Chapter 1 The Storm

The fierce wind howled, scattering the flowers and plants around the Xuan Shi Palace.

It did not subside until the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

The side hall of the Xuan Shi Palace.

Jiang Chen, his robes disheveled and his eyes filled with pain, leaned against the headboard, gazing at Noble Consort Shu's face with a tense expression, frequently reaching out to check her temperature.

Noble Consort Shu's delicate body was ice-cold, her face tinged with bluish-purple, and her rosy lips had turned a dark violet. At first glance, she looked terrifying, and if not for the faint breath she still held, she would have been indistinguishable from a corpse!

Moments earlier, the dagger in her shoulder had been removed.

With the combined efforts of dozens of imperial physicians, this minor wound was naturally not a problem. For the physicians, the truly tricky part was not the flesh wound, but the strange poison on the dagger!

Without an antidote and unable to identify the type of toxin, they could only use medicine to sustain Noble Consort Shu's life and preserve a glimmer of hope for her.

As for anything more, it would depend on fate!

In the corner of the side hall, white-haired, elderly physicians with stooped backs were solemnly and meticulously brewing medicinal soup, occasionally exchanging information about the illness.

They were well aware that whether Noble Consort Shu could survive depended entirely on the speed of detoxification.

Unfortunately, after being captured, all the assassins had committed suicide, revealing no clues about the antidote.

Noble Consort Shu’s constitution was weak. If too much time passed, an accident might occur, and she might breathe her last.

At that time, His Majesty, who seemed calm and preoccupied, would definitely erupt! He would cleanse the imperial capital with blood!

"Your Majesty, you haven't closed your eyes for half a day. Please go and rest. This old servant will watch over her for you and will definitely not let anything happen to the Noble Consort."

Feng Jin could not help but speak, his face full of worry, as he volunteered.

He had just returned.

The Five Cities Garrison Command had arrested many people, and he had followed the whole process, which had taken a lot of time.

Jiang Chen's entire left side was numb. He slowly stretched his arms, then carefully tucked in the corner of Noble Consort Shu's quilt, got up and moved around a little, before turning his head and saying in a stern voice, "What is the situation in the inner city? Has anyone caused trouble?"

Feng Jin held his breath and said cautiously, "A group of aristocratic children have been arrested and imprisoned, awaiting punishment."

"What about those assassins? Have their origins been traced?"

Feng Jin shook his head. "Minister of Rites Shi Ping has sent people to search through the registers, but the origins of those palace maids have not been found."

"Haha, my Minister of Rites is truly capable. I entrusted him with a task, and he selected more than a dozen assassins to enter the palace, and afterwards, he can't even find out their origins!" Jiang Chen burst into laughter, his eyes piercingly cold, as if he wanted to devour someone.

After speaking, he turned around, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall.

"You are to take good care of the Noble Consort here. If anything goes wrong, you will be buried with her!"

"Also, no news from the palace is allowed to be spread. If anyone violates this, their entire family will be executed!"

Everyone shuddered, immediately knelt down, pressed their foreheads to the ground, and shouted in unison, "We obey!"

Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze and strode out.

The strange poison in Noble Consort Shu's body forced him to leave and seek a chance of survival for her.

Three breaths later.

In the council chamber deep within the Qin Zheng Palace.

Jiang Chen sat imposingly at the head, with dozens of imperial relatives and ministers kneeling below, summoned to the palace on urgent orders.

These included Zuo Wendian, commander of the Imperial Guards, Han Tuidang, commander-in-chief of the Five Cities Garrison Command, Shi Ping, Minister of Rites, Mei Kang, Vice Minister of Revenue, Meng Huaiyuan, Chief Justice of the Great Court of Revision, and Zhao Hong, Minister of Justice.

Everyone's expression was solemn and calm, except for Shi Ping, the Minister of Rites!

His forehead was pressed to the ground, his whole body trembling, and his crimson official robe was soaked in cold sweat. His usual refined manner was gone.

The selection of consorts and palace maids was the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites.

Now that such a big mess had occurred in the palace, with both the Noble Consort and the Emperor being assassinated, as the Minister of Rites, he should bear the primary responsibility.

Such a great crime would not be excessive even if his entire family was executed!

The atmosphere was heavy, and no one spoke, fearing to anger the Emperor.

Shi Ping knelt on the ground, trying his best to calm down and think of a solution.

He had cultivated relationships in the court for many years, with rich connections and many disciples. If he fell, the court would inevitably be shaken.

The current situation was chaotic, and His Majesty should not easily kill him… So his path to survival lay in Noble Consort Shu and whether he was useful to the Emperor!

As his thoughts raced, his eyes flashed, and he kowtowed fiercely, saying:

"Your Majesty, this humble minister has committed a heinous crime and deserves to die ten thousand times!"

"But now that the truth has not yet been found out, I beg Your Majesty to allow me to atone for my crimes and make amends for my mistakes!"

While pleading, Shi Ping slammed his head hard against the floor tiles.

Now was the time to show loyalty, and he held nothing back, using all his strength.

The muffled 'thumps' made the rest of the people feel uneasy, and they clicked their tongues in amazement.

A ruthless man! Could he be trying to kill himself here?!

Only Mei Kang had a gloating look in his eyes.

Jiang Chen watched coldly, expressionless, seemingly indifferent.

But the ministers in the hall noticed that the tense atmosphere around them had eased, and they instantly understood the Emperor's thoughts, and they built a ladder for him, saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Shi is sincerely repenting, please give him a chance to atone for his crimes!"

"Your Majesty, Lord Shi has been in charge of the Ministry of Rites for many years and has been conscientious and diligent. Please forgive him this time for the sake of his past achievements!"

Amidst the noise, Jiang Chen propped up his chin and swept his majestic gaze over the ministers.

The air instantly quieted.

The ministers fell silent, not daring to meet his eyes.

"You are all so united!"

With a light scoff, Jiang Chen turned his head to stare at the Minister of Rites, his tone stern.

"Shi Ping, I ask you, how did your Ministry of Rites select these more than ten palace maids with ulterior motives?!"

As soon as the words fell, the ministers showed thoughtful expressions, but Mei Kang's body trembled, and a guilty look appeared on his face, but it was quickly hidden.

Shi Ping's forehead was red, his vision blurred, and his brain was buzzing, but the logic in his words was still clear.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites needs to verify the household registration and check three generations when selecting palace maids. Only daughters from good families with clean backgrounds are eligible to enter the palace… But the information recorded for these assassins when they were selected was all fabricated. This matter is suspicious, and there must be an inside accomplice!"

Jiang Chen frowned and rebuked:

"I don't want to hear these useless words!"

"As the Minister of Rites, you can't even take care of your subordinates, and you only know how to recite clichés when something happens. What use are you to me?!"

After roaring, he did not wait for Shi Ping to defend himself, and turned his head to order:

"Draft an edict: Shi Ping, Minister of Rites, is negligent in his duties and has caused a great mistake. Flogging him fifty times and throwing him into the imperial prison, no one is allowed to visit!"

"All officials above the fourth rank in the Ministry of Rites will be imprisoned and await interrogation!"

"The Ministry of Justice, the Great Court of Revision, and the Imperial Capital Prefecture will immediately join hands to investigate this case. I grant you the power to act expediently. You can make your own decisions when you encounter problems and report to me later!"

"Even if you dig three feet into the ground in the imperial capital, you must find out the origins of these palace maids. If you don't have results before sunset, then prepare your coffins and arrange your funerals!"

The officials who were named trembled, their faces full of bitterness, but they could not disobey the order.

They had no choice but to accept the imperial decree with their worries and leave the palace to handle the matter.

At this moment, Mei Kang suddenly stepped forward and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, this humble minister also wants to contribute to this matter, please grant my wish!"