Slowly, Zhan forced his heavy eyelids open. He struggled to rise, his body weak, and let his gaze sweep across the room. Through the blur of dizziness, he made out his most trusted attendant crouched in a corner, face buried in his hands in despair.
(At dawn, it had been discovered that the first royal consort, who had spent the previous night in the King's chamber, was missing. And Prince Maiqing had been found dead in one of the palace rooms.)
Those words the attendant had spoken earlier now replayed in Zhan's mind with cruel clarity. He clenched his reddened eyes shut, his head pounding as though it might split in two. But he forced himself up, summoning every ounce of strength. If he wasted this chance, he knew he might never get another.
The attendant jumped to his feet to steady him, offering words of comfort, but Zhan simply gestured for him to leave. Reluctantly, the man obeyed, slipping out with bowed head. Zhan pulled on his outer robe and stepped out.
The moment he entered the outer hall, his attendants all rose in alarm. He lifted a hand, signaling them not to follow. Alone, he left the chamber.
The palace was in chaos. Though this was not the first time a royal consort had been lost, the tragedy was magnified by Prince Maiqing's death and the fact that Zhan himself had narrowly escaped an earlier attempt on his life.
With quiet determination, Zhan made his way toward King Yibo's Chambers. His face was well known among the guards there, and so no one dared to stop him. Instead, they bowed with respect, though his sudden appearance unsettled them. Even the servants in the third living room....who usually prepared the King's meals...stared in shock at his arrival, especially since the body of the royal consort had not yet been removed.
No one had seen King Yibo since the night before. The silence of his wing confirmed to Zhan that something terrible had taken place. Without acknowledging anyone, he moved past them, certain that the consort's body must be within these chambers.
He pushed open doors one by one, finding each room sealed tight, until at last the fifth door yielded.
Inside, the chamber was in ruins... shattered ornaments strewn across the floor, streaks of blood marking the walls and carpets. And there, sprawled beside the bed, lay the lifeless form of a young woman, no older than Juan. Her disheveled hair and battered body told of a fierce struggle. Her right hand, drenched in blood, still clutched a broken glass vase, a futile weapon she had tried to wield in her defense.
Zhan dropped to his knees, trembling. Tears streamed down his face as he looked at her, haunted by the image of his own lost sisters, Feng and Juan. He wept bitterly over the body until the sound of approaching voices forced him to act. Hastily, he rose, pulling out his device to record the scene, capturing every corner of the room, every angle of the corpse. The footsteps grew nearer, and in a panic, he searched for a hiding place and slipped into the shadows.
Moments later, Prince Deng entered with Prince Langya, accompanied by the palace police, Lady Daneen, and Dowager Taihou herself, who had at last abandoned restraint. They carefully inspected the room, their eyes settling grimly on the body. Silence hung heavy for several minutes until the police exhaled.
"It's exactly the same as the previous killings," he said. "No real difference. She must have fought back...that's why the chamber looks like this, and why there's so much blood."
"This is beyond strange," Prince Langya muttered. "How can a murder leave no clear trace of how it was done? Perhaps we need a new physician to examine the bodies. This makes the fifteenth consort lost… every death identical, as if by sorcery."
"Come now," Prince Deng cut in sharply. "What sorcery? There must be something we don't yet know."
"I stand by my words, brother," Langya replied coldly. "If not sorcery, then what? Look at him..." he gestured toward the absence of Zhan, "...one survives without so much as a scratch, while the others fall in exactly the same manner."
Daneen raised her voice. "Enough. This isn't the time to argue. What matters is action. The King must finally speak, not remain silent as he always does."
"You're right," Prince Deng agreed grimly.
No one else spoke. Dowager Taihou stayed quiet, while the police continued pacing the room, searching for hidden clues.
All the while, Zhan held his breath from his hiding place, pressing a trembling hand against his mouth to stifle his sobs.
When the doctors finally came to remove the body, Zhan slipped out unseen. But once outside, he collapsed to the floor, overcome with grief. The sight had torn open old wounds... memories of his sisters' violent deaths returned with unbearable force.
Through choking sobs, a voice rang in his back.
"Crying won't save you either…"
Startled, Zhan opened his tear-streaked, reddened eyes. From the shadows, Prince Deng...who had earlier noticed Zhan's hidden presence but pretended not to...stepped forward quietly. Zhan had seen him only once before, during a palace banquet, and even then only in passing.
Prince Deng inclined his head slightly, shoulders lifted in a careless shrug.
"The same way the others were killed, so too will it happen again. Don't think that just because he spared you once, you are safe. You survived only because of a special reason. But if you truly want to escape his trap, I can help you."
Zhan stared at him like a statue, his tears the only sign of life in his face. Prince Deng showed no sympathy. He continued, his voice steady:
"My name is Prince Deng. I am the younger brother of your husband's father. I know you have countless questions about King Yibo, but his mother and her allies have prevented you from learning the truth. Everything you imagine...it is worse than that. Dowager Ruyan and Dowager Taihou know exactly how his consorts die. In fact, with their help, all of this has continued. You saw it yourself..murders carried out, bodies piling up, yet nothing stops. Physicians and police pretend ignorance because they've all been bought. Even if they examined the bodies a thousand times, they would find nothing, because the killings are not done by ordinary means. They are carried out through forbidden practices to strengthen his rule."
He paused, watching Zhan's trembling reaction. Sensing he had struck a chord, he pressed on.
"Let us leave it at that. There's no use in explaining more right now. But know this...your father and your brother's blood was taken in place of yours. That is why you lived while they perished."
Zhan jolted upright, his whole body quaking, though he could not form words.
Prince Deng lifted a hand to calm him.
"Be still. Take this and see for yourself. When you are done, judge my words as you wish. But remember...your sisters were killed in the very same way as these consorts. That is why the physicians always declare there is nothing unusual. Guard this well, Your Highness."
Before Zhan could respond, Prince Deng had vanished. Zhan stood frozen, shaking violently. Hearing approaching footsteps, he snatched up the flash drive Prince Deng had left and hid himself again.
The guard commander returned with two officers, documenting the chamber and taking photographs. Zhan pressed himself deeper into hiding until they finally left. Only then did he slip away.
By now, the palace was more unsettled than before. Zhan managed to return to his chambers, tormented by Prince Deng's words. Locking himself inside, he inserted the flash drive into a neglected laptop.
The screen flickered to life with video. It began with Babiy carrying Moosa into their home that night, laying out the mat for him, and Moosa's half-spoken words before his death. Then came the arrival of Moosa's wife with police, what Huan had done to her, and their forced departure. The footage cut off suddenly.
Zhan hurriedly played the next file. This time Babiy and Huan appeared frail and emaciated, locked in a bare room. Babiy's head rested weakly on Huan's lap, while Huan tried to revive him with water, tears streaming down his face.
Then came the sound of laughter. A man entered, his body visible but his face obscured. Huan and the Babiy flinched in fear as the laughter grew louder, followed by the clapping of the faceless figure.
When the laughter finally stopped, Zhan's heart pounded as he recognized the voice that spoke: King Yibo's.
"Did you think I would stop after taking the blood I needed from your daughter's? Impossible. Among all the children I have destroyed, it was your children's blood that gave me more power than I had ever dreamed. That is why I began hunting your son. My research showed me...his father's bloodline is the key."
He laughed again, cruel and triumphant.
"Ha! Ha! You are my greatest victory, Zinnu's family. My inevitable triumph!"
Huan cried and pleaded, but there was no sign that he would be heard. Instead, King Yibo raised his hand in a strange display of sorcery, and at once the room filled with smoke. A violent whirlwind gathered the smoke in the center of the room, twisting until it formed into a massive serpent.
Babiy and the Huan shrank back against the wall in terror. Screams broke out when the serpent grew to take over nearly a 70% of the room. It struck at Babiy and Huan, who were huddled together in fear, before coiling its head around Huan's neck as he clutched Babiy protectively.
By now, darkness had swallowed Zhan, who trembled as if gripped by unseen hands. He slammed the laptop shut, for the sight and sounds on the screen were too much...laughter echoed in his ears, wild and sharp, until his vision burned red. His eyes felt aflame, like sparks of fire had been ignited inside them. At first, he could still faintly hear the noise of the palace around him, then nothing at all.
When he next awoke, he found himself lying in a hospital bed, Daneen seated beside him.
From that moment, Zhan despised everything connected to King Yibo. So when he opened his eyes and saw Daneen there, he quickly shut them again, refusing to let her know he was awake. She herself seemed lost in troubled thought, her face pale and drawn with grief.
Since the burial of the royal consort and Prince Maiqing, unrest had gripped not only the imperial court but the entire city of Beiping. Crowds of commoners dared to march in protest through several provinces, calling for King Yibo to step down....or else they would take justice into their own hands.
It was the sharp pressure in his bladder that finally forced Zhan to stir. Daneen noticed at once and hurried to his side, gently supporting him with quiet words of comfort. Zhan restrained himself, holding back the storm inside him, for at that first moment of waking, his heart had whispered one fierce vow: this time, he would bring an end to King Yibo. His life no longer mattered...after losing his family, death was nothing to fear. What he wanted more than breath itself was revenge.
"How did I end up here, Mamy?" Zhan asked, masking the hatred he carried within.
Relief softened Daneen's expression; she forced a smile that Zhan read differently. "You collapsed after what happened. They brought you to the hospital unconscious. But now you're awake."
Instead of responding, Zhan asked flatly, "Mamy, is it true she's gone?"
Daneen's eyes brimmed with tears. Her voice was bitter when she answered, "Yes, she's been killed. They finally got what they wanted from her blood, and now the whole kingdom is in uproar. The people are rising against King Yibo, demanding he step down."
Zhan closed his eyes tightly, biting his lip hard as fury burned inside him. Outwardly, he let his face fall into weary sorrow, but inside his heart thundered with one sharp vow:
(I will be the one to finish this. He doesn't deserve only to be dethroned...he deserves to be erased entirely, to vanish from this world forever.)
Daneen, who thought Zhan's troubled state was only from grief, tried her best to comfort him. Zhan had no choice but to keep pretending and force a smile until she finally left, giving him some relief.
After escorting him back to his chambers, Daneen went off to check on Dowager Ruyan, whose health had also worsened. In truth, Daneen had been staying close to Zhan only to make sure no harm came to him.
That gave Zhan the space he needed. At once, he returned to the recording he had taken earlier. Zooming in on the body of the late royal consort, he examined her carefully, tracing over every mark. Suddenly, his heart leapt... there, at the side of her neck near her left ear, were two small puncture-like dots.
They looked exactly like the bite marks of a serpent. A shiver ran through Zhan, sweat breaking out all over his skin. It confirmed what Prince Deng had warned him about. Still, he needed more proof. Hands shaking, he dialed Sir Fenghui's number.
Sir Fenghui picked up instantly...he had been waiting anxiously for news, having tried to reach Zhan earlier with no success. His voice cracked with emotion when he heard Zhan's voice,because he thought Zhan was the royal consort who died.
Zhan, already in tears, didn't waste words. "Sir, tell me the truth about my parents. I beg you...don't hide anything from me."
Panic struck Sir Fenghui; sweat pricked his skin. He had never expected this direct question. His silence only made Zhan plead harder until at last, he gave in.
"You're right… I've kept it from you. Not long after you left home, your brother and Babiy were taken. They disappeared under violent circumstances. I investigated thoroughly...the story matches exactly what you saw in that first recording. To this day, their whereabouts remain unknown. I'm still searching in secret, but I've found no trace…"
Zhan's sobs cut through his words. "You'll never find them. We'll never see them again. He's taken them from me, just like he took my sisters. I swear, I'll kill him the same way he killed them. I won't stop until it's done. The serpent's he used to end their lives...I'll make him taste the venom of a real serpent. He will die the same death…" His voice broke and he could not go on.
Sir Fenghui cried out in alarm from the other side. "Zhan, wait...I don't understand. Please, calm yourself, explain to me! My head is spinning...I swear I'll help you, no matter the cost, even if it means my own life..."
"There's no time, Sir. Just tell me...where can I find the deadliest snake poison?"
"Zhan, listen to me! Tell me what's happening so I can...."
"If you can't give me what I need, then farewell, Sir."
Ignoring Sir Fenghui's desperate shouts, Zhan cut the line. When Fenghui tried again, Zhan refused to answer, and finally blocked him.
Alone in his chamber, Zhan broke down in tears. His heart felt hollow, his mind consumed by the same thought. He saw only the bodies of his family...four lives destroyed because of one man. The time had come. King Yibo didn't deserve to live.
Zhan swore an oath: they would die together. But first, he would make sure to kill King Yibo...and reveal his true nature to the world.
The way Zhan cried until he lost himself forced away any remaining trace of pity. With great effort, he managed to gather what remained of his writings and entrusted them all to Sir Mulan. In Zhan's mind, he had assembled everything necessary. He didn't even hide his plan to eliminate King Yibo using serpent venom.
He transferred all the videos from his phone to Sir Mulan's and even recorded two short, chilling clips...one meant for Mah and Grandfather, the other for the people of Beiping as a whole.
Zhan thanked Sir Mulan sincerely, wishing him well until the end of life itself.
Barrister Aas
The barrister clenched his phone so tightly it seemed he would crush it against the floor. For the first time in his career, hot tears rolled down his cheeks. His iron heart wavered. One side of him urged him not to give in, even if it cost his life; the other side flashed before him the faces of his family...the people he cherished more than anything in the world, who were now in danger. This was the greatest turmoil he had ever faced.
-----
The next morning, chaos swept through the city. Yet the barrister remained focused. Every detail related to the case was now in his hands. Strangely, the documents and evidence he had hidden in separate places...his home, his office, even his car...had all been gathered together and laid before him.
He realized then: the men he was dealing with were the most dangerous he had ever known. If they could accomplish this in such little time, how could he hope to resist them and still keep his family safe?
"Barrister, you don't have time for long thoughts," one of the men said coldly. "Our master wants you to compile all the information he needs by today...everything about those people, including the true identities of them and where Xiao Zinnu and his son are being held."
For the first time, the barrister looked up in shock. He nearly bit his tongue before stammering, "You mean… you're not the ones holding Xiao Zinnu and his son?"
The young man glanced around nervously, lowering his voice. "No, not us. We also want to free them...and you too. But I don't know why our master doesn't want you to know this. Instead, he gave you the task strangerly."
The barrister's body shook as he stepped closer, desperate. "Please don't lie to me...tell me the truth."
The man quickly motioned for him to keep his voice down. "I swear it's the truth. I only told you because I pitied you. But don't worry...your family is heavily guarded, no one can harm them. In fact, we've been by your side for nearly three weeks without you even realizing it. Our master isn't cruel, but I can't explain why he's hiding this from you. Think about it...would someone who truly wanted to harm you also give you the very tools you need to succeed? Would someone bent on your destruction hand you the very thread that leads to what you seek?"
"You're right, my friend," the barrister said, breathing heavily. "I've been blind, lost in confusion. Thank you...you've given me courage again. Now I'll give them the surprise of their lives. As for Mr. Zinnu and his son, I swear I'll find them, no matter who's responsible for their disappearance."
"Good. May fortune guide you. I should leave before someone realizes I stayed too long."
The barrister only nodded, a faint smile on his lips.
That conversation renewed his strength and determination. By lunchtime, he even asked for paper to write on, preferring pen and ink over food. With the materials brought to him, he spent the entire day and night laying out his plans in detail.
By the next morning, his eagerness to act surpassed everyone's expectations. Those around him, who didn't yet know what had happened, were stunned by the sudden transformation of Barrister Aas.
★★... YIZHOU VILLAGE ★★....
Ever since Zeng finished explaining everything to Grandfa, the weight on their shoulders seemed heavier. Even Mah couldn't hold back her tears. Now, Barrister Aas was their only hope. And if anything happened to him because of them, they knew they would never forgive themselves.
Grandfa only nodded quietly, unable to say a word. Wei Po, however, gathering courage through her tears, looked at Zeng whose face carried deep worry.
"Zeng, please forgive us. We've put your lives in danger. May Barrister Aas be found quickly and safely."
Zeng forced a faint, bitter smile, suppressing the heaviness in his chest.
"No, Mama. No one can escape fate. And we don't even know yet if what happened is connected to this case. You see Barrister...his boldness and his stubborn grip on the truth have made him many enemies. Not only outside, even among his colleagues. It could be anyone, not necessarily tied to this."
"It has to be tied to this."
Grandfa's voice cut in sharply. Everyone turned their eyes toward him. Still nodding slowly without meeting their gaze, he said:
"I don't claim to know what is hidden, but I feel it strongly inside me...this is about Zinnu. And yet, I am certain he is still alive somewhere. My heart tells me so."
His words surprised everyone. No one could speak. They simply stared at him in silence. Nearly two minutes passed before Grandfa rose to his feet. He soon returned carrying a leather bag.
They all kept watching him.
He pulled out a folded paper and handed it to Zeng.
"Here, read this."
Quickly, Zeng took it and began scanning the words. His lips parted in shock as he lifted his gaze toward Grandfa.
"Baba… what is this?"
Grandfa smiled faintly, looking away as though reluctant to speak. Then he sighed, beginning to tell them the story of how it all came to be.
"The young man who brought me to this village… my heart told me he didn't bring me here for nothing."
"But Baba, why would you trust him enough to even show him the house?"
Grandfa chuckled, the soft laugh of an elder.
"Zeng, if you cannot catch a thief, then sometimes you let the thief catch you. If I had shut him out from the start, I'd never have learned what lay in his heart. By giving him a chance, now I have him right in the palm of my hand. I'm certain he will return. I've set things in motion in a way that ensures he must."
For the first time, Zeng felt uneasy around grandfa. Though he hid it well, a strange chill lingered in him.
Grandfa noticed but said nothing. Instead, he pushed the leather bag toward Zeng.
"This goes with the papers...money."
Zeng blinked in surprise at the neat stacks of new bills, crisp and fresh, their scent filling the room.
"Baba… these people… are you sure about them?"
Grandfa gave another smile that revealed the edge of his teeth, his eyes glancing briefly toward Mah's corner. Unnoticed, she had already vanished from there with Wei Po...
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛