Cui Lingyao had thought Xie Jinbai would be unable to stop himself from rushing over to inflict some terrible punishment on Shen Tingyu.
But when he heard the news, he showed little reaction.
His gaze was lowered, as if he were deep in thought.
His tall, erect figure stood still in the night, straight and unmoving as a pine.
The air around him was heavy and silent.
Liu Rong dared not disturb him, taking an imperceptible half-step back and quieting his breath.
After a long moment, Xie Jinbai tilted his head slightly and spoke in a low voice, "You're saying..."
He paused. "Right before Shen Tingyu lost consciousness, did he see the Princess Consort?"
...
The weather grew colder after the downpour. The autumn wind swept past, a chill that seemed to bore into one's bones, yet a thin sheen of sweat still broke out on Liu Rong's brow.
No one understood just how deranged their master could become better than his closest confidants.
