Bab 128: The first strike 2

Data later, Western Liang.The Emperor's Quarters.

it was a little after midnight and most of the other residents in the palace had all turned off the lamps in the bed chambers and turned in for the night. 

The Emperor was wide awake, and the lamps in the palace were on at full blaze. Eunuch Zhang led the small group of the Emperor's most senior servants to take part in the night watch.

They all stood in two rolls with Eunuch Zhang in the lead head bent low in the hallway outside the Emperor's bed chamber.

The servants jumped and swung their heads back to the front door as the door was tugged open from the outside. 

They bit their lip and glanced expectantly at Eunuch Zhang. After more than one failed assassination attempt, the servants on night watch at the imperial quarter were always on edge