"Let's go meet the imperial envoy!"
Once Su Ziji finished speaking, the others clustered around him and headed for the main gate. Their expressions were grave, as though they had prepared themselves for the worst.
By the time they arrived, the residence's main gate stood wide open. Armored soldiers stood outside, but none had entered.
The sky was gray. The snow had stopped again during those few moments, and blazing torches lit the entrance as brightly as day. Even the soldiers' uniforms were clearly visible. Were these the Imperial Riders?
They were guards from the Imperial Palace!
How closely this resembled the spectacle when Ma Shunde had come to conduct his search! If anything, it surpassed it!
The already tense atmosphere grew tighter still.
The mood at the gate was tense as well. The man who had come to deliver the decree was Ma Shunde, and Eunuch Ma's previous conduct had left a deep impression on everyone in the residence.
Naturally, it was not a favorable impression. After the last incident, Prince Dai's Residence had undergone an internal purge. Those who remained had all passed an initial test.
They had been delighted to hear about the daylight manifestation, but now that they learned Ma Shunde had come to deliver the decree, their hearts inexplicably rose into their throats.
The final message has already reached Prince Qi. Prince Dai must be finished this time, right? Zheng Huai's feelings were complicated. Alongside the relief of completing his task, he felt a sense of loss. Ah, Old Cheng, Old Yun, who knows what will happen to you now!
Hui Dao said nothing at first, merely following the others. By now, the scattered snowflakes had grown sparse. Beyond the torches, the whole of Prince Dai's Residence lay in darkness. The wind swept over them,