Translated by: etvolare
The written announcement of marriage between the âPrince of Xiyueâ and âGoddessâ had him clenching his fists and slamming them against a wooden table beside him. The tea set atop the table wobbled from the disturbance.
âThis is utter bullshit! This prince is right here and my marriage has been foiled. Who is this Prince of Xiyue?!â
The maids and guards beside him lowered their heads at once. Theyâd never seen Zhou Meng cut such a sorry figure. Ever since he was born, heâd been the ruler of Xiyue by divine right and had been revered as such. His existence was the greatest blessing bestowed upon the people, and he was the master of Xiyue that all the denizens venerated.
Whatever he desired, he received; even the beautiful Miss Pang had agreed to be his consort. There wasn't a single one of his imperial concubines, children, and subjects who didnât revere him like a god.
But today, this unshakable position of his was wavering due to a bunch of outsiders. Stricken, heâd been forced back to the palace, not even daring to open the gates. Their brute of a leader had even shot an arrow through his topknot, shaving off a considerable amount of his hair.
Though he was able to cover up his âbald spotâ by combing his hair over it, he couldn't shake the feeling that his maids, wives, and concubines were all laughing at him. The subjects who were there when it happened were another story entirelyâtheyâd seen how he was pinned to the wall with their own eyes!
Zhou Mengâs pride had been trampled like itâd never had before. The only thing in his mind now was revenge! He was going to capture the brute whoâd spirited away his goddess, nail him to the execution stage, and whip him senseless! Then, he would butcher him slice by slice!
âSuch insolence, utter insolence!â Zhou Meng furiously crumpled the flyer into a tattered ball and tore it to shreds, then threw the pieces onto the ground for some firm stompings.
âSend for the great general! Iâd like to see what kind of trouble those outsiders can stir up! They think to distribute provisions to the people? Who dares touch my provisions without receiving word from me prior?!â
The maids were already frozen in fear from Zhou Mengâs outburst. As soon as they received their orders, they rushed to make themselves scarce.
Zhou Meng summoned the great general to the court and asked after the situation with the Minuo tribe. Upon learning that they were still stationed at their camp without any intent to expand their operations, he relaxed.
âGather our soldiers and horses tomorrow and teach them a good lesson! The provisions are the priority hereâwe mustnât let them be pressured into touching a single bag. You will bring the provisions to me without leaving a single grain behind!â
âUnderstood, please be at ease, Your Grace!â The general raised a cupped fist salute as he received his orders.
Zhou Meng waved his hand in dismissal.
As night fell that day, the Xiyue prince didnât summon a single one of his wives or concubines, nor did he allow his bodyguards to take even half a step away from him. He arranged for more than a hundred guards to keep a tight watch around his sleeping quarters. Only then did he feel at ease enough to fall into slumber.
The guards also diligently carried out their duties, patrolling outside his chambers in groups of ten without a momentâs rest. There was nothing out of the ordinary for the first half of the night, but they still didnât dare let their guard down.
None of them noticed a shadowy figure slip into the princeâs chambers as quick as a phantom, before leaving through a blind spot between the patrols. The figure entered and left with grace, departing the palace without a sound.
The next day, the servant girls noticed that their prince had yet to rise, even though it was already past the hour of the dragon. They called out gently to him from outside the curtains of his bed, but realized something was wrong when no response was forthcoming.
They pushed aside the curtains to see the lord lying perfectly straight on his back with his hands folded over his stomach, yet his face was stark white with a green tint and completely bloodless. No matter how they called him, he did not react.
One of the servant girls summoned the courage to gently touch Zhou Mengâs arm.
âYour Grace, Your Grace, you......â
He was ice cold to the touch!
âAHHâââ Piercing screams rang out.
Startled, the guards frantically rushed inside. When they went to their liegeâs bed to check his condition, they found themselves dumbstruck.
âSend for the imperial physicians! Call for the princess consorts! Hurry, hurry!â
It wasnât long before the grand princess consort, second princess consort and third princess consort hurried over. The three of them crowded around the bed, only to see that Zhou Meng had indeed ceased breathing! Sobs and wails rang out in a noisy din to see their husband having departed the world.
The grand princess consort hastily ordered, âSummon all the senior officials to the palace and get to the bottom of this! And you, examine him carefully. Find out how exactly the prince died!â
Hands trembling, the two imperial physicians shook as they came forth to examine the body. Not only did they find no wounds, there wasnât any trace of poison!
âAh, the prince bears no external wounds, nor has he been poisoned. He was not suffocated to death either, he just, just, died of natural, natural causes, like he simply fell asleep, and then suddenly passed away......â The imperial physicianâs voice quivered uncontrollably.
âUtter drivel!â Angered, the grand princess consort kicked the physician. âThe prince is in his prime. How could he have died in his sleep? It must be that youâre too incompetent to figure out whatâs happened!â
The great general and other senior officials were beside themselves with shock at the imperial physicianâs verdict. They rushed forward to take a look as well. It was just as the physician had saidâthere were no physical wounds, nor did the prince seem as if he had been poisoned or asphyxiated
âThis, the passing of the prince is indeed odd. Can it be, can it be he was summoned by the gods......â
âIt must be that Pang witch! It must be her!â the third princess consort suddenly screeched, âSheâs not a goddess, but a witch! She's the one who killed the prince! She must be the one to kill the prince!â
Her screams had everyoneâs eardrums throbbing.