"Ah!"
A woman's scream pierced the night sky, then abruptly stopped.
Prince Ji finally woke up, his eyes snapping open, and he let out a yell, his bloated body sitting up like a stranded fish.
"Who...who are you!"
He hurriedly grabbed the jeweled longsword by his pillow, the tip trembling like reeds in the wind.
The young and beautiful concubine shrank behind him, the brocade quilt slipping down to reveal large areas of snow-white skin.
Three men in black stormed in, knives in hand. The leader had a blood-dripping blade, its edge glinting coldly, while his mask was stained with unknown blood.
The leader of the men in black sneered, advancing slowly: "Prince, who do you think would go to such lengths to kill you?"
Prince Ji's pupils contracted sharply. He leaned against the bedpost, the veins on his forehead throbbing, as a terrifying thought flashed through his mind.
"Could it be... the new... No, impossible! It won't be." He was unwilling, and dared not believe it was true.
