369: The empress rewards and punishes, and the emperor's son-in-law is selected!

“Guo Feng, your talent is extraordinary, and you have the merit of exposing Duke Guo Guo Kang’s intention to rebel.”

“You also have the merit of slaying the traitorous eunuch.”

“And you are the undisputed first place in this Emperor-Consort competition.”

“Actually, the Emperor-Consort competition, recruiting an Emperor-Consort is one of the goals, but selecting talent is also my initial intention.”

“But—”

The Empress’s words revealed various meanings, making them difficult to fathom.

Her every word shook the hearts of everyone present.

At this moment, after a round of praise, she changed the subject, “Merits and faults cannot cancel each other out. Merits are merits, and faults are faults.”

“There will be rewards and punishments!”

She looked at Eighth Chief Eunuch, “Originally, with Guo Feng’s eighteen years of age, his strength and talent were renowned throughout the land. He was my best candidate for Emperor-Consort, wasn’t he, Eighth Chief Eunuch?”

“Yes.”

Eighth Chief Eunuch nodded.

The Empress asked again, “The Emperor-Consort is second only to one person and above tens of thousands, a person to whom all officials must bow, possessing unparalleled power, isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

Eighth Chief Eunuch nodded again.

The Empress said indifferently, “Then, if I remove him from the Emperor-Consort selection, and count it as a reward for Grand Manager’s past contributions, and a reward for your filial piety, Eighth Chief Eunuch, is that reasonable?”

“Reasonable…”

Eighth Chief Eunuch originally wanted Guo Feng dead.

However, by this point, he also understood that the Empress intended to protect Guo Feng.

He couldn’t stop her!

And removing Guo Feng from the Emperor-Consort selection was also a demand from their faction.

As long as Guo Feng didn’t have the golden signboard of Emperor-Consort.

Then, there would always be an opportunity to kill Guo Feng later.

“Good.”

The Empress nodded, looking at Guo Feng, “Guo Feng, I am removing you from the Emperor-Consort selection. Do you have any objections?”

“No.”

Guo Feng shrugged; he had already roughly guessed the Empress’s thoughts.

“Good.”

The Empress nodded again, “I officially announce that Guo Feng is disqualified from this Emperor-Consort palace examination.”

After she finished speaking, she looked at Eighth Chief Eunuch, “Eighth Chief Eunuch, commit suicide.”

“What?!”

Eighth Chief Eunuch’s heart trembled, his eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but take two steps back, in disbelief.

The Empress was going to execute him in an instant?

“Eighth Chief Eunuch, the monarch’s word is law, and before the Emperor, there are no jokes.”

At this moment, Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin stepped forward, his gaze revealing killing intent, “Since you said before His Majesty that you would exchange your life for a severe punishment for Guo Feng.”

“His Majesty has done it.”

“Now…”

He paused, staring at Eighth Chief Eunuch, “It’s your turn!”

“You, you all…”

Eighth Chief Eunuch’s face suddenly changed.

And Imperial Relative frowned.

Kuang Yin was also shocked!

The Empress’s methods were indeed extraordinary. All this groundwork she laid was to kill Hu Xu in public!

This was a warning to others!

And also to eradicate all of Grand Manager’s forces!

How ruthless!

How domineering!

Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin said again, “Eighth Chief Eunuch, what, are you going to deceive the monarch?”

“Hua Shangyue, South Yin, your methods are vicious, you will not die well! I, Hu Xu, will not spare you even as a ghost!”

Eighth Chief Eunuch’s eyes immediately split with rage, he roared, and a spiritual talisman appeared in his hand.

It seemed to be for spatial escape!

He was about to escape!

“Hu Xu, originally only you would die, but now, everyone connected to you will lose their lives because of you. What a pity.”

As Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin spoke, he reached out and grabbed.

The entire hall suddenly shook.

The space around Hu Xu instantly became as hard as an iron plate, and the spiritual talisman in his hand actually failed.

“No—”

Hu Xu screamed.

But the next moment, with a loud bang, his entire body immediately turned into a bloody mist, and his soul was torn apart.

He died and vanished in an instant!

A majestic Nine-Rank Fifth Layer Limit expert!

He died just like that!

Crushed by Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin in one go!

Everyone present was shocked!

Then, Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin bowed to the Empress, “Your Majesty, please forgive this subject’s rashness.”

“Imperial Preceptor acts for this Emperor, there is no crime.”

The Empress looked indifferent, waved her hand, and then said, “Does anyone else have anything?”

Everyone remained silent.

She said again, “Good, next, I will personally select the prospective Emperor-Consort.”

As soon as she said this, everyone perked up.

The Emperor-Consort, like the Empress of old, was a symbol of absolute power.

It determined the fate of many people!

Ming Hao was excited!

He knew that with his talent, and his identity as the son of Lord Ming, he was undoubtedly the top choice!

Except for Guo Feng.

Who could compete with him?

He didn’t expect that Grand Manager, Imperial Relative, Tang Ru, Wang Shengzhi, including Guo Feng.

They were all paving the way for him!

His joy was almost irrepressible!

At this moment, the Empress’s gaze swept over Ming Hao and Wang Shengzhi.

Then, she said, “My recruitment of an Emperor-Consort is not as rumored by the outside world, but simply because I need an Emperor-Consort.”

She immediately looked at Wang Shengzhi, “Therefore, the Emperor-Consort I have chosen is—the legitimate son of Great Wang City, the possessor of great destiny, Wang Shengzhi!”

“What?!”

Ming Hao looked astonished!

Followed by extreme disappointment!

“Ah?!”

Wang Shengzhi was also stunned. He, Wang Shengzhi, defeated a half-crippled Nine-Rank genius, and then became the Emperor-Consort?

He completely failed to understand why it had come to this!

And the others were even more shocked!

Because in their opinion, Ming Hao was the best choice; after all, Lord Ming’s influence was not weak.

Such a marriage alliance would surely strengthen the Empress’s power!

Even if Guo Feng was chosen, it would be an investment in a future Nine-Rank Ninth Layer Limit expert.

However, choosing Wang Shengzhi was completely beyond their expectations.

Wang Shengzhi’s family background was ordinary, his talent was ordinary, and even his appearance was ordinary.

How could he match the dignity of an Emperor-Consort?

But, the Empress’s word was law. As soon as she spoke, Wang Shengzhi was the Emperor-Consort!

“Young Master Wang, His Majesty has issued a decree, why do you not give thanks?”

At this moment, Imperial Preceptor said with a smile.

“Ah, yes!”

Wang Shengzhi finally reacted, immediately knelt on the ground, and hastily shouted, “Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Alright.”

The Empress waved her hand, “You may rise! Now I have personally selected you as the prospective Emperor-Consort, with a three-year assessment period.”

“Within three years, if you and your family commit no mistakes, and you successfully advance to Nine-Rank, you and I will choose a date for marriage. At that time, you will be the Empire’s Emperor-Consort.”

She looked at Wang Shengzhi, “I hope your destiny can help me complete my grand endeavor.”

“Yes!”

Wang Shengzhi nodded busily.

The Empress waved her hand again, “You may withdraw.”

Wang Shengzhi suppressed his joy, and quickly retreated to the side, raising his head to glance at Ming Hao.

He let out a cold laugh.

What if he was the son of Lord Ming?

His status as Emperor-Consort was incomparably different!

Ming Hao’s face was solemn.

However, all of this was within Guo Feng’s expectations; he had already guessed that the Empress would never choose Ming Hao.

But, he did take another look at this Wang Shengzhi.

This Wang Shengzhi, it seemed he truly possessed great destiny!

“Next, Imperial Preceptor, you will read out the latest appointments regarding Guo Feng and Ming Hao.”

The Empress then spoke to Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin.

“Yes!”

Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin stepped out, smiling as he looked at Guo Feng and Ming Hao, “Young Master Guo, Young Master Ming, congratulations to you both!”

“Given your excellent performance in this Emperor-Consort competition, and your future potential.”

“His Majesty has specially issued this decree.”

He paused, his face serious, “Guo Feng, Ming Hao, listen to the decree!”