Jeremy Xuan and Sienna Skyvault stared in terror. Why were they talking about things they couldn't understand? Wasn't Emma Lu their mother's name?
If their mother wasn't Emma Lu, then who was she? Whose children were they?
Muffled cries... They wanted to ask, but couldn't speak, only managing low, beastlike whimpers.
The Eighteen Gentlemen of Skyvault had witnessed the entire spectacle from start to finish. For a moment, none of them knew what to do; they looked at each other, lost.
Their duty was to protect the Palace Master and Skyvault Palace, but in this situation, could their Palace Master still shoulder his responsibilities?
They seriously doubted it.
Sean Xuan didn't make things too difficult for the Eighteen Gentlemen. Though his father was currently collapsing, there was no guarantee he wouldn't recover in the next second. If Sean didn't seize power while his father was broken, should he wait until he recovered, fight him head-on, and let both of them be wounded—only for Prince Nolan and William Wang Jinling to reap the benefits?
No, Sean Xuan wasn't about to make a losing deal. If he was going to take over Skyvault Palace, he wouldn't accept inheriting a mess that would take decades to clean up.
While the Palace Master was temporarily out of his mind, Sean Xuan decisively seized power and addressed the Eighteen Gentlemen: "Uncles, you've watched me grow up and you know what kind of person I am. If Skyvault Palace weren't on the verge of destruction, I would never resort to such drastic measures. I hope you can forgive my boldness and recklessness."
A son shouldn't speak ill of his father, but right now, my father truly isn't fit to lead Skyvault Palace. For the sake of Skyvault, for the foundation built by generations of ancestors, I have no choice but to commit this act of filial betrayal and wrest power from him!"
The Eighteen Gentlemen of Skyvault exchanged glances, unsure what to say. When the Palace Master remained silent, they quietly withdrew from the battlefield, declaring they would not interfere in the struggle between Sean Xuan and the Palace Master—whoever won would be their master.
After all, they were all Xuan family members. Sean was the Young Palace Lord; it was only a matter of time before he took over. This just happened a little earlier than expected.
With the Eighteen Gentlemen standing aside, and support from Prince Nolan and William Wang Jinling, it wasn't hard for Sean Xuan to seize the Skyvault Palace Master’s seat.
From today, Skyvault Palace has changed hands. Those who refuse to submit—will be killed!
Forcing his father to abdicate, Sean Xuan’s rise wasn’t exactly honorable. But... with the Eighteen Gentlemen and most of Skyvault Palace backing him, even the few riots were quickly crushed. Still...
These past few days, the scent of blood lingered everywhere in Skyvault Palace. It was unsettling—after all, there hadn’t been such carnage here in decades. The older generation grumbled in private, but under Sean’s iron-fisted rule, no one dared speak out, afraid a single word would get them killed.
“I never expected it—the Young Palace Lord who always seemed invisible turned out to be so ruthless. Anyone tied to that woman was wiped out, three thousand lives gone. My hands are numb from killing.” One of the Eighteen Gentlemen, a middle-aged man, wiped blood from his sword.
Despite his words, there was no blame in his eyes. A Skyvault Palace Master should be like this; the old master was too weak, only good for maintaining the status quo.
“If your hands were numb, you sure didn’t stop. Looked to me like you enjoyed it.” Another middle-aged uncle nearby tied back his messy hair, eyes still sharp with killing intent.
They’d killed for so long, killed so many, the murderous aura wouldn’t fade anytime soon.
"Thinking back, all these years, the old Palace Master shut himself away because of that woman. It makes me furious. If she really were Emma Lu, I could have accepted it.
Back then, you and I both knew Emma Lu’s grace and talent. If the old Palace Master had withdrawn from the world for Emma Lu, I’d understand. But it was a counterfeit—a fake who stirred up trouble in Skyvault Palace and played us all for fools. I just can’t swallow it." The middle-aged man stopped wiping his sword, planted it on the table, his eyes bulging like an ox.
"We have ourselves to blame, too, for not seeing through her. Honestly, with Emma Lu’s beauty and talent, how could she have married the old Palace Master? He’s decent, but…
Back then, every man who pursued Emma Lu was outstanding. The old Palace Master wasn’t the best of them. Maybe that’s why, when he got the fake, he clung to her so desperately, let her manipulate him, and hid away in Skyvault Palace for her.
He was afraid others would steal her, afraid Emma Lu would leave him, but after eighteen years, it turned out she was a fake. That feeling is more disgusting than eating rotten flesh. The old Palace Master must be miserable now."
In less than ten days, Sean Xuan had fully settled into the Palace Master’s seat. His father retired in glory, now called the old Palace Master. Only a handful knew his true situation.
Sean couldn’t kill his own father, and Serena Feng had no interest in killing Irene Lu. After all... she was still her mother’s sister. Why kill her? There are plenty of fates worse than death. As for Sienna and Jeremy...
William Wang Jinling never said he wanted Sienna dead, and there was no need for them to act. Sean simply said he couldn’t stand seeing Sienna’s face, couldn’t accept another counterfeit living under his nose.
Hearing this, Jeremy immediately slashed Sienna’s face, begging Sean to spare her life. But as soon as he did, Sean said, “Jeremy, you’re too impulsive. Just because I said I disliked Sienna’s face doesn’t mean I wanted it ruined. She’s still my sister—I would never harm her. At most, I’d keep her hidden so she couldn’t appear before me. By slashing her, you make me look like a cruel brother.”
Classic case of getting the benefit while posing as the virtuous one. Serena Feng sneered.
At that, Sienna turned on Jeremy, biting and hitting him, blaming him for ruining her face. Jeremy could only endure her outburst, unable to explain, showing his wolf-like ferocity only when no one else was around.
But... even the fiercest wolf grows tame after years in captivity. Sean Xuan barely paid Jeremy any mind; even with the Palace Master’s favoritism before, Jeremy couldn’t beat him, much less now.
Sean Xuan ‘kindly’ quartered the whole family in one courtyard, calling it ‘mutual care.’ In reality, he meant for them to tear each other apart.
The old Palace Master already hated Irene Lu’s deception. Now, knowing he’d been a joke for twenty years because of a counterfeit, his rage and hatred were unimaginable. Sean Xuan put Irene right beside him—clearly so he could vent his anger.
Irene Lu seemed half-mad. Even now, she refused to admit she was Irene, insisting she was still Emma Lu—the Palace Master’s beloved wife, the real Madame Skyvault. Every day, she dressed up and went to see the old Palace Master with deep, theatrical affection—only to be beaten out again.
Afterward, Jeremy would carry her back, and Sienna was kept from seeing Irene. Whenever Sienna did catch a glimpse, she’d explode, screaming at Irene for giving birth to her and demanding to know why she wasn’t Emma Lu’s daughter instead...