Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 990 Secrets of the Palace
"Heh..." Shan Yan chuckled softly and withdrew her finger.

She liked Qingyao's decisive, straightforward, and unyielding spirit, which made her even more interested in him. "It's not time yet."

She waved her hand, "When I need your help, I will naturally ask you to. For now, you just need to remember that you owe me a favor."

"...Yes!" Qingyao bowed without hesitation. For Fang Yu's safety, he was willing to temporarily set aside his pride. Moreover, the strength and methods displayed by Lord Shanyan were worthy of his respect.

After a brief pause, Qingyao spoke again, her tone questioning: "Lord Shanyan, with the Seventh Prince dead, the capital is bound to undergo a dramatic change. What should we do next?"

"us?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Shan Yan let out a soft, enigmatic laugh. "We just need to observe and wait. There are others who are more anxious and restless than we are. Besides..." A sly glint flashed in her eyes, "Haven't you already 'given word' to those demons? Even if you are trapped in this deep palace, they will sense an opportunity after learning of the Seventh Prince's death and will spontaneously begin to act. There is no need for you to issue any additional orders."

Thinking of the chaotic drama that was about to unfold, orchestrated by various forces, Lord Shan Yan's smile deepened, tinged with an almost morbid anticipation: "The capital is about to descend into complete chaos... No! Not just the capital, but the entire world will be swept up in this storm! I can't wait to see how that high and mighty old man will react when he learns of the tragic death of his most beloved son, and what kind of fascinating expression will appear on his face!"

Before he could finish speaking, Lord Shan Yan seemed unable to contain his excitement. He casually waved to Qing Yao, then his figure blurred as he took three steps in two, floating towards the door like a ghost, treating the fully armed guards at the door as if they were nothing.

Only after her figure completely disappeared at the end of the corridor did the two guards at the door, who were like statues, suddenly wake up from a dream. They looked around blankly, muttered a few words like "it seems like there's a breeze," and then resumed their focused and vigilant posture. They were completely unaware that just now, someone powerful enough to stir up the winds of the world had been right next to them and had completed a conversation that could change the fate of countless people.

"Old thing..."

Qingyao remained alone in the quiet room, pondering Shanyan's last words. "The 'old thing' she spoke of, could it be... the emperor who sits atop the Dragon Court, wielding the power of life and death over the Great Xia Dynasty?"

Thinking of this, Qingyao's awe of Lord Shanyan deepened even further.

He secretly speculated that Lord Shan Yan's strength was probably even greater than that of Lord Lan Yuhe of the Demon Capital.

The human supreme being of the Great Xia Dynasty should have a power level that surpasses that of Lord Shan Yan.
Based on this calculation, the Great Xia emperor should be far stronger than the Blue Feather Crane?

However... after experiencing the earth-shattering upheaval in Tianyuan Town, Lord Blue Feather Crane's power has become unfathomable.

As to Qing Yao, it was impossible to discern who was stronger or weaker among the three, like looking at flowers through a fog.

But there was one thing Qingyao was absolutely certain of.

When the news of the Seventh Prince's assassination reached the ears of that supreme being, no matter how other things developed, one thing was certain: people would soon die in the capital, and many, many people would die!

What was originally a calm surface of water, which was only disturbed by a few pebbles and ripples, will be completely stained red with blood, stirred up by anger and fear, and transformed into a monstrous wave that devours everything!

"The capture of the capital... is just around the corner!"

Qingyao slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. He looked out the window at the gradually brightening sky, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of palaces, revealing a future paved with chaos and bloodshed.

A sense of anticipation mixed with ambition and ruthlessness surged within him.

This storm is the opportunity they've been waiting for!

……

"Who?"

Deep within the palace, outside a side hall bearing the plaque "Jingxinzhai," the old eunuch Zuo Sangping uttered a sharp voice, like a taut string suddenly plucked.

He slightly turned his body and precisely blocked the path of a low-ranking eunuch who was trying to approach quickly and whose face was filled with panic.

The eunuch clutched a letter with a red feather inserted in his hand—a symbol of the highest level of emergency military intelligence. But even if the news of the sky falling was about to fall, it still had to pass through Zuo Sangping's hands outside the palace where His Majesty was resting.

"Insolence! Disturbing His Majesty, how many heads do you have?!" Zuo Sangping's voice was shrill and thin, carrying a kind of intimidating power that scratched the eardrums. His gaze was like a cold awl, piercing the little eunuch, who trembled all over and knelt down with a thud. His hands were still holding the red-feathered urgent report high, and a gurgling sound came from his throat. He was obviously terrified and anxious to the extreme.

From inside the hall, a deep, slightly weary voice pierced through the heavy doors. It wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "What's all this commotion?"

Zuo Sangping immediately turned around, facing the palace gate, bowing even lower, his tone instantly becoming extremely submissive: "Your Majesty, it was just an ignorant brat who took an urgent report he didn't know the importance of. This old servant will deal with him immediately..."

"Let him in." The voice from inside interrupted him, calm and even, yet it choked Zuo Sangping's words of objection.

"Yes." Zuo Sangping dared not disobey in the slightest, immediately stepping aside and glaring at the little eunuch on the ground. He whispered, "Get inside, and be careful what you say!"

The young eunuch scrambled open the palace door and practically crawled inside.

The hall was dimly lit, with only a few lamps burning continuously.

The current emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty was wearing casual clothes, sitting behind a large sandalwood table, holding a book in his hand, seemingly having just been quietly reading.

His eyes held a deep weariness, as if he had lost much interest in everything in the world.

The young eunuch trembled as he held the urgent report in red feathers high above his head, his voice broken and faltering: "Your Majesty... the Xia Prince's residence... the Seventh... the Seventh Prince... he..."

Hei Tiangang slowly shifted his gaze from the book to the crimson letter, but did not immediately take it.

He simply watched quietly, the air in the hall seemed to freeze, leaving only the little eunuch's suppressed gasps of extreme fear.

After a long while, the emperor slightly raised his finger. Another eunuch, who had been standing in the shadows, silently stepped forward, took the urgent report, checked that the sealing wax was correct, and then respectfully presented it to the emperor's desk.

Hei Tiangang used his long, slender fingers to peel off the sealing wax and unfold the letter.

His gaze swept quickly across the writing. It stated, in the most concise yet cruel language, the fact that the Seventh Prince, Hei Tianxia, ​​had been assassinated, and mentioned that there were traces of inhuman force left at the scene.

Time passed little by little.

Zuo Sangping stood outside the hall with his hands at his sides and a bow, his heart pounding like a drum, sweat silently soaking his inner shirt. He imagined the Emperor's possible wrath, a thunderous storm that would sweep across the entire capital.

However, the expected roars and smashing sounds did not come. Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.

After a long while, a very soft sigh was heard. The emotions contained in that sigh were too complex: there was weariness, understanding, and a trace of sadness that was hard to pinpoint, but more than anything, there was a kind of... relief as if he had long anticipated that something would finally happen?
"I understand." The emperor's voice remained steady, even calmer than before. He gently placed the letter back on the table, as if it were merely an insignificant daily report. "Go. This matter must not be made public."

The young eunuch felt as if he had been granted a pardon, yet he was incredulous. He practically collapsed as he crawled out of the main hall.

Zuo Sangping was filled with shock and doubt. His Majesty's reaction... was far too calm! It was a chilling, terrifying calm! This was completely unlike that of a father who had just lost his son!

Just as he was reeling and trying to decipher the Emperor's intentions, a series of even more frantic and hurried footsteps came from the other end of the corridor. A palace maid, her hair disheveled and her face deathly pale as if she had seen a ghost, desperately tried to rush towards the palace gate.

Just as Zuo Sangping was about to reprimand her again, the palace maid screamed in a shrill voice that pierced the deathly silence of the palace night: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Consort You... Her Highness... She has passed away!"

This shout was like another thunderclap, striking outside Jingxinzhai.

Inside the hall, the emperor, who had just picked up a book, finally stopped.

He remained silent for a moment, then gently put the book down.

This time, he didn't ask any more questions.

He slowly stood up.

His tall figure stretched out long in the dim light, and the tired and languid aura that had enveloped him seemed to vanish in an instant, replaced by a deep, invisible sense of oppression.

His face remained expressionless, devoid of grief, surprise, or any other emotion; only a cold indifference remained.

He stepped forward and walked outside.

Zuo Sangping quickly bowed and made way for him, his heart pounding in his chest.

Consort You! The woman whom His Majesty personally banished to the Cold Palace for years, yet who still commanded a delicate and unapproachable attitude from him, a woman whom no one was allowed to disrespect or even mention! She too… died this night?!

The emperor walked steadily towards the cold palace located in the most remote corner of the palace.

Wherever the emperor passed, palace maids and eunuchs were swept away as if by an invisible gust of cold wind, kneeling in terror, their foreheads pressed tightly against the cold ground, not daring to even breathe. Only after the emperor's figure disappeared into the distance did the kneeling palace maids seem to have all their strength drained away, almost collapsing to the ground. Then, as if it were the end of the world, they huddled together, whispering amongst themselves in trembling voices:
"It's over...it's all over..."

"Your Highness, how could this happen... We served in the Cold Palace, and we were already... We're definitely not going to survive now!"

"His Majesty's expression just now... was terrifying..."

"Waaah... Are we all going to be buried with the Empress...?"

Fear spread like a plague among the palace people.

Ignoring the commotion behind him, the emperor walked straight into the palace.

Compared to other palaces, this place seemed particularly desolate and quiet, even the lights seemed dimmer. A faint, cool sandalwood scent permeated the air, mixed with a subtle, almost imperceptible fragrance that seemed to come from the depths of a secluded valley.

Inside the palace, a woman lay quietly on a simple bed.

She was dressed in simple palace attire, her face exquisitely beautiful, yet devoid of color. Her eyes were closed, and her chest remained still, clearly indicating that she had already passed away. Several elderly maids who had served her knelt by the bedside, trembling with fear.

The emperor walked to the bedside and stopped. His deep gaze fell on the woman's stunningly beautiful yet cold face, and he looked at her for a very long time.

The surroundings were eerily silent; there wasn't even a sound of crying, only the suppressed sound of breathing.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and calm, devoid of any hint of joy or sorrow, as if he were merely stating a fact, or perhaps speaking to someone who could hear him:

"I am coming."

Miraculously, or rather, bizarrely—

Consort You, who was already dead and had stopped breathing, suddenly trembled her long eyelashes.

Then, those tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

What kind of eyes were those? Their movement held a foxy, cunning allure, yet deep within them lay a frozen lake, unfathomably dark. At that moment, those eyes narrowed, gazing at the emperor standing by the bed, a faint, almost ethereal smile playing on their lips.

"I want to see you." Her voice rang out, languid and hoarse as if she had just woken up, but without any sign of weakness.

The emperor watched her "come back to life," his face showing no surprise, as if he had expected it all along. He simply asked, "...Because of Hei Tianxia's death?"

"Yes." Consort You chuckled lightly, but there was no warmth in her laughter, only a cold probing and a hint of mockery. "However, you have disappointed me. You are so indifferent to the separation of life and death of a blood relative. I thought you would at least frown."

Something extremely subtle seemed to flicker deep within the emperor's pupils, but it was too fleeting to be detected. His voice remained steady: "I will make those who deserve to pay the price pay the price. To comfort the spirit of Tianxia in heaven."

"Boring, so boring." The smile on Consort You's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of utter boredom. She lay back down, closed her eyes, and stopped breathing again. Her body became cold and stiff, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion, and she had never woken up.

The emperor stood there and stared at the "corpse" for a moment.

He seemed to know that all of this was a trick she was playing in the shadows, using an extreme and bizarre method to test his reaction and stir up his stagnant heart. He even knew that her subtle influence might be behind the death of the Seventh Prince, just to see his reaction.

He showed an almost unusual... leniency towards this woman, this mysterious and unpredictable imperial concubine whom he had personally banished to the cold palace.

He said nothing more, turned around, and left the cold palace.

Outside the palace, the palace maids and nannies who had just experienced a dramatic reversal and escaped death had no time to rejoice when they saw Zuo Sangping, who was following behind the emperor, cast a chilling glance at them.

(End of this chapter)