A piece of Japanese incense

The courtiers' hearts were beating like war drums. They took advantage of every possible cover, hiding behind heavy curtains or huddling in the shadows of marble columns. Some even ventured into the tall bookshelves that stored ancient books, leaving only one eye exposed, nervously spying on what was happening outside.

The old man's face gradually emerged from the shadows, as if the silhouette of the night had been given life. His face was looming in the haze.

Those eyes, like two cold stars in the abyss, flickered with unknown secrets. His nose was high, but strangely curved, with deep sunken cheekbones on both sides, making his face look even more rugged.

The corners of his mouth drooped, always with a mocking sneer, revealing a few irregular teeth, reflecting a faint light in the night. His skin was as pale as paper but full of cracks, and his long hair covered part of his face, adding a bit of mystery and unpredictability.

Feng Zhixu saw Zhiyu protecting Tingzhu, and saw Feng Zhiyan untying the rope that locked Ayuan, so he resolutely took his sword and cut Fengqi's rope, suggesting that they seize the opportunity and escape in the chaos.

Feng Zhiyan understood what he meant, nodded, patted his shoulder, then protected Feng Yan and rushed out of the hall.

Feng Zhixu was worried about being noticed by someone with ulterior motives, so he pretended to be calm, stood in front of the emperor, diverted everyone's attention, and shouted loudly: "Stop! Don't go any further! Prince Yun is gone, don't struggle forward in vain!"

The old man stood up from the wheelchair. His steps seemed extremely laborious. With every step, his body involuntarily leaned to one side, as if he was carrying an invisible burden on his shoulders.

Every time his right foot touched the ground, there was a brief but noticeable pause, followed by a steady and laborious follow-up with his left foot. His expression was firm, and despite the dense beads of sweat on his forehead, he still looked directly at the emperor with his deep eyes, as if preparing to meet the upcoming challenge.

"The late emperor's last will and the imperial seal are here. Everyone, kneel and listen!" The person pushing the wheelchair held an object in each hand and raised it high, speaking in a loud voice.

Everyone present was shocked when they heard this. After a brief silence, all the guards in the palace were controlled, and only a few personal soldiers around the emperor were allowed to stay.

"Where is Yan Shaoyu! Come and protect me!" the emperor shouted.

While Feng Zhixu was retreating towards where the Emperor was, he was alert and looked around for General Yan.

Eunuch Shen anxiously turned in circles, the whisk in his hand tangled in his hair because of his panic. He had no intention of tidying it up, but just shouted in panic: "General Yan! Guard Chen! Where are you? Your Majesty!"

Eunuch Shen took the staggering emperor by the arm and placed him on the dragon throne. He slowly took out an exquisite medicine bottle from his wide sleeves, poured out a pill, and handed it to the emperor's lips.

"You are definitely not Yuan Cheng's subordinates! Who on earth dares to be so rude here!" The emperor looked extremely weak at this moment, and his fingers had lost their former majesty and strength. They just trembled weakly as he pointed directly at the weathered old man below the stage.

The old man raised his head slightly, looked around, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "When I was a child, I stepped into this place. This building is still the same. The years have passed, but it seems to have remained unchanged for eternity."

"Xuan De Tower is where the royal family holds important ceremonies. Why are you here?" Feng Zhixu asked.

"Xuan De Tower? Humph! It's just a small bell tower. My father often brings me here to ring the bell for fun."