027 Fury That Burns the Heavens

Beichen Yi watched calmly as Gongsun Ziyan was dragged away, as indifferent as if he were simply observing a play. Next, it would be Nangong Zhishi’s turn.

His cold, sinister gaze shifted slowly to Nangong Zhishi, who was so terrified that he threw himself to the ground. “Your Majesty, spare me! I have no improper relationship with Miss Gongsun. She was brought here by Miss Yun…”

“Insolent! Even now you dare quibble! My dignity is already lost—so your life shall remain here as well!” Beichen Yi’s voice grew lighter and lighter as he spoke, so soft it seemed the wind could scatter his words.

Though his last words were the cruelest, he uttered them with chilling nonchalance.

Nangong Zhishi was so frightened he lost control and wet himself, the sound of trickling water echoing as Beichen Yi wrinkled his nose in disgust.

Several guards stepped forward to drag him away.

Nangong Fu immediately knelt and bowed his head, pleading urgently, “Please, Your Majesty, have mercy! My son is young and ignorant! I promise to discipline him properly when we return! I beg Your Majesty for leniency!”

Nangong Fu, head of the Nangong clan, was one of the three Grand Guardians and a pillar of the court. Most importantly, he was also the elder brother of the Empress Dowager Nangong.

Nangong Zhishi was his most cherished son—no matter what, he had to keep him safe.

Beichen Yi was a shrewd man and knew well he could not truly punish Nangong Zhishi now; he merely meant to frighten him.

“Beloved minister, you may rise! Since you speak thus, I will grant you this favor—have him dragged out and given fifty strokes. No more.”

This was already a very light punishment. Nangong Fu dared not ask for more, only bowing his head in gratitude. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!”

Beichen Yi waved his hand. “Enough. I am weary today. I shall not stroll in the Imperial Garden any longer—return to the palace!”

Surrounded by his attendants, he left the Imperial Garden with an air of melancholy. His performance was so convincing, he could easily rival the best actors of the Oscars.

Yun Feiyue flashed a brilliant smile—at last, the matter was settled.

“Ah… ah… ah…” Nangong Zhishi’s cries as he was beaten sounded like music to her ears, so sweet and melodious.

“Mother, are we going home now?” Little Mumu yawned—what a tiring day.

Yun Feiyue yawned as well; it had indeed been an exhausting day. Yet it felt as if she had forgotten something important.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly halted. Oh, right—she was supposed to find Mo Feiyuan!

She looked up and around. Everyone was gone. It seemed Mo Feiyuan had already left?

He didn’t even wait for her! And what about that promised treatment?

“This unreliable fellow!” Yun Feiyue swung her bruised hand, feeling a pang of disappointment.

At that moment, somewhere in the shadows, a certain someone tilted his head slightly. “Are you talking about me?”

Hearing the voice, Yun Feiyue immediately glared in its direction. Mo Feiyuan was sitting on a tree branch, moonlight spilling down upon him, his white robes ethereal and cool as snow.

Yun Feiyue gave a gentle smile. “No, I wasn’t talking about you. What are you doing up there?” He must have seen the whole thing.

Mo Feiyuan leaped down from the tree and stood before her, pointing to the pink bottle in her hand. “That’s the antidote.”

Changing the subject again!

Yun Feiyue opened her mouth. “This should be the Gongsun family’s secret formula—how do you know?”

He really did live up to the rumors—there was nothing the Mo family didn’t know.

She found herself growing ever more intrigued by him.

“If you don’t use it soon, the poison will spread.” These were Mo Feiyuan’s final words before his silhouette faded away.

Yun Feiyue pouted in resignation—she hadn’t even had a proper chance to tease him! But her hand was now swollen like a pig’s trotter; she quickly sprinkled on the medicine, reminding him as she did so, “You’re going the wrong way. The exit to the palace is on the left…”

“…”

The aloof figure who had drifted to the right now floated back to the left.

“Mother, that uncle seems to have no sense of direction! Look at him…” Little Mumu pointed to Mo Feiyuan, who was standing before several palace gates, hesitating as if faced with an impossible choice.

Really? Yun Feiyue couldn’t help but laugh even more brightly—he truly was hopeless with directions!

She was about to walk over and help him, when suddenly she sensed something strange in the air. Something was wrong. She quickly stepped back, gathering Little Mumu into her arms.

With a tearing sound, the sky seemed to split open and several black, ghostly figures flickered into view.

A tremendous force pressed down on Yun Feiyue, making it hard for her to breathe. This power… it was so familiar… The very same thing she had encountered three years ago!

“So you’ve come looking for me before I even had time to hunt you down myself. Good—saves me the trouble.” She hadn’t expected these people to show themselves again after three years.

As she spoke, the bell in her hand rang out, its strange, soul-stealing chimes sweeping through the entire Imperial Garden. Peony petals trembled and drifted down in a swirling dance.

Dressed in crimson, she held Little Mumu with one arm and wielded the Soul-Seizing Bell with the other. The martial power she had long suppressed erupted in an instant—five-colored light wreathed around her like a rainbow-hued shawl.

She stretched out a slender, jade-white hand and formed a seal with her fingers. “Wrath of the Burning Heavens!”

A lotus of blazing martial energy burst into existence, its petals splitting into true Samadhi flames, scorching the entire Imperial Garden as if seared by a colossal cauldron. The fire spread, consuming the falling peony petals; the soaring crimson flames transformed the world into a vision of hell.

With wails of despair, the ghostly shadows revealed their forms and fell to the ground, their faces burnt beyond recognition.

From afar, Consort Yun, who had come to watch the spectacle, was so shocked her mouth hung open. The palace maids stood frozen in astonishment. Atop the red lotus, a single black ponytail whipped wildly, lost amid the sea of flames.

“Yue… Yue’er…” Consort Yun’s voice broke as she called out, trembling.