The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

The next morning, just after Wulan Yun had breakfast, she received a notification that His Majesty and Consort Zhao had already set off to return to the palace.

She was taken aback, feeling a pang of sadness, but she could only prepare to follow.

However, when she arrived at the palace gate with Shen Jingyan and Shen Yinian, they were blocked by Zhou Xiao, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and a group of Imperial Guards.

"Your Majesty, please wait." Zhou Xiao bowed respectfully. "His Majesty has instructed that there is another matter that requires Your Majesty's attention."

Wu Lanyun was surprised, but her face remained calm: "What is it?"

Zhou Xiao did not answer directly, but stepped aside to make way: "Please, Your Highness, Princess, and Prince Xiaoyao, move aside."

Wu Lanyun frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart, but she still followed along with her two children as instructed.

The atmosphere in the spacious main courtyard of the imperial palace was somber at this moment.

All the palace servants and eunuchs, regardless of rank, were driven here and knelt on the ground in a dark mass, their faces filled with fear, not daring to utter a sound.

In the center of the courtyard, five palace maids were bound with their hands behind their backs, gagged, and forced to kneel on the ground.

They were the same people who had criticized Shen Qingruo yesterday. At this moment, they were terrified, trembling like leaves, their faces covered in tears and snot.

Zhou Xiao walked to a high point in front of the courtyard, looked down at the silent crowd below, and spoke in a cold, hard voice that clearly echoed throughout the courtyard:

"His Majesty's decree: These five individuals disrespect imperial authority, are incredibly audacious, and have spoken ill of the Imperial Consort behind her back. Their intentions deserve punishment! They shall be executed immediately by flogging!"

"All palace staff must witness the execution as a warning to others!"

"Execute!"

At the order, the imperial guards who were already prepared immediately stepped forward, and their batons fell mercilessly.

"!!!"

The sound of bones breaking was muffled.

His mouth was gagged, and blood seeped from his nose, the corners of his eyes, and his ears, staining the bluestone slab beneath him red.

A strong stench of blood filled the air.

The palace servants watching the execution were terrified, many covering their mouths tightly to avoid making a sound. Some even fainted, only to be supported by their trembling companions.

Wulan Yun stood at the forefront, watching the bloody scene with an expressionless face, her fingers clenching silently in her sleeve.

She understood; His Majesty was making an example of someone to scare others.

He was using these five lives to tell her, Shen Qingruo, that she was not to be trifled with.

Shen Jingyan's face turned deathly pale, and her stomach churned violently.

She had been on the battlefield, seen blood, and even killed enemies with her own hands.

But that was a battle between two armies, a fight on horseback.

Watching the palace maid being pinned to the ground and beaten to death at such close range sent a chill down her spine.

Her fear of her father may not have started at this moment, but it certainly reached its peak at this moment.

Shen Yinian stood beside his mother, his eyes lowered, his handsome face revealing no emotion, only his tightly pursed lips betraying his inner turmoil.

This vile woman has brought ruin to the country and its people; even my father is not the same as before.

After an unknown amount of time, the noise in the courtyard completely ceased.

Those palace servants had all died.

Zhou Xiao cupped his hands again: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has instructed that the entire palace must rectify its atmosphere."

"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Xiaoyao, and the Eldest Princess, you may proceed with your journey back to the palace."

Wulan Yun took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart: "I understand."

She turned to look at her pale-faced daughter and silent son, and said only two words:

"Return to the palace."

Shen Jingyan almost staggered to keep up with her mother's pace, not daring to look back at the carnage.

Shen Yinian silently followed at the back, watching the backs of his mother and sister.

The sunlight shone on his young face, but brought no warmth. He asked himself:

With his father protecting Shen Qingruo so much, can he really compete with him?