The Chief Eunuch said coldly, "Criminal Zhuang, enough insolence. The Empress Dowager's decree has been issued—who are you to speak? Guards, drag her out."
Two palace maids stepped forward and seized the dazed and broken Zhuang Wanrong by her arms.
Consort He walked slowly up to her, her smile gentle yet laced with frost. "Consort Zhuang—no, I should call you what you are now—Criminal Zhuang."
She lightly touched the jeweled flower by her temple, her tone amused and deliberate. "Come to think of it, I stayed in the Emerald Water Palace for quite a few years. I know that place well—it's damp and freezing, crawling with insects. No charcoal in winter, no ice basins in summer. From now on, you must learn to enjoy your new life there."
Zhuang Wanrong stared into Consort He's smiling eyes and finally understood—she had completely lost. She wanted to scream, to leap forward and tear her apart, but the maids held her tightly. All she could do was watch helplessly as the splendor of the Splendid Radiance Hall faded further and further away.
"Consort He, about the Emerald Water Palace…"
The Chief Eunuch looked at her cautiously, as if asking whether she wanted to "take care" of the matter further.
Consort He replied calmly, "No need. Since the Empress Dowager decreed lifelong imprisonment, we'll do it by the rules."
She turned and walked out of the Splendid Radiance Hall. Sunlight spilled over her figure, but it couldn't melt the chill between her brows.
The harem had always been like this—one's rise meant everyone's glory; one's fall dragged all down with it. The Zhuang clan had fallen, and Zhuang Wanrong's fate had long been sealed.
In the northern region of the Horn Constellation Realm, deep within the ancestral lands of the Huang clan, a silent stone chamber pulsed faintly with light.
Yang Xiu sat cross-legged inside, golden sword qi coiling softly around his body. His aura was steady, vast, and powerful. His eyes were closed, a faint divine mark flickering between his brows—he was in the crucial stage of advancing to the Insight God Realm.
Over the years, with the Huang clan's vast resources and his extraordinary talent, his cultivation had skyrocketed. He had already touched the threshold of the True God Realm. Once this seclusion ended successfully, he would formally step into the rank of Insight God.
"Yang Xiu! Yang Xiu!"
A crisp, lively voice broke the chamber's silence. Huang Miaomiao bounced in cheerfully, her face glowing with excitement.
Yang Xiu's brow twitched slightly. He was on the verge of breakthrough—this was the worst possible time to be disturbed. But knowing Huang Miaomiao's temperament, ignoring her would only make things worse.
He opened his eyes slowly, withdrawing his aura, and tried to keep his voice calm. "Miaomiao, what's got you shouting like that?"
Huang Miaomiao leaned close, lowering her voice mysteriously. "Remember how you told me to let you know the moment there's news about Yang Cheng? Well, I've got big news this time!"
"Yang Cheng?"
Yang Xiu's heart sank sharply.
That name—over the years, it had become his inner demon.
Every piece of news Huang Miaomiao brought him had crushed him a little more.
Destroying the Ouyang clan. Killing Kong Shen. Forcing back the Ning clan…
Each of Yang Cheng's feats made it harder for him to breathe.
Yet he forced down his turmoil, feigning mild curiosity. "Oh? What kind of news this time?"
Huang Miaomiao counted on her fingers, speaking fast. "I heard Yang Cheng stirred up a huge mess in the Great Zhou! He offended all the noble clans, and now they've joined forces against him! The whole dynasty's in chaos—rebels everywhere!"
"What?"
Yang Xiu's breath quickened, a flash of uncontrollable delight in his eyes.
Yang Cheng, Yang Cheng—you finally have your retribution!
The power of the noble clans ran deep. Even the former Emperor of Great Zhou had stumbled because of them.
For Yang Cheng to act so recklessly was to bring disaster upon himself. Perhaps this time, he would fall completely—his path ended, his life snuffed out!
Yang Xiu forced down the surge of excitement in his chest and urged, "And then? What happened next?"
Huang Miaomiao blinked and went on, "Then… no one expected Yang Cheng to be that powerful! In just two months, he crushed every single rebellion. All the noble clans that took part were wiped out—homes raided, families executed, not a single one escaped!"
"Boom!"
Yang Xiu felt as if thunder had exploded inside his skull.
Two months? All rebellions crushed? Every clan exterminated?
Impossible!
Those noble clans had entrenched themselves in the Great Zhou for countless years. Their power ran deep, interwoven like roots through the empire. Even if one of the top sects from the Horn Constellation Realm descended, they wouldn't be able to uproot them all in such a short time.
How could Yang Cheng possibly have done it?
Before Yang Xiu could even digest this news, Huang Miaomiao dropped another bombshell. "The worst of them all was the Zhuang clan. I heard they used to have a noble consort in the palace—she was so glorious back then. But now the entire clan's been destroyed, and even that Consort Zhuang in the palace got thrown into the Cold Palace for life imprisonment!"
"Pff!"
Yang Xiu couldn't hold it in anymore. A mouthful of blood burst from his lips, splattering crimson across the jade floor before him. The sight was terrifying.
The Zhuang clan—and his mother—had both fallen to such a fate?!
The shock and hatred that tore through his heart felt like venomous snakes biting deep. The divine energy he had been condensing for his breakthrough shattered instantly. Chaotic power raged through his body, his meridians screaming in tearing pain.
"Arghhh!"
Yang Xiu let out a guttural roar, his whole body trembling violently. The golden sword qi swirling around him flickered erratically, dimming, and finally vanished altogether.
He could feel it clearly—his True God bottleneck that he'd spent years cultivating hadn't broken through. Instead, the backlash had knocked him back several small realms, even damaging his foundation!
"Yang Cheng…"
Clutching his chest, his face pale as death, Yang Xiu's eyes filled with hatred and madness. "I'll never forgive you! Never!"
The sudden outburst startled Huang Miaomiao. She hurried forward to support him. "Yang Xiu! What's wrong? Don't scare me!"
Yang Xiu shoved her aside and staggered to his feet, stumbling toward the exit. His figure disappeared through the doorway, his back brimming with killing intent.
Inside the stone chamber, Huang Miaomiao stood frozen, staring at the blood on the floor in confusion.
All I did was tell him some news about Yang Cheng… why did he react like that?
In the Wasteland Realm, at the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy.
Yang Cheng was reviewing intelligence reports from the Blood Shadow Tower when a black-clad guard entered silently, presenting a sealed letter.
"Your Highness, this was sent by Lady Lin Shu from the Horn Constellation Realm."
Yang Cheng accepted the letter and broke the seal. The handwriting was familiar—elegant and precise.
"To His Highness.
The current Patriarch of the Lin family—also this servant's grandfather—will celebrate his three-hundredth birthday in ten days.
He has heard much about Your Highness's deeds and wishes to meet you at the birthday banquet.
This servant knows the request may be presumptuous, but the gathering will determine the future distribution of power within the Lin family, and internal conflict is already brewing.
I humbly beg Your Highness to attend and lend me your strength.
—Respectfully, Lin Shu."
After reading it, Yang Cheng lightly tapped his finger on the table.
Lin Shu rarely asked for help. If she did, it meant she believed the Lin family's situation—and its resources—might be of value to him.
"Prepare the carriage. We head to the northern region of the Horn Constellation Realm—Lin City."
He made the decision without hesitation.
Before departure, he met Lu Lingyi at the gate of the Dao Academy.
Lu Lingyi was dressed in a pale green gown, holding a few scrolls in her arms. When she saw him in travel attire, curiosity sparkled in her eyes. "Master Yang, where are you going?"
"To the northern region of the Horn Constellation Realm—Lin City," Yang Cheng answered plainly.
"Lin City?" Her eyes lit up. "That's my hometown! If you don't mind, I can guide you. I know every street and alley in Lin City like the back of my hand."
Yang Cheng paused, then nodded. "That would be best."
Having someone familiar with the place would indeed save him a great deal of trouble.