I felt somewhat embarrassed, since if Ji Ruchen had kept his promise and married me, he would have been my father-in-law.

This looks exactly like those fair-skinned, beautiful, and charming young women I used to see when I visited brothels.

I might as well flirt with them; they're all unrelated people anyway, and I'm unlikely to have any further contact with them.

This Emperor Yi must have lost his mind today. How could he have become such a lecherous man? Could it be that all his glorious past was just an act?

And why did they only dare to reveal their true nature today?

"Raise your head!" Emperor Yi was clearly angry, leaving me no time to think. I had no choice but to reluctantly look up.

"She's a stunning beauty, not bad at all. You said you came here today to plead for this unfilial son, but do you know where this place is, what crime he has committed, and what you have to offer to plead for him?"

I was completely abducted into the palace by Princess Anguo, so I had no idea about these things. I only knew that Ji Ruchen was in trouble.

"Your Majesty, I am unaware of the truth and hope Your Majesty will enlighten me." I answered truthfully.

Emperor Yi seemed to be in a very good mood. He didn't blame me for being stupid like a pig. His eyes were full of smiles, and he looked very kind and approachable, as if he had returned to being the wise ruler who embodied all the beautiful words in the world.

"Of course, if the beauty has any needs, I will certainly answer them for her." He first smiled at me with shining eyes, and then spoke to me gently.

Then she looked at Ji Ruchen coldly, her face full of resentment and disgust.

Somewhat excited, he took a newly drafted imperial edict from the eunuch and read it aloud himself:

"Crown Prince Jiqing, receive the imperial decree."

"Your subject receives the decree," Ji Ruchen replied indifferently. I thought to myself, does the Emperor Yi have no one else to read the imperial edict to him?

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Crown Prince Ji Ruchen, in collusion with General Lingguang, Prince Lan Ye, the Empress, Gao Yuan, and others, has murdered multiple emperors and staged a coup. His crimes deserve execution. Effective immediately, Crown Prince Ji Ruchen is hereby stripped of his title, demoted to a commoner, and exiled to Yuemen Pass, never to set foot in the Imperial City again. All female members of his household, except for Princess Anguo, Lan Meisheng, are to be confined to the harem. The Empress is to be executed, Gao Yuan is to be beaten to death, and Lan Ye... the entire Qiu family is to be exterminated. This is the imperial decree."

"Anyone who wants to plead for the Crown Prince will be treated as an accomplice. Now, do you know what crime the Crown Prince has committed? I think you don't need to go back today. Just go with the princess to Xiaoxiang Pavilion for a few days. After we've dealt with all this mess, I'll make you a concubine, how about that?"

Emperor Yi's words struck me like a thunderbolt, leaving me scorched and terrified. This damned bastard, he really could even harm his own daughter-in-law, and he even wants to exile Ji Ruchen to Yuemen Pass. Has he even investigated the matter thoroughly before making such a haphazard judgment?

I would never believe that Ji Ruchen would do such a stupid thing. Looking at the people in the hall, they are all confidants of Prime Minister Gu Zian. I can't find a single minister who used to be on good terms with Ji Ruchen. This must have been premeditated.

It seems that Luo Qingyun's claim that Prime Minister Gu Zi'an colluded with the enemy and was executed was false. I wonder where he got this information. I've been drinking heavily these past few days. What on earth happened in Yi Kingdom that caused such chaos?

Emperor Yi's personality has changed drastically. He is no longer like a monarch, but more like a lustful glutton who hasn't seen a woman in eight hundred years. He is truly disgusting. I would rather die than have anything to do with such a person.

"It doesn't matter, I am the Crown Prince's concubine, whether I live or die."