The Imperial City, Chang'an Palace, inside the Hall of State Affairs.
The more important officials, most of whom had arrived within half an hour after the darkness, were in hushed discussions.
"What in the world just happened? The Imperial Observatory hasn't leaked any information, and it didn't seem like an eclipse at all. Elder Zhang, do you know? Have you ever read about anything like this?"
"I've lived for over seventy years, and I've truly never seen nor heard of such a thing. The last eclipse I witnessed was nothing like this sudden blackness. An eclipse is when the sun gradually dims, and it's a process. The sun doesn't completely disappear, and in most cases, there's a thin halo of light around its outer edge. The darkness is at most comparable to night; those with good eyesight can still see people nearby. But this time was different, truly pitch black. I couldn't see anything in any direction. It was truly terrifying!"
"Indeed, could it be divine retribution?"
"Let me tell you, the darkness wasn't the worst part. The worst part was that I happened to have a lamp nearby. I lit it, thinking the surroundings would be less dark. But do you know what happened? Although the lamp was lit, it didn't emit any light outwards. Only the tip of the wick was burning. The area that should have been illuminated by the flame remained utterly dark. I don't know how to describe that feeling. It was as if I had seen a ghost. It was as if there was a candle flame the size of a fingernail in the darkness, illuminating nothing around it, not even the candle itself, as if it existed in a void. There was no support from above, below, or any side. It was incredibly eerie!"
"I was quite far away, on my way to one of my family's estates. I could clearly see a large area in front of me plunged into absolute darkness. But beyond that darkness, everything else was normal. The sun was still the sun, and its light was still shining on us normally. So I think this might not be a natural disaster, but perhaps something related to strange powers. It was too bizarre, it sent chills down my spine!"
Before the assembled ministers had been discussing for long, Emperor Yu Gan arrived in haste. He immediately granted them leave to rise and then, with a grave expression, addressed the officials:
"Everyone here has witnessed what happened today. The area covered by the darkness was not large, and according to the information I have received, the dark region was almost circular, with its center precisely at the execution grounds. And many of those who were supposed to be executed publicly today have now escaped. Therefore, this sudden darkness must have been deliberately orchestrated by someone to rescue those traitors. While I do not know how that villain managed it, this is the undeniable truth. So, there is no need for further discussion. You will immediately mobilize your forces and bring back all those traitors, dead or alive. Also, you will immediately post notices to explain the situation to the public, to prevent them from making wild speculations."
The reason Emperor Yu Gan arrived late was primarily because he was busy gathering information and formulating a strategy to explain the sudden darkness. Once he learned that the scope of the darkness was limited and that the execution grounds were at its center, he found his explanation. To preempt any officials from speaking first, he made sure to quickly state the situation upon his arrival, defining the event, to prevent any ministers from petitioning about divine retribution or heavenly signs and demanding a decree of self-condemnation. He intended to be a wise and virtuous emperor for all time, and such a blemish as a decree of self-condemnation was unacceptable. If any natural disaster were to occur, it would surely be the fault of others.
Upon hearing this, most of the ministers understood the Emperor's firm resolve. They realized that trying to interpret this as heavenly signs and using it to limit imperial power would be very difficult. Most importantly, Emperor Yu Gan was indeed capable of killing thousands or tens of thousands of people without hesitation. They dared not stake their reputation on a noble cause when it meant risking their families. Therefore, even if some had objections, none dared to openly challenge him at this moment. Consequently, the final judgment on the matter was that someone had orchestrated the absolute darkness to facilitate a jailbreak.
At the same time, the officials responsible for maintaining order in the capital immediately requested an edict to seal the city gates. They then mobilized all city guards, soldiers, and even imperial guards to conduct a thorough search of the capital. For a time, the city was filled with an atmosphere of tension. Most ordinary citizens remained indoors, while those responsible for the city-wide search patrolled the streets, apprehending suspicious individuals or those still wearing prison attire.
It should be noted that the escaped convicts were not hardened criminals. In fact, a large portion of them were accustomed to a life of comfort and privilege. Their skills in investigation and combat were lacking, and they had little knowledge of common societal practices. It was entirely plausible that some had not managed to obtain new clothing. Such escapees were easy to catch. Within a short time, most of those who had escaped were recaptured. Some who resisted were even killed on the spot. Ding Yun and her family, however, were delayed because they changed clothes and insisted on eating. They were unable to escape the capital in time. By the time they received the news, the entire city was under martial law, and the city gates were sealed, allowing no one to enter or leave.
Yet, even at this point, the original body's father still hadn't considered how to escape. Instead, he kept muttering about how such a thing could happen and why the Emperor hadn't issued a decree of self-condemnation. Why wasn't there a general amnesty? Ding Yun, utterly exasperated, delivered a critical blow: "Father, have you even read the criminal code? Haven't you heard of the 'Ten Great Abominations'? Rebellion is among them. Although we didn't directly participate, we were implicated by the Crown Prince's faction's rebellion. What crime do you think we are charged with? Rebellion or aiding rebellion?"
Ding Yun had wanted to say this for a long time but had refrained from discouraging them earlier. But at this point, they were still unwilling to give up, which was truly excessive. If they didn't face reality now, their future would be even more difficult, and they might even be summarily executed later.
With Ding Yun's words, her father and elder brother could no longer maintain their composure. At the same time, her mother, sister-in-law, and others who were educated understood the meaning of the "Ten Great Abominations" because the term was self-explanatory. In an instant, the sliver of hope they had painstakingly built up completely collapsed. Some even burst into tears.
Then, soldiers arrived.