Outside Emperor Alexander's bedchamber, a crowd anxiously waited. Damien Gray and Morgan Shangguan stood apart from the group, glancing at the tightly closed door before looking at the restless onlookers. Damien Gray sighed softly, "Good thing we arrived after dinner!"
Morgan Shangguan glanced at him, shook her head with a smile, and said, "Is this your comment after the prince killed his father?"
Damien Gray raised his eyebrows and corrected her, "I was just doing business, at most I failed to help in a crisis. Killing one's father is far more serious! It was Crown Prince Adrian who sought out the Ghost King himself!"
Morgan Shangguan looked at him with a half-smile, "Really? I suppose the person most satisfied with this drama is you, Your Highness!"
Damien Gray looked completely innocent. "Everyone gained something, shouldn't we all be satisfied? Adrian Yarrow at least achieved one goal: Emperor Alexander is doomed. Crown Prince Adrian's assassination attempt was successful. Prince Ethan and Sophie Qiu also got what they wanted—not only did they eliminate Emperor Alexander, but Crown Prince Adrian will be finished as well. Everyone wins!"
Morgan Shangguan smiled and asked, "Sophie Qiu is one of your people now, isn't she?"
"For now, until she betrays me!" Damien Gray replied. "Sophie Qiu is clever, but I hope her cleverness won't be her downfall."
Morgan Shangguan raised an eyebrow. "Then, her gain is essentially your gain! You want to get rid of Emperor Alexander and Crown Prince Adrian, and push Prince Ethan to the throne. Everything is going according to your wishes, and you still say you're not the biggest winner? Plus, there's someone taking the blame for you, and that person doesn't even know they're taking the blame!"
Damien Gray didn't argue, looking at her with a smile. "Hasn't the princess consort also gained something herself?"
Morgan Shangguan leaned into his embrace, speaking softly, "I'm just avenging myself." Adrian Yarrow attacked her, so naturally, she couldn't let it go unanswered.
Beside them, a female ghost proudly announced, "Master, didn't I do a good job with my task?"
Morgan Shangguan glanced at her and said, "It was fortunate things were chaotic at the time, otherwise we couldn't have kept it hidden! If it hadn't been so chaotic, Prince Ethan and Emperor Alexander—both so cunning and cautious—would've noticed something was off. Although they want to seize evidence against Adrian Yarrow and will use this opportunity to go after him, they'll definitely investigate who really acted behind the scenes!"
Hearing this, the female ghost instantly deflated, pouting, "I'll do even better next time!"
Morgan Shangguan smiled and nodded, then reached out and opened the lid of the Spirit Gourd. The female ghost quickly slipped inside. Watching this, Damien Gray raised an eyebrow, "Why do all the ghosts you keep act like children?"
Morgan Shangguan shook her head with a smile. "After dying once, you see a lot more clearly!" She paused, looking at Damien Gray thoughtfully. "Do you think you're very mature, Your Highness?"
Damien Gray saw her teasing expression and frowned, beginning to reflect—was he really that childish?
Finally, the tightly closed doors swung open. The crowd rushed forward, eager to know Emperor Alexander's condition. The room erupted in a noisy chatter—no one could hear what anyone else was saying.
At this moment, Crown Prince Adrian cared most about the outcome of the assassination. He shouted sternly, "Quiet!"
At last, everyone fell silent. The imperial physicians glanced at each other, until an old man spoke up, "His Majesty has been poisoned by a rare toxin from the martial world. I’ve heard there’s no cure for it. His Majesty is now unable to move or speak. If an antidote can’t be found, he has only three months left!" Poisons in the martial world are always evolving, and he only happened to hear about this one—he didn’t know much about it.
Upon hearing this, a wave of grief swept through the crowd. Crown Prince Adrian, however, felt a surge of joy—Emperor Alexander might not die immediately, but his end was near! Still, it was remarkable that Emperor Alexander survived such a deadly poison.
He had no idea—the poison Ghost Guild gave him was never meant to kill instantly!
Prince Ethan's eyes flickered. This was perfect—he'd have time to secure an official decree and gain an edge over Damien Gray. But Damien Gray was likely planning the same. He'd have to be careful with him!
Though Emperor Alexander was beyond saving, the imperial physicians still tried to concoct an antidote. Since he needed rest, the consorts tearfully returned to their palaces, ministers' families went home, and the others prepared to interrogate the assassins.
This scheme had originally been Emperor Alexander's plan to get rid of Crown Prince Adrian and catch Adrian Yarrow in the act. Unexpectedly, he ended up losing himself in the process. Since it was Emperor Alexander's design, there would surely be assassins ready to testify against Crown Prince Adrian, so Prince Ethan made sure everyone participated in the interrogation.
Crown Prince Adrian was somewhat suspicious of Prince Ethan's motives, but since he trusted the loyalty of the deathsworn assassins, he remained calm. Refusing would only make him look guilty, so he agreed with Prince Ethan's proposal.
Both the Crown Prince and Prince Julian agreed, and the ministers had no objections. Everyone turned to Damien Gray. Though he was usually regarded as a noble in name only, contributing little to the court, he was still a prince and a favorite of Emperor Alexander, so his opinion was sought as well.
Damien Gray gave a gentle smile and replied politely, "Whatever everyone decides is fine with me."
He didn't say he agreed, but let everyone else decide. Though courteous, it still made him seem weak and useless.
Morgan Shangguan found it amusing—every word and gesture hinted that he was the most harmless one here!
But how many people realize that the one who seems most harmless is often the most dangerous?
Prince Ethan glanced at Damien Gray. He had never considered framing Damien Gray for this—unlike Crown Prince Adrian, no one knew how much power Damien Gray wielded in secret. One careless move would stir up a hornet's nest; if Damien Gray decided to retaliate, it would be a real headache!
Damien Gray held Morgan Shangguan in his arms, watching the drama unfold with leisure. The assassins, true deathsworn, refused to speak, and Crown Prince Adrian kept quiet, perhaps fearing he'd reveal a flaw if he said too much.
Prince Ethan picked one, ordering torture. Various instruments were used in turn; watching the man's misery, some officials grew uneasy, but he still refused to speak, finally fainting from the pain.