"As long as you can bring yourself to do it, those orphaned children of the Mei family are yours to dispose of."

Looking at Mei Ruoying's smiling face, a chill spread through Jiang Chen.

He had defeated many enemies, but the ruthlessness and madness of the woman before him far exceeded his expectations.

No one would want to be at odds with a madman who cares about nothing and can abandon everything, but now he had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Chen's dark eyes became solemn as he resolved to stabilize Mei Ruoying first.

Once he found Xu Jiaying's whereabouts, he would spare no effort to kill this woman on the spot!

He pretended to be enraged, threatening, "Mei Ruoying, are you so confident that朕 (zhen, I, the emperor) can't do anything to you?"

Mei Ruoying chuckled, "My Emperor, although your Imperial Guards are formidable, and that woman Jing Yue is not simple either... but I hold a trump card!"

"You care so much about Sister Xu, you wouldn't want to see her harmed, so I advise you not to touch me, otherwise your beloved will be sent to the Dangxiang people as a sex slave!"

"Alas, if it really comes to that, a charming beauty like Sister Xu will surely be welcomed by those barbarian Dangxiang people, and then..."

*Slap!*

Jiang Chen slapped her across her smug face.

His eyes flashed fiercely as he grabbed Mei Ruoying's hair, forcing her to meet his gaze. He said, word by word, "Mei Ruoying, you have thoroughly angered朕 (zhen, I, the emperor)!"

"朕 (zhen, I, the emperor) warn you, if Xu Jiaying suffers even the slightest harm, everything you just said will be inflicted on you without exception."

"You like to make others sex slaves? Then朕 (zhen, I, the emperor) will grant your wish, demoting you to the lowest, most dehumanized slave, so everyone can trample on you!"

Mei Ruoying showed no fear, meeting Jiang Chen's gaze head-on, her voice full of malice, "Very well, I'll wait... if you have the ability!"

The two glared at each other in silence, like wild beasts before a fight.

After a long while, Jiang Chen snorted coldly and released her, only when a vivid palm print appeared on Mei Ruoying's delicate face.

He said indifferently, "Stop stalling for time, state your purpose. 朕 (zhen, I, the emperor) is still waiting for the Feng Shan ceremony."

Mei Ruoying slid to the ground, her scalp throbbing, but she didn't show it. Instead, she raised her face and gave Jiang Chen an enchanting smile.

Her face was as bewitching as a demon, but her tone was so venomous that it sent chills down one's spine, "I want you to, in front of the whole world, issue an Edict of Self-Reproach!"

...

Mount Tai altar.

The golden sun hung high in the sky, and a gentle breeze blew.

Civil and military officials, members of the imperial family, and many commoners who had come to admire the spectacle were all waiting around.

But as the auspicious hour approached, their solemn faces gradually began to show unease.

Why hadn't His Majesty's carriage arrived yet?

Xu Changqing's upright posture was beginning to falter, his sharp eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, his heart anxious.

Could it be that His Majesty was going to be late?

This was the Feng Shan Grand Ceremony. If anything went wrong, the whole world would be in uproar!

Just then, Xu Mu arrived secretly and whispered in Xu Changqing's ear, "General, something has happened to His Majesty. It will be difficult to resolve in a short time. You must find a way to delay the ceremony."

Xu Changqing's eyes widened, inwardly bemoaning his fate, but he couldn't shirk his responsibility.

He had no choice but to quickly contact Jiang Chen's other confidants, concoct a story, and announce that the auspicious hour was incorrect and that the ceremony would be postponed by an hour.

As soon as the news came out, the officials and commoners present immediately began to stir.

Halfway up Mount Tai.

Several landlords waiting by the roadside, eager to catch a glimpse of the Emperor's majesty, couldn't help but complain.

"Alas, His Majesty is too reckless. This is the Feng Shan Grand Ceremony, how can he be so frivolous? If he angers Heaven, won't the harvest be reduced again next year!"

"Who says it isn't? I heard that the reason why our Great Wei has so many natural disasters this year is because His Majesty has killed too many people, accumulated too much sin, and Heaven has specially sent down punishment."

"Now he's even late for the Feng Shan ceremony. I'm afraid next year will be even harder!"

"Alas, I don't know how His Majesty ascended the throne. The late Emperor was such a virtuous and wise ruler, how could he have chosen such an heir?"

On the Feng Shan altar.

Jiang Zuo Wang stood tall and jade-like, his face showing appropriate worry, but his heart was full of schemes.

He thought to himself, "It seems the plan has gone smoothly. Dog Emperor, your Feng Shan Grand Ceremony is destined to become a laughingstock for the world!"

A hint of pleasure flashed in his eyes as he looked at the most noble and graceful figure in the forefront.

The woman he cared about the most, valued the most, and regarded as his mother.

The Imperial Concubine, Lü Wangshu.

Just looking at this back view, Jiang Zuo Wang felt endless anger, humiliation, and a trace of killing intent rising in his heart.

Realizing this, he was suddenly startled and lowered his eyes.

Was his killing intent directed at Jiang Chen, the dog emperor, or, or at the Imperial Concubine?

Staring at the blue bricks on the ground, Jiang Zuo Wang did not recover for a long time...

At the same time, in the side hall of the imperial lodge dozens of miles away.

Jiang Chen was completely trapped in a dilemma.

Mei Ruoying's proposal completely exploited loopholes in his words.

Issuing an Edict of Self-Reproach would not harm the security of the dynasty, but it would severely shake the prestige of him, the Emperor.

Throughout history, the emperors who had issued an Edict of Self-Reproach were either utter fools or tyrants who had committed unforgivable crimes.

Jiang Chen admitted that his methods of dealing with enemies were somewhat bloody, but it was not to that extent... Moreover, he had only killed corrupt officials and cruel bureaucrats, and had not harmed ordinary people.

If he issued an Edict of Self-Reproach, the reputation he had just cleared would be completely tarnished.

Of course, these were minor details. The most important thing was that Mei Ruoying had smuggled in her own agenda, with every sentence in the edict alluding to the Xu family and the Consort Shu.

If he really announced this edict, the Xu family would definitely be nailed to the pillar of shame, becoming a rat that everyone beat.

Jiang Chen could sacrifice his own reputation for Xu Jiaying, but he couldn't treat the Consort Shu and her family so cruelly.

"Your Majesty, why have you been silent? Do you want to give up on Sister Xu?" Mei Ruoying said coolly, looking at Jiang Chen with undisguised mockery, as if saying, your so-called care is nothing more than that.

Jiang Chen's affection remained unchanged, and he was not provoked by her. He said calmly, "Only you know Jiaying's whereabouts. If朕 (zhen, I, the emperor) issue an Edict of Self-Reproach, what if you break your promise?"

Mei Ruoying played with her hair, saying nonchalantly, "You are not qualified to negotiate terms with me."

Her dismissive attitude aroused Jiang Chen's strong displeasure.

But he knew that now was not the time to fall out with her, and he suppressed his anger, saying, "For a greedy and ruthless woman like you, a good bargaining chip will not be used only once... Speak, after the Edict of Self-Reproach, what else are you planning to use Jiaying to threaten朕 (zhen, I, the emperor) with?"

The hand stroking her hair stopped, Mei Ruoying smiled brilliantly, and said with emotion, "Your Majesty is so smart, but I haven't thought about the subsequent conditions yet!"