Chapter 28 The Power of Dongfang Yuning's Voice

Nine dragons coiled around the pillars of the Golden Throne Hall, a solemn and dignified scene. The air seemed frozen, leaving only the ministers' held breaths and the heavy scent of burning ambergris.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Nangong Yu's face was ashen, as if carved from ten thousand years of ice, and the heavy pressure of the emperor enveloped the entire hall.

He had just finished reading out the final verdict on the heinous crimes of the Tang family for treason, Concubine Hui for defiling the palace, and confusing the royal bloodline:

"The Tang family has committed heinous crimes. Their entire clan must be executed, along with all nine generations of their family! Execute immediately!"

Every word carried the stench of blood and rust, pounding against the golden brick floor, stirring up a chilling, dead silence. The ministers were terrified, their heads bowed, not daring to look directly at the emperor.

The residual power of the shocking storm in the Cining Palace yesterday turned into a thunderous decree of annihilation today, and no one dared to say a word.

However, at the edge of this suffocating atmosphere, near a golden pillar with a coiled dragon on the inside of the hall door, there was an exquisite little stool covered with a thick brocade cushion, which was out of place with this solemn hall.

Dongfang Yuning was wrapped in a snow-white fox fur coat, her face still pale from a recent illness. She tried to straighten her body, trying to appear dignified, but her large, watery eyes kept wandering, her long eyelashes fluttering like little fans, clearly her mind had long since wandered to other things.

【Tong~】

She yawned slightly in her heart.

[So boring... My brother-in-law read the verdict like he was chanting a sutra, I almost fell asleep. This Golden Palace looks magnificent, but it's actually hard and cold. It's not even as comfortable as the soft couch in my Fengyi Palace! My butt is numb from sitting on it...]

The system immediately jumped into her mind:

[Ding! Host, hold on! First line of sight, even if your position is off-center, you have a unique perspective! The Tang family's cancer has been completely eradicated, and Concubine Hui's rotten melon and its vines have been uprooted. The host's early revelations are invaluable, and points +888!]

Reward: 'Melon Eating Pioneer' title (with a small-scale 'Mental Stress Resistance' aura to alleviate the host's irritability caused by boredom)!

Dongfang Yuning secretly rubbed his little butt in the wide sleeves of his fox fur coat and continued to complain in his heart:

"But Tong, don't you think my brother-in-law's efficiency is a bit incredible? We just broke the shocking news about Concubine Hui and the Tang family in the Cining Palace yesterday. We even revealed the whereabouts of the dragon robe and the nook and cranny where the body-checking nanny lived.

What happened? Today! This morning! The court directly announced the extermination of the nine clans of the Tang family? Their actions were so fast, even a rocket launch wouldn't be that fast, right?

She raised her little head suspiciously, her dark eyes secretly glancing at the majestic emperor brother-in-law sitting on the dragon throne, her little brows slightly furrowed:

[Hiss... something's wrong, something's very wrong! Tong, do you think... my brother-in-law... can't hear us whispering? Otherwise, this is too fast.]

When this thought came to his mind, Dongfang Yuning was shocked and his heart beat faster.

The system immediately enters alarm mode:

[Warning! Warning! The host's imagination is too big and has touched upon high-risk conjectures! This system has the highest level of privacy protection, with full encryption of sound waves, brain waves, and quantum fluctuations.

There's absolutely no way this plane could be monitored by low-dimensional creatures! Host, please trust science (crossed out) and trust the system! The most likely reason Nangong Yu is so fast is...]

The system's voice was deliberately raised, with a hint of pride:

[It's your wise and powerful nephew, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian, who has long been eyeing this big borer in the Tang family! He has been lurking in the dark, collecting evidence!

Yesterday's drama at the Cining Palace simply gave him a perfect, aboveboard excuse to close the net! "Master, your nephew is quite something! He's quite capable, yet he's hidden his true potential!"

Ah! I see!

Dongfang Yuning suddenly realized, and the little doubt in his heart instantly disappeared, replaced by starry-eyed admiration for his nephew.

"As expected of my nephew! So far-sighted! So resourceful! He's a real master at this undercover operation! Even at such a young age, he's already mastered the art of playing the long game. Much better than his... ahem, his dad! I have to give him a thumbs up!"

She couldn't help but twist slightly on the comfortable little stool, like a kitten that had found a cozy nest, and continued to enthusiastically fill the system with water:

[Tong, since we're talking about my eldest nephew, I, as his aunt (even though he's a little young), have to be a little concerned. Look at his father, he's a living negative example!

A bunch of wives, and what's the result? A fire in the backyard, and a shiny green hat! Isn't this a profound enough lesson? Chicken soup for the soul is a must! And it has to be consumed sooner rather than later!

Her eyes swept over the young yet calm figure of Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian standing solemnly in the front row:

Men, especially those in high positions, are most likely to be foolish. They always think their concubines are perfect, gentle, considerate, and understanding. Ugh! Do you believe it?

Ninety-nine percent of those women were after the chair under his butt, the money in his pocket, and his status as a prince!

Let your eldest nephew try it. Tomorrow he will be demoted to a commoner, penniless and living on the streets. Look at his gentle and lovely concubines, they run away faster than rabbits! Each one is more realistic than the other!

Her little face was filled with the seriousness of someone who was sober while everyone else was drunk:

[So, you have to make him understand deeply that the original wife is the treasure! Sharing weal and woe, understanding each other's warmth and coldness! Those beautiful women are just clouds! They are all after your resources!

Only a foolish man would harm the peonies he carefully cultivated at home for a few wild flowers by the roadside!

The system immediately responded:

[Host, your opinion is brilliant! The original wife's theory about Peony is brilliant! It has been included in "Yu Ning's Collection of Golden Quotes for Fighting Scumbag Men"! I suggest that the host continue to output this argument, ideally forming a brainwashing cycle! However...]

The system changed the subject, its tone taking on a subtle heaviness:

[Host, your argument about 'dirty men' and your accusations of these abominable feudal remnants... don't they also touch upon your own concerns?]

The expression on Dongfang Yuning's face instantly fell, like a punctured, drooping balloon.

She subconsciously tucked her face into the warm fox fur collar, shielding herself from the decaying world. She stared at the high, carved-beam, painted-roof dome of the Golden Throne Hall, her eyes filled with a sense of dazedness and intense resistance.

【Union...】

Her voice lowered in her heart, with a kind of fatigue and physical disgust that was not in line with her age.

"When I think about it... I feel sick all over. Just think, if those men heard their wives were sleeping with this one today and being touched by that one tomorrow, wouldn't they think that woman was filthy? Would they want to be thrown into a pig cage and drowned in a pond?"

She paused, a strong feeling of nausea coming over her, making her face even paler.

[But what about themselves? Today they hug their legal wives and call them darlings, tomorrow they sneak into their concubines' rooms and call them darlings, and the day after tomorrow they go to brothels and look for some courtesan or confidante!]

Their bodies, stained with this woman's scent today, and that woman's makeup tomorrow...isn't that dirty? Why are the officials allowed to set fires? Double standards!

She suddenly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently, as if trying to expel those disgusting images from her mind. Her voice was filled with a barely perceptible sob and a resolute determination:

[And those concubines! How old are they? Fourteen or fifteen? They haven't even grown all their hair yet and they're already disgusting! So disgusting! Tong! I don't want them! I'd rather die than marry a man like that from ancient times!]

They are rotten to the core! They are dirty! They are like rotten cucumbers in the stinking ditch! I want to be beautiful alone! I want to live alone!

I want to make tons of money, buy a big farm, raise a yard full of cats and dogs, and live freely! No one should try to pollute me with these feudal dregs!

This voice was like a powerful mental bomb dropped into the silent, oppressive court! Every word pierced the eardrums of everyone present with incredible clarity!

On the dragon throne.

Nangong Yu was suppressing the raging anger in his chest and the dull pain lingering from yesterday, trying to maintain the dignity of an emperor.

Concubine Hui's words "dirty man" and Dongfang Qiwu's resolute back haunted him like a ghost. Just as he was about to ask the ministers if they had any objections—

That familiar yet terrifying "voice" belonging to Dongfang Yuning came in without warning! It was so clear that it seemed to be exploding in my ears!

Nangong Yu's pupils suddenly contracted! His knuckles, gripping the armrests of the dragon throne, instantly turned white with force, and a slight "click" sounded!

His heart felt like it was being gripped by an icy hand! She...she guessed it?! Panic gripped him like a venomous snake! If the secret were leaked, the consequences would be disastrous! The imperial decree to execute all nine clans was still ringing in his ears!

Then, when he heard the system's explanation that the prince had been prepared, his tense nerves suddenly relaxed and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

He raised his voice almost immediately, with a barely perceptible tension in his voice, and his eyes shot sharply towards the Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian standing in the front row:

"Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian!"

Nangong Chengqian immediately stepped out and bowed: "Your son is here!"

"You, who saw through the treacherous and corrupt officials, have made outstanding contributions in the case of the Tang family's treason! You are rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold, ten hu of East China Sea pearls, and one hundred rolls of Jiangnan tribute satin! You are also given the character 'Ming Rui' as a token of your appreciation!"

Nangong Yu's voice echoed in the empty hall, with an eager affirmation, as if he wanted to use this generous reward to stop certain speculations and to soothe his heart that was beating wildly because he was almost exposed.

"Your Majesty, your son, thanks you for your grace!"

Nangong Chengqian thanked him calmly, but a trace of doubt flashed through his mind because of his father's overly eager and generous reward. But more importantly, the four words "see through the treacherous" reminded him of his aunt's thoughts, and his heart trembled.

However, before Nangong Yu could completely relax, Dongfang Yuning's sharper and more heartbreaking voice came like a surging tide, overwhelming him! Every word of those accusations was like a red-hot iron, burning his soul fiercely!

“Crack!”

The smooth, translucent white jade ring on Nangong Yu's thumb, a symbol of his imperial status, was crushed by him! Fine powder mixed with a few strands of blood oozed out from between his fingers!

He felt no pain, his face instantly turning as pale as gold paper, and his tall body swayed slightly uncontrollably! A huge, overwhelming panic and shame, mixed with utter embarrassment, instantly engulfed him.

So, in their eyes, he was so unbearable! So filthy! The words, "Don't marry such an ancient man," were like a heavy hammer, shattering the secret hope deep in his heart, the extravagant hope of winning back Dongfang Qiwu.

A crazy thought roared in his heart—Wash! Must wash! Even if it means peeling off a layer of skin! But at this moment, he could only grit his teeth and forcefully suppress the turbulent emotions, maintaining the last bit of the emperor's precarious dignity.

Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian had just stood up to express his gratitude and returned to his original seat. He was feeling uneasy because of his father's sudden generous reward and the evaluation of "seeing through treacherous villains".

Suddenly, his aunt's childish yet penetrating voice exploded in his mind like thunder:

"Puff—cough cough cough!"

Nangong Chengqian felt a surge of blood and energy rushing up his throat, and the ginseng tea he had just drunk to calm himself down came out!

Tea mixed with saliva splashed awkwardly onto the mirror-like golden brick floor in front of him! He choked so hard that his lungs were split open, his handsome face flushed crimson, and he completely ignored his manners as he bent over and started coughing violently.

"Your Highness!"

The eunuchs and close ministers nearby were horrified.

Nangong Chengqian coughed and waved his hands awkwardly to indicate that everything was fine, but his heart was filled with turmoil! His aunt's voice was simply... simply deafening!

Every word was like a heavy hammer, hammering down hard on his ever-uneasy heart! He subconsciously thought of the tender affection and thoughtfulness of the newly-acquired concubine Liu in the Eastern Palace, known for her gentleness and eloquence. Could it really be that she was just attracted by his status?

Then, Dongfang Yuning's sharper and more disgusted voice poured down like ice water over his head:

Nangong Chengqian was struck by lightning, and his whole body froze in place! An unprecedented panic and huge sense of shame gripped him!

Although he doesn't have a concubine (his father is very strict with him), he already has concubines... In my aunt's pure and almost harsh standards, has he... also been classified as a "dirty man"?

A surge of resentment mixed with a strong desire for self-preservation suddenly rushed to my head! I couldn't leave any stains! I couldn't let any hidden dangers become a handle for my aunt to despise!

A flash of cold murderous intent flashed across his eyes. But he was steadfastly mindful of his father's strict order not to disclose the secret, so he could only suppress all impulses. His face livid, he stood there, letting those heartbreaking words echo in his mind.

Nangong Ye, who was standing in the front row of the princes' procession, couldn't help but glance at the small figure wrapped in fox fur and sitting on a small stool beside the palace door from the moment he stepped into the Golden Throne Hall.

[Ning'er seems to be in better spirits...but her face is still so pale...Did the incident with Concubine Hui scare her?]

That "dirty man"... Would she also look at him that way? This thought was like a poisonous sting, making him uneasy and his breathing a little unstable.

At this moment, Dongfang Yuning's extremely clear and strongly repulsive voice, like the sharpest ice blade, accurately pierced through all his defenses!

[…I don’t want it! I’d rather die than marry a man from this ancient era! They’re rotten to the core! They’re dirty! They’re like rotten cucumbers in a stinking ditch! I want to be beautiful alone! …]

"puff--!"

A mouthful of hot, fishy-sweet flavor suddenly surged up his throat without warning! Nangong Ye's eyes suddenly went dark, and the internal energy that was circling violently in his body suddenly became chaotic, like a wild horse running wildly through his meridians!

Huge fear and despair instantly overwhelmed him!

Ning'er wants to be beautiful alone... She doesn't want to marry... Especially not a "dirty man"

What was he to do? After more than twenty years of chastity and patient waiting, was this all he got in return for being called a "rotten cucumber"?

"Ugh!"

An uncontrollable groan escaped from his clenched teeth! He clenched his teeth tightly to prevent blood from spurting out on the spot, but a streak of glaring red could not be suppressed from flowing out from the corner of his mouth!

His tall body shook violently, and the hard gold bricks under his feet were cracked into several pieces with a "crack" sound due to the internal force he unconsciously released!

"Your Majesty?!"

An old prince and several royal family members nearby were horrified and cried out in surprise.

The huge impact and the churning of blood and energy made Nangong Ye's eyes go black, his body unstable, and he almost staggered forward!

He subconsciously tried to steady himself, but due to the shock of his mind and the disorder of his internal energy, he fell heavily to one knee with a "thump" on the icy golden brick floor! His position was exactly in the direction of the small stool next to the temple door!

"Prince Yong?!"

"Uncle Emperor?!"

Exclamations erupted. The entire court, both civil and military, was stunned by this sudden turn of events! Prince Yong was known for his martial arts prowess and strong physique, so how could he suddenly vomit blood and fall to his knees?!

Nangong Ye knelt on the ground, supporting himself with one hand and tightly covering his chest which was in great pain with the other hand. The blood at the corner of his mouth was glaring and shocking.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes passing over the astonished crowd, and looked straight at the girl who was sitting on a small stool with her eyes closed and a look of resistance on her face.

The overwhelming panic and the urge to explain and confess nearly broke through the cage of reason! He wanted to shout: [Ning'er! It's not me! I didn't do it! I'm innocent!]

But the strict order of "not to disclose" was like an icy shackle, strangling his throat tightly! He couldn't! He couldn't say a single word!

The intense emotional conflict and internal injuries made his throat taste even more fishy and sweet. He could only grit his teeth and forcefully swallow the surging blood. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his handsome face was slightly distorted by pain and extreme repression. His eyes, which were always deep and affectionate, were now bloodshot, filled with panic, despair, and an unspeakable grievance that almost tore him apart.

He looked at Dongfang Yuning, his lips moved silently, but in the end, he only let out a low, suppressed roar from the depths of his throat, full of pain and pleading:

"……No……!"

This suppressed roar, in the dead silence of the Golden Palace, was more terrifying than any words.

The entire Golden Throne Hall fell into an unprecedented silence. You could hear a pin drop.

All the ministers were petrified, completely unable to comprehend the horrifying scene before them. Prince Yong, Nangong Ye, His Majesty's most trusted brother, a prince of exceptional martial arts and austere disposition, had actually, in the court, amidst the solemn and murderous atmosphere of the announcement of the execution of nine generations of his clan, suddenly vomited blood and fell to his knees?!

And he even made such a painful and desperate sound towards Princess Dongfang Yuning?! What on earth was going on?!

Nangong Yu, sitting on the dragon throne, froze in mid-air, clutching the broken ring. His face turned from pale to blue, and then from blue to black. Of course he knew the reason!

He looked at his brother's almost collapsed eyes and the blood at the corner of his mouth, and his heart was filled with a surge of anger and a sense of shame and indignation. This stupid brother! He was almost exposed!

Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian forgot to cough and stared in amazement at his uncle, who was always cold and arrogant but now kneeling on the ground in agony. His heart felt cold.

My aunt's power... is this really that great?! Even the emperor's uncle...

Dongfang Yuning, who was sitting on a small stool and had just expressed his deep hatred for "dirty men" in his heart, seemed to be disturbed by the sudden and huge noise.

She opened her big, watery, clear eyes blankly, blinked in confusion, and looked at the figure kneeling in the center of the hall, spitting blood, with a look of pain and despair. Her little face was full of confusion and a hint of fear of "Who am I? Where am I? What happened?"

【Union...】

She asked weakly in her heart, her voice trembling a little.

[Am I... still asleep? Am I hallucinating? Nangong Ye... why is he kneeling there, vomiting blood? He looks so scary... What's wrong with him? Is he suffering from a relapse of an old injury? Is he possessed?]

The system flashed wildly in her mind, and the electronic sound took on an unprecedented high pitch:

[Ding!!! Warning! Warning! Massive social death + serious injury scene! The chain reaction of faith collapse has caused serious internal injuries! The power of the King of Golden Quotes aura is overloaded!

The target person, Nangong Ye, has been detected to have both his mental and physical state surpassed the danger threshold! Host! It seems your 'declaration of unique beauty' has... fried Prince Yong's CPU and motherboard!

At this moment, Empress Dongfang Qiwu, far away in Fengyi Palace, was anxiously pruning a pot of green chrysanthemums. A trusted palace maid hurried in and whispered something in her ear.

Dongfang Qiwu's grip on the golden scissors suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white as the tips of the scissors sunk deeply into the flower stem. Her face instantly turned pale, her eyes filled with disbelief, horror, and deep worry.

My brother-in-law vomited blood and knelt down in the court? Ning'er... Ning'er was right there in the hall! She stood up suddenly, and the golden scissors fell to the ground with a clang.

Inside the Golden Palace, Nangong Yu looked at his brother, who was kneeling in agony and suppressed, then at the confused, frightened, and obviously terrified Dongfang Yuning, and finally his gaze fell on his own blood-stained palm...

An unprecedented feeling, a mixture of shame, rage, panic, worry and some indescribable embarrassment, erupted violently in his chest like a volcano!

This damn, out-of-control court! This damn... voice in his heart! He had to end it all immediately!

"Retreat from the court!!!"

Nangong Yu stood up suddenly, his voice hoarse and violent, like the roar of a wounded lion, shaking the entire hall.

He didn't even care about his imperial demeanor. He flicked his sleeves and rushed into the back hall with a terrifying low pressure without looking back, leaving all the civil and military officials in the hall stunned and frightened, and Nangong Ye kneeling on the cold gold bricks like an abandoned beast.