Jiajing twenty-third year, twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month.
Shuntian Prefecture, Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.
The Jiajing Emperor, wrapped in a thick comforter, sat with his eyes closed on an intricately carved golden chair.
A young eunuch brought medicinal herbs from the Imperial Hospital, which were first tasted by a guard. Then, he pulled out an empty compartment beneath the Emperor's chair and placed the herbs in water.
A palace maid gently fanned a charcoal brazier beneath the chair with a silk fan. A moment later, steam rose from the Hollow beneath the Emperor, enveloping him.
"Cough."
As if choked by the steam, the Emperor coughed.
Instantly, the palace maid who was fanning turned pale.
She abruptly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, this servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!"
The Emperor did not open his eyes, merely furrowed his brow.
He disliked women suddenly speaking loudly to him. It reminded him of the several women who had tried to kill him two years ago.
A guard nearby quickly stepped forward and struck the palace maid on the back of her neck.
Crack.
The palace maid fell limply and was dragged out by two young eunuchs.
After a while, a eunuch in a python robe quickly walked in, picked up the silk fan from the ground, knelt, and fanned the charcoal brazier beneath the Emperor.
The surrounding guards and palace maids understood and quietly exited the room.
"Your Majesty."
The eunuch in the python robe spoke.
The Emperor opened his eyes, glanced at him, then closed them again, speaking unhurriedly.
"Eunuch Wang, what is it?"
The eunuch in the python robe replied.
"The elixir presented by the alchemist yesterday has been thoroughly investigated. Although it was cleverly disguised, its essence is the Great Rejuvenation Pill from Shaolin."
"Oh?"
The Emperor closed his eyes, pondering for a moment.
"The Ming Cult's doing?"
"Yes, the Ming Cult broke through the Shaolin temple gate a few days ago. It must have been seized at that time."
"Heh... The Yang Family, truly persistent like a lingering ghost."
After saying this, the Emperor remained silent.
The eunuch in the python robe pondered for a moment, then continued.
"Jinyiwei Commander Zhu Zai sent someone to deliver two pieces of news."
"Speak."
"Yes, first, Bei Zhenfu Si Zhenfushi Bu Lei was killed by the bandit leader Ji Tianrui while pursuing Ming Cult bandits. His body has been sent back to the capital. The examination confirmed he died from a strike to his heart by the 'Great Nine Heavens Palm'."
"Zhu Zai has submitted a memorial, recommending Li Miao, a Northern Garrison Division Centurion, to take over as Lord Commissioner."
The Emperor pondered for a moment.
"Li Miao... That name sounds a bit familiar."
"Fifteen years ago, the one who killed the Ming Cult bandit who caused trouble in Shuntian Prefecture and was rewarded with a Flying Fish Robe, that was him, wasn't it?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, it is precisely that person."
"He is indeed a courageous and capable man... Granted. You are to have people investigate his background and create a file."
"Yes. Second, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) received definite news that the Ming Cult bandit leader Ji Tianrui is leading Ming Cult bandits towards the capital. Zhu Zai is in pursuit, but with little effect, and it is feared he cannot stop them."
The Emperor opened his eyes.
"Ji Tianrui, wasn't he already dead?"
The eunuch in the python robe was also momentarily confused.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I personally examined his body back then, and he was indeed dead. I do not know who this current Ji Tianrui is."
The Emperor waved his hand.
"Let him be. Go awaken a few of the Imperial Cultivators to guard against them. If they come, just kill them."
"Is there anything else?"
"There is one more thing."
A look of fear appeared on the eunuch in the python robe's face, his lips trembling, as if extremely unwilling but compelled to speak.
"Your Majesty... the 'furnace cauldrons' are not enough..."
The Emperor's gaze abruptly shifted to the eunuch in the python robe.
He did not speak, merely watched him silently.
Cold sweat slowly seeped from the eunuch in the python robe's face, gathering into drops that fell before him.
He had served the Emperor since he was a prince. He understood the Emperor better than he understood himself.
The Emperor was not cruel, nor did he have any excessive hobbies, nor did he like to kill people.
He simply liked quiet and disliked anyone disturbing his mood. And the news he was now relaying to the Emperor... would make the Emperor's mood extremely, extremely bad.
So bad that he might even kill him.
After a long while, the carpet in front of the eunuch in the python robe was already soaked with sweat, and even his fingers trembled uncontrollably, before the Emperor spoke indifferently.
"Eunuch Wang, you wouldn't want to see Us die, would you?"
The eunuch in the python robe clenched the carpet and replied loudly.
"This servant will not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
"That's good then... Replenish them before the New Year, otherwise, you will be the 'furnace cauldron'."
"Yes!"
"You may withdraw."
"Yes!"
The Emperor closed his eyes again.
The eunuch in the python robe retreated backward, softly closing the door.
Blown by the cold wind of the twelfth lunar month, he felt a chill throughout his body. His clothes were already soaked with sweat. His collar stuck to his neck, as if a noose had been placed around it, slowly tightening.
He tugged at his collar, then turned and left.
Not a single error, a single omission, a single internal inconsistency, all checked!
After many twists and turns, he arrived at a secluded courtyard within the Forbidden City.
The guards at the entrance saw him and quickly stepped forward to salute.
"Eunuch Wang."
"Mm."
The eunuch in the python robe, named Wang Zhi, nodded and entered the courtyard. He then said a few words to the guards stationed in front of the room and stepped inside.
In this room, all the windows were sealed with iron plates, with only a few slits at the top for ventilation. It was pitch black, and the brazier in the corner flickered with firelight, dimly illuminating a human figure.
It was a woman.
A woman whose shoulder blades were pierced by iron hooks, and whose hands and feet were nailed to an iron frame.
Hearing someone enter, she raised her head, revealing a heroic face.
If any martial artist were present, they would surely cry out in surprise.
For this person was none other than Xue Jinxi, "Lingxiao Sword," a renowned top master in the martial arts world from over two decades ago.
At that time, Ji Tianrui dominated the martial arts world, and only this person could faintly contend with him. A few years later, she mysteriously disappeared, and people in the martial arts world speculated she died at Ji Tianrui's hands, but unexpectedly, she was imprisoned within the Imperial Palace!
Xue Jinxi squinted, recognizing Wang Zhi's face, and let out a bitter laugh.
"Eunuch Wang, it's been twenty years."
"I no longer hope to leave, but at least give me a quick death, how about it?"
Wang Zhi shook his head.
"A quick death, this servant cannot give you."
"But, you can indeed die. Before the New Year."
Xue Jinxi smiled bitterly.
"Before the New Year?"
"I have been imprisoned here for twenty years, how would I know what time it is now."
"Today is the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, in the twenty-third year of jiajing (era)."
Wang Zhi replied.
Xue Jinxi's face showed a look of realization.
"Jiajing twenty-third year... twelfth lunar month... twenty-third day?"
"I, I've actually been captured for twenty-one years."
"I miscounted the days... I miscounted... miscounted..."
She kept mumbling to herself, as if she had gone mad.
Wang Zhi watched her silently, not saying a word.
After a long while, Xue Jinxi sighed deeply.
"Eunuch Wang, my daughter..."
"She's dead."
Wang Zhi said coldly.
"Dead...?"
"After your 'death,' she practiced your martial arts and searched everywhere for you. She inadvertently became involved in the conflict between Green Willow Manor and Hidden Sword Villa and died at the hands of Green Willow Manor assassins."
"Her body was collected by Xing Chi, the abbot of Shaolin, and buried at the ruins of Hidden Sword Villa."
Xue Jinxi was completely disheartened.
Imprisoned here for twenty-one years without seeing the light of day, her only thought that kept her going until now was her daughter.
Now, upon hearing the news of her daughter's death, her spirit instantly collapsed.
In the desolate courtyard, a wail like weeping blood resounded.
"If I had known this, why would I have bothered cultivating this 'Mount Sumeru' martial art!"
"Wan'er! Mother is sorry for you!"
"Wan--"
A muffled thud came from inside the room.
Then, silence.