Before Qin Wentian could recover, a procession of palace maids and eunuchs hurried over.
At the head was that old eunuch who claimed he had no name. Behind him, the eunuchs and palace maids carried all sorts of toiletries and basins of hot water.
A few young eunuchs carried pastries and hot tea. The old eunuch walked up beside the Great General without a word and reached straight for the Son of Heaven Hall's doors.
"Buzz!"
The instant the old eunuch reached out, and just before Qin Wentian could even cry out a warning—
Golden light flashed across the tightly shut doors. The talismans affixed to them turned into streaks of gold and vanished before everyone's eyes.
"Rumble!"
The old eunuch pushed open one of the tightly shut doors, and the palace maids and eunuchs filed inside without even glancing at the Great General.
The old eunuch seemed to have heard the earlier warning. He turned to the Great General, cupped his hands, and said, "Great General, please come in with me!"
The moment the Great General and the old eunuch stepped into the golden hall—
"Thump! Thump!"
Across the vast plaza, the civil and military officials dropped to their knees in unison. Even the Right Chancellor knelt before the two princes.
Prince Duan was about to charge forward, but Prince Zhenxi grabbed him and held him back.
"Don't rush. Let's wait for the Great General to come out first."
"Uncle!"
Wang Yuwen had been at home ill and idle for months. Seeing the two princes suddenly appear, he grabbed Prince Duan's sleeve in alarm and asked urgently, "What happened?"
Prince Duan shook his head and watched the doors slowly close. "I don't know either."
"Move aside! All of you, get out of my way!" Just then, a dazzling figure