"So in the Tianxin Hall..." Yue Mingxuan said while lifting an eyebrow, "one is not even allowed to speak the truth?"
"What insolence!" Concubine Hua, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke after glancing at the Emperor's expression. Her tone was soft and elegant, yet her words were sharp. "To speak so boldly before His Majesty, how shameless. Drag him out and teach him a lesson, lest this child forgets his place."
Of course, it was Concubine Hua. Even her anger sounded gentle, which perfectly matching her title.
Yue Mingxuan couldn't tell whether she thought him unworthy of her full rage, or if she simply wished to hide her venom before the Emperor.
"Yes, Your Grace," Madam Zhen replied eagerly. Her eyes gleamed as she stepped forward with the arrogance of someone drunk on power.
It was time, she thought, to properly discipline this shameless Yue Mingxuan. How dare he refuse to kneel before her in public? Even the less favored princesses of this kingdom gave her due respect. How much less should a mere foreign-born prince dare defy her?
As Madam Zhen strode toward Yue Mingxuan, everyone in the hall, except for those sitting in the main seats looked excited. Even the eunuchs and palace maids seemed eager to see him dragged out and beaten, hoping he might even die from it.
The Emperor, at some unknown moment, had closed his eyes and appeared to have fallen asleep.
Rong Tieshan sat beside him with no expression, he hold a teacup gracefully as he sipped the fragrant tea, as if his mind were far away and none of this had anything to do with him.
Yue Mingxuan knew there was no use counting on Rong Tieshan. What puzzled him was the Emperor's silence. Still, with the blade already hanging above his head, Yue Mingxuan spoke in a cold, steady voice.
"Concubine Hua, you have no proof, yet you wish to punish me. Is this not an abuse of power?"
His eyes were sharp and icy, like an iceberg hidden beneath deep ocean waves. That cold gaze made everyone shiver. Madam Zhen who is getting startled by the frost in his eyes hesitated and stopped for a brief moment.
For the first time, she felt a strange fear, as if she dared raise her hand against him, she might not live to see another day.
Just as Madam Zhen hesitated, Concubine Hua gently set down her teacup.
Her voice was still soft and charming, revealing no clear emotion. "Since the Fifth Prince refuses to admit guilt, then we must naturally find evidence. As for evidence… it isn't difficult to tell whether a man or woman is still pure. Madam Zhen, take him down and inspect him carefully."
Yue Mingxuan's eyes darkened instantly. Seeing the faint excitement flicker in Concubine Hua's expression, he realized he had fallen into her trap. The punishment had been a lie, the true purpose was to force him to resist and then use that as an excuse to "inspect" his body.