Chapter Fifty-Two: The Dreadful News…

In the deep of night...

Xu Boqing faintly heard a commotion outside. He furrowed his brows, intending to rise and investigate, but inadvertently woke the beautiful woman in his arms.

Empress Dowager Chen, her eyes heavy with sleep, asked, “Where are you going?”

“There’s some noise outside. I’ll go take a look. You rest first.”

“Mmm, all right…”

Xu Boqing said nothing more. After dressing, he opened the door and stepped outside. The clamor was now unmistakable; lanterns flickered beyond the palace walls, shadows danced in the darkness.

He saw two elderly palace matrons standing guard before the sleeping quarters and casually inquired, “Madam Li, have you heard anything unusual?”

“Reporting to Chief Steward Xu,” Madam Li replied, “I believe I overheard that there’s an assassin. The Imperial Guards have all been dispatched.”

“An assassin?” Xu Boqing’s brows arched in startled suspicion, instantly recalling what Chief Steward Huang had told him days prior.

The mongrel Emperor had disregarded the fate of the realm, halting work on his own mausoleum and diverting funds and manpower to build an Immortal Altar and execution grounds. The ministers’ remonstrations had fallen on deaf ears, and some chivalrous figures from the martial world had vowed to overturn the heavens and earth. Besides Chief Steward Huang, Commander Song of the Embroidered Guard and Supervisor Liu of the Eastern Bureau had also been assigned to guard the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

The palace, ablaze with light in the dead of night, was said to be under assault by assassins. Could it be that men from the martial world had truly come to slay the mongrel Emperor?

Xu Boqing straightened his robe and hurried outside the Palace of Benevolent Peace. He saw eunuchs patrolling with lanterns, armored Imperial Guards standing vigil with torches.

The commander of the Imperial Guards suppressed his voice while berating his men, “Keep it down! If you disturb the nobles in the palace, none of you will be safe!”

He finished just as a young eunuch in flying fish attire emerged from the Palace of Benevolent Peace—someone vaguely familiar. Upon recognizing him, the commander tentatively asked, “Eunuch Xu?”

“That’s me,” Xu Boqing replied, clasping his hands in greeting. “Commander Shen, it has been some time.”

Xu Boqing frequently left the palace; his relations with the on-duty guards, while not intimate, were at least cordial. He had met Commander Shen several times and could easily recognize him.

Commander Shen handed his torch to a subordinate and politely clasped his hands. “Assassins have infiltrated the palace, and I am under orders to stand watch. My men are rough fellows—if we disturbed your rest, I beg your pardon.”

“You’re too courteous, Commander Shen,” Xu Boqing replied, glancing toward the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Though it was some distance away, even using his ‘Heavenly Eye’ technique he could only vaguely make out the bright lights, and nothing seemed amiss...

He cast another glance at the shifting fate above the imperial city. Though the fortunes seemed unsteady, as if wavering, there was no sign of a heaven-shaking upheaval.

That meant the mongrel Emperor had suffered, at most, minor injuries—not death.

Minor injuries!?

A sudden thought brought worry to his face—not for the Emperor, but for Chief Steward Huang.

After all, if the Emperor, surrounded by palace masters and protected by three innate experts, could still be wounded, how formidable must the assassin be?

Xu Boqing had intended to investigate the Hall of Heavenly Purity, but recalling that Chief Steward Huang had entrusted him with the Palace of Benevolent Peace, he hesitated. If he left and the assassin slipped this way, what then?

“Commander Shen, has the assassin’s identity been determined?”

“Ah…” Commander Shen pondered and shook his head. “I heard there were five who attempted to assassinate His Majesty, but as for their identities, I am not certain.”

“Five!?” Xu Boqing’s eyebrows arched in alarm, and unease grew in his heart. He asked, “Was His Majesty injured? Were the assassins caught?”

“I am under orders to guard here, so I don’t know the details,” Commander Shen hesitated, then leaned in to whisper, “But I heard those five assassins were all innate masters. The Hall of Heavenly Purity has been reduced to ruins, and His Majesty was frightened.”

Hearing that all five assassins were innate masters, Xu Boqing’s unease deepened…

Just then, a middle-aged eunuch hurried toward the Palace of Benevolent Peace. Upon seeing Xu Boqing outside, his eyes lit up and he quickly approached, asking, “Are you Xu Boqing, Chief Steward of the Palace of Benevolent Peace?”

“Yes,” Xu Boqing replied, anxiety mounting. “Is there something you need to convey?”

“Not exactly,” the eunuch said, his face pale. “Chief Steward Huang is gravely injured and near death. He named you specifically—he wishes to see you…”

Xu Boqing’s breath caught, his heart skipping a beat. Gathering himself, he cried, “Lead the way!”

Knowing the urgency, the eunuch quickly guided him, recounting the events at the Hall of Heavenly Purity as they went.

Chief Steward Huang had been on duty as usual when five men in black approached. Sensing their intent, he immediately engaged with them. Three attacked Huang, while the other two stormed into the Hall, only to be intercepted by Commander Song of the Embroidered Guard and Supervisor Liu of the Eastern Bureau, who had responded to the disturbance.

All were innate masters, and Commander Song and Supervisor Liu were evenly matched with their opponents, unable to gain the upper hand.

Though outnumbered, Chief Steward Huang single-handedly held off three adversaries!

When the martial experts of the Embroidered Guard, Eastern Bureau, and Imperial Guards arrived to assist, the assassins, unwilling to linger, forced their way into the Hall of Heavenly Purity, attempting to assassinate the Emperor.

Chief Steward Huang, despite his wounds, fought desperately to protect His Majesty.

Five against three—one side fighting to the death in defense, the other hiding their faces and harboring ulterior motives. Even so, Commander Song and Supervisor Liu were injured.

Fortunately, the palace masters arrived in time. With their combined efforts, the five innate assassins, lacking the will to die, escaped the palace under cover of night.

Afterward, the Yonghe Emperor suffered minor injuries, Commander Song and Supervisor Liu bore wounds as well, but their lives were not threatened.

However, Chief Steward Huang, elderly and already weakened by past injuries from slaying Cui Feng, now took on three alone and was critically wounded, his life hanging by a thread.

Afterwards, he was carried to the Imperial Medical Hall for treatment…

Xu Boqing felt a chill run down his spine merely hearing the account.

He remembered the days when he lay helpless in the purification chamber, contemplating suicide, until Chief Steward Huang saved him.

Though Huang’s motives were not entirely pure, when in this world is kindness ever without reason?

Setting aside the debt of life, the gratitude for Huang’s guidance and mentorship was genuine and undeniable!

We are not made of grass and wood—how can we be without feeling?

Chief Steward Huang entered the palace as a child, had no children or kin; Xu Boqing had even thought to care for him in old age, as repayment for his kindness.

Now, hearing such dire news!

How could his heart not be shaken!?

Once he understood the cause and Chief Steward Huang’s location, Xu Boqing immediately summoned his strength and rushed toward the Imperial Medical Hall as if flying…

Upon arrival, he found the Embroidered Guard stationed at the entrance. He presented Chief Steward Huang’s badge of office from the Palace of Benevolent Peace.

The Embroidered Guard, having received word, made no attempt to stop him and even sent someone to lead the way…

When he finally saw Chief Steward Huang, Xu Boqing’s heart clenched…