Over the next few days.

The imperial guards and the guards of the imperial presence were strictly screened, man by man.

For anyone with any connection to the Fifth Prince it was the entire household to the sword, without exception.

The Ning'an Army moved out of the city and made camp.

The defense of the imperial palace was handed back to the imperial guards and the guards of the imperial presence.

The Fifth Prince's residence and the Right Chancellor's residence were searched and seized.

Fan Taihe did not escape either.

Under the Inspectorate's tortures the Fifth Prince gave up a batch of officials.

Those men all came to a wretched end.

In those days there were beheadings at the market crossing every day, and heads rolled.

The storm raised by the Fifth Prince's attempt to seize power and usurp the throne gradually settled.

But the Xuan Emperor's cough did not get better.

At first, taking a little pear let him sleep somewhat easier at night.

But now the pears were no use at all.

The Xuan Emperor coughed whole nights through without sleeping, and had grown a lot thinner.

That day a man came from the palace to summon Ning Chen into the palace.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Ning Chen came to the imperial study and bowed low.

The Xuan Emperor's color was very bad. He picked up a report and said, "Take a look at this. The Fourth Prince sent it back with all speed."

Ning Chen came forward, took the memorial and opened it, and his eyes narrowed. He sneered. "The Xiliang Kingdom doesn't know what's good for them, does it?"

The Xiliang Kingdom had not said it would refuse the Untainted Ice Lotus. But it had opened its mouth like a lion, and wanted the Great Xuan to trade two cities, ten million taels of silver, ten thousand warhorses and other goods at a ruinous price for it.

Ning Chen frowned. "How does the Xiliang Kingdom know the Untainted Ice Lotus is to treat Your Majesty?"

"As I recall, the edict to the Fourth Prince did…