Chapter 428: Chapter 266: So, the North Prince has taken a liking to your beauty?_3
The Yue Emperor continued, "Since he has taken a liking to you, you will need to visit the North Country a few more times in the future."
This...
Hearing the Yue Emperor's words, Murong Xue'er was immediately stunned.
Could it be that the Yue Emperor was planning to use her to employ a honey trap against the North Prince?
Murong Xue'er did not believe that a honey trap would work on Lu Chen, for although Lu Chen enjoyed the company of beautiful women, the women around him were all very pretty, and it was probably just a spontaneous interest that made him take a few more glances at her.
Seeing that Murong Xue'er did not speak, the Yue Emperor's tone suddenly turned somewhat icy, "What, are you unwilling?"
Murong Xue'er hastily replied, "Your Majesty, this servant is willing. Whatever Your Majesty commands this servant to do, this servant will do."
The Yue Emperor then continued, "By the way, I've heard that you've kept quite a few male pets outside. Is this true?"
At these words, Murong Xue'er was so frightened that she quickly prostrated on the ground and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, that is absolutely not the case. This servant seldom leaves the palace; how could I keep male pets outside? Moreover, this servant is still a virgin and has never been involved with any man."
The Yue Emperor said, "So you are saying that someone has slandered you. Who do you think would spread such rumors?"
Murong Xue'er responded, "This servant does not know."
The Yue Emperor went on, "You do not know? Is there anything that you, as the Inner Palace Prime Minister, do not know?"
Hearing this, Murong Xue'er's delicate body trembled incessantly, and her cheeks beaded with cold sweat.
At that moment, no more sound came from behind the curtains. Several maidens came out from behind the curtains, flustered, while the red Phoenix Robe of the Yue Emperor became faintly visible.
Apparently, the Yue Emperor had just been dressing.
After a while, the Yue Emperor spoke again, "Although the matter of you keeping male pets outside has been falsely attributed to you, for the sake of your purity, I think it should be thoroughly examined."
As she spoke, a gust of wind blew from inside, and the red curtains were swept aside, revealing an alluring face that could captivate all living beings.
In the next moment, Murong Xue'er, who was prostrate on the ground, suddenly flew up; her body shot straight into the curtains.
Immediately following, Murong Xue'er's clothes were shattered, and her fair skin was exposed. Murong Xue'er's entire form appeared unobstructed before the Yue Emperor.
The Yue Emperor glanced at Murong Xue'er's body and then said, "The Virgin Mark is still there; it seems you have indeed been slandered."
As she spoke, the Yue Emperor lightly lifted her hand, and a golden silk blanket from the bed flew into her hand. She then threw the blanket over Murong Xue'er, covering her white, jade-like body.
The Yue Emperor continued, "You may go."
Murong Xue'er hastily wrapped herself in the blanket, covering her body, and while doing so, she bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
She then turned and left the Empress's bedchamber.
When Murong Xue'er came out, she found herself covered in sweat beads that kept seeping out, even the blanket that the Yue Emperor had just draped over her was dampened by sweat.
Murong Xue'er exhaled a sigh of relief at this moment and then adjusted her emotions before returning to her own room.
Meanwhile.
In the Da Wu Dynasty.
Inside a city in the southeast, a group of people knelt before Princess Junwan begging for mercy, "Princess Junwan, spare our lives, and from now on, whatever you command us of the Zhang Family to do, we will do. We will be your dogs."
Hearing this, Wu Junwan smiled and then said, "Zhang Family Head, why didn't you think of today before? I gave you ample time to surrender, but not only did you not cherish it, you even rallied more rebels, fantasizing about becoming king."
The man kneeling before Wu Junwan was about to say more, but Wu Junwan cut him off, "Take him away and behead him."
Then a number of soldiers came and dragged away those who were kneeling before Wu Junwan, pulling them towards another place.
"Princess, spare us!"
"Princess, Princess, spare us!"
"The Wu's, you will not die a good death. I will not let you Wu Family go even as a ghost!"
…
Soon the distant voices gradually quieted down.
At this time, Wu Junwan murmured, "Having been out for so long, it's time to return. I wonder if my dear brothers have missed me."
With the fall of the largest Aristocratic Family in the southeast, the Zhang Family, the internal strife of Da Wu also came to an end. In this civil war, there was no doubt that Princess Junwan played the most critical role.
She persuaded most of the rebel leaders to surrender and led her troops to annihilate the remaining rebels, as well as dealt with the insurgents who initiated the rebellion.
Before her, a few of her brothers also led troops to quell the rebellion. Initially, the Martial Emperor thought to allow her brothers to accumulate some military merit, but contrary to expectations, her brothers were of no use at all, not only falling for the rebels' traps, losing many great Wu soldiers but also nearly failing to return.
It was only after Prime Minister Chai Jiliang's repeated advice that the Martial Emperor agreed to let Princess Junwan, the Family Head, lead the troops in quelling the rebellion.
This was the first time in Da Wu that a woman was allowed to lead troops, and naturally, there was much opposition in the court. However, despite the contention, those ministers were well aware that Princess Junwan, Wu Junwan, definitely had the capability to quell the revolt.
Their opposition was not due to Wu Junwan's personal abilities. The very fact that Wu Junwan had been named Princess by the Martial Emperor attested to her robust capabilities, and if the court officials opposed Wu Junwan's leadership, it was mainly because she was a woman.
Furthermore, Wu Junwan had a very close relationship with the Empress of the neighboring Da Yue Dynasty. Now that she was leading troops to suppress the rebellion and accumulating military merits, coupled with the vast intelligence network she controlled, it was clear what she might aim to do in the future.
The officials of Da Wu certainly did not want to see the rise of an Empress in Da Wu.
At this very moment, Wu Junwan was preparing to order the great army to return to the Da Wu Capital City, just when a soldier came before her, handed over a letter with both hands, kneeled halfway, and said, "Princess Junwan, this is a letter from Prime Minister Chai; he asks that you return to the capital city as soon as possible."