Jingrui woke up with pressure pulsing through her head. Her eyes seared with pain as she pried them open.

Black and white.

Her chest tightened as she glared at the colourless ceiling above her. Blinking several times, she realised she was in her room at the outer courtyard. She sat up, grunting at the pain in her head.

As she scanned around, the furniture was like blobs of intangible objects. Jingrui held in the suffocation of her waning sight. If her eyes were that blurry, it could only mean she was out cold for more than a day.

Hitting her head, she distinctly remembered sobbing against Prince Zhanying's floor. She must have passed out, but she couldn't remember how she came to this room. As she ran her hand over her body, she noticed that her stab wounds were all healed.

Despite the confusion, she didn't have time to ponder over it. All of her pain and worries diverted in a different direction as she remembered that Prince Zhanying had refused to take her antidote. Her heart raced as she ran to the door. Who knows how much longer he would last with the poison consuming him.

When she tried to slide the door open, something jammed it tight. Jingrui raised her brows and pulled harder.

Locked.

She banged her fists as she tried to jerk the door open, but no matter how hard she pulled, it was stuck. Soon, her strength was drained, and she plopped against the door.

She was caged. Like a prisoner, she was confined in the cold room, where her days in hell had started.

As she sat in devastation, voices drifted in from the outside, and her ears perked up.

"It's the former Heavenly Emperor Yunyin's birth anniversary today," a female voice spoke. "I heard our God of War is attending with the best presents prepared for his father. Rare, isn't it? I've always thought Prince Zhanying didn't care for anniversaries."

Jingrui listened until their voices receded into the distance. Prince Zhanying was dying, and it was without a doubt that he planned to put an end to everything before the last ounce of life left him. The full moon banquet, where every official would gather, would be the perfect time for it.

If she had figured right, he must have received her letter. Then his plans would run smoothly, and for that, she felt relief. But no matter how relieved she was, the back of her mind screamed at her. If her sister and master's culprits were to be revealed to the world today, she was entitled to be there; to see the evil suffer their worst retribution.

She stood up, determination coursing through her veins. Closing her eyes, she focused her Qi energy towards her fingertips. Just like Yuansong had taught her, she opened the roots and forced her power to release. Light blast against the door, tearing it down with a loud bang. Jingrui waved the air to clear the dust and adjusted her eyes to the light.

She glanced at the sun, it had just passed the short shadow hour, and the banquet would be starting soon. If she did not hurry, it would be hard to sneak in once the gate was closed. With that, she leapt out of the Palace and towards the Heavenly Throne Hall.

The never-ending stairscase towards the towering hall was filled with havoc when she arrived as several maid and officials filed up to enjoy the banquet. Jingrui blended herself in with the line of maids assigned to serve the guests. The head maid handed her a tray filled with a tea set. Jingrui lowered her gaze as she commenced forward.

Sweat rolled down her forehead. She was meant to be dead in Lingyue's eyes, and she was doomed to die if she saw Yihuai again after she turned him into a eunuch.

They entered the large hall, and the golden pillars greeted her, towering into the sky. She kept her head low the whole time as she shrunk into the dark corner of the hall. Her eyes scanned around as glorious guests entered one by one.

Squinting hard, she could see Prince Zhanying's regal form sitting on the high seat, far from her reach. He wore white silk with the most refined embroidery work, as if he were ready for a funeral. And as Jingrui was used to seeing him in black, the colour of death made her feel unsettled. His crown was neatly placed atop his head, and gold clad his fingers, shining brilliantly in the glamorous Throne Hall.

Yihuai sat on his throne; evident fatigue plastered over his face. Beside him, was the former Heavenly Emperor Yunyin. His haggard face drooped down, and his hooded eyes trailed wizened lines across his temples. He looked as if he had given up all the will to live his long immortal life.

Lingyue was by his side, dressed in her excessive, peacock hanfu and staring down at the guests as if she were ready to devour them.

Jingrui's anger scorched within her with just one glance at the Empress Dowager. She scanned left and right, and seeing as no one could possibly spot her within the grim corner, she pulled out a bottle of red liquid from under her sleeves. Flicking the cog off, she poured half of its contents into the tea and stirred it.

Her heart beat fast, and her eyes dilated about to make sure no one was watching her. She dispelled the half-emptied bottle and stepped back into the light.

No matter what was to happen, she would fulfill her ambition. All this time, she had wanted justice for her master and sister, and only if the killers died by her own hands, would she feel appeased. At that moment, it didn't matter if she had to gamble her life on the line for the sake of revenge.

Her gaze was lowered as she walked up towards Yihuai's throne. Yihuai was far too busy, watching the guests that he did not glance at her. Lingyue, who sat beside him, was too absorbed in flashing her poisonous eyes at Prince Zhanying, and Yunyin was too drained of energy to even stir a finger.

Jingrui clenched her fists, fearful but determined. She made her way towards Yihuai's golden seat. Her hands shook, and she tensed her body so she wouldn't spill the tea. Taking in a sharp breath, she placed the tray on the table in front of Yihuai.

Before Yihuai could gaze up at her, she retreated into the shadow, behind his throne where a line of maids acted as a camouflage for her. Yihuai had his brows raised as he glanced at the teacup. Then, he shook it off as if it were the norm, and a maid simply did her job.

Once the guests were all seated, Yihuai clapped his hands to earn their attention. He cleared his throat as he stood up with his legs spreading as if he were a cripple. Confidence no longer danced in his dark irises, and sweat rolled down his forehead. "L-Let's commence the banquet." He grabbed the cup of tea from the table, spilling the contents, as he cheered it at everyone.

Sitting back down, he chunked the tea down his throat while grunting in pain. He scoffed, straightening his posture before turning to the former Emperor Yunyin. "Today is my honorable father's birthday, the former Heavenly Emperor of the four seas and eight deserts. As the current Emperor and his son, I have prepared him a present." Yihuai waved a hand, and the Jade Fruit appeared before him. "With this fruit, you shall be replenished with good health. I hope Father will remain healthy for all eternity."

Yunyin reached out for the fruit. His hands trembled as his lips twerked upwards. Jingrui thought it was obvious that Yunyin no longer wanted to remain healthy for eternity. All he wanted was to sleep and never wake up.

Yihuai turned to the crowd as he forced a grim smile. "Alright, all respected gods and goddesses, you may all step forward and present your gifts to the former Heavenly Emperor one by one to show your gratification—"

Before Yihuai could fully finish his sentence, Prince Zhanying shot up from his seat. The coldness that radiated from him stifled all movement within the hall and earned all eyes on him. Silence and an unyielding tension seeped into the air as Prince Zhanying descended down to the middle of the hall. Those that watched him turned a shade paler at each clanking of his footsteps.

"Former Heavenly Emperor." Prince Zhanying bowed at Yunyin, and Yunyin instantly inched back in deep fear. A taunting smile crept over Prince Zhanying's demeanor. "What is wrong, Father? Fear? Do not worry, I am only here to present you with the best gift I could find to show you my filial piety."

Before Yunyin could say anything, Prince Zhanying clapped his hands, and a man walked forward from within the shadow. A hood was drawn over his face, so Jingrui couldn't grasp his identity. Zhanying's gaze turned poisonous as he held out the crumpled letter she had given him. "This, is your present, Father."