11: Chapter 11 Consort Qi Makes Her Move, and the Panicked Emperor

Right then, the expression of the Eldest Young Master of Duke Jings Mansion, who had previously looked ashen-faced, suddenly changed.

It became somewhat sinister and ruthless, without a trace of his earlier cowardly appearance.

With a sudden burst of strength and a shake of his shoulders, he actually violently threw off the two Imperial Guards who were holding him down.

He shot directly toward the stone wall behind him to his right! His speed was so great that he clearly possessed impressive Qinggong and Internal Energy.

He had calculated accurately; at this moment, the Imperial Guards' attention should be distracted by the large number of people from Duke Jings Mansion. As long as he took the chance to leap over this stone wall, behind it lay a complex garden of rockeries. Once he vanished into them, he might have a slim chance of escaping with his life.

Unfortunately, while he had his plans, Eunuch Wei on Xia Jin's side had long since set his sights on him.

“Thinking of leaving?”

A soft, feminine, and cold laugh rang out almost at the same moment he made his move.

Eunuch Wei had somehow already blocked the path between the stone wall and the escape route. He casually raised his palm and landed it squarely on the Eldest Young Master's chest.

“Pfft!”

The man's forward momentum came to a dead stop, and he was sent flying backward at an even greater speed, slamming heavily into a solid hall pillar before sliding to the ground.

“Ugh... ah...” He curled up on the ground, blood spilling from his mouth. His chest was visibly caved in; Eunuch Wei's single palm strike had severely wounded him.

“Eldest Young Master, why bother? The Prince hasn't even left yet, and you're in such a hurry to go. How rude.”

From start to finish, Xia Jin never even looked back as he walked out of Duke Jings Mansion.

...

Shortly after Xia Jin and the others left Duke Jings Mansion,

Inside a pavilion within the Imperial Palace, the Second Young Miss of Duke Jings Mansion—the current Noble Lady Qi—was leaning lazily against a gold-threaded soft pillow. A snow-white Persian cat curled obediently on her lap, letting her slender fingers, tipped with crimson nail polish, comb through its fur from time to time.

Suddenly, a palace maid dressed in light green attire walked in quickly, leaned toward Noble Lady Qi's ear, and whispered a few words.

The jade-like fingers that were just stroking the cat came to a sudden halt.

“What! You're saying my father and the others have all been seized and thrown into prison by those Imperial Guard fellows!?” Noble Lady Qi's face instantly turned livid.

She stood up abruptly, grabbed the teacup beside her, and smashed it onto the floor. The crisp sound of shattering echoed harshly through the hall.

“How audacious! Simply audacious! Those Imperial Guard fellows actually don't respect this Palace at all, do they? Fine, fine, fine!”

“Come, follow this Palace to see His Majesty. I will make those fellows pay dearly.”

...

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study, Emperor Xia Yu sat upon the dragon throne, reviewing a mountain of memorials.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed because he had sensed several presences walking quickly toward his Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty—!”

The tip of Emperor Xia Yu's brush paused. He looked up and, as expected, saw Noble Lady Qi with her hair slightly disheveled and eyes reddened. Supported by a maid, she almost ran into the room. A flash of surprise crossed his face, followed by a gentle smile.

“What is wrong, my beloved consort? Why have you come in such a hurry? Are you feeling unwell?”

Noble Lady Qi didn't wait for him to say more. Like a frightened bird, she went directly before him and knelt: “Your Majesty! I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for your servant! I just heard... heard that my father and brother... and everyone in Duke Jings Mansion have been taken away by the Imperial Guard. Your Majesty, my father has always been loyal, and my brother is dutiful. This must be a frame-up! I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly and restore my Family's innocence!”

She wept like a pear blossom bathed in rain.

Emperor Xia Yu's expression shifted slightly.

No one had told him about the matter at Duke Jings Mansion yet. He pulled Noble Lady Qi up from the floor, reached out to hold her gently, and patted her back: “There, there, don't cry. I am now aware of this matter and will handle it appropriately. In a moment, I will summon Commander Qin Hu to ask for the details.”

Upon hearing the name 'Commander Qin Hu,' a flash of calculation crossed the depths of Noble Lady Qi's eyes, which were buried against the dragon robe.

Like a cat pleasing its master, Noble Lady Qi gently rubbed her cheek against the side of Emperor Xia Yu's neck, her breath as fragrant as orchids: “Your Majesty is the best...”

Emperor Xia Yu picked her up to sit on the dragon throne and resumed reviewing the memorials.

Meanwhile, a eunuch had already hurried out of the Imperial Study.

“Your Highness, rest assured, your subordinate has long found those people from Duke Jings Mansion eyesores! Within three days—no, before noon tomorrow—your subordinate will surely make them talk and confess everything related to the Remnants of the Demonic Sect!!”

Just as Xia Jin returned to his Jin Wang Palace, Commander Qin Hu patted his chest and gave him his word.

“I don't know about other things regarding the Imperial Guard, but you are indeed skilled at interrogation. Fine, go then. This Prince also wants to know why the grand Duke Jings Mansion got involved with the Remnants of the Demonic Sect!” Xia Jin let out a cold sneer.

At that moment, an Imperial Guard entered and whispered a few words into Commander Qin Hu's ear. Commander Qin Hu waved his hand, dismissing the man.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned me. I shall take my leave!” Commander Qin Hu suddenly said to Xia Jin.

“Wait, I'll go with you. It just so happens I have some business with that kid Xia Yu.” Xia Jin was about to nod, but then he seemed to remember something. He stood up and walked directly from his throne down to Commander Qin Hu.

...

“Your Majesty, why hasn't Commander Qin Hu arrived yet? I've waited until my legs are numb!” Noble Lady Qi pouted and acted coquettishly.

“Don't worry, he should be here soon...” Emperor Xia Yu patted her cheek and said with a smile, but then his expression suddenly changed.

“I say, Xia Yu,”

A calm, indifferent voice drifted in from the doorway.

“It seems you are quite fond of pleasure. Reviewing memorials while holding a woman in your arms, hmm?”

As the voice fell, two figures stepped into the Imperial Study one after the other.

The newcomers were Xia Jin and Commander Qin Hu.

Commander Qin Hu looked up and caught sight of the two embracing on the dragon throne. Seeing the pink-clad figure in Emperor Xia Yu's arms, he couldn't help but frown.

It's this woman. No wonder I was notified to come for an audience the moment I returned to the palace!

However, Commander Qin Hu was not slow to react. He knelt directly on the ground to salute Emperor Xia Yu on the throne.

“Your servant Qin Hu greets Your Majesty!”

As for Emperor Xia Yu, the moment he heard that voice, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His face turned white instantly. He didn't even have time to think; almost instinctively, he violently pushed the soft and fragrant Noble Lady Qi out of his arms!

Caught off guard, Noble Lady Qi cried out and stumbled back several steps. The palace maid, who had been frozen in fear, hurried to support her to prevent her from falling. She stared with wide, beautiful eyes, unable to believe what she saw—what was happening? His Majesty had pushed her away so roughly?

An even more shocking scene followed.

Emperor Xia Yu, the dignified Son of Heaven of the Great Xia Dynasty, actually rushed off the dragon throne. He even hurriedly straightened his robes with a hint of haste and walked quickly toward Xia Jin at the door, his face wearing a trace of flattery.

“B-Big Brother, why are you here? I didn't know you were coming, or I... I would have gone to welcome you.”

Noble Lady Qi looked at Xia Jin standing before Emperor Xia Yu, feeling as if she had been struck by a thunderbolt, standing there in a daze.

It was the first time she had seen Emperor Xia Yu speak to another person in such a tone.

Could it be that this man, who bore some resemblance to Emperor Xia Yu, was the 'Prince Jin' whom the ministers and families secretly called the 'Emperor of the Underworld'?

“Is that so?”

Xia Jin asked with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. Then, his gaze coldly swept over the pale-faced Noble Lady Qi.

Immediately after, he walked right past her toward the dragon throne and sat down firmly upon it.