Forbidden Palace
The torrential rain poured down, as if the boundless River of Heaven had overturned into the mortal world.
In the dim murk, everything was pitch-black. Occasionally, lightning slashed down; looking up, one could see dense gray clouds blanketing the ashen heavens, like countless ribbons strung together.
Drumbeats rolled on as the cries of battle gradually drew nearer, shaking hearts with restless dread.
The guards waiting in the corridors sat with their armor still on, hands resting on their halberds, silent and steady, bringing a small measure of comfort.
"Your Majesty."
Kneeling upon the icy floor tiles, a eunuch was reporting on the battle at the front.
"The situation is not going smoothly. Liu True Person has gone there, and although the ritual altar has been erected, His Highness Prince Qi is personally beating the drums. The earthworks have already been piled a zhang high, and they are about to set foot atop the wall."
"Assistant Director Hu, Hu Huai'an, is resisting desperately. He has already been struck by two arrows. The casualties among the gate defenders are considerable, but they can still hold out."
The Emperor gave a cold snort, showing not the slightest reaction to Hu Huai'an being wounded by arrows. He merely pondered before asking, "How is the canal water level?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, after days of heavy rain, the waters of the three rivers have overflowed. They have already submerged the Water-Level Monument, passed Noon Bridge, and reached the Water-Dividing Turtle."
Though these three locations bore different names, their functions were similar. Each marked a water-level line to guard against flooding caused by torrential rains.
The Emperor frowned and pondered in silence for a long while.
Ever since the nightmare began, he had felt a pounding dread in his heart. As time passed, that