"Yes! This servant will see to it at once!" Eunuch Zhao answered. Seeing that there was nothing more to say, he added, "Then this servant shall take his leave."
"Mhm." The Emperor answered noncommittally, letting out a heavy breath. The four eunuchs in the hall did not dare move. Not one spoke; all lowered their heads and glanced furtively at the Emperor.
The Emperor stood where he was, his expression dark as storm clouds. He watched Eunuch Zhao leave, stared for a long while, then finally drew a deep breath. "Prince Qi, Prince Shu, this is the last chance I am giving you."
Thinking of the little schemes Prince Qi and Prince Shu had been pulling all this time, he, as their imperial father, had tolerated them for long enough. But he was Emperor before he was father. If those two unfilial sons still refused to repent and failed to cherish this chance, then there was no need for him to continue tolerating them.
Thinking of his final order, the Emperor could not help but feel a trace of regret, though he forced himself to suppress it.
"This is also a chance for you, Ji Zizong."
The destruction of the Medicine Treasury had already filled the Emperor with towering fury.
Keep one another in check, fight without shattering the balance, and do not obstruct me. That would be best for everyone. You had better not disappoint me.
Outside the hall, Eunuch Zhao withdrew. A gust of wind swept in. Though it was not cold, it still made him shiver faintly. Wind chimes tinkled as he strolled along the eastern corridor. He paused at one spot and gazed blankly for a while.
Before him stood a palace with its gates tightly shut, with only a few young eunuchs sweeping the ground.