Ji Fengye gasped for air; his hands went to his neck as he struggled as if something or someone held him by the neck. His knees buckled, and he crumbled.
He crawled on the ground; his body trembled with every breath he took. Cold sweat broke from Feiyue's neck, running down her back. The people were too stunned to speak; their mouths hung open, and their bodies shuddered at the sight.
Blood had drained from Empress Wanqing's face. Wanqing staggered forward; the mark on his back was spreading, slowly but evidently. Her gaze snapped to Liang Chen.
"What did you do?" she snapped. "What have you done to my son?" she roared as she reached forward, but Ji Fengye couldn't be touched, and without delay, guards stepped forward, holding her back.
"Heaven does not make mistakes during an ancestral rite," Minister Yi Shu said calmly.
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying our prince is the curse? " Prime Minister Fei barked.
