In William Turner's eyes, Henry Clark was a well-read and reasonable bastard, a disgrace to all eunuchs, and also a mere embroidered pillow—deserving only of contempt, and for now, not much of a threat. His real enemy was inside the east wing.

Henry Clark suddenly stepped forward, grabbed William Turner's arm, and whispered, "You've been by His Majesty's side all along. Did he say anything to you?"

William Turner looked him up and down. "His Majesty has been unconscious for a while... What do you think he could have said?"

Henry Clark let go, smiled, then immediately sensed something was off and put on a sorrowful expression. "I thought... His Majesty might mention the Empress Dowager."

William Turner shook off Henry Clark. There were priorities, and he didn't want to raise any suspicions right now.

The Director of the Central Secretariat, Samuel Clark, stood in the room, waiting for William Turner.

Samuel Clark was the highest-ranking eunuch in the palace, a few years older than William Turner, and had served three emperors in succession, soon to welcome a fourth. Over the past decade or so, William Turner had devoted himself to serving the Crown Prince, witnessing his master become first the heir apparent, then the emperor, and finally, at the last moment, holding his master's hand as both warmth and power faded away.

"Thomas Turner, you shouldn't be here." Samuel Clark was short and plump, his face radiating kindness. If not for his eunuch attire, he could have passed for a kindly old lady.

"These are extraordinary times; I can't worry about protocol. I'm here to save everyone's lives." William Turner refused to bow to his superior.

Samuel Clark's smile was like a lion yawning after swallowing a sheep—fierce, yet sincere. "Entering the Empress Dowager's quarters without summons, Robert Turner, that's a capital offense."

Henry Clark sighed silently at the door. His position was secure; there was no need for him to scramble for power like a vicious dog.

William Turner looked around. "Where is the Empress Dowager?"

Samuel Clark put on a mournful face. "His Majesty has unfortunately passed away, and the Empress Dowager is overwhelmed with grief... Robert Turner, shouldn't you be by His Majesty's side at this time?"

William Turner ignored Samuel Clark, turned to face Henry Clark, knowing this man was his only bridge to the Empress Dowager. "Has the Empress Dowager decided which prince will succeed?"

As soon as William Turner finished speaking, the kindness vanished from Samuel Clark's face. He leapt in front of William Turner and barked, "Insolent wretch! Is that something you should be asking?"

William Turner turned sideways, still facing Henry Clark. "The Empress Dowager is in grave danger, and chaos is about to descend upon the court. Mr. Clark, as her attendant, you bear a heavy responsibility for the realm. Will you hear a harsh but loyal word?"

Henry Clark looked a bit surprised, as if he hadn't expected to be taken so seriously. He replied uncertainly, "At a time like this... the Empress Dowager should indeed hear some honest advice."

Samuel Clark stepped aside, his resentful gaze bouncing from the floor back to William Turner.

William Turner took a slow breath. If barging into the Empress Dowager's quarters was a capital crime, then every word he was about to say could bring ruin to his entire clan. "The Emperor still has two younger brothers, who were sent out of the palace three years ago. Has anyone gone to bring them back?"

Samuel Clark interjected, "So this is your so-called 'harsh but loyal word'? That's all? I've already made arrangements. The two princes will be brought here first thing tomorrow morning."

"By tomorrow, it'll be too late!" William Turner raised his voice. "The court ministers will act first, choosing a new emperor from the two princes, leaving the Empress Dowager with nothing but an empty title. As for the three of us, we'll become universally despised treacherous eunuchs—only our deaths will appease the world."

Samuel Clark snorted. "His Majesty has been gone for less than half an hour. The court ministers can't possibly act so quickly."

Indeed, the Emperor had only been ill for three days, and even the most skilled imperial physicians couldn't have predicted the illness would progress so rapidly.

William Turner lowered his voice and said to Henry Clark, "Does the Empress Dowager trust everyone around her?"

Henry Clark's expression changed slightly. "Robert Turner, what do you mean?"

"Eunuchs can't be trusted." William Turner was a eunuch himself, but he still had to say it. "We're like vines—born to cling to great trees. When one tree falls, we must find another. I believe someone has already sent word to the ministers outside the palace."

Samuel Clark shook his head. "Impossible. No one would dare, and the palace guards are strict..."

Henry Clark was far less composed; he had never experienced anything this momentous before. "I—I will go see the Empress Dowager."

Henry Clark hurried off. The kindness on Samuel Clark's face was replaced by fury as he growled in a low voice, "Your great tree has fallen, and now you want to find another? It's already too late."

William Turner met Samuel Clark's gaze coldly. "You should thank me."

"Thank you? Just because you spouted some useless nonsense? The court ministers are a disunited rabble; they would never dare to appoint a new ruler on their own. You're just fearmongering to win the Empress Dowager's trust."

"The court ministers aren't always a disunited rabble—especially when it comes to dealing with people like us. Charles Clark, you really ought to read more history."

Samuel Clark's doughy white face flushed red in an instant. After a moment, he said, "Robert Turner, you must have read many books. Can you predict how you'll die?"

The two eunuchs glared at each other like duelists ready to cross swords.

Henry Clark soon returned, accompanied by the Imperial Consort Dowager, Lady Shangguan. Her arrival instantly dissolved the tension in the hall.