The little pavilion startled, dropped to his knees with a thud, and trembled as he spoke, "This is because, because?"
"Because of what?"
Shangguan Yao asked furiously, thinking of the pain in his cheek and involuntarily taking a breath. He wondered if there were scars on his face. Who dared to lay a hand on him? His pupils were covered with thunderous rage, and he commanded in a deep voice, "Go, fetch me the bronze mirror."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The little pavilion turned sideways and waved his hand. The little eunuch standing by the screen quickly brought the bronze mirror and knelt down, not daring to move.
Shangguan Yao took the bronze mirror in his hand. With just one glance, he was so angry he wanted to chop someone. His face, which he had always prided himself on, now bore two clearly visible bruises, one under his eyelid and the other on his chin. At this moment, those two bruises seemed to mock him with their menacing presence.
He, an emperor, had been beaten. This was truly a marvel of the world. Shangguan Yao could no longer bear it and threw the bronze mirror away with a bang.
"Tell me, what is going on? What happened last night? Report to me every detail."
Cold air enveloped the sleeping quarters. The little pavilion shivered, no longer daring to hesitate, and reported cautiously.
"Last night, Your Majesty drank and went to Jinhua Palace to find the Empress. He dismissed the attendants. Your Majesty intended to... intended to..." The little pavilion did not know how to proceed here, feeling that no matter how he said it, it would be inappropriate.
But Shangguan Yao understood the implication. His eyes suddenly darkened. Was he truly that pathetic, so desperate that he had set his sights on a fool?
He lowered his head to look at the little pavilion by the bed. He saw that the servant had a look of forbearance, as if sympathizing with the Empress, which only made him angrier.
"Continue, what happened next?"
"The Empress, in a fit of rage, struck Your Majesty. When we servants entered, we saw the Empress disheveled, her hair messy, and Your Majesty was knocked unconscious by the Empress."
"That fool dared to hit me?" Leng Zheng's voice, devoid of any warmth, echoed as if from hell.
The man on the bed had an even more ferocious and bloodthirsty face. His pupils flashed with world-destroying brilliance. "Good, you fool, you dared to hit me. This time, I will kill you..."
In Changxin Palace, the Empress Dowager's peach blossom eyes widened in disbelief. Cold light flickered, and her tightly pressed lips revealed her extreme anger. She remained silent for a long time, the hall being deathly quiet.
Eunuchs and palace maids dared not even breathe heavily, waiting with their heads respectfully bowed.
After a long while, a cold voice was heard: "Lin An, you say His Majesty was beaten."
Lin An nodded vigorously. This matter had spread throughout the palace early in the morning, but it was all in whispers. Who dared to speak of His Majesty's affairs?
"His Majesty wishes to favor that fool?" The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, and upon hearing this, she became furious again.
First, she was angry that the fool dared to hit His Majesty. Now, she was annoyed with her own son. Of all people, why did he have to desire that fool?
If he hadn't provoked her, that fool wouldn't have hit him for no reason. In that case, both of them were at fault.
"The situation seemed to be so."
Lin An was also bewildered. His Majesty was still a dragon among men, so how could he like a fool?
There were many beauties in the palace now. Those concubines and beauties who had not yet been favored were all stretching their necks, waiting. Yet, His Majesty actually went to favor that fool. It was truly baffling.
However, Lin An wisely did not reveal his thoughts. No matter what His Majesty did, he was still the Empress Dowager's biological son, and she would surely be the most pained when he was beaten.
"How could His Majesty have let that fool succeed?"
The Empress Dowager frowned delicately, her slender fingers gently rubbing her forehead as if in pain. Just yesterday, she had brought the fool back, and this had happened. Her son must have wanted to scare the fool, as he had always disliked that fool immensely.
"Did His Majesty attend the morning court today?"
"No, I heard he did not attend morning court," Lin An reported again. The Empress Dowager fell silent, pondering the current situation. She feared that His Majesty would deal with that fool.
But if he did so now, the Prince Yun's mansion would become vulnerable. The people of Dong Qin would think they were too overbearing, and the imperial family's prestige in the hearts of the people would decline.
Therefore, it was not advisable to create any changes at this time. However, that fool dared to hit her son. She had noted this account, and a fleeting ruthlessness flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes.
Outside the hall door, a eunuch's voice sounded.
"His Majesty has arrived."
A figure in imperial yellow walked in from outside the hall. The glorious crown on his head shone brilliantly, and a row of golden pearls hung outside the crown, covering His Majesty's cheeks.
However, the bruises were still faintly visible. Shangguan Yao had originally intended to decree the fool's execution, but in the end, he did not act on his own. He came to report to his mother, as he did not wish to displease her.
"Your humble son pays his respects to Mother."
"Yao'er, come and sit here with Imperial Mother."
The Empress Dowager beckoned, signaling Shangguan Yao to sit beside her.
Shangguan Yao approached and sat beside the Empress Dowager. His black pupils were filled with a brewing storm. He had only come to inform his mother, and he would never let that fool off easily.
The Empress Dowager reached out and lifted the golden pearls on Shangguan Yao's face. On his handsome face, two bruises were visible. Her peach blossom-like beautiful eyes were instantly filled with rage.
"Damn fool, how dare she hit my Imperial Son? Imperial Mother will not let her off."
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Shangguan Yao's pent-up anger eased somewhat. He spoke coldly, "Mother, I am here to inform you that I will immediately issue a decree to execute that fool. She dared to strike me, which is a crime punishable by nine generations of extermination. The Yun family must be annihilated."
"No, my son."
The Empress Dowager suddenly stopped him. She hadn't expected the Emperor to use this opportunity to eliminate the Yun family. How could this be?
Don't forget that the Empress is still a fool. If the Yun family is eliminated using this incident, then Xiliang and Nan Jin might use this incident to stir up trouble in Dong Qin.
At that time, not only would the people of the world lose confidence in the imperial family of Dong Qin, but the martial arts sects would surely rise up, and the world would fall into chaos.
"Yao'er, absolutely not. This matter must be planned carefully. Don't forget that you trespassed into Jinhua Palace.
And you intended to... to lay hands on the Empress. The Empress is still a fool. For hitting you, it was you who was in the wrong. How can you expect the world to stand by your side? If you move against the Prince Yun's mansion, the court officials will be disheartened."
"Mother, why do you tolerate him again and again? Without Yun Mo, can't Dong Qin survive? Don't forget, there's still me, still me. This time, I will not let the Yun family off."
Shangguan Yao suddenly stood up, his eyes radiating a bloodthirsty killing intent, and the sharp aura surrounding him firmly enveloped the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager narrowed her phoenix eyes, her lips curved into a faint smile. "Yao'er, are you no longer listening to Imperial Mother? Imperial Mother is doing this for your own good. You haven't forgotten the oath you made back then, have you?"
As the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Shangguan Yao, who had been menacing moments before, instantly quieted down. The cold air receded, and his dark pupils were filled with suppressed, hazy thoughts, with a fleeting sharpness. He stared motionlessly at his mother.