Chapter 17: Even Blood Kin May Be Killed

Chapter 17: Even Close Kin Can Be Killed

In the days that followed, the Empress Dowager remained absent from public view. The customary banquet held every Lunar New Year to entertain the officials was also canceled. It was well known that no matter how busy or ill she was in previous years, the Empress Dowager would always make an appearance. Her sudden disappearance only confirmed the rumors that she was on the verge of passing away.

The day after the New Year passed.

Inside the modest hall of the Pavilion of Immortality, the room was packed with people.

At the center stood the confident Emperor Zhonghui. To his left were Prince Gong and Zhiyue. To his right stood his most favored consort—and the only one—Consort Shu.

Zhonghui glanced briefly at his sixth uncle. Prince Gong appeared indifferent, as if blind, showing no reaction. Until the situation was fully clear, he dared not take sides rashly. This was the invaluable lesson he had learned from decades of navigating court intrigues.

For others, Zhonghui’s status as emperor might have been leverage, but Prince Gong was his own uncle. Even if he left outright, Zhonghui could only watch helplessly. With a sigh of resignation, Zhonghui turned to his brother-in-law Zhiyue.

“My trusted minister, how do you propose we handle the Empress Dowager?”

“Your Majesty… I…” Zhiyue stammered, unable to speak. Though the Empress Dowager was ill, she was still the Empress Dowager—a matter no subject should meddle in. Moreover, she had ruled for many years and had many loyal supporters. If she struck back in the future, there was no guarantee the emperor’s own head would remain safe.

“You forget how she treated your siblings,” Consort Shu interjected. “If we don’t seize this chance to kill her, once she recovers, we’re all finished.”

Consort Shu’s words were not born of courage but simple desire for revenge. Over the years, her strong-willed nature had brought her frequent reprimands from the Empress Dowager. If there were a record for the most punished consort in the dynasty’s history, it would surely be her.

“Absolutely not,” Prince Gong stood up to oppose. “Our dynasty governs by filial piety. A mother may kill her son, but a son must never kill his mother. If you act, Your Majesty, your throne will never be stable.”

Zhonghui hesitated. Since ancient times, the central lands upheld a culture where killing one’s child was permissible, but the reverse was a grievous offense. Having read extensively, Zhonghui understood well the consequences of violating this heavenly law.

“Then we wait for her to kill us,” Consort Shu sneered coldly.

Zhonghui’s expression darkened. Waiting passively was not an option either.

“Your Majesty, I have here a brilliant strategy from Master Nanhai,” Zhiyue suddenly spoke.

At the mention of Master Nanhai, Zhonghui’s eyes lit up. The master had been the core figure behind his reforms, renowned for his wisdom.

“Why didn’t you bring this out earlier?” he asked, a touch annoyed.

“I forgot,” Zhiyue replied with an embarrassed smile.

“Forget something like this? Hand it over quickly.”

Zhonghui eagerly stepped down and snatched the small pouch, pulling out a slip of paper. He murmured, “So simple…”

Zhiyue leaned over to read: “Six months later, an unexpected fire will break out in the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

“What sort of nonsense did Master Nanhai write?” a frail, elderly woman’s voice floated lightly, sending chills through everyone present.

They all felt as if plunged into an icy abyss.

The voice was one they had heard for decades, unmistakably familiar.

The next moment, the Empress Dowager strolled in leisurely.

“Mother,” Zhonghui’s legs buckled; he collapsed to the floor like a limbless dog.

Decades of oppression from his mother had left deep psychological scars.

The Empress Dowager cast him a disdainful glance. This son was as useless as ever. Of course, if he had been capable, she would have long since killed him.

“She’s alone; kill her quickly!” shouted Consort Shu, brainless.

Everyone looked at her as if she were insane.

Silently, the Empress Dowager crossed the vast water feature to the Pavilion of Immortality—there was only one explanation: she was a Grandmaster.

Among those present, the strongest fighter was Zhiyue, ranked at eighth grade. But even an eighth-grade warrior was nothing before a Grandmaster.

“If you want to kill me, you’ll die first,” the Empress Dowager said, delivering a single palm strike.

Consort Shu’s seven orifices bled, and she collapsed to the ground.

Having toyed with this little insect for so many years, she was now bored.

“Consort Shu, Consort Shu…” Zhonghui crawled to her corpse, weeping loudly. She had been his spiritual support.

Prince Gong knelt, pleading, “Empress Dowager, Your Majesty has not agreed to matricide. Please show mercy.”

The Empress Dowager reached out and drew in the slip of paper Zhonghui had dropped. After a glance, she tossed it to the floor.

“Sixth Brother, why don’t you read what it says first?”

Prince Gong picked it up, his face darkening with anger. “That dog traitor…”

“Surprisingly, in the end, the one who treated me best was Sixth Brother,” the Empress Dowager said with some feeling.

She and Prince Gong had battled openly and secretly for years; it was not without some sentiment. Moreover, she had nearly become Prince Gong’s primary consort. Years ago, when they were younger, rumors even spread among the common folk that they had an affair.

Prince Gong kowtowed again. “I beg the Empress Dowager to spare His Majesty’s life.”

She ignored him, producing a red pill and tossing it before Zhonghui.

“The Son of Heaven has his own way of dying.”

Zhonghui’s sobs abruptly ceased. He stared blankly at the red pill on the ground.

“Are you afraid?” the Empress Dowager sneered. She knew better than anyone how cowardly and timid this son was.

Trembling, Zhonghui picked up the pill. “Mother, you have killed my two elder brothers and a sister, and now you kill me. I do not understand why you are so cruel.”

“Ha ha ha ha…” The Empress Dowager burst into loud laughter, as if hearing the most hilarious joke.

“I understand now.”

Zhonghui bitterly placed the pill in his mouth.

Soon, his face contorted in agony. He writhed on the ground, screaming miserably, clawing at his body and face until bloodied. Gradually, he fell silent.

The Empress Dowager then turned to Zhiyue, who had yet to move.

“Your sovereign father is dead. What are you waiting for?”

“Your servant humbly requests your guidance,” Zhiyue said, as his robe suddenly burst apart, revealing powerful, muscular arms. A swirl of grayish-white energy surrounded him.

“Huanglian Sect's Innate Energy,” the Empress Dowager said, slightly surprised.

“I was honored by the Sect Leader to receive this divine skill,” Zhiyue declared, then launched forward like a predatory leopard.

The Empress Dowager showed no reaction, as if stunned into silence.

Bang!

Zhiyue’s iron-like palms struck heavily against the Empress Dowager’s body. He grinned, “Your servant has just advanced to ninth grade.”

He believed that even a Grandmaster would suffer serious injury from a full-strength ninth-grade strike.

The next moment, an even stronger innate energy blast sent Zhiyue flying, crashing heavily onto the ground.

“How… how do you possess innate energy?” Zhiyue gasped.

Before he could finish, he ignited his inner power, broke through the window, and fled outside.

The Empress Dowager extended a hand, and a black hole-like suction appeared before her.

No matter how Zhiyue struggled, it was useless. Terrified, he watched himself being pulled back, crashing down heavily.

With a muffled sound, Zhiyue’s head appeared under the Empress Dowager’s palm, instantly reduced to skin and bones.

Prince Gong was dumbfounded. What kind of martial skill was this? In all his years, he had never witnessed such terrifying power.

“The innate energy you cultivated is mine now,” the Empress Dowager declared.

Prince Gong was shocked. “Empress Dowager, can you really absorb others’ inner energy?”

“This martial art is called the Northern Darkness Rebirth Technique. It not only absorbs inner energy but also martial moves. It is said that mastering it fully grants rebirth. Only the emperor can learn it. Sixth Brother, it’s no surprise you didn’t know,” she said casually.

“No wonder our Qi family has ruled the world for so many years,” Prince Gong suddenly realized.

“Our family’s dominion relies on more than just that,” the Empress Dowager said, but then paused mid-sentence.

With a weary expression, she said, “I’m tired. I’ll leave this to you.”

Without looking back at her slain son, she walked away.

Prince Gong called out loudly, “Empress Dowager, do you intend to ascend the throne yourself?”

“You believe the rumors outside? I have never planned to be emperor,” she said, stopping and frowning.

“Then who will the new emperor be?”

After a moment’s thought, she replied, “Choose Apou.”

“Apou?” Prince Gong was stunned.

After the Empress Dowager disappeared, Prince Gong sighed bitterly. “Apou is only two years old.”

Apou—full name Qi Guangpu—was the grandson of the Empress Dowager’s eldest son.

...

(End of Chapter)