Lace Glory Universe King GL - Chapter 20

Back on the painted barge, Sikong Zhen stood with his back to the deck’s edge, overlooking the countless lights glittering below:

“Lord Di, how did it go?”

Di Renjie had already composed his expression, half-veiled with worry:

“We lost her. The assassin disguised herself as a dancer—her skills were extraordinary.”

Sikong Zhen turned around, not bothering to hide his suspicion:

“Does Lord Di not find it strange? The assassin leapt onto the barge to kill, yet the crimson maple-leaf darts struck straight toward you.”

“That, too, I find puzzling,” Di Renjie replied curtly.

“You must be on your guard these days,” Sikong Zhen said, his eyes as unreadable as ever.

“Yes.” Di Renjie glanced toward the high dais. “Her Majesty must have been frightened?”

“Her Majesty has already retired to rest,” Sikong Zhen said flatly.

At midnight, the floating barge glided into the Empress’s Ziwei Palace. By the time Di Renjie returned to his own residence, it was nearly dawn.

The scene in the dark alley replayed again and again in his mind: the cloaked woman he had met—that was the real Empress. The revelation was too shocking, yet the power she had displayed, the Radiance of the Empress, was absolutely genuine.

According to her, after seizing the Demonseed Gem, Sikong Zhen replaced the gravely wounded Empress with a mechanical double, abandoning her in the depths of the canyon to die.

During the great battle with the Storm Dragon King, Di Renjie had also been present. At the time, Her Majesty was gravely injured, and Sikong Zhen rushed to her aid, while Di Renjie fought at range from behind cover until the dragon fell. In truth, he had no clear grasp of what happened around the Empress and Sikong Zhen. In the end, Sikong Zhen escorted the silent, frail Empress back to the capital, and no one noticed the strangeness.

He had to seek an audience again, no matter what.

Restless thoughts churned in him, and he tossed and turned until dawn, when he finally fell into a shallow sleep.

Upon waking, he meant to rush into the palace at once—but a servant reported that Lord Li Yuanfang had come to visit.

Di Renjie could not refuse. The two of them were both royal secret agents, and Yuanfang was an old friend. But last night’s secret could not yet be shared.

Li Yuanfang pestered him endlessly with questions about the canyon battle—at times marveling at the monsters that lurked there, at times whining about his resentment at being left out of the expedition.

At last Di Renjie managed to see him off. After a simple lunch, he headed into Ziwei Palace—it was already afternoon.

At the palace gates, he ran into an official of the Bureau of Mechanisms. The man greeted him warmly:

“Lord Di, Her Majesty will be resting these days. There’s no need for us to seek an audience.”

How odd. How did he know Di Renjie’s purpose in entering the palace? Since when did the Bureau of Mechanisms have such intimate knowledge of the Empress’s condition?

Ignoring him, Di Renjie strode straight into one of the transparent transport pods that carried visitors through the palace corridors.

The Ziwei Palace, built upon ancient foundations, had been expanded using the continent’s most advanced mechanisms and automation, becoming a vast ring-shaped structure. Inside, its halls branched like the white fluff of a dandelion—so orderly that anyone who understood the architect’s design could easily navigate without a map.

After several twists, the pod stopped at the Hall of Light.

A court attendant bowed and blocked his way. “Lord Di, Her Majesty is not here.”

“I have urgent matters to report. Then I shall wait here,” Di Renjie said politely but firmly.

“Her Majesty returned from campaign only yesterday, and requires days of quiet rest. If Lord Di has urgent business, why not submit a memorial to Lady Shangguan? That would be quicker.”

“The Empress did indeed suffer serious internal injuries. Last night, you attended her carefully, I trust?”

“Of course! Only, Her Majesty forbade the imperial physicians to treat her. She merely said she was overly drained and would recover after a few days’ rest.”

Oh? Doubt flickered in Di Renjie’s heart, though his face remained calm. “Then it should not be too serious.”

It was clear he would not be allowed to confirm anything today. Di Renjie took his leave and turned toward the library of the Imperial Secretariat.

“Well, well, Lord Di!”

Without waiting for the attendants to announce him, Di Renjie strode into the main hall.

Shangguan Wan’er, head bent over her writing desk, looked up in surprise. She knew Lord Di to be a cautious man—why was he in such haste today?

He wasted no time on courtesy, dismissed the servants, and asked directly about Her Majesty’s condition after returning to the palace.

Wan’er put down her brush, covered the memorials, and answered: “Her Majesty’s vitality is badly depleted. She requires rest. There will be no court assemblies for some days.”

“On the barge’s return, there was an assassination attempt. Did you know?”

That night, in the dark alley, the true Empress had ordered him to deliver a message to Wan’er.

“I heard a little. Why?” Wan’er replied. Sikong Zhen had told her only that an assassin attacked, the Empress was startled, and the ministers should not disturb her.

Di Renjie leaned close, lowered his voice, and recounted the chase after Gongsun Li.

A shadow gathered over Wan’er’s delicate face. She had served the Empress for years, and noticed nothing unusual yesterday—only that Her Majesty, exhausted, had spoken little. If what Di Renjie said was true, then someone else had been wielding the Radiance of the Empress. Could such a deception truly be possible?

“In any case, she asked me to tell you—be wary of Sikong Zhen. Guard the Demonseed Gem,” Di Renjie concluded.

“The Gem is in the Bureau’s hands. If Lord Sikong were to unleash its power, even all the heroes of Chang’an combined might not withstand it.” Wan’er calmly weighed the possibilities. “And the woman who looked exactly like Her Majesty—are her words to be trusted?”

“Even if that Radiance was some strange sorcery, we cannot take chances. I am hindered outside the palace. You, Lady Shangguan, remain at Her Majesty’s side—if her words were true, you will be able to sense it.” In truth, Di Renjie already feared that Sikong Zhen’s suspicions had fallen upon him.

“I will keep watch,” Wan’er replied, though her heart was filled with doubt.

“Then take care.” Di Renjie rose and departed.

Now, to return to that night of the assassination—after Di Renjie left, the Empress, Gongsun Li, Pei Qinhu, and others returned to Yaotian’s secret refuge.

“This mission was a complete success! Though my parasol’s ribs broke, and I nearly got struck by that man’s token,” Gongsun Li pouted, twirling her umbrella. “How will Your Majesty make it up to me?”

Yixing reminded her gently: “Ali, you forgot again—you mustn’t call her ‘Your Majesty.’”

Gongsun Li quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed.

The Empress smiled. “If even Lord Di could not hit you, it means your martial skill has greatly improved. As for parasols, the palace has them by the thousands, though they may not suit you. Instead, take this witch’s cloak as recompense.”

“Since Sister Wu insists, Ali won’t be shy!” she said happily, clutching the gift.

This bright, daring girl reminded the Empress of Wan’er, when she first entered the palace.

“Thank you all for your aid. It is late—go and rest,” the Empress told the group.

Yang Yuhuan, Yixing, and Pei Qinhu left. Gongsun Li, draped in her new cloak, remained behind, happily adjusting its hem.

The Empress gazed up into the night sky above the courtyard, worries rising like smoke. Di’s failed pursuit might already arouse Sikong Zhen’s suspicion. Wan’er was clever, but could she resist the Thunder King? Especially now that he possessed the Demonseed Gem.

“Sister Wu, why don’t you rest?”

“Chang’an lies in darkness,” the Empress murmured, eyes fixed on the still night. “While others sleep in Ziwei’s peace—how can I?”

“But today we succeeded in passing the message to that great lord,” Gongsun Li said cheerfully. “At least you still have Yaotian to rely on!”

The Empress knew well, but it was not enough.

“What are your plans, Sister?” Gongsun Li pressed.

Her mind was already decided. She must journey to the Inverted Heavens—and seek out Nuwa, though the thought filled her with conflicting emotions.

“This matter is grave. We must call upon greater allies,” the Empress said instead, soothing her. “But do not worry. When all is resolved, I will keep my promise—and reveal the truth to Yaotian.”

In the distance, Chang’an’s lights dwindled, swallowed by the night.

And watching that same vast darkness was Sikong Zhen.

Having secured the Gem in the Bureau of Mechanisms, he ascended the tallest tower, gazing at the sky. He felt no fatigue—only surging energy. The moment the Gem rose in his hand, it resonated with him, drawing forth the thunderous power in his veins.

It was said that, at its forging, the Demonseed Gem had absorbed the very essence of thunder—the source of Sikong Zhen’s innate gift. Was it not destined to be his?

The Empress craved the Gem’s power to summon the demons’ might, to aid the Heluo army in conquering the Clouded Desert. But the continent still shuddered at the memory of the last human-demon war. To seek that power was to invite ruin. Men often perished by their own ambition. He was no traitor—he merely could not allow such destructive power to fall into the hands of a ruler blinded by greed.

The Empress he had left wounded in the canyon should now have returned to dust.

Her fatal mistake: daring to covet.

“My lord, the wind is strong up here. You have journeyed far—perhaps you should rest,” his retainer said, their robes whipped by the gale.

“No need,” Sikong Zhen rumbled. “Now that the Gem is secured, much remains to be done.”

“What are your orders?”

“Begin preparations for the construction of the Jewel Blossom Towers.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Seven great towers would rise across Chang’an—ostensibly to welcome envoys from across the world. But aligned with the Bureau’s own spire, they would form an ancient array, channeling all the Gem’s power into Sikong Zhen alone.

He cared nothing for crowns or thrones. His only desire—was to become the strongest hero on the continent.

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