Empress walked alone in the silent and cold Forbidden Palace.
General Tensei was the most beloved daughter of the current Emperor and the pride of the Imperial Family. She had special privileges that all the other princes envied … including the right to walk freely in the Palace.
The Emperor's nine gates let her in one by one.
The guards did not stop her. They were already used to the Princess entering and leaving the Palace freely, whether it was early in the morning or late at night … Moreover, Empress had entered the Palace tonight because of the big event that had happened before.
That kind of thing was not to be tainted by it.
They watched as the majestic and beautiful Empress Concubine left. Their eyes were filled with admiration and intoxication.
The Princess of the Imperial Family, the Great General of the Imperial Court, the beauty that covered the entire capital, and the unparalleled talent. What a perfect person, what a noble woman. It was as if all the beautiful things in the world were on her.
Unfortunately, to them, this was just an unattainable dream.
They could only watch the noble and beautiful figure calmly leave and smell the delicate fragrance in the air.
Empress was expressionless.
This was the Imperial City, once her home.
From birth until now, she had been to the Imperial Palace countless times. She could walk the entire way in and out of the Palace with her eyes closed. She grew up here until she moved to Tensei Province. She had ambitions or ambitions. One day, she would come back and live here as the master of the Imperial Palace, ruling over the world.
One day, she would become the master of the Imperial Palace.
With this thought, she had always looked at the Imperial Palace as the future master, looking at the familiar grass and trees … At least, it was like this until yesterday.
But now … everything had changed.
The familiar walls, the familiar halls, the familiar vermilion gates, and the familiar guards. This was once her home, this was the place she dreamed of becoming the master. In the past, she walked here as if she was taking a stroll, as if she was a queen inspecting her future territory … But now, her mentality was different.
The Imperial Palace in her eyes had changed.
Darkness, danger, and a terrible smell in the air. A terrifying monster seemed to be lurking in the darkness, dripping disgusting saliva and sharpening its sharp claws and teeth. Everything was different. The inner court of the Imperial Palace seemed to have become a terrifying trap, a cage, and a graveyard. Countless malicious gazes were looking at her, letting out horrifying chuckles.
A corner of her world had collapsed tonight.
Her Imperial Father had shown her an unprecedented side of himself, showing her the taboo darkness in his heart.
Instinctively her mind sensed the terrible danger.
Everything had become unfamiliar to him.
Empress walked out of the palace alone, towards the vast imperial capital.
Her footsteps were neither fast nor slow, and there was no expression on her face, but she was already extremely vigilant. Perhaps in the next moment, a silent and powerful expert would rush out from behind, to the side, or from outside the wall to attack her, knock her down, control her, and bring her to a strange and terrifying place.
Then, she would have to face her father again.
It must be an endless nightmare … She couldn't even imagine what she would encounter.
But she could only take one step at a time, warily, and leave the court.
Empress suddenly felt very ironic.
This was because, at this very moment, she was facing a threat from her Imperial Father. She could not rely on her martial arts and wisdom, and the capable people under her command in Tensei Province were not by her side. She was almost in the most dangerous predicament. Her greatest reliance, the trump card that could make her Imperial Father hesitate, was the man she had once betrayed.
Sun Lang.
She sighed inwardly, feeling an unprecedented sorrow and helplessness.
The Heavenly Origin Blade was ready to be used at any time. If she encountered any danger, she could summon this imperial weapon that was comparable to the Seven Luminaries with just a thought. Then, she could slash out a brilliant and blazing blade energy that rushed into the sky. With Sun Lang's strength, he would definitely notice what was happening here … He himself represented a great variable.
And only this man could make the Emperor have some misgivings.
This was truly the greatest irony.
The Gate of Heaven Influence opened.
The imperial guards bowed. The Empress Concubine stepped out of the imperial city's boundary. She subconsciously turned her head back. The palace gates were like the giant mouth of a monster, swallowing all souls and joy. It would never be satisfied.
She thought of that night, when Prince Zhongshun knelt below the long steps and let out a cold and bitter curse. At this time, Empress could already feel the feelings of her stupid and incompetent brother at that time. This Imperial Palace, this court, this country, was nothing but a cruel and tyrannical person's chessboard.
At that time, she actually felt that she was an exception.
Figures flashed in front of her. The Tensei officials who had been standing guard outside hurriedly came to greet her. They all had a relieved expression and seemed very relieved.
Qin Qiong said in a low voice, "Your Highness, did it go well?"
Looking at these familiar faces, looking at these brothers who had gone through life and death with her, Empress's heart ached. She almost shed tears. She said in a low voice, "Let's go back."
She was escorted back to the Heavenly Policy Residence by the officials. This was her home.
Home was the safest place, the most reassuring place, the place where she could vent her emotions.
Empress did not communicate with the officials. She ordered the entire residence to be under martial law and returned to her bedroom. The candles were extinguished, and the maids were all driven out. The noblest and most powerful woman in the Empire sat on the ground without a care for her image. Her eyes were constantly changing, and her lips were slightly trembling.
Her tense nerves relaxed somewhat, and the crazy sense of danger subsided slightly. Everything that happened in the Imperial Palace flashed through Empress's mind from beginning to end.
The Emperor's eyes, the Emperor's actions, the Emperor's words, and the Emperor's desires.
Everything was like the deepest nightmare, imprinted in the deepest part of her memory.
Empress leaned against the wall and hugged her knees with her hands. Like a little girl who had heard a scary ghost story, she curled up in fear and trembled.
Disgusting.
Irritated.
She wanted to vomit.
Father's face lingered in her mind.
Those eyes that were filled with desire, those heavy breaths, her face was still filled with the memories of that time. Imperial Father's face was very close to hers. Imperial Father's hot breath was blowing on her face.
So disgusting, that gaze.
She pressed down hard on her chest, her stomach churning and churning.
I've done so many things.
For your favor, for the position of the Crown Prince, I closed my heart, sacrificed my decision, gave up the most beautiful things, gave up all my fantasies, and paid the most painful price … … I want to be the Emperor.
I want to follow in your footsteps, take over the banner of Empress Tu from your hands, build greater achievements, and give the people peace for eternity. You said that the throne was stained with blood and sin. If you want to get something, you have to give it up. You said that only a painful sacrifice is a true sacrifice. My heart ached. I killed the most precious treasure with my own hands … … I thought I would never regret it.
But … … but what did you do … …
Why did you do it … …
What did you want to do … …
The Emperor's roar echoed in her ears, "I knew you still have feelings for that traitor!"
Don't insult me.
Father … … I thought you understood.
The throne is both a power and a burden. For the sake of this country, I have paid the heaviest price. I mourned, cried, and grieved. After dawn, I will transcend the mortal world and walk forward alone. No one will know my pain, and no one will understand my actions. This is the price of being an emperor. This is what you told me personally … This is what you have done in the past. You should know that I will never regret it.
But what did you say? What did you do? How could you do this?
Why did you do this … …
The Empress Concubine clutched her clothes tightly and curled up. She breathed in and out. In one night, a cruel nightmare suddenly descended upon her. She found it hard to breathe. She was so annoyed that she wanted to vomit. She recalled everything that happened tonight. She was shocked, she was sad, she was in despair, she was crazy.
The killing intent that had not dissipated in her heart was constantly sprouting.
"Kill … … kill you … …"
She muttered.
She was betrayed … … and deceived.
Everything she had done so far became meaningless.
Because things had already happened. The things the Emperor had done to her, she had drawn her sword against him. The Imperial Family had no trust or understanding. The Imperial Family only remembered and suspected. The moment she had summoned the Tianyuan Sword, many things had changed forever. No matter why the Emperor had become like that, he would never forget that sword.
In other words, she had lost the Emperor's trust and favor forever.
This meant that the Emperor's throne was far away from her.
Unless … … she went to get it herself.
She had to get it, or die on this path.
She would not regret it or look back.
That was the only way.
The sorrow and confusion in Empress's eyes gradually turned into killing intent and determination.
That was the only way. That was the only way. That was the only way to go.
"Sun Lang … …"
She whispered this name.
Her beautiful memories, her heartbeat and joy, her happiest days, the person who was most worthy of her love, everything had become a bloody sacrifice in exchange for a false promise. Her efforts had been trampled on, her sacrifice had been despised, and the path she once firmly believed in had been cut off.
Someone had to pay the price.
In the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor was still sitting in the study in a daze.
The Devil Yuan returned and looked at the mess in the room. He was surprised, "I sensed the power fluctuation of the Tianyuan Sword … … What's going on?"
The Emperor glanced at his partner coldly.
He had been thinking for a long time. Why would he be controlled by the sudden desire? Why would he show his desire for Empress? Why would his state of mind change? He already had doubts in his heart.
The Ancestor Devil Spirit frowned and said, "Could it be that she has found some clues?
Why didn't you stop her? "
The Emperor of Houtu did not pay attention to this question. He pondered for a moment, looked calm, and said loudly to the outside, "Feng Yongting, write an edict."
The Devil's figure disappeared, and Eunuch Feng's voice soon sounded, "Your Majesty, what's the imperial edict?"
The Emperor said faintly, "The foundation of the country … … the establishment of a crown prince."