Translator’s Notes: Hi everyone! Before you start reading, I just wanted to thank you for your interest in reading this novel. This is my first novel translation as I just recently got into reading Chinese novels so please be aware that there may be awkward English here and there as I just realized how hard translations can be. Respect to all you translation groups! I also wanted to mention that some specific places are not directly translated from the original but were created by me for ease of translation. Special Thanks to all my friends who helped me decipher some words that I couldn’t understand. That’s all and I hope you enjoy! Please leave a comment and like if you liked this novel!
Chapter 1 – Night (Part 1)
Heavenly Empire Zhau Sheng"s first year of reign in early Autumn, Crown Prince"s wedding banquet.
Years of war and disputes had cast a layer of gray haze but the wedding of the crown prince revealed a glorious dazzling shade of red.
Red lanterns under the same roof, the red silk ribbon tied on the treetop, dragon pillars that were painted red, not one decor fell short of dazzling the eyes. It added an atmosphere of joy in the palace which was reflected in the faces of everybody that were filled with smiles.
Eunuch Yu, who was standing at the biggest red lantern under the roof, however, had a dark expression. He frequently flicked his head to look at the jubilance inside the hall before looking outside again. It was only when suddenly, a flock of Eunuchs appeared coming from the side that he hastily made a move and approached them.
"Have you found him?"
"To answer Head Eunuch, we still haven"t found him."
"You still haven"t found him? Then why did you even bother to come back? Go back out and search again!"
"Yes sir!"
Panic-stricken, the group of eunuchs dispersed themselves in all directions to continue their searching.
Eunuch Yu looked at the hurried figures, a feeling of unease rising within him. He stretched out his hand to wipe the cold sweat forming on his forehead. When he looked back, the jubilance in the hall was reaching its peak, civil and military officers were raising their gla.s.ses to toast the celebration.
The person getting wedded to the crown prince was the most beautiful person in the Heavenly Empire, Empress Yin"s niece, Nangong Li Zhu. On this joyous day, a few of the princes and even the military-seasoned 5th prince Pei Yuan Feng had specially gone back to the capital to attend the banquet, however, not a single trace of the 3rd prince Pei Yuan Hao could be found.
Recalling the face that Empress Yin made during while he was reporting, Eunuch Yu couldn"t help but to s.h.i.+ver.
The night was getting darker and darker and the happy festivity was almost ending. Eunuch Yu was getting a little restless. He looked back to see officials starting to gossip in the main hall and figured why not might as well run and search himself, but he could only order his subordinates to go. "You! Go to the Purple Palace and you head to the Zhou He Palace Hall! You, bring people with you and search the West Palace. I want everybody to be alert and focused! If you can"t find him and bring him back, your heads will roll!"
"Yes sir!"
Everybody hurriedly scattered again.