Jiang Chen's questioning made Xu Jiaying unable to lift her head.

Thinking of the storm she had stirred up, guilt welled up in her heart, and she said with a pale face, "Your Majesty, I know that I have committed grave sins, and I am willing to die to atone for them!"

"If you are still not appeased, I can also request to enter the Imperial Prison to redeem my sins!"

Xu Jiaying came from a family of generals, and her personality was completely opposite to her weak appearance. From childhood, she was a strong and responsible woman who never shirked her responsibilities.

Jiang Chen admired her attitude, but he had no intention of taking her life.

Of course, punishment was still necessary, otherwise he wouldn't be able to silence the ministers in the court... In addition, he also wanted to teach Xu Jiaying a lesson.

"I will not grant you death, after all, your life was exchanged for so many imperial guards. Killing you would be a waste of their sacrifices."

"However, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living penalty is unavoidable… From now on, I will strip you of your title of Imperial Concubine and demote you to Zhaoyi."

"In addition, after returning to the palace, you will be confined for another six months!"

Hearing this, Xu Jiaying looked up in astonishment, not feeling that the punishment was severe, but surprised that Jiang Chen would still retain her status as a palace concubine!

Hesitantly, she said, "Your, Your Majesty, this sinful woman knows that she lacks virtue and is not worthy to serve before you. You should still send this sinful woman to the Imperial Prison."

She's still not grateful?

Jiang Chen was a little displeased, "Xu Jiaying, in your heart, am I such a heartless person?"

"Even if you have made a mistake, you are still my woman, how could I send you to the Imperial Prison?!"

Xu Jiaying was a little at a loss. She had seen Jiang Chen's ruthless methods. The palace servants and officials who were executed for betrayal could almost fill half the palace.

But this cold-blooded emperor was so lenient towards her.

Even though she still harbored hatred for Jiang Chen in her heart, this kindness still moved her.

"Your Majesty, are you, are you not afraid that this sinful woman will betray you again and escape from the palace?"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen glared at her unhappily, "If there is another time, I will not be so polite to you!"

"At that time, I will throw all the surviving members of the Xu family left in the imperial estate into the Imperial Prison, torture them cruelly, and let you watch your relatives die."

"You better be honest in the future, and don't challenge my patience again… Otherwise, you can't bear the consequences!"

Xu Jiaying bit her red lip, silently lowered her head, her gentle and delicate posture was pitiful.

Jiang Chen looked at her pale face, and the anger in his heart subsided a lot, but he still did not relent.

"Xu Jiaying, you must know that the biggest backing of the Xu family now is you. If you can't please me, based on the identity of the Xu family as criminals, the prominent families in the imperial capital will not associate with them at all."

"If you don't want your relatives to be excluded, then stop having those crooked thoughts and honestly be my woman."

A hint of entanglement flashed across Xu Jiaying's beautiful eyes.

She couldn't let go of the blood feud of her parents, but Jiang Chen's kindness towards her had indeed moved her heart.

Especially during this trip to Mount Tai, Jiang Chen was willing to bow his head to the rebel for her, a betrayer… This deep affection made her unable to control her wavering, and she developed emotions that she shouldn't have.

Xu Jiaying's request to enter the Imperial Prison was largely because she wanted to avoid contact with Jiang Chen and eradicate this feeling, but this plan had now completely failed.

For the sake of her clan, she not only couldn't avoid Jiang Chen… but even had to please him even more.

But if she allowed this feeling to develop, could she really guard her heart?

A trace of helplessness flashed across her beautiful eyes, Xu Jiaying slowly raised her head, looked at Jiang Chen, and trembled, "Yes, I understand. From now on, I will serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly."

Looking at the slender figure kneeling on the ground, Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, "Since you have agreed, then show me your sincerity!"

"After being away for so long, I guess you have forgotten the rules of the palace. It just so happens that I have time now, so I can help you recall them… Come over and serve me well!"

Feeling the fiery gaze from above, Xu Jiaying's pretty face flushed, and her heart was entangled.

It's still daytime… Moreover, this temporary palace is also a solemn place, she really can't bring herself to do it!

After waiting for a while, seeing that Xu Jiaying was still hesitating, Jiang Chen pretended to be displeased, "Didn't you just say that you would serve me wholeheartedly? Why are you putting on airs now?"

"Are you going to stand there without moving, waiting for me to personally ask you to get up?"

Although he had lightly punished Xu Jiaying, her betrayal was also a fact, and Jiang Chen didn't plan to pamper her as he had before.

Sensing this subtle change, Xu Jiaying's heart tightened, and she no longer cared about the shyness of a young woman, bit her red lips, and stood up, "Your, Your Majesty, may, may this concubine serve you, serve you to rest?"

Jiang Chen looked at her shy appearance, but also gritting her teeth to stay, and was secretly pleased.

But on the surface, he still had a cold expression, and said indifferently, "Well, your attitude is acceptable, come here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the blush on Xu Jiaying's face deepened. She stood in place and hesitated for a moment before lowering her head and slowly approaching Jiang Chen.

"Your Majesty, this concubine has never actively served you before… If there is anything lacking, I hope Your Majesty will point it out, and this concubine will definitely remember it in the future."

While speaking, Xu Jiaying's hands were not idle, she approached gently and respectfully, helping Jiang Chen to remove the restraints on his body.

Looking at her clumsy but careful movements, Jiang Chen nodded secretly, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart.

It seems that this trip out of the palace is not all bad, at least he can feel that Xu Jiaying's resistance to him has decreased a lot… If it were in the past, she would never have served him so thoughtfully.

While thinking, the robes of the two of them were scattered around the soft couch.

Xu Jiaying knelt shyly between the brocade quilts, arranged herself in the posture that Jiang Chen liked the most according to her memory, and endured her shyness, "Your Majesty, although this concubine has been wandering outside the palace these days, I have always been careful and never had any improper behavior with others."

"If you don't believe me, you can, you can personally check, this concubine will definitely cooperate."

Jiang Chen didn't doubt this, and patted her jade back soothingly, and said in a hoarse voice, "I believe you."

"However, after not seeing you for a long time, my beloved concubine's waist has become more slender… Just kneeling on the couch like this makes people unable to restrain themselves."

As he spoke, Jiang Chen's big hand grasped her willow waist and measured it carefully.

Xu Jiaying's delicate body was softened by the fiery temperature that roamed everywhere, and a light whimper like a kitten overflowed from her pink lips, her charming voice, gentle and captivating.

Jiang Chen was provoked and couldn't help but increase the strength of his hands.

But he didn't want to let Xu Jiaying off so easily, he resisted his impulse and said, "My beloved concubine, I am quite tired today and don't want to waste my energy… You understand what I mean, right?"

Xu Jiaying's face buried in the quilt turned red, but she didn't refute, just silently straightened her body and sat in Jiang Chen's arms…