Chu Xuanzhen pressed his five long fingers into the bedding, his face pale and drawn. His once-clear eyes slowly changed from their normal appearance to an intense black.
Pain like the gnawing of ants spread through every part of his body. His fingers curled, bunching the bedding into deep creases.
Just then, he reached beneath his pillow, took out something hidden there, and clutched it between his palm and his chest.
Had anyone happened to see him at that moment, they would have discovered that this cold, ruthless, sinister Crown Prince of Great Chu, its future sovereign, was holding a scale that could pull him out of the deep sea and back onto shore.
The golden dragon scale cut into Chu Xuanzhen's skin, and blood dripped onto his sleeve and the undergarment covering his chest.
The bed suddenly began to shake, and the surrounding buildings trembled slightly as well.
The abrupt change made Chu Xuanzhen lift his half-closed eyes. His pupils had already returned to normal, though fine red veins still streaked the whites.
The eunuch stationed in the outer hall came running in, his voice trembling with fear. "Your Highness, there's an earthquake!"
"Your Highness, hurry! Run!"
No longer caring whether his actions might offend his sovereign, the eunuch stepped forward and hauled the Crown Prince out of bed, then grabbed his sleeve and ran outside with him.
The palace descended into chaos. Many people rushed out of their quarters in thin clothing, all wide awake without a trace of drowsiness, their faces filled with the lingering fear of having narrowly escaped disaster.
"Th-this is the Earth Dragon Turning Over?"
"How terrifying!"
Many people clamored noisily.
The shaking lasted only a short while before everything settled down. Yet even after things returned to normal, hardly anyone dared go back