As summer passed and autumn came, the breeze swept through the hundreds of gates of the **Heavenly Gate City** *Imperial Palace* and arrived at the Empress' *Eternal Bliss Palace*, causing the maids' hair to flutter.

Empress Tong Zilan sat in front of the window, staring blankly at the blossoming spiritual flowers in the garden outside, but her heart was already turned to the ***Hundred Lotus*** Sect, where she had never been.

Her own flesh and blood were now living peacefully in that place.

The status of the Empress required elegance and luxury. In the **Central Region**, she could be said to be inferior to one person and superior to tens of thousands. But after staying in the inner palace for so many years, Tong Zilan understood that this status was just a luxuriously decorated bird cage, tethering her to the **Heavenly Gate City** *Imperial Palace*.

But it wouldn't be long before she could break free from this cage.

Soon, she would be able to meet her lost daughter whom she had only seen once.

Thinking of this, Tong Zilan suddenly looked forward to the unconstrained future in her heart, but she did not forget to focus on what was in front of her. Hearing footsteps behind her, she glanced back.

The person who entered the hall was Hongyu, with a sword strapped to her waist.

She walked to Tong Zilan and cupped her hands in salute. "Empress, all arrangements have been made, and the guards at the four gates of **Heavenly Gate City** have been replaced with our people. According to the secret report, the ***Demon Clan*** has reached position three hundred miles away from **Heavenly Gate City** and will arrive at the city gates in about three days. At that time, as long as Deputy Commander Yue opens the gate, the Demon King can enter the city."

"Good. You also get ready to receive Officer Liang. It's better to make preparations early."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Hongyu bowed and then turned around, ready to go out and continue her work.

However, it was at this time that the sound of iron boots stomping on the ground suddenly came from outside the palace. Tong Zilan's elegant brows furrowed, and she glanced out the window.

What she saw was a white-bearded cultivator in official robes walking along the main alley with a group of imperial guards in the *Core Formation* stage.

The man's name was Qi, and he was the personal guard of the **Central Region** Emperor. He was in the early stage of *Deification*, so most people in the palace respectfully called him "Grandmaster".

"The imperial edict has arrived! The Empress is summoned to the *Heavenly Harmony Palace* to meet the Venerable Emperor."

As the saying goes, the shorter the words, the bigger the problem.

Listening to Grandmaster Qi's 'power voice' reading out this sentence, Tong Zilan pondered for a while and understood.

There were more than a thousand people guarding **Heavenly Gate City**. Even if the Emperor was oblivious to what was going on outside, the fact that she had replaced his guards with her people couldn't go unnoticed.

She had changed all the guards just as the ***Demon Clan*** was approaching the city. The Emperor would definitely suspect that she was involved with the Demon King.

The plan to bring the Demon King into the city had been exposed.

Hongyu finally reacted, looking slightly nervous, and asked, "Empress? This..."

"Don't panic."

Tong Zilan interrupted and calmly placed the Phoenix crown from the table on her hair. "Hongyu, after I leave, those imperial guards will come to arrest all the servants in the *Eternal Bliss Palace* and take them to *Heavenly Prison* for interrogation. Find an opportunity to slip out of the palace and inform Young Master Ye of this matter."

"But, Empress, what about you..."

"Don't worry. That old man and I have been married for a hundred years, so even if he doesn't remember our conjugal love, he won't do anything to me. And when the Demon King enters the city, he naturally won't have any spare energy to care about me. At that time, I will find a chance to get away... Besides, there is also the Immortal Matriarch."

Hongyu's eyes were full of worry, but in the end, she bowed her head and answered. "...Yes, Empress, I will obey."

Afterward, she walked to a closet in the corner of the hall, opened the door, and entered.

Seeing that the gate of *Eternal Bliss Palace* was still closed, Grandmaster Qi waited for a while and shouted again. "Empress, will you come out on your own, or will I have to knock down the palace door?"

"..."

Since there was still no movement within the palace, Grandmaster Qi raised his hand and waved, behind him. Two deaf and mute imperial guards immediately stepped forward with their spears, ready to forcefully break open the doors of the *Eternal Bliss Palace*.

However, just when the two imperial guards raised their spears, the red door carved with golden phoenixes was pushed open by Tong Zilan.

Wearing a golden robe and her Phoenix crown, Tong Zilan looked with graceful composure at the dozens of *Core Formation* imperial guards holding spears in front of the palace gate.

"Grandmaster Qi, if a woman wants to see her husband, she needs to dress up, right? Why are you so anxious?"

"Empress, colluding with the ***Demon Clan*** is not a trivial matter. The Emperor was mindful of the hundred years of conjugal relationship with you, and it's already a good thing that he didn't send you directly to the *Crime Department* for questioning. How come you are still so calm even now?"

Tong Zilan pretended to be puzzled and asked: "Colluding with the ***Demon Clan***? What are you talking about, Grandmaster Qi?"

"Heh -- the fact that you took it upon yourself to replace the guards at the *Southeast Gate* and wanted to bring the ***Demon Clan*** into the city has already been exposed. There is physical evidence but you still want to argue? The Emperor is already waiting at the *Heavenly Harmony Palace*, so, please."

Grandmaster Qi flicked the horsetail whisk in his hand and signaled the imperial guards to make way.

Tong Zilan frowned slightly, but she still kept calm and walked slowly amongst the imperial guards.

After she passed by him, Grandmaster Qi glanced at her, then cleared his throat and ordered. "The Emperor gave the order that all servants in the *Eternal Bliss Palace* will be executed on the spot, leaving no one alive."

"Yes, sir!"

All the imperial guards responded, cupping their hands.

When Tong Zilan heard this, her eyes widened, and she turned around with a frown. "How dare you?!"

Grandmaster Qi bowed, smiling slightly. "The Emperor has given an order. There's no use glaring at me, Your Highness. I am merely following orders."

After that, he signaled with his eyes to the imperial guards on both sides, and in an instant, seven or eight *Core Formation* guards, armed with spears, rushed through the *Eternal Bliss Palace* gates.

Tong Zilan wanted to stop the imperial guards, but as soon as she took a step forward, she was blocked by the horsetail whisk in Grandmaster Qi's hand. "Empress, the Emperor is still waiting in the **Heavenly Harmony Palace**."

"..."

Tong Zilan glared at Grandmaster Qi angrily, but she knew that she could not stop him now. Since the Emperor asked Grandmaster Qi to come over, his intention was very clear.

---If she didn't comply, he would break her legs and forcefully carry her over.

At this time, the sound of breaking porcelain and the screams of the servants were heard in the *Eternal Bliss Palace*.

"What are you doing?!"

*Crash---*

"Ah--!"

"Help... help!!"

"Empress!! Empress..."

*Swish---*

...

The sound of swords penetrating flesh reached Tong Zilan's ears as if it had been cut into her heart.

The servants of the *Eternal Bliss Palace* had been with her since she was a child, and she knew everyone's name and background. But now, because of her negligence, they were dying.

Tong Zilan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A tear squeezed out as she turned and walked toward the front yard, saying, "This century-old relationship is now completely broken."

Grandmaster Qi followed alongside her, bowed, and said comfortingly, "They are just some servants. Why are you taking it to heart?"

Tong Zilan glanced at him. "Immortal Qi."

"Here I am."

"Do you know who you're fighting?"

"I don't know, and I don't need to know. There is an Emperor sitting in **Heavenly Gate City**, and the Demon King alone can't do anything to the ***Imperial*** Sect."