Imperial Palace · A secluded hall
It stood beside the Cold Palace. The weeds between the gray bricks had been cleared away, but outside, the sound of snow had ceased. Winter winds swept past the hall, bringing a grim chill and utter silence. Yet it was not deserted. Several figures stood in the corners of the great hall, guarding an object in its center.
Set there was an exquisite magical instrument, glowing in the darkness. It was none other than the Nine-Dragon Instrument, and this unusual phenomenon had already been reported to the emperor.
The emperor had now come from his bedchamber without any fanfare. He had not even ordered a palanquin prepared, but walked along the corridors with only the eunuch Meng Lin accompanying him.
Though Meng Lin was not as conspicuous before others as Eunuch Zhao and the rest, at a critical moment like this, the emperor clearly trusted him somewhat more.
With only Meng Lin at his side, master and servant made their way through the darkness.
Even without anyone carrying a palace lantern, the Imperial Palace was not pitch-black at night. At intervals, gently swaying lanterns hung on walls or beneath the eaves.
"An earthquake in Southwestern Province. Over ten thousand dead or wounded, and more than a hundred thousand injured." Rather than immediately thinking about the Imperial Grandson, the emperor recalled a memorial he had just read.
"Ah!" On reflection, not a single thing had gone smoothly lately. Agitated, the emperor shifted his gaze. Though the snowfall was light, the upturned eaves of the halls and the ground had all acquired a thin coating of silver. A palace lantern shone brightly not far away. Pointing toward it, he asked, "Who lives over there?"
Meng Lin answered, "That is Consort Xiao's bedchamber. It was reported a