Cheng Di paused, glancing at Eunuch Zhao. "Did he bring that scumbag Shen Ducai?"
Eunuch Zhao nodded. "He did..."
"Let him in!" A cold glint flashed in Cheng Di's eyes.
Shen Ducai, you ungrateful wretch, daring to go to Dashui Village to kill Heng'er. If I don't beat your shit out today, I'll take your surname...
Eunuch Zhao acknowledged and turned to leave.
A moment later, Gu Zhenshan escorted Shen Ducai into the imperial study.
"Your humble subject pays his respects to His Majesty!" Gu Zhenshan stepped forward and bowed.
Cheng Di grunted and eyed Shen Ducai. "Are you going to confess yourself, or should I let the Ministry of Punishment 'loosen your bones' before you speak?"
Shen Ducai: "..."
Good heavens, the suffering and grievances he had endured on this journey! Couldn't they find Consort Xian for their grudges? Why must they make things difficult for him?
"Your... Your Majesty!" Shen Ducai knelt on the ground, his words earnest. "This entire matter has nothing to do with your humble subject. It was Consort Xian who was bewitched and was determined to eliminate the Crown Prince. I am framed, Your Majesty..."
"Nonsense!" Cheng Di was furious upon hearing this. He rushed forward and kicked Shen Ducai. "While Consort Xian is detestable, who made you her lackey? Now that things are exposed, you're trying to wash your hands of it all. What a thick skin you have!"
For Shen Ducai's crimes, his entire clan could be wiped out...
However, Cheng Di was not a bloodthirsty monarch. With the northern frontier at war and many areas in the southern frontier under development, able-bodied men were needed.
Shen Ducai listened and knelt properly again, murmuring, "But, but the Second Prince and the Crown Prince are both safe. Your humble subject has done nothing wrong from beginning to end, so, so..."
"So I should commend you handsomely, should I?" Cheng Di's eyes widened in anger. He raised his foot and kicked Shen Ducai to the ground again.
Shen Ducai: "..."
Why was he always the one getting beaten?
"Your... Your Majesty!" Shen Ducai wiped his sweat and looked pleadingly at Emperor Jing. "Your humble subject is willing to reveal all the wrongdoings of Consort Xian, only asking for your mercy. Your Majesty may not know, but Consort Xian has colluded with traitors over the years, oppressing the people and committing all sorts of evil. Many local officials have accepted bribes and broken the law, causing the people to resent and suffer in silence..."
"As long as Your Majesty spares my life, your humble subject is willing to write a list. Then Your Majesty can apprehend those corrupt officials and hold them accountable one by one!"
Cheng Di narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. "Do you have the right to negotiate with me now?"
"Your humble subject, your humble subject dares not!" Shen Ducai quickly kowtowed.
Cheng Di himself had no intention of killing him. The main culprits were Consort Xian and her faction. As long as Shen Ducai was willing to testify, it would suffice...
"General Gu!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Gu Zhenshan cupped his fists.
Cheng Di glanced at Shen Ducai. "Drag this scoundrel out, give him thirty heavy planks, and then throw him into the imperial prison to await interrogation!"
Shen Ducai: "..."
Still to be beaten?
Thirty heavy planks on his backside would surely peel off a layer of skin, if not kill him.
"Yes!" Gu Zhenshan responded and dragged the collapsed Shen Ducai out...
A moment later, piercing screams, like those of a slaughtered pig, echoed from outside the imperial study.
Concurrently, within the Golden Rose Palace, Kong Xingzhuo, like a large rat, hid at the end of the corridor, his eyes fixed on the main hall not far away.
This was Consort Xian's residence. To catch her in the act, Kong Xingzhuo had not had a proper rest for several days...
Just as he was so tired he bit his tongue, the palace doors suddenly opened, and a figure in pink emerged.
This was Consort Xian. On this dark and windy night, where was she going?
Kong Xingzhuo perked up and followed Consort Xian, all the way to the back garden...
After circling a rockery, a small wooden house suddenly appeared, with lights still flickering inside.
"Someone's here?" Kong Xingzhuo raised an eyebrow, his heart filled with suspicion.
After Consort Xian entered the wooden house, Kong Xingzhuo leaped into the air and landed on the rooftop. Through the gaps, he could see the scene inside...
"I've missed you so much! Why are you only arriving now?" Governor Gao eagerly took Consort Xian's hand and kissed her neck twice. "Is no one following you?"
This Governor Gao was burly and rough, with a full beard. He didn't look like a court official but more like a mountain bandit...
Kong Xingzhuo felt a surge of nausea. "So Consort Xian likes men like this!"
"No one followed!" Consort Xian pushed Governor Gao away, her expression uneasy. "That useless Shen Ducai didn't die and was escorted back to the capital by Gu Zhenshan. What if he confesses everything about us?"
Governor Gao sneered upon hearing this. "Isn't that simple? Just kill him..."
"I'm afraid it's not that easy!" Consort Xian furrowed her delicate brows. "Shen Ducai is imprisoned in the Ministry of Punishment's imperial prison, which is heavily guarded. How can we get to him?"
Governor Gao shook his head. "No, no, Your Highness's thinking is still too conservative. I have no less than a hundred ways to get rid of Shen Ducai..."
"Really?" Consort Xian was half-believing.
"Of course!" Governor Gao said with certainty, scooping Consort Xian into his arms and placing her on the bed. "Leave this matter to me. Your Highness need not worry. Now, we should attend to 'business,' hehe..."
With that, Governor Gao, like a black bear, lunged forward and pinned Consort Xian beneath him.
Kong Xingzhuo held his camera, recording all the illicit scenes inside.
The camera was provided by Xiao Xitian. Xiao Jinheng had mentioned to her before that Consort Xian was having an affair and wanted evidence to present to his father.
So, Xiao Xitian took out a camera from her space, showed Kong Xingzhuo how to use it, and then told him to record all of Consort Xian's dirty deeds.
"Pah, disgusting, utterly disgusting!" Kong Xingzhuo muttered while recording.
This Consort Xian was truly audacious, planting a whole prairie on His Majesty's head...
Your good days are numbered.
Three minutes later, Governor Gao put on his clothes and quietly left the palace.
Yun Residence.
Xiao Jinheng's entire being was unsettled after watching the recording.
Xiao Xitian, fearing eye strain, refused to watch...
"Sweetie, this thing of yours is too useful! It can actually save Consort Xian's misdeeds. If the Emperor sees this, won't he skin her alive!" Kong Xingzhuo said with a smile.
Xiao Xitian pouted upon hearing this. "What's this? If there were electricity, I could create a big screen and let all the citizens of the capital see Consort Xian's promiscuity..."
Xiao Jinheng was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, "What is electricity?"
"It's nothing!" Xiao Xitian tugged at the corner of her mouth.
If she said more, everything would be revealed.
Just then, a 'bang bang bang' sound came from outside the house...