Beneath the long palace wall, silence lay as deep as an empty mountain valley. There was not a stray sound; even breathing had slowed until it was barely perceptible.
Someone strolled forward at his leisure.
The assembled ministers stood on either side, respectfully lowering their heads and making way.
The man in the Golden Flying Fish Uniform ignored the furious gazes of the Central Court's highest officials. Nor did he pause beside the Imperial Carriage and Phoenix Carriage. He walked straight into the Ancestral Hall as though no one else existed.
At that moment, he uttered not a word, yet his silence was deafening.
Unless he spoke, no other sound would rise beneath this palace wall.
Entering the Inner Hall, Jia Huan saw the shattered Dragon Vein beneath the Bronze Gate, then looked toward the muddy remnants of the dried-up river in the distance. Finally, his gaze settled on the portraits in the Ancestral Hall.
Jiang Wuyuan had utterly lost his conscience.
Nangong Ping'an had extinguished his humanity.
Yet their portraits still hung high upon the wall, honored with burning incense.
The young man's portrait, however, had been taken down.
Expressionless, Jia Huan suddenly looked at the Retired Emperor's portrait. He lit incense and candles and bowed twice, then knelt in heartfelt reverence, bent low in a deep bow, and said hoarsely:
"Your Majesty, I have failed you."
"But I have been driven to this point. I have no choice!"
With that, he bowed once more, turned, and left.
Passing through the outer hall, he picked up a dagger at random.
Under everyone's eyes, Jia Huan calmly approached the Imperial Carriage. All its curtains had been lowered, hiding the emperor's face.
"Jia Huan, what are you trying to do?" Two decrepit eunuchs rushed over. They were the gatekeepers, Jiang Liu