, and the open pavilion felt even chillier with its exposed design.
Hua Zhi pulled him to sit beside her and relayed the events in concise yet thorough detail. Yanxi, who had initially been furious, gradually calmed as he listened. Instead of anger, he felt a profound sorrow.
Had his uncle been foolish from the start—a selfish, unworthy ruler—he would have been no different from Ling Wang in his eyes. But he wasn’t. This was the man who had once held him with fervor, declaring he would become a monarch praised by all; the one who had guided his small hand over the topographic map, tracing the vast lands of Daqing; the one who patted his shoulder, calling them uncle and nephew, the wise judge and the prized steed of the Gu family...
He could accept his uncle passing from old age, but he could not bear the thought of him dying in such a humiliating manner. He couldn’t fathom the shame and fury his uncle must have felt when the truth came to light—his dignity trampled underfoot, a man once at the pinnacle of power cast down in the most wretched way. In his final moments, how deep must his resentment have been? How bitter his regret!
Hua Zhi stood and embraced his head, gently stroking his neck without a word.
Words held little weight now—any speech would have been superfluous.
Gu Yanxi wrapped an arm around her waist, careful not to hold too tightly lest he lose control and hurt her. After a moment, he rose, adjusted her cloak, and said, "You’ve endured much these days. Go back and rest well. Leave what comes next to me."
"I’ll stay with you," Hua Zhi replied, tilting her head with a gentle smile. "I want to be by your side."
Gu Yanxi traced the dimple on her cheek, a faint smile touching his lips. "I have quarters in the palace. I’ll have someone escort you there."
"Alright."
Hua Zhi didn’t ask what he intended to do. She knew he would not stand idle.
And Gu Yanxi certainly did not.
Watching A Zhi depart, he turned and transformed into a cold-faced executioner, his baleful aura blazing as he strode straight toward the imperial prison.
The so-called imperial prison was merely an ordinary room, dubbed as such by the emperor’s decree, typically reserved for members of the royal family.
The guards silently stepped aside as he lashed his whip, shattering the door in one strike. With another flick, he dragged the Fourth Prince out and flung him to the ground. It took little effort—the prince, who had never known hardship, was already wailing in pain.
Without a word, Gu Yanxi wielded his whip with precision, strike after strike landing on the prince’s body. He meant to inflict pain, not death—dying would be too merciful.
"Cousin Heir..."
"Gag him."
Chen Qing, who had entered the palace with him, showed no hesitation. He stepped forward, tore off the Fourth Prince’s outer robe, ripped a sleeve, and stuffed it into his mouth. With the remaining fabric, he bound the prince securely, ensuring he wouldn’t cause further trouble and provoke his master’s wrath.
The whip fell like rain. The Fourth Prince rolled on the ground, trying to escape, but the lash followed him relentlessly. For a time, only the crack of the whip and muffled groans filled the air.
Yet instead of cooling his rage, Gu Yanxi’s fury burned hotter. He yanked the prince close and lifted him by the collar. "Gu Chengyang, you are unworthy as a subject and as a son!"The Fourth Prince repeatedly shook his head, looking as if he had something to say, but Gu Yanxi paid him no mind. He believed every word A Zhi had spoken.
"Since you cannot control your third leg, there is no need to keep it."
The Fourth Prince instinctively sensed danger, but before he could react, a chill swept over his lower body. As he was about to look down, an excruciating pain shot through him. His face flushed crimson, veins bulging in his neck as he let out a muffled roar toward the sky. He doubled over, curling into a ball on the ground, writhing in agony.
"My lord..." Chen Qing was startled and wanted to intervene, but it was too late. Staring at the severed flesh on the ground, he felt a headache coming on. What was to be done now? His lord had actually castrated the Fourth Prince. Even if the prince had been sentenced to death by the late Emperor, he was still a member of the royal family. If this got out, how would the imperial household save face?
"Throw it outside the palace for the dogs." Gu Yanxi glanced down at his own sword, then tossed it aside in disgust. "Find someone to treat his wounds. Don't let him die so easily."
"Yes."
"Since you refuse to act like a human, I will make you regret ever being one." Gu Yanxi cast a cold glance at Gu Chengyang before turning to leave, his eyes filled with contempt as if looking at a pile of rotten offal.
Outside, the seven directors of the Seven Constellation Bureau stood in orderly formation. Upon seeing their leader emerge, they knelt on one knee in unison to accept blame.
Gu Yanxi closed his eyes briefly. "Before I left, I explicitly ordered you to monitor the movements of Like Moon Hall, keep a close watch on Haoyue, and report any abnormalities to the senior official immediately. Did you carry out this duty?"
The director of the First Bureau bowed his head and replied, "We dare not shirk responsibility, but we truly did not neglect our duties in the slightest."
"Very well. Then tell me, when did Gu Chengyang enter Like Moon Hall? Could you not sense something amiss when a prince frequently visited an imperial consort's palace?"
The Seven Constellation Bureau members were equally frustrated. The director of the Third Bureau responded, "You have been away often and may not be aware that the Fourth Prince suddenly developed an interest in the I Ching. The late Emperor was particularly fond of such topics and often summoned the Fourth Prince for discussions. After Haoyue entered the palace, the Emperor spent most of his time in Like Moon Hall and later frequently summoned the Fourth Prince there. As for what transpired inside... we beg your forgiveness, but we have never been able to gather any intelligence from Like Moon Hall. We only learned of the situation when it was exposed that day."
"And the children? Do you not know how they entered the palace either?"
"We have since investigated and confirmed the details," the director of the Fourth Bureau replied. "It appeared to be arranged through the Xu family, but in reality, the Emperor provided cover. Otherwise, the Seven Constellation Bureau would not have been completely unaware."
In other words, those children had actually received official approval from the late Emperor himself. The late Emperor had known from the very beginning that he was drinking human blood and consuming human hearts. It was he who had led Gu Chengyang into Like Moon Hall. The root of this palace corruption lay with the late Emperor himself. Reaching this conclusion, Gu Yanxi nearly laughed aloud.
He could punish Gu Chengyang and make Haoyue wish she were dead, but he could not even justify seeking vengeance for his uncle. The one who had sown the seeds was also the one who reaped the consequences. Whom could he possibly blame now?
His molars clenched so tightly that his jaw ached from the strain. Gu Yanxi forcibly suppressed all his emotions. "In the face of such a grave matter within the palace, the Seven Constellation Bureau failed to fulfill its duties. All members currently in the capital shall report to the disciplinary hall to receive thirty lashes."
"Yes, we accept our punishment."Gu Yanxi's gaze swept over them. How could he not know their frustration? It was just like the resentment filling his own heart, yet he didn't know who to be angry with or who to hate. This had nothing to do with whether he was capable or not, because the one who had done this was their sovereign, the person they had to obey—and he was already dead.
His imperial uncle was dead.
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