A flash of a blade, and fresh blood splattered across the Persian Carpet.
Lady Qin fell into a pool of her own blood, her eyes wide open, her heart filled with regret.
Her jade-like face, once beautiful enough to topple cities, was now a mask of indignation, remorse, fear, and disbelief.
Even in death, she couldn’t understand how she had suddenly died at the hands of this elder Crown Prince, who was rumored to have little time left to live. How had he done it?
Xia Wuyang looked at her corpse, feeling no pleasure, only an icy coldness devoid of any emotion.
A debt of blood must be paid in blood; it was only natural. Lady Qin was not the beginning, and she was certainly not the end.
He turned and began to search the hall for valuables.
Lady Qin had been favored for many years and had amassed a considerable collection of treasures, many of which were priceless.
In a hidden compartment of her dressing table were twelve Spirit Talismans, a testament to how much Emperor Xia valued her.
Five Vajra Talismans, three Divine Movement Talismans, two Flame Talismans, one Ice Seal Talisman, and one Concealment Talisman. They were all Spirit Talismans; most were gifts from Emperor Xia, while a few she had acquired herself.
Hidden deep within the wardrobe was a piece of Soft Hedgehog Armor, a Top Level Mortal Artifact, along with three bottles of Elixirs capable of enhancing one’s Cultivation. They were all Top Level Mortal Elixirs and Medicines.
The truly valuable items were in a secret chamber beneath the bed.
There, piled high, were gold ingots worth a full three hundred thousand taels of Gold, as well as two chests of jewelry, one chest of Antiques and paintings, one chest of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and one chest of High Level or better Mortal Elixirs and Medicines...
Xia Wuyang roughly estimated the total value to be no less than eight million taels of silver. Many of the items were rare treasures that money couldn’t buy.
’She was quite good at amassing wealth. A pity she’s not alive to spend it.’ He swept everything into his Personal Space, claiming it all as his spoils of war.
Finally, he glanced at Li Changfeng. "You know what to say about tonight’s events, and you know what to do next."
The Soul Enchantment Technique silently descended, enveloping him.
Li Changfeng knelt, his eyes clouding over. "This subordinate understands. It was spies from the Southern Barbarians. They infiltrated the palace and murdered Lady Qin. This subordinate fought desperately but was still unable to save her..."
Xia Wuyang nodded, said no more, and with a flicker of his body, vanished into the night outside the hall.
Li Changfeng collapsed to the floor. He stared at Lady Qin’s corpse, then at the blade in his hand, his mind in a daze.
Unconsciously, the image of Xia Wuyang had vanished from his mind, replaced by images of the Southern Barbarian spies, Lady Qin, and himself being casually knocked unconscious by the enemy...
Only then did Xia Wuyang truly feel at ease and leave the area. What he had done to Li Changfeng was merely a minor trick performed out of convenience.
Besides, Li Changfeng had killed Lady Qin with his own hands—killing the woman with whom he’d shared a night of passion that should have forged a bond of a hundred days. After being conditioned by the Soul Enchantment Technique, he completely believed the version of events implanted in his mind. Even a True Monarch skilled in Spiritual Power would find nothing amiss upon inspection.
「A short while later, in Qianqing Palace.」
Emperor Xia had just finished reviewing the last of his memorials. He wearily rubbed his temples, his expression grim.
The situation today was not good. Rations were running low at Iron Wall City, and the Defender General had requested a tenfold increase in supplies.
In the Southern Border, the Southern King had advanced fifty li, but he had fallen into an ambush by the Southern Barbarians, suffering three thousand casualties. He was still demanding more rations and resources.
Meanwhile, in the Western Territory, Prince Zhenxi’s Mansion had not coordinated with the Imperial Guard in the Northern Border, choosing instead to watch the tigers fight from a mountaintop. Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion had also failed to dispatch many men.
Although Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion was located in Iron Wall City, the city’s defenders were mostly the two hundred thousand Imperial Guard troops that had been sent there, along with tens of thousands of their political rivals who had poor relations with the mansion.
His Personal Eunuch spoke cautiously, "Your Majesty, a message came from Lady Qin. She said she has prepared your favorite lotus seed soup and asks if you would like to go over and have some?"
Emperor Xia’s eyes lit up, a touch of warmth rising in his heart.
Lady Qin. His Chief Wet Nurse. One of the very few people in the Deep Palace with whom he could completely relax.
With her, he wasn’t the Emperor. He was just a child in need of his wet nurse’s care. He could also do many other... unspeakable things.
"Prepare the carriage for Jinxuan Palace," he said, rising. It was time for him to relax a little.
As the Dragon Chariot approached Jinxuan Palace, Emperor Xia felt a growing sense of unease. It was too quiet.
Normally at this hour, Jinxuan Palace would be brightly lit. If Lady Qin heard he was coming, she would personally greet him at the palace gates.
But tonight, the palace gates were shut tight. There wasn’t even a eunuch on duty. It was as if the place was deserted.
"What’s going on?" Emperor Xia asked with a frown.
A eunuch hurried forward to knock, but there was no answer.
"Break it down!" A premonition washed over Emperor Xia. He realized something terrible must have happened here.
Several Guards worked together to break down the palace gates. The scene that met their eyes made everyone gasp in shock, scarcely able to believe what they were seeing.
Dozens of bodies lay strewn about the courtyard—all of them eunuchs and Palace Maids from Jinxuan Palace.
The main hall’s doors were wide open, and the thick stench of blood washed over them, sending a chill down their spines.
Emperor Xia stumbled out of his chariot and rushed into the hall.
And then, he saw a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life.
Lady Qin lay in a pool of blood. A gruesome gash marred her chest, and blood had soaked through her water-red nightgown. She was utterly silent.
Her eyes were open, lingering with terror and despair. The face that had once brought him warmth and peace was now cold and stiff.
"Wet Nurse... Wet Nurse!"
Emperor Xia lunged forward and cradled Lady Qin’s body, his voice trembling. "Who... who did this? Who killed my wet nurse? Who did all of this!"
Li Changfeng crawled out from a corner, covered in blood, and cried out, "Your Majesty... it was spies from the Southern Barbarians! They snuck into the palace to kill the Lady! This subordinate fought with all his might, but they were too strong... This subordinate... This subordinate was nearly beaten to death..."
"The Southern Barbarians... it’s the Southern Barbarians again! I will see you dead! Dead without a burial place!" Emperor Xia’s eyes were bloodshot. He roared at the heavens, his fury soaring.
He clutched Lady Qin’s body tightly in his arms and began to wail like a child who had lost his mother.
The surrounding Palace Attendants were stunned. They never imagined that the Emperor of the Great Xia, who ruled over all under heaven, would cry like this.
The heart-wrenching cries echoed throughout Jinxuan Palace and spread with incredible speed across the entire Imperial City, and even all of White Jade City.
The Palace Attendants knelt on the ground, trembling. They had never seen His Majesty so distraught, so utterly devoid of his kingly bearing.
Meanwhile, in Wenhua Hall, Xia Wuyang heard the chirping gossip of the birds. He held Su Ling’Er in his arms, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold arc.
’Cry, Xia Shengming.’
’This is only the beginning. There’s much more revenge to come.’
’Everything you owe my mother, everything you owe me, everything you owe our friends and family... I will take it all back, piece by piece.’
’And you will lose more and more.’
...
Hanik’s Heart wrapped her arms around his neck, her warm and fragrant body a soft jade in his embrace.
In the distance, Emperor Xia’s cries still drifted on the night wind, as mournful as a wounded, lone wolf.
Within the Deep Palace, the blood debt had not yet been settled; and the avenger still lurked in the shadows.

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