The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, imperial study.
It was late at night. The wick had burned down to half its length, and the flame flickered on its bronze stand, making Xue Ye's shadow stretch and shrink.
He had been sleeping poorly lately. His eyes were sunken, and there was considerably more white at his temples than last year.
The crown prince had been missing for three years, undercurrents stirred at court, and the news of Spirit Hall's new Pope taking the throne weighed on his chest like a stone.
He leafed through the memorials before him, unable to take in a single word.
A subordinate reported from outside the doors that someone brought by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo had urgent matters to discuss.
"Come in."
The door opened a crack. A figure slipped inside, and the door closed silently again.
The newcomer was slender, with refined features and eyes that looked particularly deep in the candlelight. It was Tang San.
Xue Ye narrowed his eyes.
This young man claimed to be Tang Hao's son and a guest elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Ning Fengzhi had personally introduced him.
But the Tang San standing in the imperial study now seemed like a different person from the one he had met before. Beneath his composure lay a desperate, all-or-nothing edge.
"Your Majesty." Tang San cupped his hands in salute. "Forgive my late-night intrusion. This concerns the very foundations of the Heaven Dou Empire."
Xue Ye put down the memorial in his hand and leaned forward slightly. "Speak."
Tang San weighed his words, then opened with a bombshell. "His Highness Xue Qinghe died nine years ago."
The air in the imperial study seemed to freeze.
"What did you say?"
"Xue Qinghe was murdered by Spirit Hall