Meng Jiang Ming did not emerge for a long time after entering. Xue Xing Yue sensed something was amiss and walked in. At a glance, she saw Nan Ping's young prince, Qi Yu Ze, seated on a chair.
Looking around and not seeing Meng Jiang Ming, Xue Xing Yue said coldly, "Where is Duke Meng? Young Prince Nan Ping, what did you do just now? Guards..."
Qi Yu Ze suddenly stood up and walked step by step towards her, his tall figure casting a shadow over her. "You... what are you doing?"
Xue Xing Yue couldn't help but retreat. Hearing her, Qi Yu Ze said, "This king advises Your Majesty not to call anyone in."
Xue Xing Yue frowned, looking at Qi Yu Ze and asking, "What do you mean by that?"
Qi Yu Ze curved his lips into a smile, exceptionally enchanting. "Why doesn't Your Majesty walk inside and take a look?"
Xue Xing Yue looked at Qi Yu Ze for a long moment, then said coldly, "Don't think I truly dare not do anything to you."
Hearing this, Qi Yu Ze spread his hands. "Then Your Majesty can have someone arrest this king!"
Xue Xing Yue turned her head away. Suddenly, a voice came from inside, extremely suppressed and hoarse.
She shivered all over and quickly stepped forward, tearing down the curtain. A pair of entangled men and women appeared before her. The man's clothes were torn to shreds, but even by their figures, she could recognize who it was.
"Meng Jiang Ming," she couldn't help but exclaim.
But the person didn't look up. Qi Yu Ze's voice came from behind. "Your Majesty, don't call out. Duke Meng just drank the fine wine Your Majesty treated this king to last night. How long do you think Duke Meng can stay awake?"
"Qi Yu Ze, you are too overbearing!" Xue Xing Yue's face flushed with anger.
Hearing this, Qi Yu Ze gave a cold smile. "If Your Majesty hadn't made the first move against this king, this king truly wouldn't want to make a move. This king also wants to cherish beauty."
Saying this, he reached out to touch Xue Xing Yue's face.
Xue Xing Yue coldly slapped his hand away and said, "This is Xing Jiu Kingdom. Before the young prince makes a move, think if you can leave here."
Qi Yu Ze's gaze shifted slightly. It was precisely because he considered her that he was so restrained, otherwise... He looked at her crimson lips and a thought unexpectedly arose in his heart, a desire to kiss them.
However, he only thought about it; he didn't act in the end. After all, as the Empress said, if he moved against the Empress, it was unknown if he could even leave the imperial palace. He didn't want to be trapped here.
"Your Majesty, this king has no other requests. Immediately let this king take the two imperial princes and leave Xing Jiu Kingdom," Qi Yu Ze said slowly.
"Alright," Xue Xing Yue gritted out, each word a struggle.
Qi Yu Ze stepped forward and pressed Meng Jiang Ming's acupoints. Meng Jiang Ming slumped down.
A palace maid picked up the clothes and knelt on the ground. She knew the one she was entwined with was Duke Ning. "Your Majesty, this servant..."
"Wu Hen, drag her out and beat her to death," Xue Xing Yue said coldly, not listening to the palace maid.
Wu Hen walked in from outside. Seeing the scene inside, without a word, he dragged the palace maid away. As the palace maid was about to cry out, Wu Hen quickly dislocated her jaw.
"Your Majesty, your methods are truly cruel," Qi Yu Ze couldn't help but say.
Xue Xing Yue sneered at this. "Whether she wandered in here by herself or was forced by you, young prince, she cannot escape death. Today, I don't want anyone to know, so she must die."
"The former Princess Xing Yue was not like this."
Xue Xing Yue sneered. "You also said, the former Princess Xing Yue. Now, I am the Empress of Xing Jiu, young prince."
Qi Yu Ze was slightly stunned. The Empress of Xing Jiu before him was truly not the Princess Xing Yue of the past, whether in her methods of handling affairs or the caution in her speech. Perhaps, the experience of that day had made her grow rapidly.
"Your Majesty just needs to remember what you said. This king will wait outside the palace for Your Majesty's imperial decree." With that, Qi Yu Ze turned and left.
Xue Xing Yue gritted her teeth, watching Qi Yu Ze's retreating back, her gaze deepening considerably.
She had never felt so humiliated before. "Your Majesty..."
Ta Xue and Wu Hen walked in. Seeing Xue Xing Yue, they quickly approached and asked with concern, "Your Majesty, did the young prince bully you?"
Xue Xing Yue shook her head. "Do I look like someone who would be bullied?"
Ta Xue was about to ask more, but Wu Hen stopped her. "Your Majesty, Duke Meng..."
"Let him sleep here for a night. Wu Hen, come here, I have something to instruct."
Wu Hen patted Ta Xue's shoulder and walked out. In the imperial study, Xue Xing Yue explained her thoughts. Wu Hen was startled and whispered, "Your Majesty, kill them all?"
Xue Xing Yue nodded. "Yes. So, later, you will impersonate me and engage with Qi Yu Ze. Don't anger him. Whatever he says, agree to it. Try to stay away from him."
"Your Majesty, why don't this servant kill them for you!" Wu Hen felt that it was easier to kill than to spar with the young prince of Nan Ping.
"No, once it's exposed, I can protect myself!" Xue Xing Yue said.
Wu Hen had no retort, because what the Empress said was correct.
In the carriage outside the palace, Zhao Yan Luo looked at the calm Qi Yu Ze and asked, "Is the young prince so sure that the Empress will release the two imperial princes?"
Qi Yu Ze said, "This king knows many of her weaknesses. She can only let the two princes leave."
"Won't there be a trick?" Zhao Yan Luo still didn't quite believe that the Empress would release the two princes.
"Of course there will be a trick, but not now."
"Then when?" Zhao Yan Luo asked.
Qi Yu Ze said, "On the way, on the way back to Qi Kingdom."
Zhao Yan Luo was startled. "Then the young prince should increase his manpower, otherwise, I fear it will be a wasted effort."
"As long as we keep a close watch on the Empress, there will be no trouble."
Zhao Yan Luo was about to ask how to keep a close watch on the Empress when a voice came from outside. "The young prince's imperial decree has arrived!"