Boom!
Thud!
Just then, several loud crashes suddenly rang out from outside. Su Ziji hurriedly turned to look. From his position, he could clearly see what was happening.
At the entrance of the great residence, which had originally been completely deserted, over a thousand armored soldiers had appeared at some unknown time, surrounding the entire estate so tightly that not even water could seep through. The darkness remained silent, yet the gate was so clamorous it seemed about to pierce the heavens.
More than a dozen armored soldiers were embracing a thick beam between them, ramming it against the gates. With another boom, the gates were smashed open.
A steward-like man ran in panic-stricken. "Your Highness! Disaster! Armored soldiers have forced open the gates and broken in!"
Su Ziji's gaze returned to the seated young man. Hearing the report, the young man actually smiled. Wine sat on the table beside him. With a soft sigh, he recited, "Beneath the Yellow Terrace, melons are planted; when the melons ripen, their seeds spread thick. One plucking leaves the melons fine; another makes the melons sparse..."
"Since Father Emperor wants me dead, how can I refuse to die?"
As he spoke, the young man cast one more look around him, then picked up a cup that had long been filled with wine and drained it in one gulp. The wine seemed to be a deadly poison. Blood soon spilled from his nose and mouth.
The young man endured the twisting agony. The excruciating pain made him tremble uncontrollably, yet not a single groan escaped him before death claimed him.
Several women knelt below the steps, all beautiful as flowers and fair as the moon. They wept in utter disarray. When they saw the young man tip back the wine and die with blood