111: Today's Emperor

After the Heavenly Guards left in disarray, a deathly silence fell over the Forgetful Sorrow Inn.

Xia He looked at the mess on the floor and the still-wet bloodstains, her face pale, and frantically went to find Chu Yuer.

Lin Ziyao walked up to Qin Wushang, linked her arm through his, and said with a hint of arrogance in her tone, "Wushang Brother, don't worry!"

"With me here, the Prince Tianhais Residence wouldn't dare do anything to you!"

"My grandfather commands a large army and guards the borderlands. Even the imperial family has to show some respect to our Lin family!"

Ye Hongfu, however, thought deeper than her, frowning, "Lin Ziyao, don't be too optimistic."

"Although your grandfather holds immense power, the one who died is, after all, a royal descendant, the legitimate son of the King Tianhai!"

"The nature of this matter is too vile. I'm afraid even if Chu Yuehua wants to forcibly suppress it, she will face immense pressure and criticism."

A glint of ruthlessness and madness flashed in Lin Ziyao's eyes as she lowered her voice and said, "If Chu Yuehua can't protect Wushang Brother, then we'll rebel against her!"

"Anyway, my grandfather has long been displeased with those surnamed Chu sitting in that position!"

"We'll join forces, overthrow Chu Yuehua, and help Wushang Brother ascend to the throne!"

"At that time, who would dare to utter a single word of dissent!"

Qin Wushang frowned slightly upon hearing this, shaking his head and saying, "What nonsense are you talking about, rebelling? It's not that serious."

"It's just a King Tianhai; currently, he's not qualified to make my Revered Master feel troubled."

Since he dared to kill, he wasn't afraid of the King Tianhai!

This fellow had long harbored rebellious intentions!

He also knew that Chu Yuehua was waiting for him to rebel; this might be the opportunity he was giving to Chu Tianhai.

Until sunset, Qin Wushang did not wait for anyone from the Prince Tianhais Residence.

But a woman arrived!

A woman dressed in palace attire!

Her gaze swept across the scene, finally resting on Qin Wushang. She bowed slightly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, "Young Master Qin, I am Qin Yulian, a close attendant to Her Majesty the Empress."

"By Her Majesty's verbal decree, I invite Young Master to the palace for a visit."

Ye Hongfu and Lin Ziyao immediately stepped forward, blocking Qin Wushang, and said in unison, "No!"

Qin Wushang pushed them aside and said, "Don't worry, it's just going into the palace, it'll be fine!"

He gave them a reassuring look, then said to Qin Yulian, "Please lead the way."

...Imperial Palace, deep courtyard.

Qin Yulian led Qin Wushang to a rather secluded and quiet palace, then said, "Her Majesty requests Young Master to wait here."

With that, she retreated with the guards, disappearing around the corner of the palace wall.

The palace was brightly lit, yet it was eerily quiet.

Qin Wushang stood with his hands behind his back, waiting quietly.

Not long after, a faint, rhythmic sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

Immediately following, a figure dressed in a bright yellow imperial robe, wearing a nine-Dragon pearl crown, slowly walked in.

This was Chu Yuehua.

She was still exquisitely beautiful, but now, dressed in the Dragon robe symbolizing supreme power, she exuded an even greater majesty of ruling the world.

The Dragon robe was tailored to fit, outlining her graceful figure, solemn and luxurious, yet with a hint of ascetic allure.

Her face was cold, her eyes like deep, cold water, silently watching Qin Wushang.

"Rebellious Disciple, do you admit your guilt!"

She spoke, her voice icy, devoid of any emotion.

Qin Wushang quickly bowed and cupped his hands, adopting an extremely humble posture, yet his tone carried a hint of teasing.

"This disciple admits guilt."

"Carelessly killing someone in the imperial city, disregarding the law, I ask Revered Master to punish me."

Chu Yuehua's Phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her voice becoming even colder.

"You didn't kill an ordinary person; you killed a royal descendant of Great Chu, the legitimate son of the King Tianhai!"

"According to the laws of Great Chu, this crime is punishable by death!"

"You should pay with your life."

Qin Wushang lowered his head, but a smirk played at the corners of his mouth.

He playfully whispered, "Revered Master~ if this disciple pays with his life, then in the long nights to come, there will be no one to fill your empty and lonely heart, will there?"

"Presumptuous!"

Chu Yuehua's beautiful face turned cold, and her imperial might was suddenly unleashed.

Qin Wushang, however, seemed to have thrown caution to the wind. Not only was he unafraid, but he suddenly straightened up, took a step forward, and in Chu Yuehua's astonished gaze, tightly embraced her!

A warm, soft, jade-like body entered his embrace, carrying a faint cold fragrance and the scent of ambergris.

"This disciple will be presumptuous then!"

Qin Wushang buried his head in her neck, inhaling the intoxicating fragrance, his voice muffled.

"Anyway, Revered Master wants me to pay with my life for Chu Qinglin. Since death is inevitable, being so intimate with Revered Master before I die is not a loss for this disciple!"

"You... Rebellious Disciple! Let go!"

Chu Yuehua was both shocked and angry. Two blushes instantly flew onto her exquisitely beautiful cheeks. She struggled, but Qin Wushang's arms were as firm as iron bands.

She lowered her voice, with a hint of panic.

"Let go quickly! If the guards outside see this, a hundred lives wouldn't be enough for you to die!"

Qin Wushang hugged her even tighter, shamelessly saying, "So what if they see? Anyway, Revered Master, you, with your golden words, said that this disciple should pay with his life, so isn't that death?"

"To be able to kiss Revered Master's fragrance before death, this disciple will be romantic even as a ghost! Even if I don't enter Reincarnation, it's worth it!"

"Nonsense! Who said you absolutely had to pay with your life?"

Chu Yuehua's chest heaved with anger at his outrageous logic, and the ample curves beneath her Dragon robe became even more pronounced.

She stamped her foot and said, "Let go quickly!"

However, Qin Wushang pretended not to hear, and instead, pushed his luck by blowing into her ear, "Revered Master said it herself just now, 'its crime is punishable by death, and it should pay with its life...'"

"How can you, the dignified Great Chu Empress, go back on your word?"

"Ah!"

With that, Qin Wushang suddenly cried out in pain, feeling a piercing ache in the arch of his foot!

Chu Yuehua had fiercely stomped on his foot with her Dragon-patterned slipper inlaid with pearls.

Taking advantage of his pain, Chu Yuehua, whose grip had loosened slightly, violently broke free from his embrace and retreated two steps.

She tidied her slightly disheveled Dragon robe and hair, her pretty face frosty, and glared at him with icy eyes, "Rebellious Disciple! If you continue to be so presumptuous, don't blame this Empress for cleaning house!"

Qin Wushang rubbed his aching foot, but his face still wore a smile of someone who didn't care about anything.

He looked at Chu Yuehua's face, which was even more radiant and moving due to her shame and anger, licked his lips, and said, "If Revered Master has the heart, then clean house!"

With that, he actually stepped forward again, his hands expertly reaching for the jade belt at the waist of Chu Yuehua's Dragon robe, making a move to untie it!

"You... you dare!"

Chu Yuehua was both shocked and ashamed!

She hadn't expected this Rebellious Disciple to be so audacious within the imperial palace, even after her clear warning!

The way he moved to untie her robe was so practiced that it made her heart pound, as if he had rehearsed it countless times.

"Revered Master is going to clean house, so what do I, this disciple, have to be afraid of!!!"

"Bang!"

The palace door closed, and Qin Wushang directly pulled, untying the waist belt.

He grabbed her and started touching her all over!

"Rebellious Disciple! Stop!"

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Chu Yuehua shouted.

"Anyway, I'm going to die, so today this disciple will assassinate the Empress!"

"Ah!"

A scream echoed in the palace. Qin Yulian, who was slowly approaching, looked at the tightly closed door and frowned.

She softly called out, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"Mm~ I'm fine, everyone retreat!"