T/N: There was a chapter mix up, leading to out of ordered and double chapters from ch6 forward. It has now been fixed. Sorry for the confusion! -Umu

Gan Ning Palace.

Main Hall.

Zhao Empress Dowager, surrounded by over ten warriors in golden armor, was glaring at Jiang Chengdao with an extremely displeased expression.

Beside her, she held a young child dressed in a golden snake robe, none other than the Qin Prince, Jiang Chengyun, who had gained a reputation of wisdom even at the tender age of nine.

Around them lay a field of corpses.

Limbs and hands scattered haphazardly, the once magnificent hall was now stained a gruesome red with the blood of the fallen, turning its original golden brilliance into a ghastly hue, akin to a purgatory.

Among those corpses were eunuchs, palace maids, guards, and a few strikingly handsome young men.

Among them was Wu Zhongxian, formerly referred to by Jiang Cheng as the “Great Companion.”

His body was severed into several pieces, head separated from torso, with blood of both red and white flowing onto the ground. His mangled limbs lay amidst the blood pool, and his old, befuddled face still held an expression of disbelief.

Clearly, he couldn’t fathom why, at the crucial moment of the Qin Prince’s imminent ascension over the empress, just as he was about to soar to new heights by the empress’s side, the situation would take such an abrupt and drastic turn. The once dominant empress’s lineage was falling one after another under the blades of those accursed black-armored executioners.

He wasn’t the only one perplexed; those around him, sharing the same tragic fate, also couldn’t comprehend.

The Gan Ning Palace had become a sea of corpses, where blood flowed like rivers.

Years of Zhao Empress Dowager’s painstaking efforts in the Purple Extreme City were destroyed in a mere two hours.

“Who would’ve thought that the Saint Realm, which had remained passive for tens of thousands of years, regardless of changes in the Central Continent or shifts in dynasties, would suddenly take the initiative to attack Luo Jing and stir up a storm across the realm.”

In response to Zhao Empress Dowager’s veiled taunts, Jiang Chengdao remained unaffected.

“Just because something hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it won’t.”

As he spoke, a glint of light flashed under his face mask.

“It’s like how the Great Xia Dynasty never had anyone as the empress who performed the duties of a ruler as you have, Your Majesty.”

He didn’t deny the empress’s words; in fact, both implicitly and explicitly, he suggested to the empress’s loyal followers present that he might indeed be pursuing the supreme imperial power, aiming to become the first ever saintly king to unify the realm.

“Nonsense!”

Zhao Empress Dowager rebuked, “This palace has always been humble and cautious. When have I ever committed such treacherous acts? Your Highness the Saint King, what is your intention in maligning this palace so?”

Hearing this, Jiang Chengwan, who seemed to be “hostage” under Jiang Chengdao’s influence, couldn’t help but flash a cold gaze.

Humble and cautious indeed.

For these six years, in order to survive, she had to wear a fragile mask every day. To everyone, she appeared constantly fearful, avoiding any hint of suspicion, fearing that Empress Zhao would feel threatened and then “fall ill,” leading to her “death.”

As a result, almost everyone held her in contempt, even a eunuch could easily give her a stern look.

An emperor, yet without dignity, her life was worse than that of an ordinary royal.

All thanks to Empress Zhao.

Did she hate Empress Zhao?

The answer was undoubtedly yes.

More than anyone, she wished she could kill her immediately.

Originally, she could have lived a leisurely imperial life, after all, she…”