Coroner's Diary

Yan Han's voice was urgent, startling Yuan Qing into confusion, "Your Majesty? It's not dark yet, there's no need to light the lamps!"

Sweat pouring down his face, Yan Han scrambled up from the bed. Though his eyes were wide open, all he saw was pitch black. He frantically stretched out his hands, "Yuan Qing?! Yuan Qing! Bring a lamp..."

At this moment, Yan Han seemed possessed—his dark hair disheveled, his words delirious. Yuan Qing quickly steadied Yan Han's arm, raising his voice, "Your Majesty?! Your Majesty, this servant is here. It's not dark yet, there's no need for lamps. What's wrong with Your Majesty's eyes?"

The moment Yan Han touched Yuan Qing's hand, he gripped it tightly, tilting his ear as if straining to hear like a deaf person. Catching fragments of words, Yan Han's expression shifted abruptly. He immediately reached for his eyes, "Not dark yet... Then... what's wrong with my eyes? My eyes can't see... Summon the imperial physician quickly..."

Yuan Qing was horrified. How could Yan Han, who had only coughed up blood, now be blind? "Your Majesty, is this true? How could you suddenly lose your sight? Is the room too dim? This servant will light a lamp..."

Though dusk had not fully fallen, the sun had set, leaving the room rather dark. Hearing this, Yan Han released his grip. But even after Yuan Qing lit the lamp, Yan Han still saw nothing. "My eyes truly cannot see. Send for the imperial physician! Now!"

Yuan Qing glanced outside—there wasn't a single young eunuch in sight. Trembling, he said, "Your Majesty, it seems something has happened. This servant sent someone to fetch the physician this morning, but they haven't returned. Commander Zhao is also missing, and even Wang Fu and the other junior attendants have vanished."

Yan Han's brow furrowed deeply. Just then, a faint sound came from nearby. Yan Han turned sharply, "Who? Who's there?"

Yan Ze stepped forward, "Your Majesty, it is I."

Yuan Qing hurriedly added, "The Crown Prince has remained here all along, never leaving."

Suddenly blind and hard of hearing, Yan Han—who had ruled as emperor for twenty years—found himself utterly helpless, as if he had lost control over everything and everyone. In his panic, hearing Yan Ze's presence brought him a sliver of comfort. "Yan Ze, you're here? Where is Zhao Yu?"

Yan Ze ignored the question, saying only, "Your Majesty, the hour grows late."

A cold realization flashed through Yan Han's mind. "What time is it?"

Yuan Qing replied, "Your Majesty, it is already a quarter past the Hour of the Dog."

A quarter past the Hour of the Dog—dusk was approaching. Thinking of Yan Chi and his army of over a hundred thousand, Yan Han grew frantic. "Have you written it?"

Yan Ze answered, "It is done. Now, we need only affix Your Majesty's imperial seal."

Upon hearing this, Yan Han patted Yuan Qing urgently, "Go, fetch the imperial seal—"

Following the order, Yuan Qing headed toward the outer study, while Yan Ze remained, watching Yan Han.

With Yuan Qing gone, Yan Han lost his support. His dark hair was disheveled, sweat drenched his body, and his face was a mask of terror and desperation. He repeatedly touched his eyes, his fear growing with each passing moment. In the outer study, Yuan Qing moved behind the imperial desk, activated the hidden Mechanism, and retrieved the imperial seal. As he turned, he saw Zhao Yu standing at the palace entrance. Startled at first, Yuan Qing then felt a surge of relief. "Commander Zhao! You've finally come! Hurry, accompany me to see His Majesty—something has happened to him—"Zhao Yu nodded, and Yuan Qing hurried toward the sleeping quarters. Upon reaching the chamber door, he anxiously announced, "Your Majesty, this servant has brought it."

Yan Ze approached the writing desk, waiting for the imperial seal to be affixed, when Yan Han suddenly interjected, "Yuan Qing, you read it. You read it aloud. Though I can no longer see, I can still listen..."

Yuan Qing acknowledged the command and stepped before Yan Ze, though he hesitated as he looked at him.

Yan Ze glanced at Yan Han and gracefully stepped aside. "Eunuch Yuan, proceed."

Only then did Yuan Qing step forward and unroll the memorial. He began reading from the very beginning: "I, possessing meager virtue, have ascended to the great succession, intending to renew the empire and restore the ancestral traditions. Unexpectedly, I gradually developed a self-willed heart, leading to an inability to tolerate others. In the 232nd year of the Great Zhou dynasty..."

Yuan Qing read each word painstakingly slowly. Yan Han craned his neck listening, realizing that Yan Ze had indeed documented all the rumors circulating. To Yan Han's surprise, Yan Ze seemed to know the intricate details of these events with startling clarity, presenting them in a methodical and vivid manner. Yan Han had assumed Yan Ze would merely go through the motions, never expecting him to craft such a damning account. The more he listened, the deeper his confusion grew, and his anger swelled, barely restrained from interrupting Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing’s forehead glistened with a thin layer of sweat as he read. After laboriously finishing the section on Consort Jin’s case, he thought it was over, but as he unrolled the memorial further, several more pages remained.

"The above ten crimes do not fully encapsulate my transgressions. If we speak of heinous sins, it is I..."

Yuan Qing, already trembling with fear as he read, caught sight of the following words and his jaw dropped in shock. He could no longer utter a single syllable. Staring at the memorial in horror, he then turned disbelievingly to look at Yan Ze.

As Yuan Qing fell silent, Yan Han grew impatient. "Why have you stopped?! What other crime is there? All the outside rumors have been recorded—what more could there be?"

Yuan Qing’s heart felt as if it would leap out of his throat. He parted his lips but could not force out a single word. Yan Han snapped, "Yuan Qing?!"

Seeing Yuan Qing paralyzed with fear, Yan Ze spoke gently, "What are you hesitating for, Eunuch Yuan? Read on quickly."

Yan Ze’s tone was not the least bit intimidating, yet Yuan Qing, gazing at his composed demeanor, recoiled as if he had seen a ghost. His hands shaking, he stammered, "It is... it is I... I who raised troops in rebellion, was later defeated by wind and thunder, and by chance was rescued, then usurped my elder brother’s position. I have violated moral principles, defiled my sister-in-law, conspired to murder my ministerial nephew, and for over twenty years governed under the name of Yan Huai, the twelfth-generation direct eldest grandson of the Great Zhou dynasty. I..."

"Silence!" Yan Han, who had frozen like stone at the words "raised troops in rebellion," finally roared out. His entire body trembled uncontrollably as he pointed blindly in the direction of the voice. "Yuan Qing... what... what are you reading... what are you saying?!"

Yan Han screamed like a madman. In his rage, he forgot his blindness and scrambled frantically off the dragon bed, only to tumble heavily to the floor. Despite the hard fall, he struggled to get up, intent on tearing the document from Yuan Qing’s hands. Startled, Yuan Qing flinched, and the memorial dropped to the ground. "Your Majesty, this... this was written by the heir apparent... this servant..."

Yan Han’s brow furrowed tightly, refusing to believe what he had heard. "What?! Written by Yan Ze? How is that possible... It cannot be..."Yuan Qing knelt on the ground in terror, picking up the memorial but feeling as if it were a hot potato—unsure whether to hold it or drop it. Yan Ze stood calmly nearby, unmoved by the chaos before him. Outside, night had fallen, and though palace lanterns were lit inside the room, the gloom seemed to deepen. Yan Ze’s face, half-hidden in the shifting light, revealed a chilling coldness that struck fear into the heart. Yuan Qing began to understand, finally realizing the source of the turmoil in the palace.

Yan Han struggled to his feet but staggered in a circle, losing track of Yuan Qing’s position. He roared furiously, "Yan Ze! Yan Ze? How dare you write these things... Who... Who ordered you to write this?! Was it Yan Chi?! You have the audacity not to inform me, your emperor..."

As Yan Han continued his loud rebukes, he shouted, "Guards! Guards—"

At his call, Zhao Yu, who had been standing guard outside, stepped to the doorway. Hearing the commotion, Yan Han turned toward the entrance. "Who is it? Who’s there?"

Zhao Yu replied, "Your Majesty, it is your humble servant."

Recognizing the voice, Yan Han’s face lit up with relief. "Zhao Yu?! You’ve come at the right moment! Quickly, seize the heir apparent of Prince Yi—I suspect him of colluding with the enemy—"

Zhao Yu remained motionless. Frowning, Yan Han barked, "Zhao Yu! Hurry and—"

"Your Highness, everything at the palace gates is prepared."

Zhao Yu cut off Yan Han, reporting directly to Yan Ze instead. Yan Ze nodded and said calmly, "Affix the imperial seal to His Majesty’s Edict of Self-Accusation. Deliver both the edict and the seal to Prince Rui. Inform him that he may enter the city—this is my gift to him."

Accepting the order, Zhao Yu stepped forward. Yuan Qing, trembling like a leaf, handed over the memorial without any resistance. Zhao Yu took it, stamped it with the imperial seal, and Yan Han nearly lost his mind. "Yan Ze! I trusted you, and you betray me—Yuan Qing! Send the order! Where are the imperial guards? Where are they?!"

Yuan Qing cowered, too frightened to utter a word. Zhao Yu wrapped up the memorial and the seal, bowed, and left.

Hearing the retreating footsteps, Yan Han bellowed, "Zhao Yu! Zhao Yu, halt! I sentence you to the extermination of your nine clans!"

Zhao Yu departed without a backward glance. Yan Han stumbled back three steps and collapsed to the floor. At this point, what was left for him not to understand?

Yan Ze and Zhao Yu had conspired, using his trust to seize control of the palace. Though he remained the emperor of Great Zhou, he was now nothing but a prisoner!

How... how could he have trusted Yan Ze?! Overwhelmed by rage, the headache that had plagued him earlier returned. Clutching his head and leaning against the dragon throne, Yan Han’s voice trembled as he spoke, "You... why... I trusted you so much, yet you dare... ah..."

The pain was so intense that Yan Han let out a furious roar and thrashed about. His hands flailed blindly until they found the dragon throne, and in his agony, he began bashing his head against its white jade edge.

Watching this, Yan Ze’s voice carried a tone of mocking laughter. "Yan Han, even now, you still don’t understand why."Yan Han banged his head repeatedly, and within a few strikes, bloody foam trickled down his forehead. Yan Ze continued leisurely, "Twenty-three years ago, when you were still Prince Gong, your fondness for martial arts led you to befriend a pugilist from the southern frontier of Shu who excelled in poison techniques. This person taught you little of martial arts but gave you one of the most vicious poisons in the world, named Butterfly Dream, derived from the extremely toxic five-colored butterfly of Shu..."

By the time Yan Ze reached this point, Yan Han had turned around in disbelief. Seeing the shock on his face, Yan Ze smiled faintly. "You remember now. You obtained this poison and, four years later, used it on someone—a person who had once saved your life. This benefactor of yours died suddenly from the poison. She was one of the finest physicians in the world, yet she could not identify the toxin, for it was colorless, odorless, and only detectable after it took effect. At the tender age of twenty, she died abruptly in her residence. Her final words were for her family to leave the capital... Her only son, obsessed with uncovering the cause of her death, repeatedly infiltrated the palace to investigate. Sensing this, you ruthlessly targeted her son as well, using the same poison. Unfortunately, the dose was too light—he only lost his eyesight but did not perish."

"He suffered the same poison as his mother but dared not reveal it was poison. He found a perfect excuse... Later, they indeed left the capital. You thought you could rest easy from then on, but you never imagined that a child would never forgive the one who killed his mother."

Yan Ze's tone was calm at first, but by the end, it carried a sharp edge of ferocity.

Yan Han opened his mouth, but pain prevented him from uttering a word. Yan Ze smiled again. "That's right. Later, I found the same poison. Five days ago, the tea Yan Sui served you contained it. Yesterday and today, your medicine was also laced with it. How does it feel?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Han finally understood everything and realized Yan Ze intended to kill him. Knowing the potency of the poison, he understood he would not survive. Though blind, he instantly surged with murderous intent. He scrambled to his feet and staggered toward the left wall of the dragon bed, fumbling until he found the Dragon's Roar Sword hanging there. Drawing the blade, he swung it toward Yan Ze based on memory.

Like a madman, he slashed wildly in all directions. The curtains in the bedchamber were shredded, and ornaments on the high cabinets shattered across the floor.

Yuan Qing shrank back in terror, hiding in a corner. Yan Ze, however, let out a cold laugh. "You have only the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. When you reach the underworld, remember to kneel and apologize to my mother."

Yan Han, who had struggled to locate Yan Ze, went completely berserk upon hearing this and lunged forward with a stab. But Yan Ze effortlessly dodged and added, "And don't forget your pitiful elder brother. You committed such heinous, immoral deeds—who knows how many lifetimes as a beast you'll have to endure before you can be reborn as a human—"

"I—I will kill you—"

"I—I am better than him—"

Yan Han was truly insane now. Blind, hard of hearing, and tormented by excruciating pain in his head, he was further provoked by Yan Ze's words. He hacked and slashed relentlessly, following the sound of Yan Ze's voice. The once opulent and elegant inner chamber descended into chaos: porcelain lay shattered everywhere, items from low cabinets, couches, and desks were flung about, and curtains and gauze drapes were torn to ribbons. The entire bedchamber was left in such disarray that there was scarcely a place to set foot.At a certain moment, Yan Han suddenly slashed his blade onto the fallen crane-head lantern stand. With a loud clang, the palace lantern's candle wax immediately fell onto the floor and curtains. The gauze curtains caught fire instantly, and the flames raced upward along the drapery, quickly reaching the beams of the bedchamber. The ceiling was also layered with overlapping curtains, and once the fire erupted, it rapidly spread throughout the room. Yuan Qing, who had been cowering in a corner, witnessed this scene and screamed in terror, "Fire! Fire—"

As soon as he finished shouting, he hurriedly tried to flee outside. Hearing the commotion, Yan Han, his eyes wide with fury and his face contorted in rage, roared, "No one is allowed to leave!"

While shouting, he frantically groped toward the direction of the dragon bed. Yuan Qing, who had only taken a few steps, was startled by this and cried out, "This is bad—"

Before he could finish his exclamation, Yan Han threw himself onto the dragon bed. He felt around a certain spot on the left side of the jade carving, and soon, the half-open palace doors slammed shut with a bang. Iron bars dropped with a series of thuds over the doors and windows, sealing off all exits!

Hearing this, Yan Han burst into loud laughter. "Yan Ze! It is heaven that seeks my demise, not you! So what if I die? You shall not live either—"

The flames, following the curtains, first engulfed the dragon bed. The embroidered silk drapery, adorned with soaring dragons and phoenixes, caught fire instantly, swiftly enveloping Yan Han beside the bed. Yet, Yan Han seemed oblivious to the searing pain, standing motionless as he continued to spew his arrogant words.

Yuan Qing, terrified, scrambled to find an escape but found none. Meanwhile, Yan Ze stood at a distance, calmly watching as the flames consumed Yan Han.

The fire, like a serpent, crawled up Yan Han's robes. Only then did he let out a sudden, agonized scream. He tried to flee but tripped over debris on the floor, collapsing into the sea of flames. Yan Ze took two steps back and coldly declared to the writhing, burning figure, "You should have died in the fire back then. Now, this manner of death is nothing but divine will. Go now, and in the underworld, do not forget to see that the throne of Great Zhou belongs to another—"

The throne was Yan Han's greatest obsession. Hearing these words in his dying moments, he could only let out a despairing, mournful cry. The flames grew fiercer, and on this autumn night in the 241st year of Great Zhou's history, they mercilessly swallowed Yan Han's last breath.

Meanwhile, outside the imperial city, Yan Chi was receiving a gift personally delivered by Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu had come under the cover of night, still clad in his deputy commander uniform of the imperial guards. He knelt before Yan Chi with the reverence due to an emperor and said, "The heir apparent of Prince Yi ordered this humble official to deliver this item, stating that Your Highness may enter the city upon receiving it." After a brief pause, Zhao Yu added, "Arrangements have been made at the palace gates, and the Duke of Wei and the heir apparent of Anyang Marquis are already awaiting Your Highness at the city gates." With a clasped fist, he urged, "I beg Your Highness to enter the city at once—"

Yan Chi opened the package and immediately laid eyes on the Great Zhou's imperial jade seal and the Edict of Self-Accusation.

He skimmed through the edict, and upon reaching the final pages, his expression shifted abruptly. He asked, "Where is the heir apparent of Prince Yi?"

Zhao Yu replied, "When this humble official left, His Highness was still confronting the emperor in the imperial bedchamber."Yan Chi nodded, signaling Zhao Yu to rise. He had been waiting for Yan Ze's message, and now that two days had passed, he had already marshaled his troops by afternoon. Upon receiving this news, he could immediately enter the city. Summoning Chu Fei Sheng and others, he issued the order. Half an hour later, with Yan Chi and Qin Guan leading the way, they brought over a hundred thousand troops to the gates of Lin'an City. The gates, originally closed, suddenly swung open at the sight of the Northwest Frontier Army.

Yue Jia and the Duke of Wei waited inside the city gates. Upon seeing Yan Chi outside, they immediately knelt with all the Garrison Battalion soldiers guarding the area in welcome.

"Welcome, Prince Rui, into the city—"

Such a ceremonial welcome was the ultimate submission. Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, urging his horse through the dim gate passage, re-entering the long-absent capital with the bearing of an emperor. He had been away from the capital for eight months, leaving under the label of a rebel. Back then, he never imagined he would return so soon, and in such a completely different identity.

Qin Guan, following behind Yan Chi, also felt deeply moved. Eight months away from the capital had changed everything. Through twists of fate and turmoil, she and Yan Chi had ultimately embarked on this Path. The capital within the gate passage was familiar to her, yet also strange. This time, she would not return to the Loyal Marquis Manor in the east of the city but would follow this imperial street all the way to the imperial palace at its end. She would stand by Yan Chi's side and ascend to the position revered by all.

Qin Guan furrowed her brows, a sense of unprecedented gravity and mission suddenly arising within her.

"Greetings, Prince Rui! We have been waiting for you for a long time!"

As Yan Chi rode into the city and approached Yue Jia and Peng Huaichu, Yue Jia clasped his fists and spoke thus.

Mounted on his tall steed, Yan Chi swept his gaze over the Garrison Battalion soldiers. Most of them feared him, keeping their heads bowed and not daring to look up.

Yan Chi focused his eyes. "Rise, all of you! I have come to uphold the heavenly Path. Now, the foolish emperor's Edict of Self-Accusation is in my hands. By pledging allegiance to me, you prove yourselves loyal subjects and fine generals of Great Zhou. In these troubled times tonight, the enforcement of the curfew in the city still relies on your efforts—"

"We obey your command, Your Highness!"

The soldiers responded in unison. Only then did Yan Chi withdraw his gaze and look at Yue Jia and the other. "Duke of Wei, remain here to enforce the curfew. Heir Apparent Yue, accompany me."

Yue Jia and Peng Huaichu both acknowledged with nods. Just as Yan Chi was about to urge his horse forward, he suddenly frowned and looked toward the end of the imperial street.

Yue Jia and the others, sensing something amiss, also focused their gaze and saw a crimson glow lighting up half the night sky in the distance.

Yue Jia hurriedly said, "It's the palace! The palace is on fire!"

Yan Chi's frown deepened. "There's no time to lose. Let's head to the palace first."

Saying this, he ordered Chu Fei Sheng to keep a hundred thousand troops outside, taking only twenty thousand trusted soldiers of the Northwest Frontier Army toward the palace gates.

It was already midnight, and the entire capital was under curfew.

The silent streets were devoid of people, only the terrifying blaze at the end of the imperial street visible. The hoofbeats of the twenty thousand Northwest Frontier Army soldiers thundered like a storm. The noble officials and common people hiding anxiously in dark houses all knew that Great Zhou was about to undergo a monumental change!

The palace gates were indeed already prepared. When Yan Chi arrived before them, all the imperial guards inside the palace came to kneel in welcome. Whether out of genuine submission or compelled by circumstances, at this point, no one dared to question or show disrespect to Yan Chi, even though he had brought only twenty thousand troops.Upon entering the palace gates, someone immediately reported, "Your Highness Prince Rui, it is His Majesty's bedchamber that caught fire. After the deputy commander left, only His Majesty, Prince Yi's heir apparent, and Eunuch Yuan remained in the bedchamber. When we noticed something amiss and went to extinguish the fire, we found the doors and windows sealed shut. Before we could open them, the flames had already spread."

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, "Has the fire been contained? Has it spread elsewhere?"

"It has been contained! The fire remained within the confines of Chongzheng Hall and did not spread elsewhere. We are still fighting the blaze!"

Hearing this, Yan Chi felt relieved, "The imperial guards shall extinguish the fire at full speed."

With this command, more people immediately headed towards Chongzheng Hall. Yan Chi stood at the very place where he had first entered the palace, casting his gaze over the majestic imperial city that had stood for over a century. The aura of battle around him intensified sharply. "Xiao Cheng, Zhao Yu, secure the palace grounds. Execute anyone who takes advantage of the chaos to cause trouble without mercy. Chu Fei Sheng, Yue Jia, summon all officials and titled members of the imperial clan to the palace immediately. There's no time to waste—tonight, this prince will quell the turmoil in the capital!"

The three men acknowledged the orders and, within moments, led their respective teams away—some delving deep into the palace confines, others exiting to summon the officials. Before long, only Yan Chi and Qin Guan remained at the forefront of the procession.

Yan Chi turned to Qin Guan. Though they weren't riding together, he reached out and took her hand from three feet away. "Let's go see the Empress Dowager."

This palace seizure, involving a military force no smaller than in any major upheaval in Great Zhou's history, stirred the least turbulence and chaos in the capital. Yan Chi and Qin Guan ordered the remaining Northwest Frontier Army to wait outside the first ceremonial gate, taking only a dozen or so men with them to the Longevity and Health Palace. The closer they got, the more serene it became. If not for the fires visible in the direction of Chongzheng Hall, the two might have felt as if they had returned to eight months prior—except back then, they hadn't even been permitted to ride horses within the palace grounds.

Upon arriving at the Longevity and Health Palace, palace servants had already opened the gates. Although aware of Yan Chi's seizure of the palace that night, the residents of Longevity and Health Palace regarded Yan Chi and Qin Guan with warmth and familiarity, showing no trace of the fear typically reserved for those staging a coup.

As Yan Chi and Qin Guan crossed the front courtyard, Yan Sui came running out in small, hurried steps.

Yan Sui had been rushing, but at the sight of Yan Chi and Qin Guan, he halted abruptly. His eyes shone brightly as he looked at them—somewhat nervous upon seeing Yan Chi, but the corners of his lips lifted uncontrollably when his gaze fell on Qin Guan. Qin Guan's own eyes lit up at the sight of him. "Ninth Highness—"

Qin Guan hurried forward, and as she leaned down, Yan Sui threw himself into her arms, hugging her tightly.

He only reached her waist, a small figure barely able to wrap his arms around her, yet he clung to her with utter dependence and joy, unwilling to let go for a long while. Yan Chi, standing behind them, frowned slightly but said nothing.

Qin Guan laughed softly. "Your Highness has grown taller and sturdier. It shows you haven't been slacking off these days. Your Highness, how have you been all this time?"

Only then did Yan Sui release Qin Guan, looking up at her and nodding. Qin Guan took his hand. "Where is the Empress Dowager? Can you take us to see her?"

Yan Sui turned and led Qin Guan inside, glancing at her as they walked. "Are you not leaving anymore?"

Qin Guan, considering that Yan Sui might also become emperor and that the situation had now changed, nodded with a complex expression. "No, I'm not leaving."

A look of joy flashed across Yan Sui's face, but he asked nothing more, directly guiding Qin Guan and Yan Chi to see the Empress Dowager.

When they met the Empress Dowager, Qin Guan could no longer smile. The Empress Dowager's memory had stalled twenty years in the past; she muttered to herself, her thoughts disjointed and confused, and she didn't recognize Qin Guan or Yan Chi. It was already late at night, and having been awakened, she was rather impatient. After just a few words, she turned over and went back to sleep. Mammy Chen looked at Qin Guan and Yan Chi with a bitter smile. "My apologies, Prince and Princess Consort. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been like this for the past year—"Mammy Chen's tone carried a hint of caution. As an old-timer in the palace, she knew the world would have a new master after this night, and she naturally felt a subconscious reverence.

Qin Guan quickly replied, "It's nothing. Now that I've returned, I'll treat the Empress Dowager shortly."

Mammy Chen expressed her gratitude again and invited Qin Guan and the others to sit in the outer flower hall.

Although Yan Chi and Qin Guan were now poised to seize the palace, the situation was chaotic, and Yan Chi's status lacked formal recognition, leaving them temporarily unsure where to settle. Naturally, they rested at the Longevity and Health Palace for now. Yan Sui remained energetic late into the night, sitting beside Qin Guan and recounting in detail the events of the past six months. When he mentioned Yan Ze, Qin Guan asked, "What happened next? What did he make you do?"

Yan Sui said, "He told me that only by becoming emperor could I save you all, but I had no way to do it. So he had me curry favor with Father Emperor, and I went. He didn't make me do anything else—just told me to serve Father Emperor tea properly, grind ink for him, and such..."

Yan Sui's eyes still held innocence and purity. Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Do you know what happened tonight?"

Yan Sui shook his head but added, "I only know there was a fire..."

Qin Guan held Yan Sui's hand and said, "There was a fire. We don't know the casualties yet, but it's very likely your Father Emperor..."

At this, Yan Sui froze. When he grasped Qin Guan's meaning, his pupils trembled slightly, as if he felt some reluctance, but in the end, he let out a faint, relieved hum and clenched his fists, saying, "He must have done too many bad things. How did the fire start? Was it heavenly fire?"

Qin Guan still held Yan Sui halfway, noticing him shrinking back with a sense of fear and confusion. She shook her head, "That's still unknown. But from now on, the emperor is no longer your Father Emperor—"

Hearing this, Yan Sui looked enlightened. He glanced at Yan Chi, who had been sitting silently nearby, and asked, "Are you going to be emperor?"

Yan Chi looked at Yan Sui, "Exactly. What do you think?"

Yan Chi spoke seriously, and Yan Sui responded with equal gravity, "I think it's good. You're better than the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng."

Yan Chi then asked, "What about compared to you?"

Yan Sui puffed out his chest, "I'm not grown up yet. I'll know when I'm older."

A faint smile flickered in Yan Chi's eyes, "By the time you grow up, I'll be middle-aged."

Yan Sui seemed not to have considered this and suddenly froze, "Ah... then I still can't compare to you..."

The last four words were as faint as a mosquito's buzz, his tone even more despondent. The smile faded from Yan Chi's eyes as he gazed deeply at Yan Sui for a moment before turning his gaze elsewhere. Qin Guan also watched Yan Sui thoughtfully for a while before choosing to change the subject. Yan Sui, being childlike, began telling her about his interactions with Yan Ze.

They had entered the city close to midnight, and by the time it was past the hour of Yin, Xiao Cheng and Zhao Yu came to report. They stated that all areas of the palace had been inspected. Since there had been no conflict, the palace was not in great disarray. Many people were terrified but mostly remained at their posts without causing trouble, so order was largely maintained throughout the palace.Another half hour passed, and Yue Jia, having left the palace, arrived at the Longevity and Health Palace. Upon seeing Yan Chi, he reported, "Your Highness, among the officials, none have defied the orders for now. Although two senior royal uncles from the imperial clan expressed doubts, upon learning that the Grand Princess entered the palace immediately, they did not dare to be negligent. Over forty people are now waiting outside the palace gates. Before dawn, all officials, members of the imperial clan, and those with noble titles will be able to enter the palace for an audience."

Yue Jia's words were now very formal. Hearing this, Yan Chi felt reassured and ordered Xiao Cheng to prepare the Zichen Hall, located west of Chongzheng Hall, intending to summon the officials and imperial clan members there after daybreak. Xiao Cheng accepted the order and departed, while Yue Jia continued to oversee matters at the palace gates.

With these arrangements, the chaotic and tense situation in the capital was initially stabilized!

Yan Sui had stayed by Qin Guan's side all night. As dawn approached, Qin Guan insisted that he go to sleep. Knowing that Qin Guan and the others still had important matters to attend to, Yan Sui did not argue and went to rest without further ado.

Once Yan Sui left, only Qin Guan and Yan Chi remained in the flower hall.

It was now the darkest and coldest hour just before dawn. Yan Chi drew Qin Guan into his embrace, wanting her to rest against his chest for a while. Qin Guan complied, leaning against Yan Chi's chest with her eyes closed, though she did not truly relax her mind. This was a common scene for them, but Qin Guan knew that the days ahead would be slightly different. What Yan Chi had to do might be more challenging than leading thousands of troops to victory, and she herself would no longer be as carefree as before.

Qin Guan wrapped her arms around Yan Chi's waist, quietly cherishing this brief moment of warmth.

After resting for a short while, the two rose and walked to the window, watching together as the azure sky gradually lightened into the pale, deepening hues of dawn.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Yan Chi took Qin Guan's hand and said, "It's nearly time. Let's go to Zichen Hall—"

Qin Guan reached up to smooth the collar of Yan Chi's robe, studying him intently.

Her gaze held a solemn and earnest quality, which made Yan Chi chuckle. "What is it?"

As her hand was caught in his, Qin Guan smiled softly in the morning light. "I want to take a good look at you. From today onward, my husband will become the master of Great Zhou. I want to remember this moment and hold it forever, because the prosperous era of Great Zhou begins today."