Chapter 972: I

Since Shao Chun was locked into the Cold Palace, he has been secretly scheming, using demonic arts to confuse not a few of the eunuchs and guards who enter and exit the Cold Palace.

Shao Chun still kept in touch with Jin Xiao Mo, hoping to make contact as soon as possible with the Western Region envoy outside the palace.

On the other hand, he still went along with the tyrant, pretending to cooperate with his plans.

Inside the Cold Palace, Shao Chun wore only a single gauze robe; the cat's ears and tail twitched out, there was no incense lit in the room, yet the air was filled with Youyou's warm fragrance.

"I greet Your Majesty."

Just as Jin Chen entered the Cold Palace courtyard, two palace maids knelt there to greet him, and a eunuch carrying tea came from the outer hall; seeing him approach, he offered a cup of tea.

"Our master is still ill inside; Your Majesty, please go take a look."

The palace maid urged, handing over the tea.

Jin Chen took it, smelled the liquid, and his brow twitched slightly.

This time he learned his lesson, and didn't put any poison in it.

But infusing the tea with demonic aura is something that cat demon could do.

Jin Chen held the tea cup, glanced at the palace maids controlled by demonic aura, then set it back down.

"Lead the way."

Hearing footsteps approach, Shao Chun hid under the covers, revealing only a pale yet charming face; cold sweat dripped, he bit his lips, looking very painful.

"Your Majesty…"

Shao Chun, feeling wronged, lifted his head and stretched out a jade‑like arm from under the blankets, wanting to take Jin Chen's hand.

"It's so cold here, I feel terrible."

"You said you wouldn't abandon me—how can you go back on your word?"

"As for the incident in the Imperial Garden… I really don't know that guard; you can't just lock me up like this—I'm a cat demon, and if I don't receive your favor to stay here long, I'll die."

Every word and sentence was full of coquettish intent.

From start to finish, Jin Chen's expression remained cold, he raised an eyebrow at his performance and said, "So, what are you going to do?"

"Your Majesty, please dote on me… I beg you."

Shao Chun knelt on the bed, his round eyes slightly lifted, he threw off the blanket covering him, shifted forward a bit, wanting to embrace Jin Chen's waist.

His waist was slender enough to encircle with one hand, the palace gauze softly covering it.

Startled, Jin Chen stepped back, flicked his sleeves, clasped his hands behind his back, turned around in one fluid motion, his expression unreadable, and said, "Speak plainly."

He was terrified—he almost thought he'd seen a ghost in the middle of the night.

Shao Chun's arm grasped at air, he cried even more aggrieved, crawling forward while sobbing, now unable to hide his tail and ears.

"Crying, what are you crying for? What do you want from me? Hurry up."

Jin Chen grabbed the blanket and threw it over him—just looking at him was unbearable.

"Can't we hurry up and finish the procedure? Once the killing's done, I can go back to sleep."

Shao Chun froze at his shout, his red‑rimmed eyes silently shedding a few more tears.

He had thought that even if he weren't the former emperor, sharing the same memories and appearance would at least mean similar tastes.

But he never imagined Jin Chen would still be like this.

If that's the case…

Shao Chun's fingers, hidden under the blanket, curled and his claws extended.

——

Meanwhile, on another side of the palace.

The tyrant finished tossing the fire starter, watched the palace go up in flames, and ran forward hidden in the darkness.

"Fire! Come quickly, someone!"

"Fire!"

Immediately, patrolling guards spotted it.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the tyrant headed for Jin Chen's recent location, the Resting Heart Hall, but ended up colliding with Wen Zhenheng around the corner of a side path.

Wen Zhenheng originally thought it was just some guard, but when he saw clearly the half‑face hidden beneath the helmet, his expression changed instantly.

"You… how did you get here?"

No sooner had his words fallen than someone shouted "Fire!", Wen Zhenheng grew even more solemn, his tone turning cold: "You set the fire."

He didn't hesitate at all.

The tyrant snorted coldly, slowed his steps to approach him, and said, "I thought the Empress had forgotten, but it turns out you still remember that the emperor you've been keeping company with day and night is a fraud."

The Silver Moon Dark Guard were about to rush out, but Wen Zhenheng raised a hand to stop them; looking at that all‑too‑familiar face, he no longer harbored any previous reservations.

Still bearing in mind that Shao Chun wanted to make a move, Wen Zhenheng quickly gestured for the Silver Moon Guards to go ahead.

"So, Your Majesty, what do you intend to do tonight?"

He blocked the exit of the Silver Moon Guards and contended with the tyrant.

"Of course, it's to take advantage of the chaos and kill that impostor."

The tyrant's words were full of rejection and killing intent: "Only by killing him can I regain the throne!"

"I'd like to ask the Empress, you've been day and night with him—why haven't you killed him?"

Wen Zhenheng turned aside, averting his gaze: "I cannot do it."

"He is now the Son of Heaven, protected by countless dark guards and palace guards."

The tyrant gave a cruel cold smile: "Is it that you can't, or that you won't?"

"Empress! I never knew you harbored such thoughts, just like that promiscuous cat demon!"

He shouted in anger, then noticed Wen Zhenheng lost in thought, took a few quick steps, and seized his wrist tightly.

"Let go!"

Wen Zhiheng instinctively struggled, feeling very uncomfortable.

His obvious rejection made the tyrant even more furious.

"Wen Zhiheng!"

The tyrant fiercely grabbed his wrist, glaring as he asked, "I ask you, you're so close to him now—do you know who he is? What is his identity, and what is his purpose?"

"That's none of your business." Wen Zhiheng pulled his hand back, took a deep breath, and straightened his spine.

"You know nothing, not even whether he is human."

The tyrant's smile was sarcastic, anger seeming to spread in the depths of his eyes, his face grim as he gritted his teeth silently, "Empress, aren't you afraid he's just using you, and will leave once he achieves his goal?"

Wen Zhiheng completely shook off his hand, losing his composure for the first time.

"I said it's none of your business!"

As if awakening a hidden fear deep within, Wen Zhiheng's chest heaved and he couldn't hold back a cough.

"Good, very good."

The tyrant, unable to contain his anger, lunged forward and embraced Wen Zhiheng, "I've told you, as long as I kill that impostor, you will still be my Empress!"

"The cat demon colluded with Jin Xiaomo; as long as you and I remain on good terms, I will treat you well in the future."

The dragon saliva fragrance, utterly unlike that on Jin Chen, filled his nostrils; Wen Zhiheng instinctively felt uneasy, the dagger hidden in his sleeve already in his hand, yet he hesitated a little.

At that moment, already embraced by the tyrant, his phoenix eyes flashed bright, a glint of silver light flickering as if rising from the depths of his soul—a profound repulsion.

After the silver light flashed, all of Wen Zhiheng's hesitation vanished, and he thrust the dagger straight in.

"Ugh!"

The tyrant stared in disbelief, eyes wide, watching Wen Zhiheng leave his embrace, his chin trembling as he lowered his head and knelt, his whole body drained of strength.

Wen Zhiheng stood still, coldly looking down at the emperor on the floor, his thin lips parting, "If you wish to kill him, then I, as your subject, can only act before you."

"No… I won't allow it!"

In that instant, the tyrant recalled many memories from the past, shaking his head as he rose, "You are mine! You have been since childhood! And you still are!"

"I don't care about others, but how could you betray me!"

Wen Zhiheng gripped the dagger's hilt with his backhand, facing the tyrant, "If Your Majesty truly were so, you would not have repeatedly put me in danger, nor kept me confined in the harem, nor driven us to this point."