Yun Kui’s neck was grazed by Qin Ge’s sword, though the wound was minor and didn’t require bandaging. After prescribing medicine for her stomachache, Liang Jin also left behind some golden wound ointment for her to apply.
She lifted her fingertips and slowly brought them to her nose, catching a faint whiff of medicinal fragrance.
She had once tended to the Crown Prince’s wounds, and the scent was quite similar.
After a long moment of dazed silence, she finally recalled that after fainting, she had felt a sting on her neck, as if bitten by an insect—had she actually been injured?
Fortunately, it didn’t hurt much. The scratch had only broken the skin, and there was no blood under her nails, so she dismissed the thought and lay quietly.
Having slept soundly after losing consciousness, she now felt wide awake. But this was the Crown Prince’s bedchamber, not her own humble wooden bed in the side palace, where she could toss and turn as she pleased.
Yun Kui dared not move recklessly. Behind her, the presence of the Crown Prince was overwhelming, his breath faintly brushing against the nape of her neck. For some reason, this slight contact ignited a warmth that spread across her entire back, leaving her flushed.
The Crown Prince gazed at the wound on her neck, his mind drifting to that night when he had been under the influence of an aphrodisiac and left two faint bite marks on her skin. A restless heat stirred within him.
The faint scent of grass lingered in the air. Closing his eyes, he forced the inexplicable agitation to subside.
...
In early November, the Eastern Palace underwent its first major purge since the Crown Prince’s return.
Hundreds of palace servants were interrogated one by one in the torture chamber, personally overseen by Cao Yuanlu. Those deemed disloyal were either beaten to death on the spot, subjected to brutal torture, or expelled from the palace. For a time, the Eastern Palace resembled a living hell, with everyone trembling in fear.
The charge of "disloyalty" was vague—what constituted disloyalty, and how was it determined? Most servants had never even gotten close to the Crown Prince, let alone committed any treacherous acts. As for the spies planted by various factions, many were still in the observation phase and had yet to make a move.
Yet within just a few days, over a dozen had been executed by beating, some dragged away merely for being lowly, unnoticed maids sweeping the outer courtyards.
Outside the torture chamber, the icy wind cut to the bone, and the air was thick with dread. Dozens of people shivered in line, awaiting their interrogation.
Guards at the entrance called out names from a list, summoning five at a time. Nearby, the sounds of flogging and agonized screams filled the air as prisoners were dragged out and beaten to death. The cries of the tortured were bloodcurdling, and those waiting trembled in terror, fearing they might be next.
Inside the chamber, the stench of blood was overwhelming. The walls were lined with instruments of torture, and a long table in the center displayed an array of knives, pliers, and needles. A branding iron sizzled in a brazier.
Cao Yuanlu sat in a sandalwood armchair, flanked by Qin Ge, Deshun, and others, interrogating the eunuchs and maids one by one.
In such an environment, many vomited or fainted the moment they entered. Extreme fear made it easier to expose their true thoughts.
No one knew that behind an inconspicuous partition sat the true arbiter of their fates.
In the past, the Crown Prince had been plagued by illness and indifferent to palace affairs, preferring to wait until someone made a move before retaliating as a warning to others. This had emboldened those coveting his position.
But if he truly wished to investigate, none could escape his notice.
Now, with the added ability to read minds, even the most cunning schemes were laid bare before him, as fragile as paper in the face of fire.
Thus, when these guilty servants were questioned, no matter how flawlessly they answered or how impeccable their conduct had been, they were effortlessly exposed.
Qin Ge stood beside the partition, acting on his master’s silent commands—a tap of the index finger meant immediate execution, the middle finger signaled torture, and the little finger meant expulsion. No gesture indicated innocence, allowing the person to stay.
Truthfully, even after a decade at the Crown Prince’s side, Qin Ge had never witnessed such a thorough purge. He and Cao Yuanlu were skilled interrogators, yet often, before they could detect any clues—sometimes after just a single sentence—the Crown Prince had already decided the servant’s fate.
Though Qin Ge hesitated at times, he trusted his master’s judgment implicitly. As a result, the chamber operated with terrifying efficiency, processing nearly a hundred people a day.
Among them, assassins, spies, and informants made up ten to twenty percent. Another sixty to seventy percent included those with divided loyalties, those with vulnerable families, those susceptible to bribes, and those who collapsed in terror at the sight of torture. These were handed over to the Imperial Household Department for reassignment. The remaining ten to twenty percent, deemed honest and competent enough, were allowed to stay under watch.
Within days, the Eastern Palace’s population dwindled drastically. Some corpses were even delivered to their masterminds—including a eunuch sent to the Empress’s Kunming Palace, who fainted in terror upon receiving it.
The uproar reached Emperor Chunming himself.
Out of concern for his nephew, the Emperor paid a visit.
When the Crown Prince emerged from the interrogation chamber, the faces of those present were etched with undisguised horror. None had realized he had been present the entire time—meaning their lives had hung on his every whim.
Even Emperor Chunming paled at the sight of the fresh blood staining the Crown Prince’s robes.
Before his subjects, Emperor Chunming was a benevolent yet authoritative ruler.
Before the Crown Prince, however, he was a humble, almost deferential uncle.
The Crown Prince towered over him, his bearing regal and commanding, exuding both the dignity of the heir apparent and the ruthless aura of a battlefield veteran. His piercing gaze seemed designed to inspire submission.
Emperor Chunming, already shorter by half a head, further diminished his presence with his meek demeanor. "Nephew," he began cautiously, "I heard you’ve uncovered traitors in the Eastern Palace. Those bodies you sent out—have you identified their backers?"
Knowing the dead could not speak, the Emperor feigned ignorance.
The Crown Prince’s expression remained icy, offering no reply.
Emperor Chunming sighed. "The Empress has always cared for you deeply. How could she plant spies in your midst? There must be some misunderstanding. This incident has left her so shaken she’s fallen ill, unable to sleep for nights."
"Is that so?" The Crown Prince smiled faintly, wiping blood from his hand. "If she lacks the courage to admit it, so be it. I’ll simply kill every spy sent my way—until she has no one left to send. What does Your Majesty think of that?"
Meeting those ruthless, domineering eyes, Emperor Chunming felt a chill crawl down his spine.
The Crown Prince’s gaze mirrored Empress Huigong’s, but the imperious authority within them was inherited from the Late Emperor.
Yet where the Late Emperor had been heroic and bold, the Crown Prince’s aura was darker—a blend of icy detachment and violent madness, like a bloodstained sword clutched by a general standing atop a mountain of bones.
When he spoke of "killing until no one remained," Emperor Chunming saw in his eyes the unshakable resolve to obliterate all obstacles.
Such a gaze—even if he were to assassinate the emperor at this very moment, Emperor Chunming would not be the least bit surprised.
After all, he had sat upon the dragon throne for twenty years. He quickly steadied his emotions and resumed his benevolent facade. "The mismanagement by the Imperial Household Department is indeed my oversight. The Eastern Palace ought to be thoroughly purged. However, given your current grave injuries and the mental toll this would take, perhaps it would be better to entrust the Imperial Guards with the investigation—"
"No need." Before he could finish, the Crown Prince cut him off with a faint smile.
In this world, he was likely the first to openly refuse the emperor.
"Matters of the Eastern Palace need not trouble Your Majesty's personal guards," the Crown Prince said with a slow, chilling smile. "Who knows if there are those among the Imperial Guards who harbor ill intentions?"
Emperor Chunming's expression shifted repeatedly before the Crown Prince continued, "Or does Your Majesty distrust me so much that you believe I cannot even manage a single Eastern Palace?"
Emperor Chunming sighed. "Of course not."
The Crown Prince pressed, "Then does Your Majesty think I am on death's door, and any effort now would be futile?"
Emperor Chunming hastily waved a hand. "Nonsense. I am only concerned for your health, fearing you might overexert yourself. Right now, recuperation is paramount. The purge of the Eastern Palace can be left to me or Empress Huigong."
The Crown Prince chuckled. "Your Majesty would do better to spend more time in the inner palace. I heard last year another seventy-two women were added to the harem—all eagerly awaiting Your Majesty's favor."
A trace of embarrassment finally surfaced on Emperor Chunming's unshakable composure.
While it was hardly unusual for an emperor to expand his harem to secure the royal lineage, the sheer number of concubines did not reflect well on his character. Yet in the eyes of the world, Emperor Chunming was merely a regent, holding the throne in trust. He had no need to produce heirs to secure the dynasty's future—eventually, he would have to return the throne to the Crown Prince.
The problem was, the Crown Prince was far from the benevolent ruler the people hoped for, making it difficult to earn their trust.
In contrast, Emperor Chunming had reigned for over two decades. Though not a ruler of unparalleled civil and military achievements, he had at least governed diligently, earning praise from both court and commoners alike.
If he could rule well, why should he return power to his notoriously cruel and tyrannical nephew? Even if he were willing, the people would never accept it.
His frequent additions to the harem were precisely to ensure he had heirs—to avoid repeating the Late Emperor's mistake.
The Late Emperor had only one heir, and that heir had grown into a merciless tyrant. But Emperor Chunming had nine sons, each exceptional. Compared to the Late Emperor, his bloodline was far more deserving of the Mandate of Heaven.
The Crown Prince saw through every one of these thoughts.
Even without mind-reading, he had long been aware of his uncle's ambitions.
But for years, he had been plagued by illness, then occupied with campaigns to defend and expand the borders. Many matters had been left unattended. Now that he had returned—whether on the brink of death or with a chance of recovery—it was time to set things in order. Time to settle old debts.
"If the Imperial Guards truly have nothing better to do," the Crown Prince said, "they might as well investigate someone for me."
Emperor Chunming immediately asked, "Who?"
The Crown Prince smiled faintly, his dark eyes glinting with scrutiny. "During the Battle of Wolf Mountain, a certain lieutenant under the Late Emperor was trapped with the main forces and never recovered. I wish to look into this man."
His recent campaign in the northern frontier had not only been to reclaim lands seized by Northern Wei but also to uncover the truth of that battle.
He needed to know why his invincible father had succumbed to his wounds in his prime, forced to relinquish the throne.
This time, he had indeed uncovered a key figure from that battle.
Before the Crown Prince even spoke the name, the slight tremor in Emperor Chunming's pupils betrayed him.
What does he know? Why bring this up now? Could it be—
Emperor Chunming clenched his fists behind his back, his palms damp with sweat. "That man's remains were never found. After twenty years, what clues could possibly remain?"
The Crown Prince fixed him with an unwavering stare. "The Imperial Guards excel in tracking down the living and the dead. Surely they understand the principle of 'no body, no proof.'"
A flicker passed through Emperor Chunming's eyes, but his composure quickly returned. "If you insist on investigating, I will order Lu Qi to handle it."
Lu Qi was the current commander of the Imperial Guards.
The Crown Prince's lips curved slightly. "Aren’t you going to ask for the lieutenant’s name?"
Emperor Chunming's face paled slightly as he forced a stiff smile. "Who is it?"
"Feng Yu," the Crown Prince said softly, watching him closely. "Does Your Majesty recall him?"
Though braced for it, Emperor Chunming's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly at the name.
"I was merely an idle noble in the capital back then. How would I know which lieutenants served the Late Emperor?" Emperor Chunming chuckled. "But since you wish to investigate, I will see it done."
He turned toward the palace servants awaiting interrogation outside the torture chamber and swiftly changed the subject. "With the Eastern Palace undergoing such a purge, these useless servants can be dismissed. But you still need attendants, and the outer halls require maintenance. I will instruct the Imperial Household Department to select some trustworthy replacements."
"Then I shall trouble Your Majesty."
Though his words were polite, there was no trace of deference in his tone. He had never bowed to the emperor, never addressed him with the reverence due to the Son of Heaven. Even now, he referred to himself as this prince.
Emperor Chunming was accustomed to it—but that did not mean it failed to rankle. Every time he heard that word, it was like a thorn in his side, a weight on his chest.
Just as he was about to leave, four beauties appeared at the far end of the corridor. Their attire and makeup distinguished them from ordinary palace maids, and each was exquisitely beautiful with graceful figures.
Emperor Chunming narrowed his eyes. These must be the four serving maids sent by the Imperial Household Department. But faced with the prospect of torture, their lovely faces had drained of color.
With a teasing lilt, Emperor Chunming remarked, "I heard you’ve been favoring one beauty in particular. Surely even she isn’t exempt from questioning?"
The Eastern Palace’s interrogation chambers were no place for gentle inquiries—those who entered rarely left unscathed.
The Crown Prince’s gaze settled on the trembling girl at the end of the line, and the faint amusement faded from his lips. "As Your Majesty can see, I have matters to attend to. I won’t trouble you to stay."
Suppressing his displeasure, Emperor Chunming watched as the Crown Prince strode past the beauties. Whatever he murmured to them turned their faces deathly pale before they shrank after him into the chamber.
Emperor Chunming sighed inwardly. The Crown Prince was unlike him—and unlike the Late Emperor.
The Late Emperor had been a rare romantic, devoted to one woman. Emperor Chunming himself took concubines for the sake of heirs.
But the Crown Prince? He was cold, detached, seemingly unmoved by any woman.
Inside the chamber, the four beauties knelt in a row.
The Crown Prince lounged in an armchair, sipping tea with indifference.
Cao Yuanlu glanced at him, then swept his gaze over the women, lingering briefly on Yun Kui’s anxious face before posing the first question:
"You were all carefully selected by the Imperial Household Department to serve His Highness. Forgive my impertinence, but I must ask—what is it about His Highness that most captivates you?"
As the words fell, the group grew uneasy, bowing their heads in deep contemplation. Only Yun Kui dared to glance up cautiously, her gaze drifting toward the Crown Prince's direction.
