The grandest banquet in the Yunxi Empire—the Emperor’s birthday celebration—had arrived. Colorful lanterns and decorations adorned every corner, and members of the imperial family and nobility came one after another to offer their congratulations.
The Emperor wore a crimson ceremonial crown and a golden dragon robe. His face had clearly been made up, yet the cosmetics could not conceal his aged and weary appearance.
Seated beside him, the Third Prince radiated the noble bearing of imperial royalty with his every movement. He wore a robe of imperial purple, with a jade belt fastened around his waist and set with gleaming gold and jade. His brows and eyes held an aloof indifference that regarded everyone as beneath him.
The Eight Immortals tables were laden with rare delicacies, all exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented. The pastries were especially magnificent, far surpassing ordinary confections. Every variety of tableware was present—silver, porcelain, agate, jadeite, and more—while the wine vessel held in the Third Prince’s hand was fashioned from pure gold in the shape of a cloud.
Before the celebratory banquet began, firecrackers were set off. Once the deafening explosions subsided, the ministers stepped forward to present their birthday wishes to the Emperor. The Emperor sat upright in the center, with the Third Prince and Noble Consort Yu seated on either side. As he listened to the respectful congratulations offered by the imperial relatives and nobles, delight filled his eyes.
The musical and dance performances began. The enormous imperial orchestra had long been waiting outside Qingyuan Hall. Upon receiving the order, the musicians gracefully entered while carrying all manner of stringed instruments. During this period, the number of elite guards in the palace had not increased, but the members of the imperial orchestra had grown more numerous by the day. People from foreign lands had even been captured and brought in to perform on unusual instruments. The vast orchestra stood in the center of the hall, their clothing, ornaments, and instruments all extravagantly luxurious.
At a word from the Emperor, the officials raised their cups in celebration, not forgetting to offer him another toast before beginning their meal. There were roughly three or four times as many guests as usual. From members of the imperial family and nobility to wealthy merchants and gifted scholars, anyone possessing sufficient wealth and status was permitted to attend today’s banquet.
Throughout the performances, people continually presented gifts to entertain the Emperor. With so many guests attending this time, the gifts were correspondingly novel and unusual. The Emperor reacted with the curiosity of a child, personally handling and trying out every gift.
“Watching songs and dances all the time has grown rather tedious. Why don’t we hold an archery competition? Where are Our military generals?”
“This subject is present.”
“This subject is present.”
“…”
In an instant, more than a dozen military generals stepped forward within the great hall. Every one of them was powerfully built, with a resolute gaze.
The Emperor found shooting at ordinary targets uninteresting, so he ordered more than a dozen servants brought in to serve as human targets. The guests at the banquet drew lots to determine who would issue the commands. Whichever guest was chosen could call out a part of a servant’s body, and the generals would aim and shoot that location according to the command. In an instant, screams echoed throughout Qingyuan Hall, while the guests loudly cheered.
Only after all the servants had stopped breathing did the Emperor order their bodies carried away and the next group brought in. The game did not end until a true victor had been determined. The servants who remained alive could consider themselves to have escaped death.
The subsequent musical and dance performances became increasingly spectacular. In addition to the imperial orchestra, several imperial concubines and noble consorts came forward to sing and dance. Qingyuan Hall once again became a lavish spectacle of beautiful people.
The Chancellor’s eyes were hazy with drink when he suddenly burst into laughter and addressed the Emperor. “This subject has not seen Noble Consort Yu dance in a very long time. Now that all the guests are in such high spirits, why not have Noble Consort Yu perform a dance for everyone?”
The moment the Chancellor finished speaking, a wave of cheers immediately erupted throughout the hall.
Yu’er rose and slowly walked toward the center of the hall. He bowed to the Emperor and said softly, “Before Yu’er performs a dance for Your Majesty, may Yu’er first show Your Majesty something?”
The sight of Yu’er made the Emperor’s bones turn soft. Without caring what he had actually said, the Emperor immediately nodded in agreement.
Before long, more than a dozen soldiers entered while carrying an enormous cannon carriage. Dozens of cannon barrels were mounted upon it, their bodies forged from bronze. This cannon was several times larger than those Lubei had used at the time. The mere sight of it was terrifying.
The Emperor’s eyes widened. Unable to contain his eagerness, he descended the steps and approached the cannon. After touching it, he asked Yu’er, “Did you develop this together with Lü Jue?”
Yu’er nodded, his cheeks turning red as he said, “That is correct, but most of it was His Highness’s achievement. Yu’er merely made a small contribution, hardly worth mentioning.”
After speaking, Yu’er glanced at the Third Prince with a faint smile. Apart from the seduction in his eyes, there was also a subtle hint that was difficult to detect.
“Hurry and demonstrate it for Us. We wish to see its power.”
The Third Prince, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke. “Father Emperor, there is no need for haste. Once the banquet has concluded, this son will certainly take Father Emperor and all the guests to witness it.”
The Emperor was clearly unable to put the gift down. He had never imagined that such a formidable weapon could be forged so quickly and was overwhelmed with delight. With this, there would no longer be any need to fear Lubei.
“Hahaha… We shall reward the two of you handsomely. Cough, cough…”
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, he was suddenly seized by a violent fit of coughing. Yu’er hurriedly supported him and helped him back into his seat.
“Your Majesty, Yu’er wishes to play a piece for you.”
After speaking, Yu’er turned toward the Third Prince and asked with a trace of shyness, “Would Your Highness be willing to accompany Yu’er’s music with a sword dance?”
Everyone in the hall wondered whether the Third Prince would pay any attention to Noble Consort Yu. Although Noble Consort Yu technically held a higher position, the Third Prince did not even regard the Emperor with respect, much less a mere noble consort. Rumors concerning the two of them had been spreading endlessly of late. No one knew whether the Third Prince would disregard suspicion and accept the invitation or publicly humiliate Noble Consort Yu by refusing him.
Just as everyone grew tense, the Third Prince calmly rose and said to Yu’er, “Since Noble Consort Yu has extended an invitation, how could this son dare refuse?”
Everyone was astonished, yet they also breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere of the banquet grew increasingly animated. Before the two had even begun, waves of shouts and cheers were already rising around them.
With two great beauties performing in celebration of his birthday, the Emperor was naturally smiling from ear to ear. Like the surrounding guests, he eagerly waited for the spectacle to begin.
Yu’er glanced at the Third Prince, and the Third Prince returned the look with perfect understanding. Sparks seemed to fly when their four eyes met. The performance had yet to begin, but the guests were already intoxicated by the mere sight of their faces.
Suddenly, the great hall fell completely silent. The sound of the qin rang out like pearls falling onto a jade plate. Immediately afterward, the Third Prince drew the sword in his hand, a cold smile appearing upon his strikingly heroic face. Yu’er played the qin while gazing emotionally at the Third Prince. The sword in the Third Prince’s hand intertwined with Yu’er’s music—the melody drifting gently while the sword danced through the air…
When the piece ended, a faint, drunken haze had already entered everyone’s eyes. Just as they were about to applaud, a rapid succession of notes abruptly swept through the hall, instantly drawing them back into the beautiful vision.
The sword in the Third Prince’s hand also accelerated. His tall, slender figure seemed to become one with the long blade. He moved like a gentle breeze drifting gracefully forward, yet his movements also carried a fierce and cutting edge.
While everyone remained utterly entranced, the Third Prince smiled indifferently and released the sword from his hand. It flew straight into the Emperor’s chest.
Yu’er’s music stopped abruptly at that very moment.
Cries of alarm erupted, and the hall descended into an uproar.
The Emperor stared at the Third Prince, his entire body trembling. “You… You dare murder your own father and emperor?”
“You are already a useless man. If I do not kill you, what purpose would there be in keeping you alive?” After speaking, the Third Prince grasped the sword’s hilt and slowly pushed it another two inches into the Emperor’s chest.
The Emperor immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.
“The Third Prince has murdered the reigning sovereign! Quickly… seize him!”
No one knew who shouted those words, but the surviving imperial relatives and nobles below rose in fury. At that moment, a servant suddenly pulled a small knife from the belly of a roast suckling pig. Before the guests could recover from their shock, he viciously stabbed his master.
“Guards! Someone is attempting to assassinate the Emperor and the ministers!”
Upon hearing the cry, all the guards outside charged in. However, another force of elite soldiers also stormed into the hall, and the two sides immediately began fighting.
In an instant, the great hall filled with screams and the sound of cups and bowls shattering. The banquet that had been overflowing with celebration only moments before had become a slaughterhouse.
“Why must you kill me? Even without killing me, the throne would still be yours.” Grief and hatred filled the Emperor’s eyes.
The Third Prince revealed a sinister smile and loudly declared to the Emperor and the surviving members of the imperial family below, “If I do not kill you, I merely inherit the throne. If I kill you, I become the first emperor of the Mu dynasty. I am not your imperial son. My surname is Mu, not Ye Lü.”
“Guards! Kill him! Kill this traitor…” someone beneath the hall screamed with all his strength.
The Third Prince gave a cold laugh and calmly said, “Kill every member of the imperial family. Leave no one alive.”
In an instant, chaos erupted both inside and outside Qingyuan Hall. The princes and imperial concubines frantically fled or attempted to resist. The imperial guards who had not arrived earlier also rushed over to stop the Third Prince’s atrocities. Unfortunately, dozens of cannons had been positioned outside Qingyuan Hall. Before the imperial guards could draw near, they were blasted to death.
Nearly everyone inside Qingyuan Hall was killed. Within the vast palace hall, only three people remained alive: the Third Prince, Yu’er, and the Emperor.
The Emperor’s face was the color of earth as he stared at the Third Prince. With great difficulty, he forced several words from his mouth before breathing his last.
“I always knew you were not my son.”
Those were the final words the Third Prince heard from the Emperor. He silently walked to the Emperor’s side and closed his still-open eyes, an indifferent, cold smile hanging from his lips.
The flames of war spread from Qingyuan Hall throughout the imperial palace, then from the palace into the streets. Any commoner who refused to support the Mu dynasty was killed without exception.
The imperial capital was engulfed in war, and horrifying scenes could be found everywhere. Corpses littered the streets, and the people scarcely dared to leave their homes.
“Have they all been killed?” the Third Prince asked.
Su Ruhan replied calmly, “One remains. No, there should be two.”
“Who?”
“The Second Prince and Su Ying. They left the imperial palace half a month ago and went traveling.”
A vicious light flashed through the Third Prince’s icy eyes. “Search everywhere. Once they are found, kill them as well. Leave neither alive.”
“Yes.” Su Ruhan walked out.
The Third Prince looked at Yu’er, who remained calmly seated beside him, and could not help asking, “Are you not afraid that I will kill you? You belonged to the Emperor, so you can also be considered a member of the imperial household.”
Yu’er smiled faintly. “If Yu’er dies by the Third Prince’s hand, Yu’er will have no complaints.”
The Third Prince suddenly gave several cold laughs, pulled Yu’er to his side, and gently raised his chin. “Once I become Emperor, you will be the Empress.”
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