Prince Qi's Residence
Ma Shunde stepped down from his carriage before the screen wall, and the accompanying guards dismounted as well. Before they had even mounted the steps, they heard a burst of commotion. Turning to look, they saw the great gates some distance away swing open, torches flare to life, and a Hundred-Household Officer emerge. Eight armored soldiers stood arrayed on either side, while behind them, even more frighteningly, archers had drawn their bows and stood ready to fire.
"Spare me! It has nothing to do with me..." Yamen runners were escorting people out, while several others, covered head to toe in blood, were dragged directly outside. One of them moaned and begged for mercy.
"Eunuch Ma, that is the Divine Shrine near the Prince's Residence..." Seeing Ma Shunde's confusion, a guard explained softly.
Ma Shunde understood at once. As the emperor's personal eunuch, he naturally knew vaguely that although the emperor disliked Prince Qi's arrogance and overbearing ways, he was also deeply fond of him. Besides, the emperor was not blessed with many children. Leaving aside the former Crown Prince, there were only three grown sons. Now that Prince Qi had been assassinated, the emperor would naturally be furious.
"When the Son of Heaven rages, a million corpses lie strewn."
Now, only several hundred or perhaps a thousand people had been implicated. And what of it, if these lowly people had all been wronged? Watching the armored soldiers drag the people from the Divine Shrine outside—several of them clearly being dragged off to have their heads cut off—Ma Shunde turned a blind eye, merely narrowing his eyes as he looked toward the Prince's Residence.
Because of this delay, an official of the Prince's Residence had already received word and hurried out, kneeling to kowtow in greeting.
Ma Shunde