Chapter 62: Let Me Die
A crowd of people flew into a panic. When they finally remembered what to do, several Imperial Physicians were quickly summoned. They settled Princess Huanzhu onto a brocade couch.
After carefully taking her pulse and examining her, the Imperial Physicians’ expressions turned grim.
"The Princess’s Cultivation has been completely destroyed. Not a trace of it remains. Years of bitter training, all gone in an instant."
"All the meridians in her body are shattered, and some of her bones and tendons are damaged as well. The methods used were too vicious. There is basically no possibility of recovery."
"She won’t just be a cripple; I’m afraid she will be bedridden for the rest of her life. This must be reported to Your Majesty. The Princess’s future is utterly ruined."
...
Princess Huanzhu had not yet awoken. One could only imagine the scene when she did and learned of her condition.
Hearing the Imperial Physicians’ words, the group of Palace Attendants looked as if they had been struck by lightning. Their faces turned deathly pale. Everyone knew what it meant for a princess to lose her Cultivation in the Deep Palace.
The news quickly reached Emperor Xia, who flew into a rage. In such a short period, several Princes and Princesses had met with disaster. Now Princess Huanzhu was added to the list. Though she wasn’t dead, her fate was little better.
Soon, a large number of masters arrived, including many experts of the Upper Three Grades. The Divine Female Constable, Liu Yiqing, also rushed to the scene immediately to conduct a detailed investigation of the Bamboo Forest Hall.
The Female Constables under her command spread out, coordinating with Liu Yiqing in her investigation. They didn’t miss a single detail.
Soon, pieces of information began to pour in, and Liu Yiqing couldn’t help but frown.
"The perpetrator likely ambushed the Third Grade Middle Stage Nanny from behind. The strike was extremely precise and powerful—a single, fatal blow. There are no traces of Combat Techniques or Secret Techniques. It seems to have been an ordinary punch."
"There are no signs that the Nanny or Princess Huanzhu fell into an Illusion Realm. It seems they were either killed or knocked unconscious directly. Alternatively, the perpetrator might have mastered an extremely powerful Illusion Technique, which would explain the lack of any traces."
"There are no signs of a violent struggle in the area. Many items from the Bamboo Forest Hall are missing, and almost nothing of value has been left behind."
"The perpetrator is extremely strong and skilled at concealment and ambushes. They knew the Bamboo Forest Hall like the back of their hand, and none of its mechanisms or traps could stop them. They must be at least a Third Grade Martial General, more likely a Second Grade Grandmaster. It’s not even out of the question that they’re a First Grade Grandmaster."
...
After receiving this compiled information and adding her own deductions, Liu Yiqing’s face turned pale, and a shiver ran down her spine.
After all, given the power and methods the perpetrator had displayed, they were no match for them. If their investigation uncovered something and angered the perpetrator, they could eliminate them all at any moment.
The perpetrator’s methods showed no mercy even to a Prince or Princess, let alone mere investigators like them.
Moreover, while the perpetrator had left no traces, that in itself might be the key. It could prove that the various incidents that had occurred recently were all connected to this single individual.
Sometimes, the lack of a trail is the biggest trail of all. So many incidents in such a short time, all without a single clue left behind—that was the common denominator.
By now, news that Princess Huanzhu had been crippled had spread throughout the Imperial Palace, sparking panic among many of the Princes and Princesses.
"They can silently assassinate even a Third Grade Middle Stage Martial General... Just how strong is this killer? Should we leave the Imperial Palace for a while and hide? Who knows who their next target will be."
"I heard Princess Huanzhu is completely crippled, with no hope of recovery. They say even her limbs were crushed, and she’ll be confined to her bed for the rest of her life. It’s such a shame. For such a beautiful princess to be turned into an invalid like that..."
"Several Princes and Princesses have already been targeted. If this keeps up, there won’t be enough of them left in the palace for the killer to go through. What are we supposed to do?"
"Just try to keep a low profile for a while. You don’t want to anger any of the masters and end up getting yourself killed."
...
The various palaces all strengthened their security. Many Princes and Princesses who were usually arrogant had now become cautious and prudent. After all, no one knew who would be the next to suffer misfortune.
Princess Huanzhu had now awoken. Upon learning of her condition, she flew into a frenzy, nearly taking her own life on the spot.
Had others not restrained her, Princess Huanzhu would already be dead. It was clear she could not accept her new reality.
She would rather die than live like this.
Xia Wuyang hadn’t killed her, but he had subjected her to a fate worse than death. Even if she didn’t take her own life, she would live out her remaining days in pain and despair, and they would not be many.
Back in the Bamboo Forest Hall, Princess Huanzhu was still in an uproar.
"Get out! All of you, get out! Don’t stop me! Let me die!"
With a shrill cry, she began to hurl medicine bowls to the floor, splattering dark brown liquid everywhere.
The surrounding Palace Attendants dodged in fear but dared not leave, terrified that Princess Huanzhu would try to kill herself again. If she succeeded, how could Emperor Xia possibly spare them?
Princess Huanzhu lay on the bed, her hair in disarray. Her once exquisitely beautiful face was now twisted into an unrecognizable mask of rage, a truly ghastly sight.
"Tell me! Who did this to me? Who made me this way?!"
Princess Huanzhu shrieked, her voice echoing throughout the Bamboo Forest Hall.
None of the surrounding Palace Attendants responded. They simply looked at one another, speechless for a long moment.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace Wenhua Hall, Xia Wuyang also seemed to be terrified. He quickly ordered the Guards from the surrounding Eastern Palace to also stand watch around Wenhua Hall, charged with protecting his safety.
A large number of hidden sentries were added, and patrols were set to run nonstop, twenty-four hours a day.
"All of you, keep a close watch!" Xia Wuyang feigned fear, pointing a trembling finger toward the outside of the hall. His voice was filled with terror. "If you let an intruder get in, I’ll have all your heads!"
At that moment, Liu Yiqing, who was investigating elsewhere in the palace, arrived near the Eastern Palace. Seeing the Eastern Palace Guards constantly being redeployed, her elegant brow furrowed slightly.
After making some inquiries, she learned that the elder Crown Prince had been frightened and was assigning extra men to guard the Eastern Palace, particularly Wenhua Hall.
Out of sheer terror, the elder Crown Prince had barely left Wenhua Hall recently, remaining inside at all times.
This aroused Liu Yiqing’s suspicion. Although his behavior was consistent with his current situation, she felt there was something deliberate about it.
She then dispatched someone to investigate the elder Crown Prince specifically and soon received more information.
"Not only has Wenhua Hall increased its number of Guards, but even his meals have to pass through several rounds of inspection. The precautions are almost on par with His Majesty’s."
"It’s said the elder Crown Prince can’t sleep at night and often hides in the Practice Room during the day, feeling that the sealed chamber is safer."
"Wenhua Hall is now sealed, and no one is permitted to enter. The elder Crown Prince has become as timid as a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring. At the slightest hint of anything unusual, he gets spooked and hides in the Practice Room, not emerging for a very long time."
...