The palace is restless each day the Emperor is unconscious. The ladies do not cry or panic. They recite sutras and pray for his health. The princes however will be putting on their show.
On the fifth morning of the Emperor falling unconscious, the princes kneel in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and pray for his fortune. It happens all during the spring freeze. The Queen is angry but she cannot express even a silver of it as the princes are too sincere. Instead she tries to convince them to leave.
6th Prince: Mother, the weather is nothing to us. If it helps father get better faster, we will do anything.
7th Prince: The Second Prince is the Crown Prince, thus he is busy with administrative matters. Filial matters should be left to us. Otherwise, wouldn't father be sad?
Words of the 7th Prince seems to be directed at something else, giving the Queen a hard time.
Xiu Ying: (This act is probably the doing of Yin Zhen.)
The princes kneel and pray in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation for two whole days. The Queen can no longer unfold her plans with ease, and she's powerless to stop them. People begin cheering outside as the Queen and Crown Prince discuss a countermeasure in a side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Eunuch A: His Majesty is awake! His Majesty is awake!
Eunuch B: It's the faith of the princes that have moved the heavens and woke up His Majesty!
Xiu Ying: [Nervously] Did he really wake up? How did he wake up all of a sudden?
The look on the Crown Prince's and the Queen's faces changes from anger to fear. They have no idea what to do. Everything they planned has been spoiled by the Emperor's waking up.
Crown Prince: Call in the imperial physician! What is going on?
Imperial Physician: [Rushes in] Your Highness, His Majesty is still weak, but the poison has faded. Could it really be an act of heaven?
Crown Prince: [Pounds his desk] I know all those people too well! Fifth, seventh princes and the rest! Faith? How faithful can they really be!
Xiu Ying: So what do we do from here, Your Highness? I put a sufficient amount of drugs each day!
Crown Prince: What are you panicking for? Good thing we have prepared for this. It was meant for the other princes, but now... Father, you have woken up at a terrible time. Don't blame me now!
Queen: [Looks at you] Okay. Now you should continue serving him by his side. Don't fret, he won't be onto you for a while.
You return to the main hall. There aren't that many people at the Hall yet. The Emperor is drinking down his medicine, and looks just fine.
Emperor: Do you think the Crown Prince would rebel?
The truth is that he will. But it's not always a good idea to be too clear sometimes.
Xiu Ying: As far as I know, the Crown Prince's maternal grandfather, Zhen'an General Commander, has already prepared his troops to aid.
Emperor: [Laughs coldly] If I didn't wake up early on purpose, I would have missed out on this great show.
The clouds are scorching red on the evening of the day the Crown Prince escapes. The news of his insurrection reaches you as you are picking peach flowers.
Xiu Ying: (So he chose to rebel after all. The Emperor and I are correct.)
You put the flowers in a basket and pass it to Hui Xin. She stops you right away.
Hui Xin: Don't go out there. Weapons have no eyes. My brother said the Emperor has long prepared for this. There's no way the Crown Prince would escape.
You give her a smile and pat her hand.
Xiu Ying: What good would I do there? I just remembered that I had something to take care of. Don't worry. I'm just a maid. No one will hurt me.
After calming her down, you go against everything you just said and rush to where the Crown Prince's army is.
Xiu Ying: I waited forever for this moment. How could I ever miss out on this?
After just a few steps you see Yin Zhen. He walks with you without a word. It's like he's been waiting for you. Sound of battle grows closer, and the flaming red sky is intertwined with the bloody marble floor.
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