Elsewhere, deep within the Imperial Palace, Eunuch Wei, his face etched with exhaustion, was reporting the situation.
"Empress Dowager, Empress, Master Qingliang, who came from afar, is currently holding the fort at the study in the outer city. According to him, the strange phenomena in the heavens have revealed news of His Majesty's death. I fear it can no longer be concealed!"
Eunuch Wei himself was a martial arts master, vigorous in blood and qi, strong and robust. For even a man like him to show such fatigue, one could imagine that over the past two or three days, he must have endured countless incidents without a moment's rest.
"Have the other Grand Confucians been consulted?"
Upon hearing the report, weariness likewise appeared on the Empress Dowager's face. Her bloodshot eyes widened as she forced herself to stay alert and asked.
Eunuch Wei replied, "People have already been sent to verify it. Two of them have responded, and what they said matches Master Qingliang's words."
As his words fell, Eunuch Wang entered from outside as well, bringing a great deal of news. Yet the more he spoke, the more the expressions of the Empress Dowager and Empress changed—one grew increasingly grave, while the other looked increasingly unsightly.
At last, the Empress Dowager asked with difficulty, "So you are saying the entire realm has been affected by these strange phenomena? What are we to do? Do the chief ministers have any solution?"
Eunuch Wang answered, "All affairs are now affected. Even the Imperial City is filled with undercurrents; one careless move could trigger unrest. The chief ministers are all handling these matters in their offices and cannot spare themselves."
Hearing this, the Empress could not help complaining, "At such a critical time, why are these chief ministers all useless? His Majesty