The Empress of An Nan said, "If the sword armor of Yin Sword Mountain could be dealt with so easily, it wouldn't be called sword armor."

The nameless old matron, seeing that the Empress did not pursue the matter further, spoke again:

"Your Highness, the palace should heighten its vigilance these days. I fear that the brat of the Chen family might return to the palace, posing harm to Your Highness."

The Empress remained silent.

The nameless old matron could not fathom the waves rising and falling in her heart, nor the myriad transformations of her thoughts; she could only see her gaze changing again and again.

At last, the Empress sneered coldly and said, "Rebellious traitor—he will surely collude with the forces of the Southern Border."

The Princess of An Nan, unfaithful to her marital duties, was deeply entangled in this matter, something the nameless old matron had naturally heard about.

"Matron, dispatch some people to monitor the southern region closely."

Having said this, the Empress waved her hand, signaling for the old matron to withdraw.

The latter acknowledged with a response before vanishing from the Jingren Palace.

Left alone, the Empress stood at the entrance of Jingren Palace, gazing into the distance, motionless like a statue.

She stood for a long time. When she closed her eyes, all she could see was the drifting jade pendant.

That fleeting moment of thought, believing he still cherished their bond… but now, upon reflection, it was nothing more than his deliberate ploy, his latest stratagem of deception.

Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous… She laughed out loud.

"This palace declared long ago: the entire world knows you are a traitorous rebel, without loyalty or filial piety. When the court assembly is convened and the decree proclaimed, this palace shall see how the people expound upon your crimes."

......

The court assembly arrived.

Within the Golden Luan Hall, one could see the dragon throne standing vacant, while below it, upon the phoenix throne, a woman donned in phoenix robes sat upright.

Court officials filed in one by one, their expressions solemn. The first assembly after the Lantern Festival held great importance not just in protocol, but also in forecasting the nation's fate for the year. Hence, nearly no one was absent, and no one feigned illness. The grandeur of this scene was evident with a single glance.

As the eunuch raised his voice to announce, the assembly was officially opened.

The assembly was grand, and the number of officials was vast. As tradition dictated, this was not a time for deliberation or wrangling; it served instead to declare political outcomes, appoint officials, and promulgate decrees. For this reason, the atmosphere was nothing short of solemn and dignified.

Yet today, following the conventional opening formalities, the first matter announced was the accusation of a crime.

The crime was to denounce the former Thousand Households of the West Factory, Chen Yi, for treason, assisting enemies, and fleeing in fear of punishment!

One must know that this Chen Yi had been honored for his act of saving the imperial carriage mere months ago, receiving praise and rewards, and now he had fallen to such a state,

The swift shift in fortunes left the officials stunned.

But… it seemed that no one dared to voice dissent.

The reason was simple—the court assembly was to pronounce outcomes, not to debate matters, let alone the year's first assembly, rendered even more sacred and solemn by tradition.

Even those who harbored dissatisfaction dared not risk great offense by stepping out of rank to remonstrate.

In the court, the eunuch read aloud the imperial decree:

"Chen Yi, the rebellious traitor, betrayed the nation. First, he joined forces with the Lin Party, received bribes, and indulged in corruption. Though the Lin Party was overthrown, and his meritorious act of saving the imperial carriage was appreciated, his prior crimes were pardoned in hopes of his correction. Yet instead of reforming, he continued to deceive the Imperial Court, excluding all counsel, hoarding six sets of sword armor, dozens of blades, secretly conspiring with traitors. Once exposed, he committed numerous murders and fled beyond the law. If we do not punish this rebel's crimes, the law cannot stand. If we do not address this treason, the nation cannot rest…"

The sound of the decree reverberated through the court; everyone present heard it with their own ears. Silence engulfed the Golden Luan Hall.

Even though some displayed subtle but rapid changes in expression, no one dared to speak up at this moment and provoke the Empress Dowager, who was presiding over the court.

The Empress of An Nan swept her eyes across the hall, her heart settled, and she said aloud:

"The crimes of Chen Yi have been stated clearly before all. If there are no objections…"

Thump!

A sound like a mighty bell.

From afar came a solemn drumbeat.

It was the Petition Drum!

The Empress's expression instantly changed; the officials all turned their heads sharply, and the air erupted with the sound of clothing rustling.

Outside the hall, a report was already being delivered: "Prince Jing has led the scholars of the Imperial Academy to beat the drum, appealing the injustice of Chen Yi!"

As the words fell, the officials burst into uproar.

The golden-robed woman seated upon the phoenix throne had her face shrouded in an ominous gloom.

The drumbeat echoed relentlessly, accompanied by cries of injustice for Chen Yi, surging distantly as if reaching heaven's ears.

The Empress's fingertips trembled slightly, her expression disbelieving. She had never imagined that Prince Jing would dare to beat the Petition Drum during the court assembly, publicly opposing the palace.

First, collusion with the Southern Border, now Prince Jing pleading for his injustice.

And then there was the sword armor of Yin Sword Mountain…

If he were still alive and roaming Jianghu, what forces could he rally?

Before falling into the abyss, Chen Yi's heart-wrenching cry echoed in her ears.

That resolute and frigid proclamation, sharp as blades…

"Someday, I will draw my sword and enter Luo City, risking everything even unto death to shatter Jingren Palace, tearing you from the Golden Luan throne, forcing you to witness the collapse of the mighty empire!"

Was he truly capable of fulfilling his words?

The phoenix-robed woman's elegant eyes trembled lightly; she seemed to envision a day when the sky dimmed, torn apart by a grim fissure, the near-collapse of the Golden Luan Hall—and that man stepping inside, yanking the eminent Empress of a vast kingdom from her throne, forcing her to kneel upon the ground...

Inexplicably, she felt a long-forgotten sense of fear.

...............

............

What does it feel like for a sword to pierce the throat?

Yang Zuye, courtesy name Zi De, carried the nickname West Wind Swordsman. He was thirty-seven years old, at the peak of his prime. Men of martial prowess at this age were often most esteemed—not only seasoned martial artists, but also with untapped potential. Yang Zuye had not disappointed; since beginning sword training at the age of thirteen, he had fought thirty-two life-and-death duels, and won each with a single strike. "A single sword unleashed, the west wind passes, leaves fall without sound"—this brief saying from the tavern storytellers sketched his boundless gallantry. Such a magnificent swordsman and wandering hero he was, though in truth, not so debonair; he executed swift, efficient strikes, sealing throats with blood.

Many had met their end beneath his sword, and those deaths came quickly. Furthermore, as his years advanced, stripping away flashy skills, his speed only increased. He once told a close confidant that he would never accept disciples before the age of forty-five, no matter how deeply the Jianghu admired his swordsmanship. This close confidant practiced the Eight-direction Stick and couldn't understand his persistence. How had these two opposites become confidants? Their shared visit to a pleasure house had sealed their camaraderie.

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