When Xie Yanfang arrived at the Imperial City, he noticed it was more heavily guarded with increased military presence compared to before. However, with officials continuously rushing in, the atmosphere remained tense but not intimidating.
Xie Yanfang immediately spotted Xie Yanlai standing guard at the city gate in full armor and armed. He appeared to be watching the officials yet seemed to look through them, causing every passing official to unconsciously quicken their pace.
"Why are you standing guard here?" Seventh Master Xie approached and asked in a low voice.
Xie Yanfang hadn't come to the palace alone. After all, Seventh Master Xie was the senior relative in the capital.
Xie Yanlai tilted his narrow eyes slightly: "Then where should I be?"
Of course before the Emperor! What time is this that the Xie family should be absent from His Majesty's side? Seventh Master Xie gritted his teeth. Xie Yanfang patted his arm: "Seventh Uncle, let's hurry inside without delay. Yanlai has official duties - we shouldn't disturb him."
Seventh Master Xie withdrew his gaze, flicked his sleeve, and passed by Xie Yanlai heading inward.
Xie Yanfang nodded to Xie Yanlai before proceeding.
"What attitude! What's he so proud of!" Seventh Master Xie muttered angrily, glancing back at Xie Yanlai. "So what if he guards the Imperial City? So what if he merits rewards? Does he think he can overturn heaven itself?"
Xie Yanfang said: "Seventh Uncle, since he cannot overturn heaven, why fear sending him to great heights? I know everyone resents his extraordinary luck, but such is his fortune - bestowed by heaven itself. We are family. What we should do is share this luck together, not drive him away."
Seventh Master Xie paused, then smiled wryly: "Yes, I was wrong. I lost my composure."
Xie Yanfang replied: "Those blessed with good fortune may act arrogantly and boldly. Someday Seventh Uncle may do the same."
Seventh Master Xie laughed: "Hearing you say this, that boy suddenly appears more agreeable to me." He glanced back once more.
Behind them, bustling officials blocked the view.
Xie Yanfang signaled for quiet, indicating this wasn't the time for laughter. Although the summoning eunuch hadn't specified the reason for entering the palace, Xie Yanfang had received news before the eunuch's arrival - the Emperor was failing.
Even without the Crown Prince, the Xie family wasn't blind or deaf within the Imperial City.
Seventh Master Xie stopped smiling, assuming a solemn expression as they followed the crowd deeper into the palace.
The inner palace was similarly lined with guards, and not all officials were permitted entry. Eunuchs holding name lists called people forward one by one, though not according to official rank.
Several important ministers and high-ranking officials were stopped outside, their faces dark with displeasure.
"How can we be denied audience with His Majesty?"
"Who compiled this list?"
"Previously we could see His Majesty even without summons!"
Despite such complaints, when voices rose, the surrounding guards immediately half-drew their swords, revealing glinting cold steel—
These were not ordinary times.
With the Third Prince's rebellion and the Crown Prince's violent death, a new Grand Tutor had emerged from nowhere, hunting down remaining conspirators everywhere. The Zhao Family had been executed through nine degrees of kinship, yet the purge continued with daily arrests. Many officials had their homes raided while asleep at midnight.
"I suspect he's not hunting the Third Prince's remnants but monopolizing power, settling personal scores through false accusations," someone murmured quietly, though none dared speak louder. What could they do? The new Grand Tutor held the imperial seal in one hand and the tiger tally in the other. With the Emperor fading and the Little Highness only six years old, he truly held complete control over the Great Xia dynasty.
However furious and dissatisfied they felt, they could only suppress their temper for now.Fortunately, the eunuchs had called out the Xie family's name; otherwise, Seventh Master Xie truly didn't know what he might have done, even though only one person was permitted to enter.
Amidst the many obscure and complex gazes outside the palace gates, Xie Yanfang hurriedly strode inside.
The inner palace was even more heavily guarded, and the atmosphere was even more chilling.
Xie Yanfang arrived at the Emperor's bedchamber, where the summoned officials still stood only outside the hall, their expressions anxious and sorrowful.
Just as Xie Yanfang was about to take his place, a eunuch hurried over.
"Third Young Master," he said, "His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess said that as soon as you arrived, you are to go in immediately."
Xie Yanfang nodded to the eunuch and proceeded inside.
There were quite a few people in the hall—imperial physicians and Deng Yi—all gathered around the Emperor's dragon bed. The young girl and the child were at the very back. Hearing the commotion, they turned around—
"Third Young Master." Chu Zhao, holding Xiao Yu's hand, came forward to greet him.
Xie Yanfang bowed to them. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Chu Zhao said, "No need for formalities. We are family." As she spoke, she gently shook the child's hand.
The child standing beside her looked at Xie Yanfang and said, "Third Uncle."
Xie Yanfang half-knelt, nodding to him. "I am here."
The child, who appeared dazed and wooden, lowered his gaze and murmured an acknowledgment.
Xie Yanfang reached out and gently patted the child's shoulder before standing up. He looked at Chu Zhao and asked softly, "His Majesty—"
Chu Zhao shook her head and whispered, "The Imperial Concubine has been poisoning His Majesty for years."
Xie Yanfang lowered his eyes. "The Zhao family deserves execution to the ninth degree."
Chu Zhao sighed softly.
As the two conversed quietly in the back, Deng Yi by the dragon bed turned around.
"Let everyone come in," he said.
The eunuchs acknowledged the order and immediately went outside to relay the message. Chu Zhao and Xie Yanfang fell silent, taking their positions near the dragon bed. The officials outside swarmed in, each with a grief-stricken expression, many already shedding tears.
"Your Majesty—" their voices choked with sobs, "We, your subjects, are incompetent—"
The Emperor sat half-upright on the dragon bed, propped against thick cushions, his face flushed and his spirits high, much like during court audiences many years ago.
Seeing the Emperor in such a state, the officials present were flooded with memories of the past, overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Those who had been feigning tears began to weep genuinely, and those already weeping cried even more bitterly.
"Enough, do not weep," the Emperor stopped the officials. "I have no time left. There are matters I must entrust to you."
Everyone in the room knelt.
The Emperor's instructions were simple: he pointed to Xiao Yu, declaring that the Crown Prince would ascend the throne immediately; he pointed to Chu Zhao, stating that the imperial wedding would take place concurrently; and he pointed to Deng Yi, appointing him as Grand Tutor to protect the nation and assist the throne.
"I know you have many grievances and many memorials to present, but today my word is final and cannot be refuted, cannot be refuted, cannot be refuted," the Emperor said, each word deliberate. "For the last time, I shall play the part of a foolish ruler."
The officials knelt, weeping loudly. "Your Majesty is wise."
The Emperor laughed heartily, but as he laughed, he slumped downward. Eunuchs and imperial physicians exclaimed in alarm, rushing forward to settle him properly on the bed. In that brief moment, the Emperor's vigor vanished, and he visibly withered before their eyes.
"All of you, withdraw," the Emperor gasped hoarsely. "I—I do not want you to watch—"
The officials were too overcome with grief to rise, but Deng Yi instructed everyone to withdraw.
"Your Majesty, allow the Crown Prince to remain here—" Deng Yi added.
The Emperor seemed to lack the strength to speak and shook his head.
Deng Yi immediately said no more and requested that Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu also withdraw.
Suddenly, the Emperor raised his hand. "Come, come—"
Deng Yi hurried forward."Zhong, Zhong—" the Emperor said, struggling either from lack of strength or uncertainty about the name.
Deng Yi was momentarily confused.
Chu Zhao started, blurting out, "Does Your Majesty wish to see Deputy General Zhong?"
The Emperor slowly nodded, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
The officials looked puzzled—who was this Deputy General Zhong?
Without the slightest hesitation, Deng Yi turned and instructed a eunuch, "Summon Deputy General Zhong."
...
...
Those who had withdrawn outside the hall watched as an unfamiliar officer with a scar on his face entered, their expressions bewildered as they exchanged glances.
Most had no idea who this person was.
Whoever he was, it was truly strange that in His Majesty's final moments, even Little Highness was not allowed to remain at his side, nor did he spare her a glance, yet he insisted on seeing this man.
Chu Zhao watched Deputy General Zhong's retreating figure. She probably understood why—what the Emperor truly wished to see was her father.
...
...
Deputy General Zhong stood dumbfounded before the dragon bed, his mind teeming with thoughts yet utterly blank, completely unsure of what he should do or say there.
The Emperor looked at him and said, "We... cannot see... Chu Ling one last time."
Seeing the Emperor's dazed expression, Deputy General Zhong felt a pang in his heart, dropping to one knee as his voice choked with emotion, "Your Majesty, do not worry. The General... will soon... follow Your Majesty."
The Emperor let out a hoarse laugh, "Yes, he too... is about to die."
The Emperor's gaze drifted past the kneeling Deputy General Zhong, through the vast, deep hall, toward the world outside.
"We... wish... to see the Flame Signal... one last time."
The Flame Signal?
Deputy General Zhong lifted his head, his lips trembling as he forced out the words, "Your Majesty... the General once said... the Flame Signal is not... for amusement."
The Emperor laughed again, though the laughter left him even more breathless.
"Do not fear," he said. "After he dies... when We meet him... We will forbid him... from punishing you. If he wishes to scold anyone... let him direct his anger at Us."
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