Volume One: The Emperor's Edict Chapter Thirty-Two: Shadows Within the Walls

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The depths of the imperial city at night seemed chillingly cold, the glazed tiles bereft of sunlight reflecting nothing but pervasive frost. The eunuchs and palace maids on night duty tiptoed about, their steps light and careful, fearing to disturb those slumbering within the chambers and disrupt their peaceful dreams.

In the spacious plaza on the eastern side of the palace, a five-tiered pentagonal stone platform stood, each side precisely seven zhang long. Around it, eighty tall banners adorned with varied patterns fluttered fiercely in the wind. At the very center of the platform, a desk was set with brush, ink, paper, and a dozen talismans. A young man clad in Daoist robes wielded a wooden sword, moving before the desk in a dance whose steps concealed the mysteries of the twenty-eight lunar mansions. Every three steps he took, a meteor streaked across the night sky.

"The Purple Star of the Emperor has fallen, the southeastern star of the general shines bright, the polar light will soon appear—calamity approaches!"

Whenever the skies cleared, the emperor led civil and military officials in grand ceremonies to pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests throughout the year. Thus was this altar constructed, following Daoist principles, imbued with profound meaning.

In his panic, the young man's robes fell into disarray, his wooden sword cast aside. He stumbled to the ground, muttering incessantly, his left hand trembling as he calculated the time.

"Disaster, disaster—it just happened! Someone, help! Someone!"

A nearby servant was about to respond, but a raised hand silenced him. "Mister Gongsun, what has happened to cause such panic in the dead of night?"

The newcomer was none other than Chancellor Xue Pan, who had rested well tonight and brought the officials to witness this royal spectacle.

Seeing it was Xue Pan, the young man breathed a long sigh of relief, stood with the help of the attendant, and straightened his attire. "Chancellor, why are you not resting so late? Has something happened?"

"Sir, your calculations are astonishing—could this be the mandate of heaven?" Xue Pan looked up, the stars sparkling above, showing no sign of anomaly. "Ah, mortal eyes can never glimpse the will of heaven."

The chancellor did not elaborate, instead gesturing invitingly toward the crowd below. The civil and military officials, dressed in full regalia, bowed deeply and respectfully.

"Chancellor, this cannot be, it must not be!" Gongsun, adept at divining fate, understood exactly what Xue Pan intended.

The Iron Dynasty's veneration of spirits and gods had reached its zenith during these peaceful times. If the throne was the symbol of imperial power, then the eight-trigram Daoist robe was the emblem of heaven's will.

Having witnessed the emperor's star fall, chaos would surely erupt within the palace. The chancellor’s invitation was a call to restore order.

Xue Pan left him no room for protest, ordering his attendants to seize him and escort him to the Palace of Dawn.

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The Palace of Dawn was the main hall, where officials gathered for council. Others had long since assembled there.

Meanwhile, in the sleeping quarters, Master Jinghuo the monk and the Ironclad General were locked in intense combat. Jinghuo, barehanded, struck the general's hammer with his palm, producing a metallic clang. His hands, undaunted by weapons, radiated heat that turned the iron red-hot.

The Ironclad General cursed inwardly. He was on duty tonight, ordered to guard the sleeping palace. Supposedly, guards and two trusted experts sent by the empress lay in wait, yet now all had vanished. Could it be the empress herself was involved, allowing the assailants to succeed? With the old emperor already dead, he also had to consider his own future.

"Monk, let’s stop for now. I have questions for you."

Jinghuo leaped back out of the circle. "What is it? I haven’t had my fill of fighting yet."

"Are you with the empress or the crown prince? Now the emperor is gone, we’re no longer enemies—let me understand."

"From your words, you’re eager to find a new master? You’re clever for such a big fellow. When you meet His Highness, I’ll speak for you, and you’ll surely be retained." Jinghuo, eager for merit, swiftly beheaded the old emperor, wrapping the head in a yellow cloth.

The two sped toward the Palace of Serenity, Jinghuo firing signal arrows to alert his fellow monks.

Elsewhere, Jingjin and his companions were fighting vigorously when signal arrows and a flash of fire came from outside. They feigned a retreat. "It's done. I advise you to wait in the Palace of Dawn for news. If you hurry, you may witness the new emperor's enthronement."

Xu Xing watched the monks vanish, pondering for a moment before refraining from pursuit.

"Xu, why not chase them?" asked the other generals.

"Gentlemen, let us go to the Palace of Dawn. I will take my leave." Xu Xing shouldered his staff and strode toward the city gates. At this point, he did not wish to linger in a place rife with trouble.

Men of the martial world do martial deeds; Xu Xing was no fool. It would be best to return once the turmoil settled.

Relying on his skills, he had been brought in by the late emperor as an idle official without much restraint.

Before leaving, he glanced twice toward the Palace of Dawn, threw several gold darts at the wall in frustration, and vanished into the dense night.

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Inside and outside the Palace of Dawn, Blue Plume soldiers stood guard everywhere. Before the hall, civil and military officials lined up on both sides. Xue Pan hurried over from the altar, colliding with the crown prince.

"Chancellor, it is bitter cold tonight. Thank you for coming in person—please forgive me," the crown prince greeted Xue Pan with a deep bow.

"It cannot be, it cannot be—you are the crown prince," Xue Pan replied, bowing as well, but did not address him as emperor.

The prince took no offense. With sixty thousand Blue Plume soldiers firmly controlling the imperial city and seven great swordsmen at his side, no one dared approach him.

The officials bowed. Their emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—need not be spoken; each harbored their own schemes. Tonight, calculations would be settled openly.

The empress was already seated in the main hall of the Palace of Dawn, beside the empty throne.

Her attendants were all women, each with tightly bound clothing, fierce eyes, swords at their waists, and soft armor beneath.

The crown prince was surprised to see his mother present, but stepped forward to pay his respects. "Mother, why are you here?"

"Why shouldn't I be? My child commits such unfilial deeds—should I be killed as well?" The empress slapped the chair, stood up, and struck the prince across the face.

The slap left the prince stunned. "Mother, didn’t you support my actions? Why—"

"Kneel! Wait!"

The empress’s words could not be refuted, even by the crown prince. He obediently knelt, and the officials followed suit, not daring to raise their eyes.

Chu Chunqiu tried to speak in defense, but the empress’s fierce gaze silenced him.

Soon, five monks and a general appeared in the corridor outside the Palace of Dawn. One monk carried a bundle, entered the hall, and tossed it before the assembly.

A large human head rolled across the floor!