**Chapter 336: Empress, Severing Kindred Affection**
Summer turns to Autumn, a breeze swept over the one hundred palace gates of Tianan City’s Imperial Palace, arriving inside the Empress’s Changle Hall, causing the hair of the elegant woman to flutter.
Empress Tong Zilan stood by the window, gazing blankly at the spirit flowers blooming in the courtyard outside, her heart already traveling to the Hundred Lotus Sect, a place she had never visited.
Her flesh and blood was now living safely in that place.
The Empress’s status was noble and luxurious. Within the Central Domain, she was second only to the Emperor, yet after so many years confined in the deep palace, Tong Zilan understood that this status was merely a lavishly decorated birdcage, tethering her to the Tianan City Imperial Palace.
But soon, she would be free from this birdcage.
Soon, she would also be reunited with her biological child, whom she had only met once.
Thinking of this, Tong Zilan was filled with boundless longing for the future. However, she did not forget the present. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned her head slightly to look back.
The person entering the hall was Hong Yu, a saber at her waist. She walked behind Tong Zilan, cupped her fists, and bowed, “Queen, everything has been arranged. The guards of all four gates of Tianan City have been replaced by our people. According to secret reports, the Demon Race has reached a position three hundred li from Tianan City and will arrive within approximately three days. At that time, as long as Commander Yue opens the city, the Demon Emperor can be welcomed in.”
“That is good. You also prepare to receive Liang Qingjia. It’s best to be prepared early.”
“Yes.”
Hong Yu bowed and then turned to leave to continue her work.
However, at this very moment, the sound of iron boots stomping the ground suddenly echoed from outside Changle Palace. Tong Zilan’s phoenix brows furrowed, and she glanced out the window.
She saw a white-bearded scholar-robed cultivator leading a squad of Core Formation Stage Imperial Guards along the corridor.
The scholar-robed cultivator’s surname was Qi. He was the personal guard of the Central Domain Emperor and had reached the Deity Transformation early stage cultivation. Most people in the palace referred to him respectfully as “Eunuch Qi.”
“Imperial decree arrives! Summon the Queen to Tianhe Hall immediately to face the King, by imperial order.”
As the saying goes, the shorter the words, the bigger the matter.
Hearing Eunuch Qi’s hoarse voice read this sentence, Tong Zilan pondered for a moment and immediately understood.
The Tianan City guards numbered over a thousand. Even if the Central Domain Emperor paid no attention to external affairs, it was impossible for her to replace them all without being noticed.
Now that the Demon Race was approaching the city, and she had replaced all the guards, the Central Domain Emperor would surely suspect her of colluding with the Demon Emperor.
—The plan to welcome the Demon Emperor into the city had been exposed.
Hong Yu also realized this at this moment, her expression slightly nervous, and asked, “Queen? This…”
“Don’t panic.”
Tong Zilan interrupted her and calmly tucked a phoenix hairpin from the table into her hair. She said, “Hong Yu, after I leave, those Imperial Guards will surely arrest all the servants in Changle Palace and interrogate them in the Heavenly Prison. You take this opportunity to slip out of the Imperial Palace and inform Young Master Ye of this matter.”
“But, Queen, you are going…”
“Don’t worry. Your husband and I have been married for a hundred years. Even if he doesn’t remember our marital affection, he won’t do anything to me. After the Demon Emperor enters the city, he won’t have the energy to concern himself with me. I will find an opportunity to escape then… Besides, Dan Yue Shang Xian is also here.”
Concern appeared in Hong Yu’s eyes, but she quickly lowered her head and replied, “…Yes, this servant obeys.”
Afterward, she went to a wardrobe in a corner of Changle Palace, opened the door, and hid inside.
Eunuch Qi, seeing that the palace gate of Changle Palace was still closed, waited for a while and then called out, “Queen, will you come out on your own, or shall this old minister break down the palace gate?”
“…”
Seeing that there was still no movement from inside the hall, Eunuch Qi waved his hand. The two deaf-mute Imperial Guards behind him immediately stepped forward, holding their spears, ready to forcibly break down the door of Changle Palace.
However, just as the two Imperial Guards raised their spears, the red door embroidered with golden phoenixes was pushed open by Tong Zilan.
Tong Zilan, in her golden robe and with a phoenix hairpin, looked at the dozens of Core Formation Stage Imperial Guards holding spears before the hall door. Her expression was calm, with the dignified air of a queen.
“Eunuch Qi, when a woman wishes to see her husband, she naturally needs to dress up, doesn’t she? Why the rush?”
“Queen, this treason with the Demon Race is no small matter. The King, out of consideration for your hundred years of marital affection, has already been lenient by not sending you directly to the Ministry of Justice for trial. How can you still be so at ease?”
Tong Zilan feigned ignorance and retorted, “Treason with the Demon Race? What is Eunuch Qi talking about?”
“Heh—Your unilateral decision to privately replace the guards of the southeast gate with the intention of welcoming the Demon Race into the city has been exposed. Both physical and testimonial evidence exist, and you still wish to quibble? The King is already waiting in Tianhe Hall. Please.”
Eunuch Qi flicked his whisk in his hand and bowed, gesturing for the Imperial Guards behind him to clear a path.
Tong Zilan’s brows furrowed slightly upon seeing this, but she remained composed and slowly walked among the Imperial Guards.
After Tong Zilan passed by him, Eunuch Qi glanced sideways and then cleared his throat and ordered, “The King has issued an order: all servants within Changle Palace are to be executed on the spot, leaving no survivors.”
“Yes!”
A group of Imperial Guards cupped their fists in response.
Upon hearing this, Tong Zilan’s eyes widened. She stopped in her tracks, her phoenix brows furrowed, and she turned around. “You dare?!”
Eunuch Qi smiled slightly, bowed his head, and said, “The King issued the order. Queen, please do not glare at this old minister. This old minister is merely acting under orders.”
Then, he signaled to the Imperial Guards who had paused on both sides with his eyes. Instantly, seven or eight Core Formation Stage Imperial Guards rushed into the hall of Changle Palace, brandishing their spears.
Tong Zilan immediately tried to step forward to block the Imperial Guards, but she had only taken one step forward when Eunuch Qi blocked her with his whisk. “Queen, the King is still waiting in Tianhe Hall.”
“…”
Tong Zilan glared angrily at Eunuch Qi, but she knew she couldn’t stop them now. The Central Domain Emperor’s intention in sending this Eunuch Qi was clear.
—If she refused, she would be carried there by force, with her legs broken.
At this very moment, the sound of shattered porcelain and the screams of servants echoed from within Changle Palace.
“What are you doing?!”
*Crash—*
“Ah—!”
“Help… Help!!”
“Queen!! Queen…”
*Swish—*
…
The sound of blades penetrating flesh reached Tong Zilan’s ears, as if cutting into her chest.
The servants in Changle Palace had almost all entered the palace from a young age to accompany her. She remembered each of their names and origins. Yet, at this moment, because of her mistake, they had lost their lives.
Tong Zilan closed her eyes and took a deep breath, squeezing out a tear. Then, she turned and walked towards the depths of the courtyard, saying, “This hundred years of affection has now been completely severed.”
Eunuch Qi followed her steps, bowing and walking beside her, comforting her, “It’s just some servants. Why should the Queen take it to heart?”
Tong Zilan glanced at him. “Qi Wuji.”
“This old minister is here.”
“Do you know who you are making an enemy of?”
“This old minister does not know, nor does he need to know. With the King presiding over Tianan City, just the Demon Emperor alone cannot do anything to the Imperial Sect.”
…
