Rong Jing calmed the turbulent waves within his heart. Ever since returning to Qianyuan Hall from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, he had maintained a peculiar state of excitement that now seemed to gradually subside.
Zhang Shi swallowed hard, suppressing the immense fear within him, and gritted his teeth: "But I discovered there's nothing wrong with the Sweet Pine Fragrance, it's the incense burner... the incense burner the Empress gifted Your Majesty, that's the problem!"
...
"Zhang Fengcai, clean it up."
Within Qianyuan Hall, the lights flickered, casting a dark and oppressive atmosphere.
Zhang Shi's body had already turned cold, with blood flowing from his neck, spreading in bubbles, filling the hall with an intense scent of blood.
Beside the body was a small pile of crushed incense ashes and a toppled incense burner.
"As you command." Zhang Fengcai lowered his gaze, resembling a stiff puppet, his face devoid of any expression.
