The sounds of the slaughter went on all night.

The palace was heaped with bodies, and the blood ran like a river.

The killing did not stop until daybreak.

"Your subject Yuan Long begs an audience with Your Majesty!"

A rough voice rose outside the hall.

The members of the imperial house had spent the night in the Thousand Autumns Palace.

The Xuan Emperor got slowly to his feet and staggered a little. He had been sitting too long.

"Open the doors!"

The Shadow Guard opened the doors of the Thousand Autumns Palace.

Yuan Long, drenched in blood from head to foot, hurried inside and dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty, your subject did not fail the commission. The Moon-Shadow Army has been wiped out to the last man."

"Get up and speak!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yuan Long stood up. "Your Majesty, it is safe outside now!"

The Xuan Emperor gave a slight nod. "General Yuan has had a hard night of it. See to the bodies as soon as you can."

"Your subject obeys the command!"

"Yuan Long, where is Ning Chen?"

Yuan Long was taken aback. "Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject does not know!"

The Xuan Emperor nodded, a little disappointed.

Yuan Long withdrew!

The Xuan Emperor's eyes fell on Noble Consort De and the crown prince.

Mother and son both had faces the color of dead ash.

"You poisonous woman."

The Xuan Emperor's face was livid.

Noble Consort De dropped to her knees and knocked her head desperately against the floor. "Spare my life, Your Majesty. Spare my life, Your Majesty. It was Prince Rui. He was the one who put your subject and wife up to it. I beg Your Majesty's mercy!"

The Xuan Emperor's face grew uglier still. "What did Prince Rui give you?"

Noble Consort De said in a trembling voice, "All the silver your subject and wife used came from Prince Rui. He said he could help the crown prince to the throne, if only Ning Chen could be made to leave the capital..."

"You poisonous woman, you are an utter…