Outside the Imperial Prison, part of the Court of Judicial Review.
A carriage bearing no insignia sat all alone before the vermilion gates.
Several palace guards dressed in plain clothes stood with their hands on their sabers, their expressions wary.
Creak—
The heavy gates were slowly pushed open.
Wei Wenda bent forward, following close behind a figure.
The man strode so quickly that he nearly stumbled, utterly unlike the composed and dignified figure who had arrived.
"Your Majesty, mind the steps."
The old eunuch hurried over, reaching out to support him.
The Emperor swatted his hand away.
In the dim yellow glow of the lanterns by the gate, the old eunuch saw the Emperor's face.
It was as white as paper.
His eyes held both shock and disbelief.
"Quick!"
The Emperor didn't even wait for the mounting block to be set in place. He scrambled into the carriage on all fours.
"To King Jing's Mansion!"
"Now! At once!"
The old eunuch's heart lurched.
He had served in the palace for most of his life, but he had never seen his master lose his composure like this.
What exactly had Lord Wei said inside?
"What are you standing there for?!"
A furious shout came from inside the carriage.
"Y-yes!"
The old eunuch didn't dare think any further and hurried up onto the driver's seat.
"Hyah—!!!"
The carriage shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow, shattering the silence outside the Imperial Prison as it raced toward Chongren Ward.
Inside the carriage.
Wei Wenda's words rang in the Emperor's mind, crashing over and over like thunder.
"Your Majesty, it wasn't this old subject's intention to deceive you."
"It's just that what happened to Jiang Xun was simply too shocking to the world."
A baby girl.
The Bluebird Dragon Pattern Pendant.