Chapter 176 Slap

Chapter 176: The Slap

Consort Chen looked at Zhou Mingqi, her eyes widening in disbelief.

She could hardly believe her ears! Nothing? How could there be nothing?!

She had planned so meticulously, it should have been foolproof! Unless... unless His Majesty... he was deliberately shielding that useless Crown Prince!

That bastard had committed such an absurd scandal, yet Zhou Mingqi still wanted to protect him! Then what was her Hao'er worth?

The immense disappointment and fury of being toyed with instantly clouded her mind.

She suddenly crawled forward on her knees and tightly gripped the hem of Zhou Mingqi's dragon robe.

"Your Majesty! Did you not see clearly?! The Director of the Imperial Observatory has observed the stars for years without error; if he says there is an auspicious omen, then there must be one!

You, Your Majesty, are the true Dragon Son of Heaven, having witnessed it yourself, you must surely discern whether it is auspicious or calamitous!

Undoubtedly, Your Majesty has already seen through everything and made a sage judgment!"

Her voice carried a sharp edge, her gaze fixed on Zhou Mingqi, her resentment and ambition fully exposed in that moment.

"Your Majesty, if you did not see clearly, I am willing to light a lantern for you. Let all the imperial clansmen and ministers enter together and see for themselves..."

With that, Consort Chen made to rise, intending to have her palace attendants follow her into the hall.

Zhou Mingqi glanced down at her undignified state, his face still calm and unruffled.

"Slap!" A resounding slap landed on Consort Chen's face without warning.

Consort Chen was caught off guard, her whole body knocked sideways.

Her hair was disheveled, jade hairpins and ornaments clattering to the ground, and a clear red mark of five fingers immediately appeared on her cheek.

The entire world seemed to fall silent.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger——"

All those kneeling bowed their heads even lower, wishing they could bury themselves in the cracks of the floor, trembling all over, holding their breath.

Zhou Mingqi withdrew his hand, looking down at Consort Chen who had collapsed to the ground, his gaze dark and deep.

"Consort Chen, lacking propriety and morals, offending the imperial presence. From this day forward, you are confined to Changchun Palace.

Without my decree, you may not step out of the palace gates. All powers of administering the six palaces are revoked!"

The words "lacking virtue" struck like the heaviest sentence.

Consort Chen fell heavily onto the cold ground, her cheek burning with pain.

Her hair was disheveled, her gaze hollow and vacant, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

She did not understand why her foolproof plan had led to this.

Not only had she failed to topple the Crown Prince, but she had lost an important right-hand man and been cast into the abyss herself?

For an Imperial Consort to be publicly slapped by the Emperor, that was the ultimate humiliation. How could she ever hold her head up in the imperial harem again?

"Imperial Father." Zhou Hao, who had wanted to step forward and plead for mercy, was firmly restrained by his maternal grandfather, Chen Li, and forced to kneel.

Zhou Mingqi swept his gaze over the silenced crowd, his anger hidden beneath an expressionless face.

"The Mid-Autumn Banquet is a grand state event; we must not let a minor disturbance ruin the rites. The Ministry of Rites is to continue the banquet as per tradition. Ministers need not stand on ceremony."

Without waiting for a response, he turned decisively and strode away with his retinue.

The bright yellow figure soon disappeared at the end of the palace corridor, leaving behind a courtyard of deathly silence.

……

Zhou Mingqi looked up at the sky, then turned and stepped into the hall.

A wave of unusual heat mixed with muffled gasps rushed at him, a stark contrast to the stillness outside.

Cheng Ge's roars were nearly spent, yet still retained a broken frenzy.

Yun Xunyu held Cheng Ge's arms tightly from behind, but his body still writhed and struggled uncontrollably.

Like a drawn bow, every muscle was taut to the limit.

His eyes were bloodshot, gleaming with tears, an unnatural flush on his face.

His long hair was soaked with sweat, a few strands clinging to his neck and cheeks, like crushed begonias in a mess of decay.

His robe, already unfastened from the heat and struggle, exposed his collarbone and shoulders—a dangerous and tempting vulnerability.

Yun Xunyu's hair bun was slightly messy, his breathing unsteady, clearly straining to hold him back.

"Dear, bear with it a little longer; it will pass soon," he said, gently patting him on the back.

The imperial physician, who had been kneeling on the ground, stammered: "Your... Your Majesty... this drug is called 'Entwining Silk Poison,' not an ordinary aphrodisiac.

Its nature is as fierce as flame, yet it seeps into every meridian like a parasite, burning the bones and consuming the heart. We are completely helpless..."

The physician kowtowed deeply, not daring to look at the Emperor's expression. "This poison can only be alleviated through yin-yang relief, or else one must endure it.

Moreover, its effects will layer and intensify. Though fierce now, it is far from its peak. The peak will come in one hour.

At that time, it will feel like ten thousand ants gnawing at the heart and boiling oil pouring over the body. It will be extremely difficult to maintain one's senses..."

The physician's words struck like poison-tipped ice daggers, piercing the hearts of the two men in the hall.

Zhou Mingqi's face instantly darkened, as if it could drip ink. His knuckles were white from clenching.

Yun Xunyu abruptly turned his head, the suppressed anxiety and heartache in his eyes turning into terrifying murderous intent.

He glared at Zhou Mingqi, his voice grating through clenched teeth.

"If you can't control those dogs stirring up trouble in the harem, I don't mind doing the killing myself!"

The last syllable had barely fallen when a sudden change occurred! Perhaps the drug's approaching peak had shattered the last shred of self-control.

Cheng Ge let out a guttural roar unlike any human sound, and an overwhelming, devastating force burst forth from within his body.

Caught off guard, Yun Xunyu was suddenly freed as Cheng Ge violently broke his hold!

The next moment, the world spun for Yun Xunyu.

Cheng Ge, like a ferocious beast that had completely lost its senses, slammed Yun Xunyu heavily down onto the bed.

A heavy thud accompanied Yun Xunyu's muffled groan.

"Cheng Ge!" Zhou Mingqi's face was livid, veins bulging at his temples as he could no longer tolerate the chaotic, outrageous scene.

He strode forward, the hem of his dragon robe kicking up a cold breeze, and reached out to yank the frenzied Cheng Ge away.

But at this moment, Cheng Ge had not a shred of reason left.

Having his moment violently interrupted, a surge of overwhelming fury mixed with searing desire instantly consumed him.

Almost by instinct, he swung his hand back viciously—"Slap!"

A crisp, ringing slap—completely out of the blue—caught the reigning emperor square on the face.

(Cheng Ge, now sober—immediately buys a Guardian Angel.

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