The Situation

Changsun knew very well that she could no longer return to Changsun Manor. Since the assassins had known she was leaving the palace, they would surely be waiting along the road back to Changsun Manor.

It was hard to believe that the force behind the assassins had already infiltrated the imperial city and even the palace itself. The successive assassination attempts had grown more perilous each time. This time, if Qing Ling had not protected her at the cost of her life, she would surely have been unable to escape this deadly calamity.

Ning Chen and Qing Ling had yet to awaken. Changsun had always felt that Ning Chen was a very special child; she had felt so from the first time they met. They said that the higher one stood, the colder it became. Ever since becoming the Xia Empress, she had felt this at every moment. She did not even know when it had begun, but even her closest family members had started showing a faint trace of reverence when facing her.

Qing Ling had been personally trained by her and was very close to her. Yet precisely because of that relationship, Qing Ling treated her with more respect than intimacy. If there were any other feelings, perhaps gratitude made up the greater part.

The first time she saw Ning Chen, she watched a sturdy, tiger-headed boy chasing after something without stop. Out of curiosity, she did not disturb him. Who could have known that the boy would ram straight into her arms? When she finally asked, it turned out he had merely been chasing a copper coin.

In Ning Chen's eyes, she saw none of the flattery, falsehood, or even fear that everyone else showed upon seeing her. Though he seemed a little guilty, it was clearly only because he was embarrassed about running into her. And after she took his copper coin, the little fellow had actually wanted to ask for it back.

Later, she had Qing Ling bring Ning Chen to Weiyang Palace. She knew that a child like him would surely cause trouble anywhere else. What surprised her, however, was that Ning Chen seemed not to appreciate the favor at all. When she saw him again, she still clearly remembered his unwilling expression.

What came next with Yinghuo Shouxin exceeded her expectations even more. She had specially summoned Ning Chen to verify whether the matter was true. Throughout her life, she had judged countless people. An old fox who had lived for several decades might perhaps deceive her, but Ning Chen was merely a boy of fifteen or sixteen. With one glance, she could tell whether his words were true or false.

Yinghuo Shouxin itself was not much, but appearing at such a delicate moment made it a major matter. The Xia Emperor had already decided to send troops, yet the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had chosen to conceal the coming sign of Yinghuo. Their purpose was all the more chilling.

Today, when she left the palace for Changsun Manor, Qing Ling had unexpectedly brought Ning Chen along as well. She had only been a little surprised and had not asked anything.

What truly shocked her was Ning Chen's performance today. From pulling her away to flee, to calmly demanding sulfur and saltpeter from the shopkeeper at the pharmacy and making some unknown thing out of medicinal materials, he had remained composed throughout. Later, she had sent the shopkeeper to inspect the site of their assassination attempt. Half the street had been blasted beyond recognition, and when the soldiers arrived, they found shattered bones and blood scattered all over the ground.

Ning Chen's repeated unexpected displays left her more and more astonished. She had even specifically asked the shopkeeper about the matter of giving Qing Ling a blood transfusion. Yet the shopkeeper clearly stated that he had never heard of transfusing blood to cure illness or heal wounds. There was not even any record of it in medical texts. But whether she believed it or not, Qing Ling's pulse was gradually stabilizing. Clearly, she had passed through death's gate.

This time, however, Changsun decided to conceal Ning Chen's role in saving her. She would also play down his earlier merit in warning her about Yinghuo. This was not suppression, but a means of protection. After all, his foundation was too thin. Having suddenly gained such great merit, he would easily provoke jealousy and become the target of schemes and traps.

Presumably, news of her assassination had already reached the palace. Ning Chen had led her into the crowd amid the chaos, then rescued Qing Ling as well. In other words, no one currently knew where they were.

She had also considered sending the shopkeeper to Changsun Manor to deliver word, but soon dismissed the idea. If someone with ulterior motives noticed, the shopkeeper might reach Changsun Manor with his front foot, only for someone to arrive at Du'an Pharmacy with their back foot.

In truth, Ning Chen was the best choice to deliver news to Changsun Manor. His face was unfamiliar, unlike the shopkeeper, whose identity as Du'an Pharmacy's proprietor was known to many. Even if someone noticed him, they would not guess where they were hiding.

"Thirsty."

At that moment, Ning Chen half-opened his eyes on the bed and called out groggily.

Hearing Ning Chen's voice, Changsun came back to herself. She went to the table, poured a cup of water, then walked to the bed. Carefully supporting Ning Chen upright, she brought the cup to his lips.

Still dazed, Ning Chen had no idea that the person before him was Changsun, the one he feared most. He raised himself slightly, drank a few mouthfuls, pushed the cup away, then turned over and went back to sleep.

Changsun smiled helplessly. This was the first time in her life that she had served someone like this. Not even the Xia Emperor had enjoyed such treatment.

Over there, Qing Ling still showed no signs of waking. After suffering such grave injuries, she could not possibly awaken so soon. Fortunately, this was a pharmacy with every kind of medicinal herb. So long as she had escaped danger, she would recover sooner or later.

Before she knew it, the sky had darkened and night descended. With Yinghuo weighing on her mind, Changsun walked to the window and waited quietly for this moment to arrive.

At the same time, at Heavenly Edict Hall in the Xia Imperial Palace, the Xia Emperor stood alone before the hall, looking up at the sky. His Dragon Robe fluttered in the night wind. The night was cold and the dew heavy, yet no one dared step forward to offer a single word of reminder.

In the southern sky, the Heart Constellation Emperor Star was already shining as brilliantly as before. Yinghuo beside it remained as dim as it had been the previous night, seemingly unchanged. Yet those who watched carefully discovered that the distance between the two had truly narrowed.

In the west of the Xia Dynasty, within a desolate temple unknown to anyone, a young man who looked ordinary beyond all measure walked out. With one seemingly ordinary step, he crossed an unknown distance. Yet the instant the Daoist left the temple, the barren land vanished strangely, as though it had never existed.

The world did not know that the vanished temple was the First Hall of the Eternal Night Divine Cult. Nor did they know that the young man who emerged was the cult's Divine Son.

Yinghuo guards the Heart—Mortal World's Dark Night for a hundred years!

This was Eternal Night's prophecy. The same prophecy appeared one after another in the Ancient Mongol Royal Court of the north, Du'e Temple in the southwest, and Tiancang Academy of Great Xia.

At that very moment, the heavens finally underwent their most startling change. The previously dim Yinghuo Star abruptly began to brighten at a rapid pace. The twin stars contended in splendor, reddening the entire sky.

"Heaven's Will."

At Taishi Duke's Estate, the Imperial Tutor gazed at the heavens and let out a soft sigh. The calamity star was rushing against the heavenly fortune, heralding the arrival of a great disaster. This time, even Great Xia might find it difficult to escape.

"Taishi, you are too fixated!"

Amid lightly amused words, a peerlessly magnificent figure approached. He appeared to be only around thirty years old, his face like polished jade. He was none other than Duke Xiyu, one of the Three Grand Ministers.

"My friend, you did not come here so late at night merely to mock Taishi, did you?" The Imperial Tutor glanced at him and said blandly.

"I knew my friend would surely be in low spirits tonight, so I came to keep you company and ease your mood." Duke Xiyu smiled softly in reply.

"Oh? Then Taishi must thank you." The Imperial Tutor said.

"Heh, no need for courtesy." Duke Xiyu accepted with a smile.

"Nearly a hundred years old, and you are still this shameless." The Imperial Tutor mocked.

"You flatter me." Duke Xiyu answered with the same smile.

That night, the world descended into turmoil. Everyone's gaze was drawn to the two scarlet stars contending in brilliance overhead. Within Heavenly Edict Hall, the Xia Emperor felt waves of weakness wash over him. Those with discerning eyes noticed that above the Xia Imperial Palace, the True Dragon fortune that had remained unshakable for a thousand years was rapidly weakening. The invincible Xia Dynasty was finally no longer impregnable, and the skies of the Divine Continent were truly about to change.

Fortune was a great current too difficult to put into words. Back when the Divine Continent had been divided among rival powers and wars raged everywhere, the Xia Dynasty had arisen in response to the times. It swept across the land, made a hundred dynasties submit, and established an imperial authority that had endured for a thousand years. Its fortune had blazed like the sun at noon, forcing even the Eternal Night Divine Cult, which had existed for who knew how many tens of thousands of years, to avoid its edge and hide within darkness. These thousand years had indeed belonged to Great Xia—there was no denying it, no disputing it.

But now, Great Xia's fortune was truly weakening. What did that signify?

All the wise people of the world knew. It meant that Great Xia was no longer invincible, no longer impossible to shake.

Fortunately, there were not many in the entire world who could see this. After all, the number of people truly worthy of being called wise could be counted on one hand.

"What beautiful stars!"

In the rear courtyard of Du'an Pharmacy, just as Changsun furrowed her brows in thought over how to resolve matters going forward, Ning Chen—who ought to have been lying obediently in bed—had secretly checked on Qing Ling, then wrapped himself in a blanket and sprawled by the window. Bored, he leisurely began watching the stars.

Changsun immediately had black lines across her forehead. At a time like this, only this fellow could say something like that.

Still, Changsun had to admit that setting aside the meaning represented by Yinghuo guarding the Heart, the sight of the twin stars contending in splendor and the heavens dyed blood-red was indeed beautiful.

Changsun suddenly recalled that yesterday, Ning Chen had happened to warn her about Yinghuo only because he had secretly climbed onto Qing Ling's roof to stargaze. This boy seemed to have a deep fondness for watching the stars.

"Ning Chen, do you really like looking at the stars?" With nothing else to do, Changsun asked curiously.

"Yes." Ning Chen answered absentmindedly while counting stars.

"You are not yet sixteen this year, are you?"

"Yes."

"Your home is not in the imperial city, is it?"

"Yes."

"When I questioned you yesterday, that expert you mentioned was something you made up, wasn't it?"

"Yes... Ah, no."

Only after the words left his mouth did Ning Chen realize what had happened. He turned to look at Changsun, filled with vexation. Ginger really did grow spicier with age; compared to Changsun, his little bit of skill was not even enough for a warm-up.

Changsun glanced at the guilty Ning Chen and said slowly, "For the sake of your saving Qing Ling and me today, I will not pursue this matter. You have also rendered two considerable services. I can consider granting you a few requests."

"Any number of requests?" Ning Chen's eyes lit up as he asked excitedly.

"How many do you want?" Changsun asked, amused inwardly.

After struggling within himself, Ning Chen carefully held up an open palm. But upon seeing the dangerous look in Changsun's eyes, he hurriedly folded down three fingers.

"Would two be alright?"

"Go ahead." Changsun nodded.

"I don't want to be a eunuch. I want to leave the palace." Ning Chen blurted it out, his eyes shining. After planning for so long, he finally had a chance to run away.

Changsun froze. She had not expected Ning Chen's request to be this. After pondering it for a moment, she shook her head. "No."

Ning Chen became anxious and sprang from the bed. Arguing with reason, he said, "A gentleman's word cannot be chased down even by four horses. Your Majesty is the Empress—you cannot go back on your word!"

Hearing Ning Chen's disrespectful challenge, Changsun did not grow angry. She replied unhurriedly, "I am a woman, not a gentleman. Besides, I merely said I would consider granting it. I never said I definitely would."

Ning Chen's face turned pale with anger, and he was left speechless. With a thump, he sat back on the bed and sulked by himself.

"That request is void. You still have one chance to make a request," Changsun reminded him.

"There isn't one."

In a terrible mood, Ning Chen turned around and plunged beneath the blanket, covering his head as he replied in a muffled voice.

"No hurry. Tell me when you think of something." Seeing Ning Chen suffer such a setback put Changsun in a very good mood.

"Mmph, mmph."

Two muffled sounds came from beneath the blanket. They seemed like a response, yet sounded more like a wordless protest...