Demon incense had already burned the hearts of Chaoge's people red.
Red wind chimes hung throughout the city.
Every night, a sickly sweet, bloody fragrance seeped into countless homes. Anyone who breathed it for too long developed bloodshot eyes.
The slightest quarrel could make people draw blades on one another.
The markets stood deserted.
Passersby kept their heads down.
No one dared discuss the royal palace, and no one dared remove the red bells outside their windows.
The State Preceptor's Residence had issued an order.
Every household had to hang bells. Anyone who disobeyed would be charged with harboring demons.
Yet at that moment, the Human Emperor Hall was colder than the demon incense that filled the city.
Queen Jiang knelt in the hall, her plain robes stained with dust and her hair disheveled. The grace she had once possessed as the mother of the nation was long gone from her face.
Veteran ministers such as Shang Rong and Bi Gan knelt on either side, their foreheads red from kowtowing, yet none could change the mind of Di Xin upon the throne.
Di Xin's figure remained tall and imposing, but his face had taken on a sickly, sallow gray.
Red shadows drifted in his eyes. Above his head, the remnants of his Human King aura flickered dimly, entwined with strands of demon incense.
"Jiang!"
Di Xin slammed his palm onto the royal desk, shattering a jade cup on the spot.
"The secret letters, confessions, and reports from palace informants have all been presented. Do you still dare claim you never colluded with outside ministers and summoned those two rebellious sons back to seize the throne?"
Queen Jiang raised her head, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Your Majesty, I have been at your side for decades. I bore you Jiao