"If you don't want your Mei family to end up the same way, tell the truth."

"Confess all the tricks you've been playing behind my back, and those thoughts you shouldn't have... Otherwise, the fate of those eunuchs will be the best ending for you traitors!"

A flicker of fear flashed in Mei Ruoying's eyes, but she quickly controlled herself and erased those unwanted emotions.

The tyrant was right in front of her, so close that she could hear his breathing. She couldn't let him catch a flaw.

She put on a wronged look, with a hint of choked sobs in her voice:

"Your Majesty, you have really misunderstood me!"

"Your concubine and her family would never do such rebellious things. Your concubine can swear on her life!"

A murderous intent flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. He hated sophistry, and even more the betrayal of those around him.

And Mei Ruoying, every word, every action, stepped right on his landmines!

If the situation didn't prevent it, Jiang Chen really wanted to severely punish the woman in front of him, crushing her spirit.

He withdrew his gaze.

Jiang Chen released his hand, ignoring Mei Ruoying, who slumped to the ground, losing her support.

He said coldly, "Someone, send Consort Mei back."

Knowing that he couldn't pry open this woman's mouth, Jiang Chen didn't want to waste any more time and directly ordered someone to take Mei Ruoying away.

This kind of ruthless performance caused a hint of resentment to flash in Mei Ruoying's eyes.

How dare this dog emperor humiliate her like this?!

An incompetent person who barely rose to power relying on the late emperor's favor, what qualifications did he have to occupy Great Wei? And what qualifications did he have to make her admire him?

Waste! Waste!

Sooner or later, she would trample this dog emperor under her feet!

...

Time passed.

The influence of the assassin's suppression faded.

The palace returned to its former peace.

During this time, perhaps intimidated by the emperor's bloody methods, the court was also much quieter, and various policies began to operate according to Jiang Chen's will.

But under the peaceful appearance, there were invisible undercurrents surging!

Outside the palace walls.

In those corners that Jiang Chen couldn't see, rumors began to spread.

Saying that the current emperor was tyrannical and murderous, took pleasure in human life, loved to confiscate property and exterminate families, and regarded human life as worthless weeds.

Although they didn't dare to openly criticize the emperor, after tea and dinner, many people began to talk about Jiang Chen's 'tyrannical deeds' to pass the time, and complained for those officials who were 'innocently killed'.

And the storytellers on the streets and alleys, without prior agreement, began to create various bloody stories based on the current emperor as a prototype, and told them to passers-by from the north and south.

As a result, the name 'tyrant' became more and more resounding, spreading throughout the country with these true and false stories.

Jiang Chen, who was in the palace, naturally didn't know these things.

At this moment, he was playing with the delicate lotus feet of the Virtuous Consort.

The exquisite lines, and the warm smoothness when he touched them, added a lot of boudoir pleasure to Jiang Chen.

After all, the fierce entanglement just now had completely softened the Virtuous Consort into a puddle of spring water, unable to fight again in a short time, so he could only temporarily let go of the beauty beside him.

At this moment, Feng Jin's voice suddenly came from outside, saying that the Chief of the Imperial Guards, Xu Mu, had returned.

Jiang Chen's spirit was shaken when he heard this.

He had sent Xu Mu to Yu Province a few days ago, asking him to welcome Yang Muxi into the palace. Now that he finally had a reply, how could he not be excited?

That kind of rare beauty, any man would want to possess her, and he was naturally no exception!

Suppressing the urge to leave.

Jiang Chen comforted the Virtuous Consort for a while, and feeling that the time was almost up, he hurriedly left.

A moment later, in the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Jiang Chen, uncharacteristically, ignored the memorials on the table, his eyes fixed on Xu Mu.

He seemed to have been running around for several days, his face covered with messy stubble, his skin tanned a lot, and his originally bright black eyes also had bloodshot eyes, giving the whole person a decadent look.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen's tone became more amiable:

"Xu Qing, rise!"

"Looking at your tired appearance, this journey must not have been easy."

Hearing this, Xu Mu showed a bitter smile, lowered his head in shame, and didn't say a word, as if he had suffered some serious blow.

Seeing his abnormality, Jiang Chen's expression became serious, and he asked with concern:

"Why do you look like this? Did someone in Yu Province make things difficult for you?"

Xu Mu lowered his head and said hesitantly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subordinate, this subordinate..."

"Speak!" Jiang Chen's tone sank.

Xu Mu closed his eyes and said through gritted teeth, "Your Majesty, this time I left the capital, I only met Daoist Yang once, and then, then I was driven out of Yu Province!"

"You, the commander of my Imperial Guards, were driven out of Yu Province?"

Jiang Chen looked at the tall and strong Xu Mu, somewhat hesitant.

Xu Mu nodded, his dark face faintly flushed, very embarrassed.

For someone of his status, this was undoubtedly a great humiliation, and he would be laughed at by his political enemies for the rest of his life.

Thinking of the life he had been living like a stray dog during this period, a hint of grief and anger appeared in Xu Mu's eyes.

Jiang Chen was also speechless for a while.

Such an absurd and ridiculous thing would actually happen to the always calm Xu Mu, even he felt like laughing a little.

"Cough, Xu Qing, didn't you tell the governor of Yu Province that you are my confidant?"

"Your Majesty, those who drove away this subordinate included not only the local people, but also many Jianghu people. They came from big sects and had extraordinary skills. The governor of Yu Province was also powerless and couldn't help much," Xu Mu said in a low voice.

"The people, and the Jianghu people... were these people instigated by Yang Muxi?" Jiang Chen's tone became cold.

After experiencing Mei Ruoying, he had become extremely disgusted with those women full of schemes. Even if this Yang Muxi was extremely beautiful and suited his heart, if she liked to play with people's hearts, this woman must not enter the palace.

Hearing the change in Jiang Chen's tone, Xu Mu hurriedly explained:

"Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand Daoist Yang, she is not that kind of woman!"

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he organized his words: "After Daoist Yang learned of this subordinate's intentions, she politely refused this subordinate and did not embarrass this subordinate."

"The reason why those people and Jianghu people wanted to drive away this subordinate was because they had previously received favors from Daoist Yang and spontaneously maintained Daoist Yang, wanting to solve her worries."

"This woman, is so popular?" Jiang Chen was surprised again.

Xu Mu nodded, a bit more respect in his expression, and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, do you still remember the rat plague in Yu Province three years ago?"

Jiang Chen recalled for a moment, and said somewhat uncomfortably: "I remember, those rats caused many people to get sick. At that time, Yu Province was almost empty, a veritable hell on earth... Later, this disaster seemed to have been quelled by some Jianghu people."

Xu Mu said excitedly: "Your Majesty, it was Daoist Yang who eliminated the rat plague and saved the people of Yu Province from danger!"

"After hearing about this, she immediately left her mountain, went deep into the area in Yu Province where the rat plague was most severe, practiced medicine and administered medicine, treated the people, tasted all kinds of herbs, and researched a prescription to curb the rat plague!"

"After that, she also took out all her savings and gave them to the widowed, orphaned, and elderly, saving countless families. She is a truly virtuous person, a living Bodhisattva. Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand her!"