Chapter 41: The Death of the Imperial Concubine

  The delicate makeup of the imperial concubine cracked, her face turned pale and white, her palms were full of hot sweat, avoiding the gaze of Cold Xue Yue, she dragged the long hem of her skirt from behind Imperial Concubine Jiang's back, step by step, to the front of Emperor Yuè, her slender body knelt down on the ground, her head hung low, her shoulders slightly trembling, looking pitiful and evoking sympathy.

  "Your Majesty, I was wrong. The engagement between Ao'er and Miss Leng was just a casual remark made by our elders back then, and no formal agreement was ever made. It's not considered a formal engagement. I'm to blame for being selfish and wanting my own family to be more prestigious, and for Ling Wangfei to have the dignity of being the mistress of the house in the future. I am willing to accept punishment for my mistake."

  Originally, as an official's daughter, she had a sense of fighting for her own family's status from birth, and she wanted to make her family more prosperous, which is not unreasonable.

  If anyone is to blame, it can only be said that Leng Ziyue's status is too low and she doesn't match up to Ling Wang.

  Although Ling Wang was only a king with a different surname, he had no blood relationship with the imperial family, but after all, he was still a prince, and it was not something that a candidate's daughter could aspire to.

  The crisp applause sounded a bit out of place in the sorrowful atmosphere, and Leng Ziyue's jade-like small hands clapped together with bold and elegant gestures, exuding an extraordinary nobility. Her pink lips curved into a beautiful arc as she spoke softly: "Empress Zhuang, you have a good talent for speaking, able to turn black into white. Why don't you tell the civil and military officials sitting here about how you tormented me back then in order to force me not to bother Zhang Xiao?"

  Slender fingers as delicate as scallions, radiating a pale white glow in the sunlight, as if they could take someone's life away in an instant.

  Zhuang Fei's whole body trembled, and at this moment, Leng Ziyue was like the female king of hell, bringing with her a chilling aura that filled Zhuang Fei with fear.

  "Your Majesty, I, your humble subject, have something to say." Old General Zhang Zhen stood up, his majestic official robes exuding an air of authority, and walked to the center of the hall. He bowed deeply to Emperor Yuè and said loudly.

  He's lived a big life, if he can't even handle a young girl, then he's wasted his life.

  In his heart, he regretted even more the bet he made with Zhong Jun and his wife back then, deciding on this marriage between their children. It was simply a slap in his face, making him regret it so much that his intestines turned green.

  "You all speak with courtesy, but in short, it's just that Miss's status is too low and can't climb up to the Ling Wang Fu's family marriage. However... ... ... ... " The long-drawn-out words had satisfied everyone's appetite, and only then did Cold Ziyue raise her icy phoenix eyes, saying word by word: "Today, regardless of whether you are obedient or not, threatening or arrogant, Miss just wants to see with her own eyes the price paid for what Empress Zhuang has done for herself. Whoever dares to intervene, Miss will trample him flat."

  The engagement was set up in a way that Leng Ziyue had no interest in knowing, all she knew was that Ling Wang, this hesitant man, was not her type, and didn't need to look at her with such complicated eyes, which only made her feel more disgusted.

  "How dare you, who gave you the audacity to utter such treasonous words?" The Empress Dowager was furious again, she absolutely could not let this little girl continue to slap the imperial family in the face.

  "Empress Dowager, you seem to always like to take charge and make decisions on behalf of the Emperor. The Emperor hasn't even spoken yet, what's your hurry? Or are you trying to get a feel for ruling from behind the curtains?" Cold Ziyue said with a slight pout, her tone light and airy.

  The Emperor stretched out his hand to stop the Empress Dowager from speaking, "You have something to persuade me to agree to your request."

  He is the ruler of a country, how can he be fooled by her everywhere?

  "In no other place would I dare say this, but within the borders of Qi Yue Guo, there is probably not a single person who can surpass me in both music and painting. Your Majesty thinks it's feasible for me to represent Qi Yue Guo at the Ling Long banquet? I'd like to speak frankly: don't tell me that just because I'm from Qi Yue Guo, I have an obligation to participate in this competition. I have no interest in it, nor do I have the energy to play games with a group of fools. With half of my bloodline being from the hidden tribe, I have the right to refuse participation. Even the imperial family doesn't have the qualifications to force me to participate. This jade pendant is a good trump card for times of crisis, but it's not enough to require the hidden tribe to make an appearance."

  Yuandi gazed at Leng Ziyue, he had seen countless people, but even he couldn't help but notice her half-hearted thoughts.

  It's hard to say whether she was being deliberately mysterious or just naturally so.

  "The Emperor wouldn't mind sacrificing a woman, under the heavens, everything belongs to the king, there are many women more beautiful and younger than her, exchanging her life for the honor of Qi Yue country is worth it. I won't take advantage of others too much either, any competition that I participate in, only victory is allowed, not defeat, it's a compensation for the Emperor's favor." Not giving up yet, Leng Ziyue glanced at Zhuangfei, whose makeup was ruined by sweat, and felt that her disheveled state wasn't enough to calm down her anger.

  Ice Aunt made her think of a way to get that mysterious thing at the Linglong banquet, and take the opportunity to get rid of people she didn't like, which Cold Ziyue thought was quite interesting.

  Her life was originally not very enjoyable, and it's hard to come by some fun, so if she doesn't take her time to enjoy it, it would be a waste.

  "What if you lose?" For some reason, Yuè Dì believed that Lěng Zǐ Yuè had the ability to do it, and he was willing to pay any price to get it.

  Only then could he see her.

  Leng Xueyu is undoubtedly the person who has given him the most surprises, and he is willing to believe her.

  "If I lose, I'll give you my head." She was quite lonely and wouldn't grow without an opponent. To become stronger, she needed a stronger opponent.

  "Haha, just based on this sentence alone, Empress Zhuang, you may be punished at will." The Moon Emperor gave a cold command without even looking at Empress Zhuang.

  At this dinner party, in front of all the court officials, he had already lost all the face he could lose, what else was there to be concerned about.

  "Please reconsider, Your Majesty." Old Ling Wang heavily knelt to the ground. He only had one younger sister, and she was still in imperial favor at that time. If Empress Zhuang were to die, their family would also be implicated.

  Baili Changjian's eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper, Baili Hongfeng had been watching the play all along, no one could see the fist he clenched in his sleeve.

  This woman is really too attractive, it's hard for people not to be drawn to her.

  "Yuer, that's between the two of us. I can understand why you're angry... Can't you just...?" Zhang Xiao didn't know how to appease Leng Zuo Yuer's anger, nor did he know what face he had left to ask Leng Zuo Yuer to spare his aunt. Others might not know, but he was very clear about the cruel and poisonous ways of Zhuang Fei.

  "Shut up, Miss's name is also something you can call." Leng Ziyue coldly scolded with a disgusted tone, she really couldn't put on a good face for someone she didn't like.

  Zhang Xiao's body trembled, his footsteps somewhat unsteady, and after a long while, he slowly opened his mouth to say: "Miss Leng, please spare my aunt, she is just..."

  That was his own aunt; how could he not save her?

  "Ling Wang, are you joking? I've already sold myself to the Emperor as a pawn, and she's my reward. What benefit would I get from letting her go?" Cold Ziyue smiled lightly, her pink lips appearing even more luscious and inviting in the sunlight, tempting one to take a taste of their sweetness.

  Baili Chenyuan stroked his chin, his faint voice like a breeze blowing into everyone's ears. Some were delighted, some feared, and it led to endless speculation among the crowd. "I think that if someone is guilty, they should be punished. Otherwise, what's the point of having laws?"

  "The Emperor is wise, since ancient times, the orders of one's parents and the words of a matchmaker are to be obeyed. Princess Zhuang said that without a formal agreement, it cannot be considered settled, but she has committed the crime of deceiving the monarch." Leng Ziyue finished speaking, and smiled slightly as she looked at Princess Zhuang.

  Fear is what makes it fun, otherwise there's nothing to play with.

  Although she didn't understand why the Blood King spoke up for her three or four times, Leng Xueying accepted his kindness. She would find an opportunity to remove his mask and see what he really looked like.

  "Take action!" The Moon Emperor withdrew his gaze and no longer looked at Zhuang Fei's desperate eyes.

  "Your Majesty, I don't want to... please, Your Majesty...", Empress Zhuang cried until her face was covered in tears, and without regard for anything, she threw herself at the feet of Emperor Yu, grasping his pant legs tightly with both hands as she begged.

  Liu Gonggong immediately summoned the guards, dragged away Zhuang Fei. The harem still didn't know how many concubines would wildly celebrate because of Zhuang Fei's loss of favor, that was just how the imperial palace was.

  "Empress Zhuang, have you ever thought that this day would come? Since ancient times, emperors have been heartless, how can you expect the Emperor to save you?" Leng Ziyue whispered into Empress Zhuang's ear.

  "This palace will kill you, kill you..." Zuan Fei gritted her teeth and spoke in a vicious tone, her hands pinching towards Leng Ziyue's neck.

  A red-clad figure flashed by, and Leng Xue's shadow had already retreated two steps. She raised her hand and said, "Do you know that the flowers nurtured with blood are the most beautiful in the world? The blood of Empress Zhuang must be able to make those flowers bloom even more beautifully. Put her on the execution rack, first use needle torture, then beat her to death."

  Her lips lightly opened, and her cold, harsh words poured out like flowing water, once again silencing the entire room, even causing everyone's breathing to pause.

  "Don't——" A shrill scream shook the sky, making one's hair stand on end. The Empress was struggling wildly, her long silver needle flashing with a silvery light in the sunlight, its sharp and pointed tip making people's scalps feel numb, as if it were piercing their own skin.

  The old palace master ignored Zhuang Fei's struggles and continued to pin her down, seemingly oblivious to her screams.

  "Shut her up, this voice is really annoying to death." Leng Ziyue scratched her ear and turned her head to look at Zhang Xiao's pale face, saying softly: "Even if you kneel down and beg me, she will still die without a doubt."

  His body trembling, at this moment, Zhang Xiao felt that he completely did not recognize the cold-blooded female Asura in front of him. She was so cruel and yet so dazzling, causing him to be deeply trapped and in agony.