Silence filled the hall. Shunzi could not guess what was on the Crown Prince's mind; ever since the Crown Prince had come to wield monstrous power, his thoughts had grown even more inscrutable, making Shunzi walk on even thinner ice while serving him.
The scent of calming incense slowly drifted through the hall. The Crown Prince took a deep breath, only to find the air thick with nothing but the fragrance. Recently, his spirits had been flagging; as he climbed to lofty heights, the invisible pressure upon him had steadily mounted. As long as someone still sat above him casting a shadow, he could never feel at ease, which was why calming incense had gradually become a fixture in the Eastern Palace.
Yet now, even the calming incense seemed useless; the mere smell of it only stirred his irritation.
Chapter 588