Moans of agony, pleas for mercy, and cries of despair
rose and fell through the great hall, like hundreds of ducks having their necks squeezed at once.
Yan Lingji leaned against the throne, resting her chin on one hand, her peach-blossom eyes lowered,
as she looked at the nobles below, their faces streaked with tears and snot. Disgust showed plainly on her face.
Disgusting.
No wonder they were called "nobles."
Whether in this world or the one she had come from,
these lofty people were all the same to the bone.
They didn't treat commoners as human beings.
They regarded them only as materials, as pawns, as expendable tools they could discard at will.
A figure flashed through Yan Lingji's mind—
the Baiyue crown prince who had saved her from the accusation that she was a witch who had burned down a village.
Back then, she had awakened her Fire Spirit Body and accidentally burned the entire village to the ground.
Everyone had called her a witch and wanted her executed.
Only that man had stepped forward and saved her.
But even then, it was only because she was useful.
What difference was there between that Baiyue crown prince and the nobles kneeling before her now, begging for mercy?
They were all the same: treating commoners as pawns, as materials, as tools to be sacrificed at will.
Sure enough, her own master was the best.
He called himself a villain, but which of the things he had asked her to do was truly evil?
Killing those who deserved to die, slaying the demons who deserved to be slain, and rooting out the parasites sucking the blood from the common people—how could that be evil?
It was clearly justice in Heaven's name!
Yan Lingji came back to herself and glanced at the nobles below, still wailing.
"You're too noisy."
"Silence."
The nobles tried to keep begging, but found their mouths no longer obeyed them.
Their lips were as if glued shut, pressed tightly together.
They tried with all their might to shout, but not a sound came from their throats.
The great hall fell silent in an instant.
The guards and civil officials who weren't under her control watched, their faces as white as paper.
Those nobles—no, everyone present—had long since become puppets.
Their bodies, minds, and words were all under the control of the woman on the throne.
This was ten thousand times more terrifying than the Heaven Dou Emperor's authority.
The Heaven Dou Emperor could only have your head cut off, but this woman could make it impossible for you even to die if you wanted to.
She could even control your thoughts!
Control your actions!
Yan Lingji spoke slowly.
"You people don't know that you were wrong."
"You know that you're about to die."
The hall grew even quieter.
The nobles' eyes bulged as terror surged from deep within their pupils like a rising tide.
"Guards."
Yan Lingji raised a hand.
"Throw every one of these men into the death cells."
"And detain their relatives, all nine generations of them."
A squad of guards below sprang into action. They lifted the nobles from the floor and dragged them away like dead dogs.
The nobles struggled desperately, trying to beg for mercy, to speak, to kowtow—
but their mouths wouldn't open.
They couldn't lower their heads.
Their bodies refused to obey them.
All they could do was watch helplessly as they were dragged away, despair filling their eyes.
Not only had they failed to persuade the empire's new empress to spare them, but now their families would suffer as well.
"Pass down my orders."
Yan Lingji spoke again.
"Search every noble's estate. Confiscate their assets and take a census of the people."
"And bring me the female officials from the Heaven Dou Emperor's harem."
Several trembling female officials stepped out of the crowd and knelt in the hall.
"Take stock of the former emperor's consorts and register them. Those with children will live with them; those without children will be settled in estates outside the city."
"Inspect all the palace maids. Anyone with a problem is to be dealt with."
"Move all male attendants from the inner harem to the outer court."
"Guards may be stationed only around the outer perimeter of the harem. They are strictly forbidden from entering."
"Inspect all the guards, commanders, and nobles in the other palaces as well."
One order after another rang out like a rapid-fire barrage.
The officials and guards in the hall all looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted. They knelt and kowtowed.
"As you command! Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Long live the Empress!"
"Long live!"
Everyone hurried out of the hall, moving as fast as if a ghost were chasing them.
The doors were shut from the outside.
Only Yan Lingji, Xiaomeng, and Na'er remained in the hall.
And the faint scent of blood in the air.
Yan Lingji leaned against the throne as nine snow-white fox tails swished gently behind her.
She let out a long breath.
"Whew—"
The domineering air about her vanished in an instant, leaving only the bewitching, languid charm of a world-ensnaring enchantress.
"This seat really isn't easy to sit in."
She tilted her head, tapping the armrest idly with a finger.
"There's so much to deal with. It's driving me crazy."
Xiaomeng stood to one side, holding the Qiuli Sword, and glanced at her.
"As the ruler of a nation, how can you think like that?"
"A ruler must lead by example. Otherwise, how can you govern the land?"
Yan Lingji turned her head to look at her, her peach-blossom eyes curving into a smile.
"Then come help me, Sister Xiaomeng."
Before she had finished speaking, a snow-white fox tail had already wrapped around Xiaomeng's waist. It gave a gentle tug, pulling her over to stand beside the throne.
Xiaomeng stumbled as she was pulled, but steadied herself and shot Yan Lingji a glance without responding.
Just then, a black Venom hand pressed against Xiaomeng's chest and gave it a squeeze.
"Xiaomeng, you need to do your part, too."
"Mm, it's gotten bigger again. Heh heh, you're still developing."
Jiang Ce's voice sounded in her mind.
Xiaomeng lowered her head and looked at the black hand on her chest, pressing her lips together slightly.
That bastard was groping her again.
If she hadn't used her healing ability to repair herself yesterday, she'd still have a row of finger marks there.
"My king, you can't show such favoritism~"
Watching Xiaomeng being groped, Yan Lingji gave a coquettish laugh.
As soon as she finished speaking, another black hand reached out from her chest.
Its five fingers spread wide, as if ready to squeeze her breasts until they burst.
Yan Lingji's waist arched slightly, and her face grew even more alluring.
"Mmm~ My master, punish your servant well."
Her voice was so soft it could drip water.
Xiaomeng turned her head away, not wanting to look.
But the sounds reaching her ears made the tips of her ears redden slightly.
Na'er stood to one side, blinking as she looked from Xiaomeng to Yan Lingji.
She didn't know where she was supposed to look.
She only thought that her sisters were acting strangely.
Suddenly, she felt the black bodysuit she wore tighten slightly.
Na'er's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head.
"Sister... Is there anything I can do?"
Her voice was soft and sticky, like freshly steamed rice cake.
Yan Lingji reached out, drew her close, and rubbed her cheek against Na'er's.
"Of course. You can serve your big brother well."
Na'er's face grew even redder.
But she didn't pull away.
She opened her mouth and bit down on a tentacle.
Yan Lingji giggled, then opened her mouth and bit down as well.
Only Xiaomeng had been forced over.
Xiaomeng glared, but Jiang Ce ignored her completely.
"If you don't want to eat tentacles, then put on a show and swallow iron balls."
At once, the tentacle before Xiaomeng began to change.
A string of nine black iron balls appeared, each one about the size of an egg.
Xiaomeng's gaze wavered.
"You..."
"...Mmph."
Xiaomeng began to demonstrate the remarkable art of swallowing iron balls, a stunt from Wuqiao Acrobatics that required the accompanying use of Hard Qigong!
And Jiang Ce tied all three women up, too.
They all began performing.
Jiang Ce sighed.
Life as a tentacle monster was truly wonderful.
Just then,
the Stone Bead he had placed inside his body
began to glow faintly hot.
Jiang Ce's movements paused.
"Hmm?"
He took the Stone Bead out and looked it over.
Its appearance hadn't changed, but it was hot.
This feeling... seemed familiar.
The last time Yan Lingji had obtained her Sixth Soul Ring and broken through to level sixty-one, the bead had grown hot like this, too.
Then,
Xiaomeng had been transported over.
So what was the reason this time?
Jiang Ce narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing.
Was it because Yan Lingji had driven out the Heaven Dou Emperor and taken the throne?
Was it because of "national fortune"?
If that was really the case, then this was going to be very interesting.
Once he had completely conquered and occupied the Heaven Dou Empire, he'd be able to bring all those beauties over one by one.
There were still so many beauties in The Legend of Qin.
The corners of Jiang Ce's mouth slowly curled upward, and he poured his spiritual power into the Stone Bead.
Brilliant light burst forth.
Crimson-gold radiance exploded from the Stone Bead, illuminating the entire hall.
The light gathered in the hall, swirling and coalescing—
Then two graceful figures tumbled out of the radiance.
"Thud—!"
"Ow—!"
Two muffled groans, mixed with a startled cry.
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