Chapter 2722: Cold Palace

The old man pleaded helplessly, "Shopkeeper, please have mercy. I’m unfamiliar with the Capital, and if you drive me away, I’ll starve to death on the streets. Could you allow me a few more days while I think of a way? What do you say?"

The shopkeeper, looking troubled, lowered his head and thought for a moment before saying, "Old man, it’s really difficult for me in this situation. How about this? I won’t charge you for the room and meals for the next few days, and I’ll give you dozens of steamed buns. You can find somewhere else to stay, okay?"

By doing this, the shopkeeper was clearly trying to get rid of the old man, who was a burden. Expecting to stay without Silver was simply wishful thinking.

If it weren’t for the old man’s intimidating stubbornness, the shopkeeper would have already thrown him out without a second thought. It’s rare to see such a soft-hearted approach.

The shopkeeper’s conciliatory manner, waiving the room fee and offering food, left the old man with no choice but to agree. After all, his belongings in a bundle had been taken by a servant boy. Holding dozens of steamed buns in his dirty clothes, he walked out of the inn and aimlessly wandered the streets of the Capital.

Knowing the truth, he harbored an intense hatred for the War Prince’s Mansion. When passing by its gates, he spat on the ground.

He wanted to avenge his son, but being weak and penniless, he was no match for them.

He decided to return to the Heavenly Mountain Sect and consult with the Sect Leader before avenging his two sons.

Thus, the old man, sustained by dozens of steamed buns, left the Capital, heading towards Heavenly Mountain...

After finishing the buns, he resorted to begging, making his way back to Heavenly Mountain. Intending to plead with the Sect Leader to send someone to avenge his sons. What was the War Prince’s Mansion in the face of the Sect Leader’s vengeance? Surely, knowing that his two protectors were killed, the Sect Leader would dispatch assassins.

The Imperial Palace, Cold Palace.

Sunlight slowly filtered through the lattice windows, casting light in the cold chamber. A plainly dressed woman sat alone at the table. A dim oil lamp still burned on the table. She watched the flickering light and lightly frowned at it, then blew a gentle breath, extinguishing the lamp. The thin smoke spiraled upwards, resembling an undying soul. Gazing at the lamp absentmindedly for a moment, she got up and walked to the window, lost in thought...

"Swoosh...!"

A figure appeared like a phantom in her room, kneeling on the ground, "Your humble servant greets the Empress."

"Hmm, how is the task going?"

"Reporting to the Empress, it’s already done. I reckon that old man has returned to Heavenly Mountain to seek reinforcements, the Prince’s Mansion will be lively again this time."

"Hmm."

The Empress responded softly and continued to gaze out the window, pondering about the Fourth Prince, who had gone to Wei Country. She wondered how he was faring now.

Her own days in the Cold Palace were hard to endure, with constant fears of being harmed.

"By the way, do you have any Silver on you?" the Empress turned to ask the kneeling figure.

The Empress had been sent to the Cold Palace, and all her belongings confiscated into the national treasury. She was now penniless.

The kneeling figure, clad in purple and with a thin veil covering his face, obscuring his features but revealing his male voice, replied.

Upon hearing the question, he awkwardly pulled out a few pieces of silver from his bosom, surprised that the once regal Empress would ask him for money; in the past, it was always the Empress rewarding him.

"I left in haste and only brought this little. Your Majesty, you see..."

Initially thinking the Empress would disdain a few silver pieces, he was astonished when she reached out and took them, then carefully tucked them into her bosom.

He was momentarily taken aback, then promptly knelt obediently again.

Indeed, he had nearly forgotten—things were different now. The Empress, once noble and exalted, had been deposed by The Emperor, confined to the Cold Palace, living worse than an ordinary palace maid.