Realm of Void
The dark sky hung over the palace like a mourner's veil, a somber reminder that morning had brought no solace. Lady Hua's bright smile faltered as she approached the emperor's chambers, her footsteps echoing through the deserted corridors.
As she pushed open the door, a sight met her gaze that made her blood run cold. The emperor lay on the floor, his body broken and still, a trickle of blood seeping from his lips. Lady Hua's scream pierced the air, summoning the guards who rushed to her side.
"My lady, are you unharmed?" one of the guards inquired, his voice laced with concern.
Lady Hua's eyes remained fixed on the emperor's lifeless form, her words barely above a whisper. "The... emperor... he's..."
The guards' faces paled as they took in the scene, their eyes wide with terror.
The royal messenger galloped through the village streets, his voice booming as he repeated the dire news: "The emperor has been poisoned! All villagers, assemble at the palace!"
The palace courtyard swelled with hundreds of villagers, their murmurs and whispers filling the air as they speculated about the identity of the perpetrator.
Two men struck the massive gong, its deep resonant tones silencing the crowd. The air was heavy with anticipation as Prince Shu Yan emerged, his face a mask of cold fury.
"We have a traitor in our midst!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the palace walls. "A traitor who dared to poison the emperor!"
The crowd erupted into a cacophony of whispers and accusations, with Shu Shu's name on everyone's lips. "We know the traitor already... It's Shu Shu, the only royalty born without magic."
The eunuchs exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale with fear.
Shu Yan's voice dripped with malice as he continued, "We all know Shu Shu's been seething with jealousy. He was furious when the emperor refused to crown him alongside me. He disrespected the empress in front of everyone yesterday. His jealousy consumed him, and now he seeks revenge."
The crowd's murmurs grew louder, their faces twisted with anger and suspicion.
The scene unfolded like a gruesome spectacle, as Shu Yan declared, "Now, we will show everyone here that whoever dares to commit the unthinkable will pay the price!"
The massive palace doors swung open, revealing Shu Shu in a state of utter humiliation. He was half-naked, his neck chained, and his upper body brutally bruised. His face was so badly damaged that he was barely recognizable. The crowd gasped in horror, their collective breath a testament to the shock and revulsion that gripped them.
Lady Jing's voice trembled with tears as she called out, "Shu Shu!" She attempted to rush to his side but was restrained by two guards. Blood dripped from Shu Shu's mouth as a guard dragged him roughly and violently, like an animal.
Princess Yue's eyes welled up with tears as she beheld her brother's pitiful state. She was powerless to help him, and her helplessness was palpable.
Shu Shu was forced to kneel before the crowd, his head bowed in defeat. Shu Yan strode forward, his eyes blazing with fury, and grasped Shu Shu's hair, pulling it painfully.
"How could you, brother?" Shu Yan bellowed. "How could you poison your own flesh and blood? How could you harm the emperor?"
Shu Shu's weak voice was laced with defiance. "I... didn't do... it... you bastard." He spat blood onto Shu Yan's face, and the crowd erupted into gasps and murmurs.
Whispers spread like wildfire: "Is Shu Yan framing Shu Shu because he's afraid of losing the throne?" "Oh, Shu Shu looks like he's been through hell." "How dare he spit on the next emperor's face?"
One of the eunuchs called out, "Shu Yan!" but Shu Yan was beyond reason. Enraged, he slapped Shu Shu across the face, his eyes blazing with fury. He licked his lips, savoring the moment, before wiping the blood from his face. Shu Shu let out a low, derisive scoff, his eyes flashing with a fierce inner light.
Shu Yan's gaze swept across the assembly, his voice laced with disdain. "You all suspect me of attempting to frame Shu Shu? Very well, let us uncover the truth. Step forward, girl!"
He extended a slender finger, pointing to a timid maid standing beside Empress Mei. The girl's eyes widened in fear as she hesitantly stepped forward, her delicate body trembling visibly.
"Yes, my lord," she stammered, her voice barely audible.
Shu Yan's expression remained impassive. "Tell us, girl, who did you see entering the emperor's chambers last night?"
The maid's gaze darted about, her eyes locking onto Shu Shu's, which seemed to implore her to speak the truth. She glanced at the crowd, then at Empress Mei, whose stern expression seemed to warn her against speaking out of turn. Finally, she looked at Shu Yan, her thoughts racing.
"When I was arranging the emperor's chambers for his night's rest, Princess Yue came with a tray of tea," the maid thought to herself. "I did not know what transpired thereafter, for I departed. The last person I saw entering the emperor's chambers was... Shu Yan. If I dare speak the truth, my head will be hung from a tree."
The maid took a deep breath, steeling herself before speaking aloud. "The last person I saw entering the emperor's chambers was Shu Shu!"
The assembly erupted into a collective gasp, with Lady Jing and Princess Yue's faces reflecting their shock and dismay. The villagers, fueled by outrage and a thirst for justice, began to chant in unison, "He poisoned the emperor!, he must die!" Their voices grew louder, a deafening crescendo that threatened to engulf the palace.
Shu Yan's smirk grew wider as he declared, "Fear not, my humble people, for he shall not go unpunished!"
His voice dripped with malice as he continued, "From this day onward, Shu Shu is banished to the Realm of Void!"
The words hung in the air like a death sentence, casting a chill over the assembly. The atmosphere grew thick with unease, the tension palpable. The crowd was too stunned to speak, their faces frozen in horror.
The silence was shattered by Lady Jing's anguished cry, "No!" Her voice echoed through the stillness, a desperate plea that seemed to shake the very foundations of the palace.