At the construction site of the Zhaixing Observatory, there first came an extremely light “ka” sound, as if some terrace foundation had sunk, or as if some beam had broken.

At first, no one paid attention, until fissures rapidly spread, assuming the momentum of a breached dike. Amid earth shaking and mountains trembling, the palace terrace turned into dust; the heavy rising ash veiled the wreckage of the timber.

At Hegui Pavilion, the hanging eave-bells, shaken by the tremor, gave off urgent, chaotic jingling sounds.

On the top-level flat terrace, Wenren Lin in a dark red robe stood facing the wind, having sought a place with an excellent view, watching the collapse of this colossal skeleton.

Zhang Cang widened his eyes, clicking his tongue: “The Prince merely deliberately leaked a bit of news, and they were like trapped birds overturning the cart, dogs driven to a corner leaping over the wall, actually making such a big commotion!”

Wenren Lin unconsciously rubbed the mutton-fat jade pendant at his waist, his pale cold lips pulling ever so slightly.

The ditch vermin indeed would not disappoint; once they slaughtered one another, the effect was even more violent than he had expected. However, this good play had only just begun.

Wenren Lin’s mood was joyous; such exhilaration even made him forget the piercing yin-cold pain in his viscera. The dead ash of collapse reflected in his eyes, dissolving into splendid, gorgeous hues.

“Go and escort His Highness the Crown Prince back, let her be at ease waiting in the Eastern Palace.”

Wenren Lin, carrying a gentle smile, instructed Zhang Cang behind him.

The little Princess’s carefully prepared birthday banquet being ruined, she was bound to be startled, worried, and disappointed; he had to lower himself to soothe and comfort her.

Qifeng Pavilion.

The assembled guests sat in shock, dumbstruck. Several ministers of the Ministry of Works were all frightened until their faces lost color, constantly raising their sleeves to wipe sweat.

Marquis Ningyang, Wei Yan, did not look at the tragedy of the Zhaixing Observatory, but instinctively grasped Rong Fuyue’s hand, gently comforting his frightened wife.

Empress Wei rose and calmly reprimanded the Imperial Guards: “What are you standing stunned for? Immediately seal the palace gates and investigate the cause.”

Censor He seized upon this opportunity, stepping forth sternly, presenting a memorial with both hands while kneeling: “This subject He Yi impeaches that the Shen Guang Sect colluded with the Ministry of Works, passing off inferior for superior, purchasing rotten nanmu, resulting in today’s disaster! I request His Majesty to investigate strictly!”

Cen Meng then stepped out, prostrating in kowtow: “I request His Majesty to investigate strictly!”

Once these words came out, none in the hall were not shocked.

For a while, there were those who doubted, those who were astonished; like clear water poured into boiling oil, it boiled into a noisy uproar.

Zhao Yen stood amid the clamor, still maintaining the posture of rising to directly submit a memorial, faintly sensing that something was amiss.

Although the nanmu timber indeed had problems, for it to collapse at the Empress’s birthday banquet, in front of her father and all the court officials and noble ladies, was it not too coincidental?

Censor He struck his head against the ground; Assistant Minister Shen of the Ministry of Personnel also followed, kneeling and requesting thorough investigation. The Emperor’s expression was grave; the hall was thrown into chaos.

Yet the Emperor, after all, was the Emperor; though facing such turmoil, his expression did not change. He only paused his cup, rose, and said: “Where is the Shen Guang Daoist Master? Imperial Guards, go and see what on earth is happening.”

Amidst the confusion, Zhao Yen suddenly realized something, her heart turning cold.

The Zhaixing Observatory had collapsed, and the main strength of the Imperial Guards was almost entirely concentrated at Phoenix-Resting Pavilion and the Observatory. The Northern Court was in chaos; the Shen Guang Sect was too busy to care for itself, its stronghold Tongtian Terrace must surely be lax in defense…

This was an excellent opportunity to infiltrate Tongtian Terrace to search for witnesses and physical evidence!

Liu Baiwei clearly had thought of this as well; across the space he met her eyes, giving a slight nod of indication.

The birthday banquet was evidently impossible to continue. Empress Wei rose, pleading guilty and taking her leave. When she lifted her head and looked over the crowd, she could not help but slightly furrow her brows.

The Crown Prince’s seat was empty; Zhao Yen’s figure was already gone.

…

At this moment, Zhao Yen was leading people up the long stone steps, ascending Tongtian Terrace.

As soon as trouble broke out at the Zhaixing Observatory, the Daoists of Tongtian Terrace were nowhere to be found; a few muddle-headed young alchemy attendants they encountered were sternly shouted down by Liu Baiwei.

On the main terrace, there were two small side halls, to the left and right, serving for discourse on the Dao and for alchemy.

“You go left, I will go right.”

Zhao Yen signaled Liu Baiwei, not forgetting to seriously add a line, “Safety is most important, protect yourself well!”

Liu Baiwei gave a carefree smile.

The two split into two paths, passing through the front court toward the left and right halls.

The right hall’s door was half open; inside, from time to time, came the sounds of things toppling and shattering. Li Fu and another inner attendant picked up sticks for defense, cleverly shielding Zhao Yen at the front, then with one kick pushed open the hall door.

Inside was a scene of chaos.

Desks had overturned, porcelain bottles shattered, and behind the door lay two unconscious Daoists. Meanwhile, the early-arriving Gu Xing was entangled in combat with another young Daoist, struggling over a thick register.

That young Daoist was short and compact, with fierce eyes, his skills extraordinarily formidable; barehanded, he fought Gu Xing to an even match. Seeing Zhao Yen and the others break in, the Daoist, knowing himself outnumbered, hastily threw the thick register into the alchemy furnace, attempting to burn and destroy the evidence.

Bright flames instantly leapt over a foot high. Gu Xing immediately stretched out his arm, attempting to snatch back the burning book from the furnace, yet was repeatedly obstructed by the Daoist.

“Li Fu!”

At Zhao Yen’s low cry, Li Fu rushed forward, pulling the register out from the furnace, then quickly stamped out the bright flames with his feet while turning in circles. Sparks and paper ash scattered everywhere.

Gu Xing took advantage of the Daoist’s anxious disruption of his own moves, seizing the flaw, and swept out with one leg. The Daoist was kicked flying a zhang away, toppling the alchemy furnace.

The Daoist’s leg was scalded; seeing he could not escape, he immediately bit through the poison pellet hidden under his tongue, collapsing dead on the spot.

Li Fu gave an “ugh” as he dodged aside, then picked up the register salvaged from the furnace, patted away the ash, sniffed it to confirm no poison, and only then presented it with both hands before Zhao Yen.

The temperature within the furnace was extremely high; though the rescue was timely, only half remained, slightly larger than a palm.

“This humble one, by order of Your Highness, had all along kept watch on the movements of Tongtian Terrace. Just now, when the Zhaixing Observatory suddenly collapsed and Tongtian Terrace fell into disorder, this humble one seized the chance to mix in, and happened to encounter this man rifling through boxes searching for this register. This humble one guessed the register must be crucial evidence, that drove him to risk searching, thus I engaged him in combat.”

Gu Xing explained the course of events in a few words, then clasped his fists, saying: “This humble one is incompetent, I still let him destroy more than half the evidence.”

Only at this time did Zhao Yen have the strength to release the turbid breath in her chest, waving her hand: “It is not your fault. That one’s conduct clearly was not that of a Daoist, but of a death warrior.”

Fortunately, at least half had been rescued.

As she thought this, suddenly outside the hall came the sound of disorderly, unsteady footsteps approaching.

An aged, hoarse voice urgently cried out: “Quick, quick, hide this poor Daoist’s registers away!”

At the sound, Gu Xing at once placed himself protectively before his mistress. Zhao Yen tucked the register into her bosom, then raised her eyes—

It was Daoist Master Shen Guang, crown askew, robe disheveled, panting as he stood outside the railing.

The old Daoist looked once at Zhao Yen and the others, then once at the dead Daoist on the ground and the overturned alchemy furnace, his eyes wide with terror—then turned and fled.

Zhao Yen chased out the hall door, but Daoist Master Shen Guang had already taken a shortcut down the winding steps.

Zhao Yen calmly instructed Gu Xing: “Stop him! If he falls into the hands of the Imperial Guards, I will have no chance to question him…”

Her words were not yet finished when the fleeing Daoist Master Shen Guang suddenly halted his steps.

He panted like an ox, staring at the winding stone stair path, as if he had seen something terrifying, forced to tremble and step backward.

Down the stone path, what first entered sight was the dazzling phoenix crown of a high coiffure, then the luxuriant splendor of the phoenix robe. The shadows of the path peeled away layer by layer from Empress Wei’s body, and the sunlight illuminated her dignified, coldly beautiful countenance.

At her waist, the pair of lotus jade pendants jingled, and behind her followed several trusted inner attendants, blocking the path so tightly that not a drop of water could pass.

Zhao Yen’s heart suddenly tightened, and she said urgently: “How could Mother Empress have come here?”

Her gaze swept once between Liuying and Li Fu; seeing Li Fu lower his head guiltily, she knew that this matter was most likely he who had delivered a message to Kunning Palace.

Zhao Yen had no authority to blame Li Fu; after all, he was someone trained and raised within Kunning Palace.

The mother and daughter’s gazes struck across the air; Zhao Yen lowered her eyes like a child who had done wrong.

Mother Empress knew everything…

She had not obeyed, had not ceased her pursuit of the truth, and even bearing Zhao Yan’s identity, had ruined Mother Empress’s birthday banquet.