If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Beneath the sandalwood beams and pillars, the flickering light of red candles cast long shadows on the ground. The palace seemed shrouded in a thin layer of gold, with dancers moving about, their fans scattering into shimmering dust with every wave. Officials, their robes embroidered with golden willows, remained motionless, yet their laughter flowed freely. The banquet stretched outwards, and no one remembered how many rounds of tea had been served.

In the center of the hall, the dragon throne leaned against a screen adorned with dragon patterns. The emperor sat cross-legged, his shoulders still ramrod straight. Wine cups were laid out before him, their aroma wafting in two circles beneath the eaves. A feather fan, its surface made of jade, trembled slightly as it idly swayed in his hand. His eyes were fixed on the dancers before him, his face expressionless. Crown Prince Li Hong sat on a low seat beside him, half a head shorter than the others. His face was slightly gaunt, his fingertips circling the rim of a cup again and again. The historians wrote in turn, their eyes filled with fear as they looked up. They could see clearly—Li Hong had barely drunk any water since the banquet began, only nodding slightly when others spoke of court affairs.

Li Wei was not dressed in his banquet attire. He stood before the dragon throne, his robes clinging to his body, his clothes still covered in the dust of the battlefield. A military tally with a hidden pattern, its surface engraved with yin and yang symbols, rested in his palm. He bowed to the emperor in a low voice. "Your Majesty," he said, "the court officials are all gathered here, a scene where no hesitation is warranted. The Crown Prince's words and actions have deviated from the norm; he privately consults sorcerers, frequently enters the emperor's tent at night, and even dares to order the imperial guards to oppress the people. We fear… we fear he has been possessed by an evil spirit."

The drumming and music stopped. The musicians' fingertips froze in mid-air, as if even the wind was suspended. From behind the screen came the sound of a palace maid sobbing, which was suppressed by the steward's stern voice.

The emperor remained silent for a long moment. The fine, scaly lines on his face twitched slightly, and his eyes were bloodshot. The applause outside pounded against his eardrums. He gripped his feather fan tightly, the ribs creaking. "Li Wei," he said, "I have treated you as before, yet you have spread rumors at this birthday banquet. If you dare to be a traitor, then I will depose you right now."

Li Wei's voice was low, but he did not back down. "My brothers have set up the Imperial Guards outside the palace. They have talismans in their hands, talismans personally bestowed by His Majesty; they also have battle formations, and the signatures of the officials at the table. I will only say one thing: the Crown Prince has been possessed by a demon. If he is willing to accept power, then I urge His Majesty to see clearly."

The courtiers around him whispered amongst themselves. Some swallowed hard, while others looked away without a glance. The banquet band put away their instruments, the drumbeats ceasing.

The Emperor calmed down. "Li Wei, your words are too harsh. What I want is the portrait of the Crown Prince, the very foundation of the nation. I need witnesses, ancestral prayers, and the gatekeeper who witnessed the Crown Prince's escape at night. You've brought people into the hall now; do you really intend to say these things to my face?"

Li Wei slightly raised his chin. "I know that more than a dozen Imperial Guard generals are waiting outside the palace. If it was Consort Chen's instruction, they can first find out which gate the Crown Prince came out through at night. I only ask for a moment to release him, and I will personally issue an edict to interrogate him at the North Gate. If the Crown Prince is innocent, I am willing to wash my hands with blood on the spot."

The emperor lifted his feather fan and threw it aside, shouting in an intermittently harsh voice, "Purge the court of corrupt officials? If this matter is not approved by me, you are committing treason!" However, there was a tremor in his own voice.

Li Wei did not back down. "What I request is to purge the court of corrupt officials," his voice echoing down the steps. "Either evil spirits have infiltrated the Crown Prince, or ministers have seized the opportunity to usurp power. The military tally I brought was personally bestowed by me; this is not treason, but protecting Your Majesty."

He took out the intricately patterned military tally from his sleeve, revealing its true form. The palace lights illuminated it, causing the patterns on the tally to flash. The imperial guards' ranks rose outside the hall. The surrounding doors and windows shook violently, even the wind chimes in the courtyard trembled. The palace guards froze on the ground, as if struck by a latticework window.

"Purge all evil spirits!" Li Wei shouted. The Imperial Guards pushed open the door and entered, accompanied by the glint of swords, the clatter of bridles, and the thud of hooves. Their armor was stiff, and their breath revealed sweat stains, carrying the smell of iron filings and old smoke. Li Wei shouted, "Purge the court of corrupt officials, protect His Majesty!" His voice exploded like cannon fire. The Imperial Guards surrounded the main hall, forming two iron walls.

The courtiers were stunned, their gazes darting around. The Crown Prince stood up straight, a startled look in his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. The earlier-arriving advisors twitched their fingers in a corner, while the witch who had been discussing elixirs just moments before now stared wide-eyed. Some seemed about to rush forward, but were restrained by others.

Qin Shuang weaved through the crowd. She slipped in through a side door, her eyes gleaming with cold light. She saw Li Wei's actions and knew the situation had reached a point of no return. She overheard the Imperial Guard captain whispering orders: "Open and inspect the boxes on either side of the Crown Prince. If you find bloodstains, hand over the military tally."

The rain outside intensified. The sky seemed to be billowing a black cloth, raindrops pounding the eaves and creating swirling mists. The guests outside the palace walls halted, their horse reins trembling slightly. Inside the hall, the incense burners had long since turned a yellowish-brown, the smoke carrying the aroma of sweet pastries and jelly, rising slowly. Only a few plates of food remained untouched on the banquet table; the usual hustle and bustle had vanished.

The emperor stared at Li Wei. "I will not allow you to rebel at my birthday banquet," he gritted his teeth. "My fate is not something you can rewrite with a single word like 'evil spirit'."

Li Wei raised the military tally and pointed casually. "Imperial Guards, purge the court of corrupt officials. Whether it's true or not, open the gates first. If the Crown Prince is a decent person, give him a chance to clear his name. If the Crown Prince has been implicated, we should know which line has been severed."

A voice sounded behind her, like gritted teeth. Qin Shuang stopped beside the Imperial Guards. She reached out and gently gripped the arm of one of the soldiers. "Hold your ground. The Crown Prince is part of Zhou Yang's support. Don't let any rash actions ruin the whole situation." Her voice was steady, but her shoulders trembled slightly. She knew she didn't have time to explain.

The imperial guard captain stepped back slightly, listened to the whispers of the nearby eunuchs, and nodded. The soldiers brought from outside the palace began to line up. At this moment, the emperor announced, "Detain Li Wei, and put away the talisman first." His gaze was still fixed on Li Wei, as if he were staring at a cunning dog.

Li Wei said, word by word, "It's alright if the talisman is taken away. The imperial guards outside the palace won't stand by and watch evil spirits continue to vie for the throne."

Qin Shuang's hand tightened. "Remember, purging corrupt officials isn't just about cutting off heads; it's also about understanding where their ambitions come from." After saying this, she retreated back into the crowd, unwilling to utter another word in this storm.

The hall fell silent. Everyone stood there, trembling, like strings snapped easily, maintaining their postures. Rain pattered down from the roof, splashing onto the stone steps. Li Hong's lips twitched slightly, and the wine glass on the table trembled gently.

The Imperial Guards had now surrounded the entire palace, their blades gleaming coldly in the lamplight, carrying with them whispers that echoed in the hearts of everyone present. What would happen next? No one knew. No one could answer at this moment.

The emperor looked ahead. The flames reflected on his face, and his eyes trembled slightly. The banquet had turned into a battlefield, and the shadows hidden beneath the birthday feast had only just been partially revealed. Smoke billowed outside the palace, and the rain continued to fall, as if reshuffling the cards for an unfinished battle.

Qin Shuang stopped outside the door, raising her hand to stroke the hilt of the sword hanging at her chest. Rainwater seeped into the inner layer of cloth. Her brows furrowed as she surveyed the scene within the hall, her fingers slowly clenching into a fist, the rough stone of her palm rubbing against her skin until it ached. She listened to the orderly footsteps of the Imperial Guards, waiting for a response. But before she could even prepare to reply, shouts from inside the hall pierced through the rain.