Slap Fifty Mouths

Xiao Qianyì stumbled, sensing an unprecedented crisis.

As the Imperial Guards surged forward, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, his pupils darting rapidly as he sought a way out of the predicament.

The Empress Dowager gave him that opportunity.

"Stop!" The Empress Dowager slammed her teacup heavily onto the ground, the fine porcelain carved with golden flowers shattering into pieces.

"Emperor, you have already erred once due to poor judgment. You should know the importance of caution and prudence. The truth of the matter is not yet clear, yet you would take a life based on a few words. I ask you, if you are wrong, can you bear the charge of being muddle-headed, incompetent, and capricious?"

Xiao Qianyu narrowed his eyes, a faint, mocking smile curling his lips. "Imperial Grandmother, what do you mean by this? Could it be that you suspect me?"

Though it was all nonsense fabricated out of thin air, that didn't stop him from speaking with righteous confidence.

He had thought the Empress might be the one to jump in and stop things, but it turned out to be the Empress Dowager instead.

The Empress Dowager met Xiao Qianyu's cold, distant gaze, and a pang of pain struck her heart. She pressed her lips together and said, "Heaven has a virtue for loving life. I simply do not wish to create unnecessary bloodshed or kill an innocent person."

An innocent person?

What the imperial family feared most was talk of 'Evil Spirits.' Not only did the Empress Dowager not despise it, but she also thought him innocent and wanted to spare Xiao Qianyì's life. Was the protagonist's charm really that great?

"Where is he innocent? Forgive me, but I fail to see it. Was it not he who framed me, causing me to narrowly escape death? Was it not he who impersonated the Royal Bloodline and schemed for the Position of Crown Prince?" Xiao Qianyu sneered. "This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans. If he is innocent, then those Traitorous Officials and Rebels who plot to usurp the throne need not fear ending up with their families wiped out—they can rebel to their hearts' content."

Though Xiao Qianyì was the true imperial son, from Xiao Qianyu's standpoint, he was a Traitor deserving of a thousand cuts, and there was nothing wrong with saying so.

The Empress Dowager's face darkened. "The law is not beyond human sentiment. He was adopted by that couple and knew nothing of that case from beginning to end. He should be given a chance to live. In my view, demote him to a Commoner and expel him from the palace."

Xiao Qianyì's position as Prince Qi was already lost; for now, keeping his life was enough.

This was the downside of lacking the original body's memories. Xiao Qianyu had no idea of the full story behind the False Crown Prince case and couldn't even find a thread to refute it.

Inwardly, he cursed the system to high heaven.

In the main world, the 007 data stream, which was joining the other systems in a protest march against the cattle-like existence of supporting systems, trembled slightly.

So he simply set that aside and turned directly to ask Emperor Yongchang, "Father Emperor, do you wish to keep this 'Evil Spirit' alive?"

Emperor Yongchang's expression was icy. There was no way he would let an Evil Spirit live—nothing was more important than his own safety.

His lips moved, about to speak.

Xiao Qianyì panicked and dropped to his knees with a thud. "Father Emperor, hear me out. Whether I am an Evil Spirit or not rests solely on the word of the False Crown Prince. How do we know he hasn't fabricated this lie to eliminate the true dragon's bloodline? I beg Your Majesty to discern the truth and not let this treacherous scheme succeed, lest it grieve your kin and gladden your foes."

Ha, Xiao Qianyu let out a cold laugh. "Father Emperor has already issued an edict proving my innocence and restoring my status as Crown Prince, yet this Evil Spirit still insists on calling me the False Crown Prince, showing no regard for Father Emperor's decree. Such blatant disrespect! Guards, seize him and slap his mouth!"

If he couldn't kill him, he could at least vent his anger with a few slaps.

Emperor Yongchang's expression also soured, feeling that Xiao Qianyì had completely disregarded him.

Seeing that the Emperor had no intention of objecting, Zhao Jun was eager to atone for his mistakes and stepped forward to act himself.

A flash of humiliation crossed Xiao Qianyì's eyes as he prepared to resist.

"How dare you! Will you raise your hand in the Emperor's presence?" Zhao Jun bellowed.

Xiao Qianyì hesitated for a moment, and in that brief delay, Zhao Jun and his men had already pinned his arms behind his back and forced him to his knees.

A smirk tugged at Xiao Qianyu's lips. "Fifty slaps."

A strange light flickered in Zhao Jun's eyes. Xiao Qianyu had been dragged to the execution ground yet still managed a stunning comeback and returned to the palace, all under the banner of divine protection. It seemed he was favored by fortune, with a strong chance of going all the way.

In that case, it was worth currying favor with a future emperor and building a good relationship.

Without further hesitation, Zhao Jun raised his hand and personally delivered the slaps.

Crack after crack, the blows landed mercilessly on Xiao Qianyì's face. In an instant, blood flowed from his mouth and nose, and his cheeks swelled up like a purple eggplant.

An endless wave of humiliation drowned Xiao Qianyì, hatred boiling in his heart until he wanted to spit blood.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He should have had smooth sailing, a life of ease and splendor, not be pinned down and beaten like a dog.

The Empress Dowager's face turned pale, veins bulging at her temples. Then, as if she couldn't bear to watch, she closed her eyes and murmured, "Amitabha."

Xiao Qianyu's gaze swept over the Emperor and Empress. He was surprised to find that the most honored couple wore calm expressions, unmoved by Xiao Qianyì's beating.

It seemed that even if Xiao Qianyì truly was their child, his place in their hearts was limited.

The Second Prince, however, wore a look of barely concealed glee.

"...Forty-nine, fifty." Once the slaps were counted out, Zhao Jun immediately knelt to report. "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, this subordinate has finished."

Xiao Qianyì's face was swollen like a pig's head, his eyes reduced to mere slits. He knelt weakly, slumped against the ground.