Chapter 250: Just Because Your Majesty Is Normal, Doesn’t Mean Others Are

"Hahaha!"

Xiao Yang was so amused by Prince Jing she couldn’t stop laughing. ’This uncle of mine is hilarious.’

Xiao Yang had had quite a bit to drink and was a little drunk. Her cheeks were flushed a healthy red, and her eyes, brimming with mirth, sparkled like stars.

In the lamplight, she was so beautiful it could melt one’s heart.

Rong Yin gently patted her on the back and took the wine cup from her hand. "Don’t laugh so hard, or you’ll choke."

Xiao Yang was completely woozy from the drink. With a sigh of resignation, Rong Yin had no choice but to bend down and scoop her into his arms.

Rong Yin dismissed the maids and personally helped Xiao Yang wash up for the night. After getting her settled, he quickly washed up himself. However, by the time he returned to the bed, Xiao Yang was already fast asleep.

Gazing at Xiao Yang’s sweetly sleeping face, Rong Yin felt a flash of melancholy and helplessness. ’You allowed me to destroy the Jade Butterfly... does that mean you’ve chosen me to be your husband?’

’As the Imperial Consort, or just one of the candidates?’

He leaned over to embrace her, burying his face to deeply inhale her scent.

"This is the second time I’ve been cast out of my clan. You can’t abandon me."

-----

The autumn hunt was primarily a test of mounted archery. When a group of skilled riders and archers gathered, a competition was inevitable.

Xiao Yang put up some sufficiently tempting treasures as prizes, and everyone charged forward with all their might.

With Li Wei’s legendary feat of killing a tiger bare-handed setting the precedent, no one could truly steal the show this year. Nevertheless, Wu Taimei managed to burst through the pack of civil and military officials to claim first place.

Wu Taimei wore robes with practical sleeves suitable for both scholars and warriors. He was powerfully built, tall, and handsome, exuding the charm of a mature, distinguished man.

The man was a classic case of still waters running deep, quiet until he did something to astound everyone.

Since his promotion to a post in the capital, he had been low-key and discreet, barely making an impression.

Today, however, he had seized his moment in the spotlight, making sure every official now knew his name.

Wu Taimei stepped forward to receive his prize, not forgetting to add, "Today marks the one hundred and thirtieth day since my daughter’s birth. Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!"

’Is he showing off? This is just blatant showing off!’

Xiao Yang shot him an exasperated glance, then turned to the eunuch Lin Yi beside her. "I remember a Hundred Treasure Box with Luminous Balls. Have someone find it and award it to his daughter."

Luminous Balls were simply toys for children, but any that were presented as tribute to the Emperor were naturally exquisite items made from the finest materials, each one worth a small fortune.

The Hundred Treasure Box contained not just one, but six Luminous Balls of various sizes, all of them stunningly beautiful.

Just as Lin Yi was about to reply in the affirmative, Wu Taimei dropped into a deep bow with a THUD. "Many thanks for your generosity, Your Majesty!"

He was so enthusiastic he nearly knocked his head into Lin Yi.

Lin Yi bowed his head. "I will arrange for it at once."

Of course, Wu Taimei wasn’t the only one to shine. There were also many talented young men, each more handsome than the last, and noble ladies who looked dashing and heroic.

Men and women alike couldn’t help but draw closer upon seeing the Emperor, their awe mixed with curiosity, all wanting a better look at this young but legendary ruler.

Xiao Yang, for her part, was happy to see these young people.

She was only nineteen this year—not even twenty by traditional counting. Even counting her soul’s age, she was only twenty-six.

’I’m only twenty-six, but I have to spend my days staring at a bunch of middle-aged and old men. It’s really not easy on the eyes.’

’Handsome men and beautiful women are so much more refreshing to look at.’

However, the moment she showed the slightest bit of favor to the young crowd, Rong Yin and Xu Xingchen acted as if they were facing a formidable enemy. They flanked her on the left and right, resolutely blocking anyone from getting closer.

’There are already enough people around Her Majesty. We can’t have any new additions.’

After the precedent set by Song Qingyi and Xie Liuzheng, they had to guard not only against men, but women as well.

Xiao Yang: "..."

’Seriously?’

’I have no desire to attract any more troublesome admirers. I can’t even get rid of the ones I already have. Am I supposed to build a harem of three thousand?’

’And there’s really no need to guard against women. My preferences are perfectly normal, thank you very much.’

Rong Yin: ’...Her Majesty might be normal, but that doesn’t mean others are!’

------

「On the third day of the tenth month, the imperial procession finally returned from the Palace.」

All the officials returned with the Emperor. But Li Wei, after escorting the Emperor back into the imperial palace, turned and headed straight for the Ministry of Justice.

The entire Lu Family was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. The crimes they had committed were so severe that even the execution of their whole clan would not be enough, so no one was going to escape.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. True character is revealed in times of hardship.

No matter how favored Lu Yao had once been, with the Lu Family’s downfall, she—the sinner who had directly caused this disaster—inevitably became the object of everyone’s hatred.

Their official posts were gone, their home had been confiscated, and soon their entire family would be beheaded—all because of a single whim from Lu Yao.

However much her parents, Lu Pin and Zhang Juan, had once loved this daughter, that was how much they hated her now.

They doted on their son far more than their daughter. Now that their son was going to die with them, the family line would be extinguished completely. How could they not hate her?

Lu Yao had been beaten and was so severely injured she could only lie down. But aside from someone applying medicine to her wounds, no one paid her any attention.

She was filthy and reeked. If she wanted a bite to eat, she had to crawl over with great difficulty to get it herself.

Though medicine had been applied to her wounds, they showed no signs of healing. Instead, they had become infected and were festering.

CLANG!

A jailer opened the cell door. Two men entered and walked straight toward Lu Yao without a word.

Under the confused gazes of the other Lu family members, they yanked Lu Yao to her feet.

"For the crime of spreading malicious rumors, the punishment is to have one’s tongue cut out."

With that, one man clamped Lu Yao’s jaw shut while the other cut out her tongue.

"Ahhh—!"

The three remaining members of the Lu family had done plenty of evil and harmed their fair share of people, but seeing this scene still made them scream in terror.

The tongue fell to the floor as blood gushed from Lu Yao’s mouth.

She passed out from the pain but quickly regained consciousness, only to choke to death on her own blood.

Her eyes were wide open in death, and it was impossible to tell if she was staring at her tongue, which the jailer had carelessly tossed nearby, or at her family, huddled together and completely ignoring her.

Just a wall away, a jailer bowed and reported, "General, she is dead."

The light from a brazier illuminated a tall, powerful figure, radiating an oppressive aura.

Li Wei gazed at a branding iron in the fire and gave a slight nod. "Good work."

The jailer hurriedly replied, "You’re too kind, General. It was a small matter."

A pouch landed in his hand, its weight heavy and solid.

Li Wei said, "It’s getting cold. Buy some wine for the boys."

The jailer grinned so widely his eyes disappeared. "Thank you, General."

Li Wei turned and left, his tall shadow stretched long by the candlelight.

He had said he would not kill the innocent. And Lu Yao was not innocent.

Lu Yao had received the punishment she deserved, but that was the sentence handed down by the law. Li Wei had yet to settle his own score with her.

He was glad she had lived long enough for him to return from the Palace and execute her personally.

Li Wei was the Great General. He protected the common people and guarded the peace of the realm. He would never kill an innocent person—that was his bottom line, and it would never change.

By the same token, he showed absolutely no mercy to those who fell into his hands.

Li Wei made no effort to conceal his actions. In fact, one could say he wanted Xiao Yang to see what he had done.

Word of Lu Yao’s death soon reached Xiao Yang. She simply nodded to show she understood, and that was all.

’The entire Lu Family was doomed to die anyway. Lu Yao’s situation was a fate worse than death. Li Wei was the victim, not to mention the reigning first-rank Great General. It was a small privilege Xiao Yang could afford him.’

’Even if a punishment were required, Li Wei had already taken twenty strokes of the military rod. The debt was paid.’