Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Unfamiliar Totem

Flailing a few times, Huarong’s consciousness began to blur. Bubbles spilled ceaselessly from her lips, and she couldn’t even call for help. She only felt her body, cold and numb in the water, helplessly manipulated by unseen hands. Occasionally, distant shouts reached her ears—“Someone, quickly! Consort Rong has been abducted, hurry and save her!”

Panic erupted among the crowd. After the assassins spirited Huarong away, they didn’t linger to cause further trouble. Only then did the other women, hesitant and fearful, emerge from hiding. Seeing Huarong gone, Huayue’s face drained of color. She rushed to the edge of the boat, clutching the rail, and screamed with all the agony in her heart, “Sister, where are you? Please, don’t frighten me like this!”

But no matter how frantically she called, there was no answer.

Under the water, Huarong could vaguely see, through the shimmering surface, Huayue’s anxious expression—though beneath her worry lay a chilling smile, one that sent a shiver down the spine.

“Lady Yue, please, there’s no need to panic. Leave it to the guards now,” some of the women gathered around, putting on the airs of close sisters, dabbing at their eyes, feigning sorrow. “She’s my only sister. I have no one else in the palace. If something happens to her, what am I to do?” Her words were increasingly heartrending, yet most only offered half-hearted comfort, more interested in the spectacle than in genuine concern.

Watching the insincere expressions of those offering hollow solace, Consort Wen also approached with affected compassion, dispersing the crowd. “Enough—let Lady Yue be. You’ll only deepen her sorrow. Take her to rest and wait for news.”

The boat docked. Everyone dispersed, while the palace continued the search.

When word reached Jun Yeli, he abandoned all affairs and rushed straight to the lake, staring at its eerily calm surface. The moonlight, scattered in silver shards, only deepened the chill in his heart.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here?” the lead guard hurried over, mistaking Jun Yeli’s tense expression for a new crisis.

Without answering, Jun Yeli seized the man’s arm, voice like a blade, “Is there any news?”

The abruptness of his tone startled everyone. Only after a moment did they realize he was speaking of Huarong, head bowed and silent in her absence. The surrounding silence was oppressive—occasional shouts echoed across the water, yet still there was no result, only deepening the quiet.

“You useless lot! What is it you all do? You can’t even find one person?” Jun Yeli’s excessive anxiety astonished everyone; it was the first time they had seen the usually composed and aloof emperor so unstrung.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Her Highness will surely be safe. We will do everything in our power!”

“Search! Send more men—find her, even if you have to drain the lake dry! Seal the palace, let none escape!” Jun Yeli gripped his head, struggling to contain his agitation. He paced, pounding his chest in frustration—if not for the circumstances, he would have dived in himself.

But the night was deep, the water bottomless—how could one possibly find a single person?

The night passed with no news.

Jun Yeli seemed utterly lost, failing to attend court and leaving his ministers waiting in vain for over an hour, their legs numb with standing. At last, an attendant made a hurried announcement: “Gentlemen, His Majesty is unwell and will not hold court today. You may return.”

“This… Is His Majesty alright? How could this happen so suddenly? It’s not like him.”

“Even when ill, His Majesty never neglected affairs of state. But I heard Consort Rong fell into the water yesterday, and her fate is still unknown. Could it be because of this…?”

Someone hesitated, not daring to continue. Though the palace was filled with beauties, it seemed Huarong had become the most exceptional among them.

Helpless, the officials suppressed their misgivings and quietly withdrew.

In the Hall of Nine Dragons, Jun Yeli sat with his head in his hand. The food had long since grown cold, yet he hadn’t touched a bite. His mind was filled only with memories of that mischievous figure.

“Huarong, oh Huarong, you’re always so clever—how did those assassins manage to catch you off guard?”

He drew a deep breath, the sorrow in his heart all too clear.

With each fruitless search, Jun Yeli’s hope crumbled further.

“If she’s not found soon, drain the lake!” he suddenly declared, leaping to his feet. The order was so drastic it nearly made the eunuch’s legs give way. “Your Majesty, this lake is enormous—how could we possibly drain it? Please, do not be rash!”

And even if the lake were drained, where could they put all that water? It was pure fantasy, sheer madness.

“You useless fools—nothing is possible with you! How can I be expected to endure this?” Jun Yeli was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing in desperation. At that moment, a eunuch hurried in to report, “Your Majesty, the Second Prince requests an audience.”

“What does he want? Send him away—I’ve no patience for his scheming!”

But before he could finish, the prince’s voice carried in, “Brother, there’s no need for such hostility. I’ve come with news of the consort.”

The unexpected words caught everyone off guard.

Jun Yeli’s demeanor shifted at once. He turned, hope flickering in his eyes. “You say you have news of Consort Rong? Is it true?”

“See for yourself, Your Majesty. My patrol found this emblem in the palace—I had it copied here. It may be connected to Her Highness’s disappearance.”

Jun Yichen produced a sheet of paper bearing a black totem, both crude and unfamiliar.

“What is this? I’ve never seen such a symbol—could there be some mistake?”

Jun Yeli frowned, scrutinizing it closely. No matter how he looked, it seemed wrong.

Jun Yichen shrugged. “I am merely passing on what was found. The rest is for Your Majesty to investigate.”

With that, he departed, hands clasped behind his back.

Jun Yeli stared at the strange symbol in his hand, pondering for a moment before handing it to the eunuch. “Have it investigated. Root out those criminals—I will not let them go unpunished!”