Divine Capital, the outer hall of the emperor's bedchamber. Perhaps because of the dead, the place felt rather gloomy and dim. Even a row of candles as thick as arms had failed to bring daylight into it.
Candle flames swayed. The human heart was a haunted maze. Yellow light flickered across Cui Qingyu's face. He had been summoned to the palace in the middle of the night to meet the Imperial Prince, Zhao Heng.
However, he knew full well that the one he was meeting could not be Zhao Heng, who possessed nothing but a title. It was the actual wielder of power in the Imperial Family, Prince Qin Zhao Jingshi, a Great Grandmaster!
On the steps stood a man in a bright golden dragon robe. He wore no crown; his hair was tied with a wooden hairpin, giving him a casual, unrestrained air. His features were sharply defined, his age difficult to discern. He bore some resemblance to Zhao Heng, his younger brother, and the corners of his eyes tilted slightly upward, revealing a spirited confidence. Yet his gaze was deep as an icy lake, displaying the maturity forged by time and hardship. He was none other than Prince Qin, Zhao Jingshi.
"If Chief Constable Su hadn't chanced upon you, I wouldn't have known that Family Head Cui had arrived in the Divine Capital. I've truly been remiss." Zhao Jingshi spoke at an unhurried pace, addressing him as Family Head Cui rather than as a courtier.
Cui Qingyu had managed the Cui Family for years in his elder brother's stead. He was now the family's pillar. What grand scenes had he not witnessed? What dangers had he not faced? He calmly cupped his hands. "This old man heard that the Divine Capital was in turmoil and grew concerned for