Chapter 070
Chapter 70: Lingering Heat
“Such arrogance!”
The old granny’s hoarse voice rang out with chilling menace. Imperial Concubine Ji narrowed her eyes as she gazed upon Li Mu Sheng, whose figure was bathed in flickering candlelight.
“You are Consort Jing’s son? How did you come to enter the inner palace?”
“Your Ladyship, whoever he is, sneaking into your chambers in the dead of night is punishable by death. Allow this servant to apprehend him first,” said the granny beside her.
Qi began to seep from the old granny’s eyes, turning into an eerie mist. Her entire body radiated a ghastly aura, causing all the candles in the hall to tremble violently.
Hearing this, Imperial Concubine Ji’s eyes flickered thoughtfully as she scrutinized Li Mu Sheng. She was about to speak when suddenly, one of the bronze candlesticks on a pillar vanished. In an instant, it shot through the old granny’s chest with incredible force, pinning her to the grand folding screen behind her.
In an instant, the ghostly light in the old granny’s eyes faded, and the mist surrounding her vanished. Her wrinkled face filled with disbelief.
Without uttering a word, Li Mu Sheng flicked his fingers, sending a Life Death Talisman into her body.
Immediately, the old granny’s veins bulged, and she trembled violently. Intense pain engulfed every fiber of her being, making her moan in agony.
Imperial Concubine Ji paled in shock and urgently commanded the eunuchs and grannies around her, “What are you waiting for? Kill him!”
Yet, no one in the hall moved a muscle.
Other than the old granny’s muffled screams and the occasional whisper of wind through the hall, Yixin Hall was terrifyingly silent.
“You…,” Imperial Concubine Ji pointed at everyone, her beautiful face twisted in anger and shock. But soon she realized something was wrong.
All the eunuchs and grannies stood frozen in the same positions they’d assumed upon entering. Their eyes, however, showed nothing but terror.
“You did this?” Imperial Concubine Ji finally understood. Stumbling back toward her soft couch, her eyes suddenly flashed viciously.
In the next moment, a ferocious bloody energy erupted from her body. Without warning, she sent a fierce palm strike toward Li Mu Sheng.
Countless blood-red shadows surged forth, smashing the bronze incense burner near the couch into powder as they hurtled towards Li Mu Sheng, intent on tearing him apart.
But as the blood shadows approached within a foot of Li Mu Sheng, they vanished without a trace. He shook his head calmly and said, “You can’t kill me.”
Imperial Concubine Ji’s heart sank in fear. Without hesitation, she transformed into a blood shadow and fled toward the rear entrance of the hall with astonishing speed. In mere moments, escape seemed within reach.
But Li Mu Sheng’s voice suddenly whispered by her ear, “You can’t escape either.”
In the next instant, she felt an invisible hand strike her, spinning her through the air violently until she crashed hard onto the polished floor. The impact shattered the stones, sending dust flying.
Her bones fractured completely, and her once delicate, flawless face now lay smashed against the tiles, bloodied and ruined.
Li Mu Sheng slowly approached, stopping a few inches from her head. “Do you feel weak now? Helpless?”
Imperial Concubine Ji lay sprawled on the ground, struggling to lift herself. But that invisible force had shattered her meridians and crushed her cultivation. She no longer possessed the strength even to rise. Her teeth were shattered, and she couldn’t speak a single word.
Li Mu Sheng raised an eyebrow and said lightly, “If you do, then that’s exactly how you should feel. You’ve done too many wicked things, so naturally, I can’t let you die easily.”
He flicked another Life Death Talisman into her body and added softly, “Don’t worry. The true torment has only just begun.”
…
An hour later, Li Mu Sheng emerged from Yixin Hall. He glanced back briefly and shook his head.
They were people who deserved their fate. Yet, at least their deaths had helped him refine much of his Life Death Talisman skill. They had provided a small lingering heat, at least.
With that thought, Li Mu Sheng vanished silently, his figure disappearing instantly within the Imperial Palace’s inner quarters.
Throughout the Great Li Imperial Palace, all remained calm and still. Whether Li Mu Sheng came or went, not a ripple disturbed its peace. It was as if nothing had happened at all that night.
…
Early the next morning.
Yesterday’s heavy rains had washed away the dust of Shang Yang City, leaving behind crisp, fresh air.
The sun rose gently from the east, painting the Imperial Capital and the grand palace with golden, radiant hues.
Inside Feng Yi Palace.
The Great Li queen sat gracefully on her gilded throne, dressed in lavish purple robes and crowned with shining jade. She cast a majestic gaze over the gathered concubines, lightly furrowing her brow.
Seeing her expression, one concubine dressed in elegant scarlet silk, covered with a sheer crimson shawl, adjusted her golden dangling hairpin and deliberately said aloud, “Imperial Concubine Ji truly believes herself extraordinary nowadays. She doesn’t even bother paying respects to Her Majesty. Perhaps soon she’ll be turning this harem upside down!”
Hearing this, whispers erupted among the concubines.
“Imperial Concubine Ji hasn’t shown herself all morning. Even if she were ill, she should send word.”
“Enough said! She walks around looking down her nose at us now. Who knows what magical elixir she found? She looks younger than even the maids in my chambers.”
“Yes, she’s truly radiant among us aging beauties. No wonder she dares behave so arrogantly, disregarding even the queen.”
“Enough!” the queen commanded coldly. Frowning, she turned to an elderly eunuch nearby, her tone even but severe. “Go to Yixin Hall and see what’s happening there.”
“If Sister Ji is indeed ill and confused, immediately summon an imperial physician. We wouldn’t want anything unfortunate to happen.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the old eunuch promptly replied, swiftly leaving the hall.
Half an incense-stick’s time later, a chilly wind blew through the palace doors, and the old eunuch hastily returned.
The queen raised her gaze, displeased. “You are an elder of this palace. Why such panic?”
But the eunuch wore an expression of deep dread. Bowing hurriedly, he said, “Your Majesty, something terrible has happened in Yixin Hall!”
Hearing this, the queen’s brows slightly knitted, though she didn’t seem overly concerned. She lifted a porcelain cup from the table beside her, took a gentle sip of tea, and replied calmly, “No rush. Speak slowly. The palace has always been peaceful; what great matter could have happened?”