Chapter 1 The Encounter

"This concubine greets Your Majesty!"

She bowed gracefully, paying her respects to Jiang Chen.

Her movements were respectful and elegant, without a single flaw.

It seemed she had resigned herself to fate, accepting her identity as Consort Zhaoyi.

Jiang Chen stared at the petite woman before him, inwardly on guard.

He had imagined many scenarios for their meeting, but none of them were like this!

Her calmness was eerie, putting him on high alert!

It wasn't just Jiang Chen who felt this way. Feng Jin and Jing Yue, who had been standing behind him, had both stepped forward and surrounded Jiang Chen.

However, as the emperor, Jiang Chen wouldn't be intimidated by a woman.

He looked at Xu Jiaying with a calm gaze and said gently, "Rise. I brought you some gifts this time. See if you like them."

"Also, Changmen Palace is too remote and unsuitable for a weak woman like you. I'll have Feng Jin arrange another palace for you later."

Xu Jiaying's pretty face bloomed into a sweet smile as she rose and said, "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your consideration."

With that, she revealed a hint of shyness, her watery eyes glancing at Jiang Chen. "Your Majesty's visit to this concubine tonight… are you planning to stay?"

Stay?!

Jiang Chen's pupils shook, his guard deepening.

To be able to flatter and seduce even her enemy, this woman was not simple!

"Ahem, I came tonight to discuss something with you, and to take you out of Changmen Palace. I have no other intentions."

As soon as he finished speaking, a look of disappointment appeared on Xu Jiaying's face, and she forced a smile. "Is that so? This concubine was overthinking things."

Jiang Chen frowned, feeling somewhat troubled.

The woman before him was too enthusiastic, so enthusiastic that it made his heart palpitate!

In his memory, after the Xu family was exterminated, Xu Jiaying had vowed to cut him into a thousand pieces!

After exchanging a glance with Feng Jin, Jiang Chen suppressed his doubts and said calmly, "It's getting late. You should come with me first. Maids will take care of your luggage and belongings."

Xu Jiaying nodded, obediently following behind Jiang Chen like a little tail.

However, in the blind spot of everyone's vision, her dark pupils were staring intently at Jiang Chen's back, filled with resentment!

A moment later, in the center of the imperial palace, Huaqing Palace.

At a round table filled with delicacies, Jiang Chen and Xu Jiaying sat facing each other.

"Your Majesty, would you like this concubine to serve you your meal?"

Xu Jiaying's pure and beautiful face showed a smile, her sparkling eyes looking at Jiang Chen expectantly, very charming.

Jiang Chen was already somewhat used to her enthusiasm, and his expression was normal as he said,

"There's no need. You've suffered in Changmen Palace for many days. Now that you're out, there's no need to do these chores anymore."

"You are my Consort Zhaoyi. As long as you are obedient, I won't skimp on the respect you deserve!"

Xu Jiaying nodded obediently upon hearing this.

She didn't seem to have understood Jiang Chen's hints, and her eyes were lowered, very respectful, making it impossible for people to be wary.

Noticing this, Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes and decided to continue testing her.

Turning his gaze to Jing Yue and Feng Jin, he said indifferently, "You may withdraw first. Consort Xu and I want to chat alone."

Jing Yue cupped her fist in salute and disappeared in a flash.

But Feng Jin was still standing in place, his expression hesitant. "Your Majesty, this old servant..."

"I know what I'm doing. You may withdraw first."

Hearing Jiang Chen's firmness, Feng Jin had no choice but to retreat slowly.

However, he didn't go too far, his eyes fixed on Xu Jiaying, making sure he could detect any unusual movements from this woman and protect Jiang Chen at the first possible moment!

"Now that it's just the two of us here, you can say whatever's on your mind. I'll forgive you for anything."

"Whatever requests you have, feel free to make them, and I'll do my best to fulfill them!"

Jiang Chen looked into her eyes, his tone very sincere and earnest.

He sincerely wanted to compensate the girl before him!

Xu Jiaying's delicate body trembled slightly upon hearing this, and then she raised her beautiful eyes to look around.

Looking at the empty room, a trace of ferocity appeared in her eyes. She rose and walked to Jiang Chen, her tone gentle. "Your Majesty, this concubine has already married into the royal family, so I am yours..."

Halfway through her words, her pure and beautiful face suddenly became ferocious, and her clear eyes were covered with resentment!

Removing the hairpin from her hair, she used all her strength to rush towards Jiang Chen, raising her hand to stab him fiercely!

The two were extremely close, and in the blink of an eye, the tip of the hairpin was about to pierce Jiang Chen's throat!

Everyone present was so frightened by this scene that they held their breath...

"Clang!"

A dagger blocked Jiang Chen's path.

Jing Yue, who had disappeared, appeared at this moment, blocking the attack for Jiang Chen.

Seeing that her strike had missed, the coldness in Xu Jiaying's eyes intensified. She decisively threw away the hairpin and rushed towards Jiang Chen. Even if she had to die together with him, she would kill this beast of an emperor!

Feng Jin had rushed over the moment she made her move, his face full of shock and anger, ordering the guards to kill this woman!

‘Swish, swish!’

Long sabers were drawn one after another, their cold light flashing, causing Jiang Chen's heart to tremble slightly. He burst out,

"Stop! All of you, back down!"

The angry shout interrupted the guards' actions.

They exchanged glances, not immediately sheathing their swords, worried about Jiang Chen's safety.

Feng Jin stepped forward at this time, glaring at Xu Jiaying and saying, "Your Majesty, this woman is danger..."

"Is what I say not effective?" Jiang Chen's voice was icy.

Feng Jin was terrified and knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.

The guards also sheathed their swords one after another, saluted, and retreated from the room.

But they didn't go far, standing at the threshold, ready to rush in at the first sign of any unusual movement from Xu Jiaying.

"You beast of an emperor, do you think I'll be touched by acting out such a scene? Dream on! You killed eighty-six members of my family. I, Xu Jiaying, will never forget such a blood feud!"

Xu Jiaying was pinned to the ground by Jing Yue, unable to move. Although she was in a weak position, her beautiful eyes revealed a deep-seated resentment, like a ferocious beast ready to bite Jiang Chen's neck at any moment!

Jiang Chen was not angry at being watched like this.

He had anticipated the scene before him when he came, and it hadn't reached the worst possible point yet.

"Miss Xu, I came this time to resolve this feud and compensate you."

"Compensate? Hahaha, hahaha! What an arrogant statement from you, you beast! So many lives in my Xu family, what can you compensate with?!"

Xu Jiaying laughed wildly, her petite body trembling along with it, as if she had heard the greatest joke in the world, but tears were streaming down her face.

"My father dedicated his heart to the country, guarding the territory of Great Wei for half his life, suffering from injuries and illnesses, but what about you? How did you repay him?!"

"And my brothers, they were all loyal and devoted, not vying for favor, guarding the bitter and cold lands of Great Wei, defending the borders for you, but how did you, the emperor, treat them?!"

"A beast like you who can't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, repays kindness with hatred, and is ungrateful and shameless, doesn't deserve to live in this world! Heaven is truly blind to let someone like you become emperor!"

Seeming to feel that her hope of revenge had been shattered, Xu Jiaying simply stopped pretending in her despair and cursed at Jiang Chen...