Empress Fu Yao [Volume 1] (COMPLETED)✔

Mountain Rain Will Soon Come

Evening fell, thickly covering over the air above the imperial city. Tonight the stars were faint and the moon dim, while layers of clouds coiled and swirled, without any of the refreshing atmosphere that belonged to the autumn season.

The weather was bad, but the Tai Yuan imperial city shone with even more magnificence and brightness. The whole palace drifted with colorful ribbons and lanterns, and on all the trees were tied silk brocades. Every three steps, a bowl of imperial chrysanthemums in full bloom was hanging from a deep red palace lantern. The halo of red illumination made the flowers more gorgeous, their myriad colors bedazzling one's eyes.

On the water pavilion in front of Heavenly Peace Hall, a jade arc bridge floated, and blue waters sent out ripples. The whole pond was drifting full of red lotus lights, and the pavilion ceiling was hung full of luminescent pearls. On the table were already prepared dried and fresh fruits as well as many delicacies from the land and the sea, only waiting for the Emperor to come and feast in the early evening, after he finished placing incense at the temple.

The various princes had already arrived at Heavenly Peace Hall, waiting at the side chambers for his Highness to arrive. Between them conversations and laughter arose like the wind, cheerful and warm, a scene of a royal family full of friendliness.

Prince Qi Xunyi was slightly tilted as he leaned against a chair. He picked up a grape and slowly ate, at the same time slanting his eye to look at the hourglass inside the glazed bottle.

Right now, Shen hour was just entered.[1]

Relatively distant from Heavenly Peace Hall was the Six Western Palaces. Compared with the Main Hall, these palaces were much more desolate. The old Emperor didn't have many concubines, so the palace had many vacancies, dark and unlit. Although the buildings were also decorated for the occasion, there was still some gloomy coldness that managed to seep through. Wind blew the colored lights hanging under the eaves to drift and float; the slight red glow was absorbed into the dim night, seemingly bleak but beautiful, like blood.

A pair of black shadows hurriedly headed towards the direction of the Letter Hall. From their dress, it looked like a eunuch and a maid.

Their movements were rushed, and often when guard troops passed by, they would flash behind various corners. The two figures were agile and did not alarm anyone along the way.

Arriving at the front of Xuande Hall, the two stopped their steps.

In front, past Xuande Hall where the old imperial concubine of the previous dynasty lived, was that cold palace, the Letter Hall. Past the palace alley of the Letter Hall would be the imperial city's west gate, often called "Death's Door". This was because those concubines who died under house arrest, as well as those palace servants who were beaten to death for their crimes, would have their corpses dragged out from this gate after death. It was rumored that the palace alley would not see sunlight all year round, and cold winds would blow with melancholy, so very few people would pass through here.

However, today was different.

At the separating wall between the Xuande Hall and the Letter Hall, weapons formed a forest and armor glinted with light. Troop after troop of guards were stuffed in that narrow passageway like black snakes, unceasingly marching while sweeping their visions back and forth. The security was impenetrable, and even a rat would not be able to tunnel past.

The two people looked at each other, both seeing worry in the other's eyes.

Letter Hall's palace wall was just ahead, but that short distance of ten meters had now become a great chasm – even flying past would be impossible.