It hit Yudie like a thunderbolt. Her head rang, everything went dark before her eyes, and she swayed.

Nanzhi, holding her baby in one arm, quickly steadied her with the other.

She couldn't believe it either. Ning Chen, dead out of nowhere... How could that be?

Just days ago Pan Yucheng had sent her a letter saying he and Ning Chen would be back in the capital before the year's end.

The year's end was less than a month away now, and instead news had come of Ning Chen's death.

At that same moment, there was a crash.

Nie Liang turned toward the sound. Zisu stood frozen stiff in the doorway, a smashed wooden bowl at her feet.

Yudie had been uneasy lately, and Zisu had gone to brew her a calming tonic.

When the medicine was ready, she'd taken it back to the room. A maid told her Yudie had gone to the hall to see Commander Nie, so she'd followed.

She'd just reached the doorway when she heard Nie Liang say Ning Chen was dead.

The shock went through her like lightning. The bowl of medicine in her hands smashed to pieces.

She knew full well that Nie Liang would never joke about something like this. He wouldn't dare make a joke that big.

Besides, he'd come by imperial order. The word of a sovereign is not a joke, and Her Majesty would never joke about this either.

So... it was true.

Nanzhi was still fairly calm. "Commander Nie," she blurted, "this isn't something to joke about."

Nie Liang's voice was low. "I wish I were joking. I'd gladly take the punishment for gross disrespect if I were."

Nanzhi opened her mouth, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

She turned to Yudie, whose face was white as paper, and asked anxiously, "Are... are you all right?"

Yudie's eyes were blank. She shook her head numbly. "I'm fine. What could be wrong with me? I..."

Before she could finish, she crumpled. Grief overwhelmed her, and she fainted dead away.

Biluo City, Nanyue.

At the city…