Chapter 261 Reward

The three little girls stood in a row from tallest to shortest. Although they were all short and stout little girls, their aura was not weak.

Princess Fu Ning was a ruthless woman who dared to touch the emperor's beard; Lu Diandian was also a formidable figure in the capital, carrying a goose with one hand; and Qiujiu, needless to say, was known to everyone for causing a ruckus in the southwest.

Emperor Jingming sat up straight and actually felt some pressure.

"I will interrogate Qiao Muyang myself. Why don't you go back first?"

How could the mighty Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty be interrogated by three children?

Fu Ning and Lu Diandian stared at Qiu Qiu with their eyes looking to the right, asking her what she meant.

Chiu Chiu stroked her chin, and after a long while nodded: "Let's go."

Adults need some space of their own.

Fu Ning and Lu Diandian agreed wholeheartedly and followed behind Qiujiu.

The three children, led by Qiuqiu, slowly moved toward the door, making Emperor Jingming's forehead veins throb. How could his precious little princess be like a little follower in front of Qiuqiu!

Once the three children were out of sight, Emperor Jingming's expression changed instantly. "Qiao Muyang, how dare you!"

When Qiao Muyang was brought into the palace, he knew he had no chance of turning things around. Now, he had no more reservations: "You all forced me into this!"

The Wenyang Marquis's family killed his family members, and Emperor Jingming stripped him of his official titles and drove him out of the capital like a stray dog. That's why he had no choice but to go to the southwest to seek refuge with that person.

Otherwise, how could his face have been slashed and turned into a plaything?

He, Qiao Muyang, should have been a celestial being in the heavens, but now he can only eke out a living in this world like a dog, all thanks to them!

"Your Majesty, how long do you think you can hold onto your throne?" Qiao Muyang asked sarcastically. Did he really think that killing the Shao family and the people of the previous dynasty would bring peace to the world?

Beset by internal and external troubles, the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty is coming to an end!

Emperor Jingming sat up straight, his expression playful. "Oh, then tell me, who can secure my throne?"

Qiao Muyang remained silent, and Emperor Jingming gave Eunuch Liu a wink. The eunuch immediately stepped forward and stood behind Qiao Muyang, holding the whisk upside down with its sharp handle aimed at Qiao Muyang's lower back.

"ah!"

Qiao Muyang cried out in pain and knelt on the ground. Eunuch Liu kicked him again, sending him sprawling to the ground. The handle of the whisk pressed against his face, the force distorting his features.

The cold touch lingered on his face, sliding up to near his eyes. Qiao Muyang couldn't help but tremble. Eunuch Liu chuckled shrilly, "Young Master Qiao, don't be afraid. This old servant's whisk has blinded many people; I guarantee my hand won't shake and make you feel the pain a second time."

Qiao Muyang's teeth chattered as he thought of his ordeal in the Southwest. He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head frantically, but how could Eunuch Liu let him off so easily?

He too had risen through the ranks of palace intrigue, and had simply stopped using those insidious methods of torture a few years ago. He glanced back at Emperor Jingming, and seeing that His Majesty had no intention of stopping him, he moved the handle of his whisk away from near his eye socket and slid it down, finally striking hard at the spot three inches from his navel.

"Ahhh!"

Qiao Muyang curled up in pain, his mouth agape in fury. Large beads of sweat poured from his forehead. "Ah...you, you..."

Eunuch Liu sneered, "Young Master Qiao, are you still not going to tell me?"

Qiao Muyang clutched his groin, his face deathly pale. He glared venomously at Eunuch Liu, but the moment Eunuch Liu raised his whisk, he immediately cowered and cried out for mercy: "No! No!"

"I tell you! I tell you!"

Emperor Jingming gave Eunuch Liu an approving look: "Liu Debao, it's a real pity you're not going to the Ministry of Justice."

Eunuch Liu: "Your Majesty is joking. This old servant only serves by your side. I wouldn't go to any other place."

"Hahaha, very well. You may leave. I want to hear what secrets Young Master Qiao has to tell me!"

Eunuch Liu considerately closed the main hall door and instructed all the guards to step aside. He himself stood guard not far away.

The conversation inside lasted for almost another half hour, and Eunuch Liu outside couldn't hear a single word. The sun was shining brightly; the weather was fine today. He looked up at the sky, stroking the fine hairs of his whisk.

I wonder how much longer this peaceful life will last!

"Liu Debao".

Liu Gonggong snapped out of his daze, his worried expression vanishing, and strode into the hall. "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

He glanced at Qiao Muyang's ashen face out of the corner of his eye, and roughly understood what was going on. Then Emperor Jingming gave the order: "Issue my decree that Qiao Muyang has treasoned and is guilty of a capital offense. He shall be beheaded in the street at the beginning of next month! Su Qiuqiu of the Wenyang Marquis's Mansion has made meritorious contributions in capturing the rebels. She shall be granted the title of County Princess, and awarded a fief of three hundred households and ten thousand taels of gold."

Eunuch Liu was surprised. He could roughly guess that Qiao Muyang was doomed, but he did not expect that His Majesty would bestow the title of County Princess upon Qiuqiu and grant her a fiefdom!

Even the granddaughter of the eldest princess doesn't have such an honor. This is just too much pampering!

However, he really liked Miss Qiuqiu and was happy for her, so he immediately agreed: "This old servant will draft the decree immediately."

Qiao Muyang is related to Marquis Wenyang, and if Qiao Muyang were to collude with the enemy, the Marquis Wenyang's family would certainly be implicated. However, with Qiuqiu's bestowal of rewards, the court naturally knew that His Majesty had not held a grudge against the Marquis Wenyang's family. Truly, his intentions were far from perfect!

Eunuch Liu serves Emperor Jingming every day, so he naturally knows that His Majesty has had a falling out with Marquis Su and Lord Lu. He only hopes that they can put aside their grudges as soon as possible, because the Great Zhou needs them!

While enjoying snacks and filing complaints in the Queen's palace, Qiuqiu became a county princess.

But for Qiuqiu, whether she was a county princess or not was irrelevant; she had more important things to do. She sat next to the Empress, fiddling with her hair, pitifully trying to gain sympathy in front of the Empress.

The Empress was stunned, and finally slammed her hand on the table, joining Qiuqiu in indignation: "Your Majesty has gone too far!"

The palace maids and eunuchs serving in the palace knelt on the ground, and they could only pretend not to hear such treasonous words.

Only the masters looked angry.

Fu Ning climbed onto the Empress's lap using both hands and feet, which delighted the Empress. Her little princess was good in every way except for being too independent, but today she could let him enjoy some family time.

Fu Ning hugged his mother's neck, his two short legs jumping around wildly, which made the Empress's face change in pain.

"Good boy, Fu Ning, your mother... your mother is in pain."

Feeling guilty, Fu Ning quieted down under Qiu Qiu's angry little glare. She hadn't meant it; her mother was just a little delicate. Actually, she was just being affectionate!

Chirp: [Stop acting all cutesy, or the Empress will be trampled!]

Fu Ning sat up obediently, "Chirp chirp, it's bitter!"

The Queen was so overwhelmed by her daughter's affection that she nodded and said, "Yes, thank you for your hard work, Chiu Chiu."

Chirp looked so pitiful; it must have been really tough for her!

Fu Ning waved her hand and said, "Reward!"

The Empress chimed in, "Reward him!"

Chirp: "Okay!"

Lu Diandian scratched her head. Why did she feel like the Empress had been tricked?