Qiongfang Palace was the sleeping chamber of the Ninth Prince’s biological mother, but it had been abandoned since Consort Baoxian, following the Former Emperor, passed away three years ago.
Having known that the Ninth Prince would come today, they would have certainly sent someone to tidy up in advance.
Now, if the Ninth Prince were to blame them, they would have to bear the brunt of the scolding.
Just as the Little Eunuch was anxiously thinking about all possibilities, Yuwen Jun suddenly stopped.
He glanced lightly at the Little Eunuch behind him, who was dripping with cold sweat, "You may leave first."
"Uh?" The Little Eunuch was somewhat slow to react.
"I want to walk alone." Yuwen Jun looked around and replied indifferently.
"Uh, okay." The Little Eunuch, as if granted a reprieve, quickly exited.
Now in the palace, only Yuwen Jun was left.
Looking at the abandoned courtyard, Yuwen Jun uncontrollably recalled his childhood.
His mother had once been considered the most beautiful woman in the land, but despite her beauty, she found no happiness in the palace; the Emperor quickly lost interest in her.
Later, after he was born, though he was a prince, the Emperor did not lack for princes, and the other concubines desperately promoted their maternal families. Once their families gained influence, the Emperor naturally dared not underestimate them.
However, his Royal Mother’s maternal family was merely commoners, so she herself was not favored, and without the support of a powerful family, his intelligence did nothing to help.
The mother and son turned entirely invisible within the palace.
As he grew older, because of his distinguished appearance, he was oppressed by other concubines and princes.
The first time his Royal Mother pleaded with the Emperor on his behalf, she did not ask for wealth or grandeur for her son, only for him to grow up safely and smoothly.
The Emperor, though impatient, agreed and sent him off to the Northern Lands early.
His father grandly declared that he had granted him land, but the conditions in the Northern Lands were harsh, far worse than the Eldest Prince’s Western Region.
However, it still counted as leaving the Royal Court, the source of all problems, and Consort Baoxian was very content.
But all these were Consort Baoxian’s wishes; Yuwen Jun, on the other hand, would rather suffer mistreatment with his Royal Mother than enjoy comforts alone.
Therefore, Yuwen Jun tried every means to return to the Imperial Capital. It was during that time that Bai Junjun entered his sights.
Back then, Yuwen Jun indeed thought that marrying Bai Junjun would allow him to stay in the Imperial Capital to take care of his mother.
However, before he could unfold his plans, the nation fell into chaos.
Even less expected was that during this turmoil, his mother would lose her life.
Although everyone said that his mother willingly followed the Former Emperor in death, how could he not know?
His Royal Mother and the Emperor had no affection between them and she would not have followed; her death was surely forced.
Those who coerced her were right here in the Imperial Palace—those false Bodhisattvas who hid in the deep courtyards reciting scriptures and practicing their faith.
Yuwen Jun’s gaze deepened as he pushed open his mother’s room, and a scent of rotting wood wafted out.
However, he didn’t mind at all; instead, he enjoyed closing his eyes and breathing deeply.
He stepped forward, the soothing song of his mother’s lullaby faintly whispering in his ears as he walked entranced into the room.
Just then, the door behind him slammed shut with a loud bang.
He turned around alertly, only to see two figures in black standing silently behind him, with four or five more in black appearing in front of him.
These figures were hiding in the dilapidated, dimly lit room, blending so well into the moldy, decrepit environment that they had gone completely unnoticed.
Yuwen Jun slowly curled his lips into a derisive smirk:
"I had no desire to seek revenge tonight, but since you have come to deliver yourselves to death, I can only oblige."
"Enough talk, today you will surely die." The figures in black charged at him.
Yuwen Jun decisively drew his sword, a silvery flash of cold light split the sky, it was one of the four great treasure swords, the Bailou Treasure Sword, making its appearance.