"Splash water on her to wake her up!" Emperor Cheng narrowed his eyes. "I want her to die while she's still conscious. I won't let her off so easily..."
If her head were to be severed while she was unconscious, she wouldn't feel any pain, and thus there would be no sense of punishment or oppression.
Eunuch Zhao, carrying a bucket of cold water, poured it directly onto Consort Hui's head...
"Ah! It's cold, so cold!"
After a scream, Consort Hui suddenly woke up, shivering all over...
Before she could even react, two Imperial Guards walked over and dragged her away.
A sharp, piercing scream suddenly rang out. Outside the Golden Palace, Consort Hui's head fell, and her blood stained the jade steps...
"Mother, Mother, Mother Consort!~"
Xiao Yue, terrified, wet his pants and looked at Emperor Cheng with trembling eyes. "Father, Father Emperor, your son, your son knows he was wrong. Please... please spare your son's life, woo woo woo!"
Emperor Cheng snorted upon hearing this. "Fourth Prince Xiao Yue, although you are my own son, you bear no resemblance to me. You listened to the slander of Marquis Jingnan, colluded with others to deceive me, and even led troops to force your way into the palace and rebel. Your crimes are no less than Consort Hui's..."
"Father, Father Emperor, it was all him who instigated this!"
Xiao Yue pointed furiously at Marquis Jingnan, gritting his teeth. "If he hadn't brainwashed me, I wouldn't have ended up like this. Please... please kill him now, Father Emperor. I will behave myself from now on and never return to the capital..."
After all, he was his own son. The palm and the back of the hand were both flesh. Emperor Cheng, who was always soft-hearted, felt a pang of reluctance.
Seeing this, Xiao Jinheng leaned into Emperor Cheng's ear. "Father Emperor, letting Fugui Shan go will bring endless trouble. Such treacherous officials are a scourge if left alive!"
If he were the emperor, he wouldn't waste so many words on these people; he would simply kill them...
Little Xi Tian also whispered, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Fourth Prince has considerable influence in his fiefdom. If you let him return, he will not only fail to remember your kindness but will deepen his hatred. Once he accumulates enough strength, he will surely act against the court!"
Emperor Cheng pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. "What you two say makes sense..."
Since Xi Tian had spoken, Emperor Cheng naturally had to respect her opinion.
With that in mind, Emperor Cheng's cold eyes narrowed. "Guards, take them away and execute them!"
"Father... Father Emperor, woo woo woo, your son, your son doesn't want to die yet. Father Emperor, spare my life!"
Xiao Yue cried, snot and tears streaming down his face, as he was dragged out by the Imperial Guards.
Although Marquis Jingnan appeared calm on the surface, his entire body was trembling like a sieve, and his face gradually contorted. "I... I will not let you go even as a ghost. Just you wait, hahahaha!~"
Emperor Cheng frowned. "Good, I'll wait for you. What are you waiting for? Drag him out and execute him..."
When dealing with such villains, one must not hesitate for a moment.
Hesitation leads to disaster.
After dealing with the culprits, Emperor Cheng was about to reward those who had contributed.
Prime Minister Yang, who had remained calm and composed in this case and cooperated with their act, was rewarded with a year's salary and a cartload of fine silks and satins, which were sent to his residence...
Others also received rewards according to their contributions.
However, when it came to Little Xi Tian, Emperor Cheng began to have a headache.
"Xi Tian, my dear, what do you really want?" Emperor Cheng said, rubbing his temples.
Little Xi Tian smiled sweetly. "Your Majesty, I don't want anything. I just want to go back to the village to see my parents and family, and then visit the Princess's Mansion..."
Emperor Cheng's expression faltered slightly. "You truly don't want anything?"
She had designed warship blueprints and helped him quell the rebellion. It would be improper not to reward her with something...
"I really don't want anything!" Little Xi Tian repeated.
Emperor Cheng's headache worsened. He turned and glared at Xiao Jinheng. "You tell me, what does Xi Tian lack or need?"
These two little rascals had been childhood sweethearts and had lived together for so many years. Heng'er should know Xi Tian best...
Xiao Jinheng turned his dark eyes and stepped forward. "Father Emperor, Xi Tian's material demands are not high. Since she is now a Princess, why not bestow upon her another honor or title?"
Emperor Cheng's eyes lit up, and he slapped the table. "Right, let's bestow the title of Princess upon Xi Tian..."
After all, there were no princesses by marriage in the palace. Such an honor was the dream of almost every girl in Daliang.
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
Father Emperor, can't you see what I mean?
What is a princess? What he wanted was far more prestigious than a princess.
"Heng'er, what's with that expression?" Emperor Cheng asked indignantly.
Xiao Jinheng glanced at the ministers below the high platform, then mustered his courage and raised his voice. "I wish for Father Emperor to grant me a marriage, to allow Xi Tian to enter the palace and become my Crown Princess..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers who had been whispering fell silent.
They stood there motionless as if they had been struck by acupuncture, all staring blankly at Xiao Jinheng.
Little Xi Tian was even more petrified, her big, dark grape-like eyes filled with deep confusion and bewilderment...
Had this brat eaten the wrong medicine today to say such things in front of the ministers?
If the little monk heard this, wouldn't he fight him to the death...
Only Emperor Cheng was beaming, his face blooming like a flower, and his heart filled with extreme excitement. "Good, that's wonderful! Haha, let you two get engaged first. In ten years, Xi Tian, no, in ten years, my daughter-in-law will be able to marry Heng'er, haha, it's truly wonderful!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
You two father and son are singing in harmony, have you asked for my thoughts and feelings?
"Xi Tian, do you agree?" Xiao Jinheng suppressed his inner excitement and asked softly.
Little Xi Tian shook her head without thinking. "No!~"
Everyone: "???"
What's going on? Does the little Princess not like the Crown Prince?
They were childhood sweethearts and inseparable...
Moreover, the little Princess came from the countryside, and now she had ascended to the court and was favored by all. This was a dream come true for any girl.
Emperor Cheng also stopped smiling, surprised. "Xi Tian, don't you want to be the Crown Princess? You know, after I abdicate, Heng'er will be the Emperor of Daliang, and then you will be the Empress..."
He really couldn't understand what Xi Tian was thinking. If it were someone else, they would be overjoyed.
Little Xi Tian sighed and slowly expressed her thoughts...