He ran out naked, desperately seeking help!
Little did he know that as soon as he ran out, he was captured by a group of imperial guards who accused him of harboring a key witness in a corruption case and attempting to silence them through murder.
His image instantly transformed from that of an unruly, greedy, and lustful young noble to a calculating scion from a prestigious family.
When he was taken away naked, even his fair-weather friends looked at him with admiration.
No, that's not it!
What's there to admire?
He's about to lose his life!
Qu Tianzhong, who had been whipped within an inch of his life, heard an angry shout: "This is forced confession! Does the Emperor know how you're conducting this investigation?"
"Elder Qu, it was the Emperor himself who ordered the joint investigation by the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Personnel, and the Court of Judicial Review."
The implication was clear - if he had any complaints or objections about their investigation methods, he should take it up with the Emperor himself.
"Where is the Emperor?"
"He just left a moment ago, probably returned to the Jiuzhou Qingyan Palace."
The vast hall was lit by countless oil lamps and candles, with wooden carvings on the walls holding large, bright luminous pearls.
"Everyone, leave!"
After being busy outside all day, the gu worms in his arm seemed restless, about to burst through his flesh, causing such pain that his head was spinning.
As an emperor, he couldn't show weakness in front of his subordinates; he didn't want anyone to see him faint from pain.
Wang Dequan waved his hand, dismissing all the palace servants, while he helped the Emperor sit down on the bed.
The Xuanwu Emperor sat with his back to the bed, and Wang Dequan's eyes widened as he saw a small head peeking out from under the covers.
Your Majes...
Jiang Xinyue pressed her finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.
The Xuanwu Emperor hissed in pain, his vision becoming so blurry that he saw two Wang Dequans.
"You may withdraw as well."
Everything was swaying, making him dizzy.
Wang Dequan was concerned about the Emperor's condition and wanted to stay, but seeing the Imperial Consort hiding under the covers, he lowered his eyes and withdrew.
The Emperor clutched the bandage on his arm, applying tremendous pressure as if trying to crush the gu worm to death.
But if Miao Borderlands' gu sorcery could be broken so easily, people wouldn't be so terrified of it.
The Xuanwu Emperor relaxed his body and fell back onto the bed, startled when his back touched a soft body, causing him to jolt upright.
But a pair of nimble hands had already wrapped around his shoulders, and the Emperor instinctively moved to throw the person off.
How dare a palace maid climb onto his imperial bed - did she not value her life?
The Emperor, who had some martial arts training, grabbed the woman's arm and pulled her out from under his arm, preparing to throw her without mercy.
"Ah—"
The woman cried out sweetly: "Your Majesty!"
It's Yue'er!
Jiang Xinyue's body was already being thrown, but hadn't yet left his grip. Upon recognizing her, the Xuanwu Emperor violently pulled his arm back!
"Crack!"
"Ugh!"
He managed to save her, but the Emperor's arm was broken in the process.
Late at night, the Qu family knelt outside the Jiuzhou Qingyan Palace, begging for an audience with the Emperor, but were denied entry.
The hurried footsteps of the imperial physicians woke the drowsy father of Qu Tianzhong. He forced himself to stay alert and peered inside: "The Emperor has been poisoned by gu and his health has deteriorated. Perhaps we should return tomorrow?"
Madam Zhen slapped him: "When we're begging someone, we must show the proper attitude. Whether the Emperor sees us or not is his decision. It doesn't matter if you've forgotten what your father said, but don't forget that Third Son is your only child. If anything happens to him, the Qu family line ends with you."
Qu Pengfei touched his cheek and reluctantly straightened his back while kneeling.
Inside the Jiuzhou Qingyan Palace, Yan the Imperial Physician was trying his hardest not to laugh, while the other physicians trembled in fear, worried that the Imperial Consort might silence them.
They had never seen someone so shameless... no, someone so adaptable.
The Emperor sat on the bed with a stern face, his eyes fixed intently on the Imperial Consort.
And what was the Imperial Consort doing?
She knelt far away, covering her ears with both hands and shrinking her neck, head bowed low, not daring to meet the Emperor's gaze. Occasionally she would steal a glance, then quickly lower her head again, clearly guilty.
After the physicians had finished binding the Emperor's arm in a sling, the Imperial Consort tried to inch her way out of the Emperor's chambers on her knees.
"Ahem!"
The Emperor merely coughed twice, and the Imperial Consort froze mid-movement. She raised her head, gave the Emperor an ingratiating smile, and quickly shuffled back to her original spot.
But she wasn't being entirely docile. She deliberately put on a pitiful expression, rubbing her knees and lower back, pouting as she met the Emperor's gaze.
Yan the Imperial Physician had never seen such a timid Imperial Consort before!
Usually when he saw her, she had the Emperor wrapped around her finger, but this time the Emperor stood his ground!
The next moment...
Jiang Xinyue whimpered and pretended to cry: "Hmm... Your Majesty... I really didn't mean to, I just wanted to give you a surprise! You didn't even recognize me, and I wasn't even angry about that! Why are you angry?"
Goodness!
She had broken the Emperor's arm, yet she was still so righteous about it?
The Emperor gave a cold laugh: "Yes, thanks to you, I can't even feel the pain of the gu worm burrowing through my flesh anymore."
Jiang Xinyue seized the opportunity, quickly standing up and running to the bedside. She plopped down beside the Emperor, hugging him and nuzzling her head against his chest: "Your Majesty is magnanimous, please don't hold it against this humble woman. I truly, truly, truly love you. My admiration for you is like the endless flow of the great river, continuous and eternal. You are the guiding light in my life, without you, I would..."
"Silence!"
"Yes, sir!"
She stopped talking immediately, then poked at his injured arm: "This is a wound Your Majesty received while saving me - it's a medal of honor for a good man."
She even made it rhyme - was she trying to be a great poet?
The Xuanwu Emperor couldn't help but laugh, and that shameless little thing poked at his upturned lips, speaking in a soft voice: "Now that Your Majesty has smiled, you can't punish me anymore!"
Taking advantage of his favor!
True shameless exploitation of his favor!
All the physicians thought simultaneously: If I were the Emperor, I wouldn't be able to resist - how could anyone punish such an adorable beauty?
"Stay away from me."
His emotions were stirred, making the gu worm burrow more painfully.
The physicians' eyes widened - as fellow men, they admired the Emperor's ability to resist such a heavenly beauty as the Imperial Consort.
Jiang Xinyue smoothly slid to the foot of the bed and looked at him expectantly: "Is this far enough?"
Adorable, want to...
Xuanwu took a deep breath: "Get out!"
Jiang Xinyue showed a shocked expression, angrily stood up, and lifted her skirts to leave.
"I wasn't talking to you."
The Qu family was still kneeling outside, and if they saw Yue'er leaving the Jiuzhou Qingyan Palace, they might direct their anger towards her.
