A chilling remark from Chu Qing froze everyone present.
Even the emperor and Wei Ying wore rather complicated expressions.
Was it really okay to put it so bluntly?
The initially enraged emperor suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
This imperial aunt had hit him right where it hurt.
But somehow, he just couldn't bring himself to be angry with Chu Qing, as if he were born to be masochistic.
He was almost starting to suspect that he had been bewitched by Chu Qing!
...
Noticing the tense atmosphere, Chu Qing gave a soft cough and continued, "The Empress Dowager has always been a woman of great righteousness. Even if it's her own younger brother, I'm sure she won't show any partiality."
With that, she flattered the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager's face changed several times.
The words she wanted to say in plea got stuck in her throat, neither able to be spoken nor swallowed.
Did she owe this Chu Qing something in her past life?
Seeing that everyone had ignored him, Xiao He panicked and crawled to the Empress Dowager's feet.
"Sis..." The word had just slipped out when he was silenced by the Empress Dowager's menacing glare. Xiao He swallowed hard and said with a look of extreme repentance, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please plead for me! I'm a scumbag! But men, when they're seduced, they lose all their senses. They do the most idiotic things! I swear! This will never happen again! Otherwise, may I... may I die a horrible death!"
The Empress Dowager's expression wavered. She looked at the emperor and then at the sobbing Xiao He. After a heavy sigh, she finally spoke, "Your Majesty, how do you plan to deal with this?"
After his anger subsided, the emperor seemed much calmer.
But Chu Qing still noticed that his hands behind his back were tightly clenched. Her heart tightened as well.
This child was still suffering after all.
Just as Chu Qing was about to say something in support of the emperor, the emperor spoke first, "What does Mother think should be done?"
His voice was devoid of any warmth, even as cold as an ice cave in winter.
The Empress Dowager tightened her cloak and her gaze shifted from Xiao He to Concubine Xuan.
Then, she slowly said, "Just have Concubine Xuan beaten to death with a rod. Such a promiscuous and immoral woman doesn't deserve any leniency."
Concubine Xuan, who had just been sentenced to death, stood there motionless, as if the one sentenced was not herself.
The Empress Dowager continued, "As for Xiao He... I think the death penalty is out of the question. After all, he's your maternal uncle, and the Xiao family's lineage depends on him! Men make mistakes, don't they?"
Chu Qing pressed her throbbing temple to suppress her anger.
How come she never noticed before that the Empress Dowager was so brazen!
Did she think no one could control her anymore?
Thinking of this, Chu Qing let out a cold laugh and said bluntly, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, men do make mistakes. But making mistakes against the emperor is nothing short of contempt for imperial authority! Xiao He is just a member of the Xiao family, but Your Majesty, you are no longer a part of the Xiao family. How can you not think for the royal family but only for the Xiao family? Could it be that Your Majesty has other intentions?"
Chu Qing's words, though not too loud, hit hard.
The emperor's heart sank.
He had expected the Empress Dowager's words. But the words of the Princess of Ning seemed to have reminded him of something.
The Xiao family was being too disrespectful to him and the Yuan family.
As the legitimate royal family of the Great Yan Kingdom, being slapped in the face like this was truly humiliating!
The Empress Dowager understood Chu Qing's words and her face turned grim.
Originally, she wanted to downplay this matter. But Chu Qing's repeated remarks, especially the accusation of contempt for imperial authority, were too much for them to bear!
Even though she had never really respected this... son.
But some things were better left unsaid.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was silent, Chu Qing curled her lips and continued, "Why isn't Your Majesty the Empress Dowager saying anything? If your plea just now was just for show, we won't say anything. But if you still insist on pleading for him and ignore what the emperor has been... well... then I have nothing more to say. So, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, how do you plan to deal with Xiao He?"
The Empress Dowager was so angry with Chu Qing that she could hardly speak!
This woman was threatening her!
Even though she did want to plead for Xiao He, but since Chu Qing had put it like this! If she still insisted on pleading, it would really be... trampling on the emperor's face and disregarding the royal dignity!
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and then said, "Is Xiao He really...?"
She still refused to give up and wanted to know if there was any room for redemption.
The emperor's eyes, once full of light, were now replaced by darkness after his disappointment.
The Empress Dowager shivered when the emperor glanced at her.
She had never seen the emperor like this before.
So, she swallowed back the words that were about to come out and could only cover her face and say, "Fine, do as you see fit! I'm tired. I'll go back and rest first!"
With that, the Empress Dowager turned around and rushed into the palace as if fleeing.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager no longer cared about him, Xiao He instantly despaired and roared, "Sister! You can't treat me like this! I'm the only heir of the Xiao family! You can't forget your natal family just because you've become the Empress Dowager! The emperor has so many women! What's wrong with me having a fling with one of them!"
He still refused to repent!
The emperor's face darkened and he lifted his foot to kick Xiao He, but he missed...?
It was Chu Qing who had kicked Xiao He far away before him!
The emperor's gloom gradually faded, replaced by... a strange sense of emptiness?
This imperial aunt of his was being too kind to him, wasn't she?
And how could her martial arts skills be even better than his!
At this moment, Chu Qing didn't notice the emperor's complex emotions.
She was really angry.
Even counting her past life, she had never met a man as disgusting as Xiao He, who made her lose control and resort to violence.
He was truly despicable and shameless to the extreme!
So, when she heard the more and more outrageous and filthy words from his mouth, Chu Qing's leg uncontrollably kicked hard at Xiao He's chest.
No, it wasn't enough.
Chu Qing really wanted to castrate Xiao He and turn him into a human pig.
And then... let him watch his wife having an affair with other men.
Just thinking about it made her feel great!
Some people should be made to feel the pain they have inflicted on others.
And the pain should be even deeper!
Before Chu Qing could continue, a scream suddenly rang out. Concubine Xuan had somehow crawled to Xiao He's side and bitten his face.
When Xiao He tried to push her away, he found that he had no strength left after being kicked by Chu Qing and couldn't move her at all!
Concubine Xuan bit while muttering,
"All men are the same! They're all scum!"