"The Empress Dowager is right; I am weary from the day and should rest well."

"However, before that, I have a question that troubles me and requires the Empress Dowager's kind explanation." Jiang Chen leaned in slightly, savoring the delicate fragrance emanating from Consort Lu's body, while his hand roamed restlessly.

He whispered in her ear, "So late at night, why isn't the Empress Dowager resting peacefully in Changle Palace? Where did you run off to?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Lu's heart plummeted!

The color drained from her beautiful face.

Overwhelmed by fear, she could barely speak.

After a long pause, she stammered, "Y-Your Majesty, I-I found the moonlight beautiful tonight and suddenly missed the two princes outside the palace. I couldn't sleep, so I, I just went for a walk."

Jiang Chen's smile remained, but his eyes flashed with a chilling light.

His hand, which had been caressing Consort Lu's slender waist, tightened its grip, spun her around, and pinched her chin. "Is that so? But given your status, Empress Dowager, isn't venturing out alone without attendants against the rules?"

"As a consort of the late Emperor, sneaking out in the middle of the night without any maids... it's hard not to suspect something!"

Consort Lu gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger as she looked at Jiang Chen.

What exactly did this dog of an emperor mean?

He had already planted secret guards in Changle Palace. The moment she stepped out of the palace gates, someone must have reported it to him. Why pretend to ask her now?

But the situation was against her. Even if she was unwilling, she had no choice but to play along with Jiang Chen in this 'game' and see what he was up to.

Suppressing her emotions, Consort Lu respectfully said, "Your Majesty, every word I said is true. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate."

"My family, the Lu clan, is a prestigious family with a history of hundreds of years. They have taught me about womanly virtue since I was young. Your Majesty can rest assured that I would never do anything to dishonor the late Emperor!"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen smiled playfully and raised an eyebrow. "Send someone to investigate?"

"No need for such trouble. I'll do it myself!"

As he spoke, Jiang Chen's hand plunged directly into Consort Lu's skirt, exploring without restraint.

Yet, his face remained polite and refined. "The Empress Dowager is of noble status, and others are not worthy to touch you."

"To prove your innocence, I should be the one to do it... Empress Dowager, do you like this method of examination?"

Consort Lu bit her red lips tightly, desperately suppressing any sound.

Even though she was at a disadvantage, she still wanted to hold onto the last shred of her dignity.

Jiang Chen had been observing her reaction all along. His hand moved with varying degrees of pressure, caressing and teasing as if playing an instrument, gently fondling the softness in his arms.

Only when his fingertips felt the constant wetness did he slowly withdraw his hand and say casually, "Hmm, not bad, I'm very satisfied."

It was unclear what he was praising exactly.

Consort Lu's legs were now weak, and she could barely stand. She could only lean softly against Jiang Chen's chest to stay upright.

Her eyes welled up with tears. "Your Majesty, now that you've examined me, you should, should let me go, right?"

"Or, or do you want to go behind the curtains for a more thorough examination?"

Although she didn't want to compromise and submit to Jiang Chen, Consort Lu was willing to remove her silk skirt for her children if offering her body could resolve this matter...

But to her surprise.

Despite showing such eagerness just now, Jiang Chen suddenly acted like a gentleman in the face of such obvious hints.

He appeared unmoved by her beauty, his heart as hard as iron, and said with a mocking smile, "What are you doing, Empress Dowager? Seducing me?"

"Tsk, tsk, I am your junior!"

Consort Lu was filled with shame and indignation, but she could do nothing to Jiang Chen. Just as she was about to chase him away, she was frozen in place by a single sentence.

"You went to see your accomplice just now, didn't you?"

"Don't speak yet. Think carefully before you speak. I don't want to hear any lies, understand?"

Jiang Chen sat on the bed, his tone casual, but his eyes were as cold as ice.

"Actually, before you came back, I was very angry. I even wanted to hang you and your accomplices up as decorations on the city gate tower."

"But you were very obedient just now and served me to my satisfaction... so I'm not so upset anymore."

Hearing this, Consort Lu was shocked. She could hear the seriousness in Jiang Chen's words and knew that he had really considered doing it. She retreated in fear, wanting to get as far away from the tyrant as possible.

Even her body temperature, which had risen due to their closeness, suddenly dropped, as cold as ice.

Jiang Chen noticed her nervousness, shrugged, and chuckled. "Don't be so nervous. Didn't I give up on that idea? Why are you so scared?"

Consort Lu couldn't relax. Her red lips were tightly pursed, like a frightened cat peeking out from the shadows.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen didn't try to persuade her further.

Compared to a powerful empress dowager who had no respect for him as an emperor, he preferred a docile woman like the one before him.

Turning the topic back to business, Jiang Chen said indifferently, "I don't like being fooled, and I especially don't like being treated like an idiot."

"So, you'd better put away those petty tricks and honestly confess everything that happened tonight."

"If you have a good attitude, I can promise to let you go and not pursue your past mistakes."

Consort Lu lowered her head, her body trembling uncontrollably, feeling extremely frightened and helpless.

The pressure that Jiang Chen brought to bear was ten times, a hundred times greater than that of the late Emperor!

His unpredictable and ruthless personality made her even more afraid... At this moment, she finally understood why a hegemon like Mei Wenshi had been defeated by Jiang Chen.

Consort Lu was certain that if tonight's matter didn't involve the Jiangzuo King, she would have already given in.

But things were not so...

Taking a deep breath, she didn't dare to look up and said through gritted teeth, "Your Majesty, since you already know some things, why bother forcing me to confess?"

"I take responsibility for my own actions. I will accept whatever punishment you want to give me!"

"As for the so-called accomplices you mentioned, I don't know anything about them."

Jiang Chen's expression suddenly darkened, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent. "You're going to be stubborn to the end?"

"Empress Dowager, my tolerance is limited. I advise you to consider the pros and cons before answering me."

Consort Lu didn't say anything. After hesitating for a moment, she boldly took off her palace attire.

Wearing only her inner garments, she approached Jiang Chen intimately, knelt beside the bed, and said with tearful eyes and a soft, mournful voice, "Your Majesty, how would I dare to be stubborn in front of you?"

"It's just that I'm foolish and don't know how to speak, often angering you... If Your Majesty is angry, you can, can vent it on me as much as you want. I will definitely cooperate."

Jiang Chen stared at the voluptuous woman leaning against his leg, his eyes growing deeper and deeper.

This Consort Lu was indeed worthy of being the most favored consort in the harem. In such a short time, she had accurately grasped Jiang Chen's preferences...