Chapter 3: How Many Heads Can You Afford to Lose?

At this moment, Consort Su was utterly panic-stricken. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Ye Yue and Murong Yun to appear in Da Xia at the same time. With these two present, she no longer dared to press Tang Yu to cede territory.

It was well known that interference in state affairs by women of the imperial harem in Da Xia was a capital offense. Realizing this, she pinned her last hopes on Tang Yu—the man who had once forsaken his realm for a night in her embrace.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

Consort Su suddenly threw herself to the ground, tears streaming down her face, and crawled to Tang Yu, clutching his leg.

“Your Majesty, I was coerced by these traitorous ministers’ sons—I had no choice! I am your empress consort; how could I ever rebel? Please, do not believe Ye Yue’s slander! I am so frightened. Look at my neck, Your Majesty—it hurts so much!”

As she spoke, Consort Su intentionally loosened her robe at the chest, revealing her alluring figure for Tang Yu to see.

At the sight, Tang Yu’s eyes glazed over.

Damn. Truly remarkable!

The faces of those present changed abruptly. Disaster! Knowing Tang Yu’s temperament, they realized he was once again lapsing into foolishness. Today, with the evidence laid bare, if Tang Yu were to be swayed by this enchanting consort and let her escape unscathed, there would be no next opportunity.

Murong Yun, seeing this, tried earnestly to dissuade him:

“Your Majesty, this is Consort Su’s scheme—do not be deceived!”

In the past, whenever Consort Su pouted and acted coquettishly, Tang Yu would invariably let serious matters slide. But today was different—forcing the emperor to cede land, attempting regicide—these were crimes that warranted the extermination of nine generations!

Consort Su, relying on her father’s influence, saw Tang Yu hesitate and immediately sprang to her feet, shrieking at Murong Yun like a fishwife.

“Shut up! Murong Yun, how dare you sow discord between me and His Majesty?!”

At this, Ye Yue’s expression grew even colder, a murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

“Wicked consort, even if I lose my head today, I will take your life!”

With that, Ye Yue drew her sword. The blade sang through the air, its gleam aimed straight at Consort Su’s chest.

Consort Su’s face turned ashen with terror.

“How dare you!”

“Stop!”

In that instant, the grand hall fell utterly silent—a pin drop could be heard.

Ye Yue’s sword arm froze in midair, her beautiful face ablaze with fury as she glared at Tang Yu.

“Even now, will you truly stop me?” she demanded, disbelief lacing her voice. To protect the emperor she had served loyally for decades, was she to be cast aside for a seductive temptress?

“Your Majesty.”

Her voice shook with anger and disappointment.

Murong Yun clenched his fists so tightly his shoulders trembled, his eyes filled with resentment. Had his long journey to protect the emperor truly been worth less than this temptress?

Given His Majesty’s usual indulgence of Consort Su, would he let her go yet again today?

How could he and the world ever be reconciled to such injustice?

Consort Su, staring at the sword mere inches away, saw the despair on Ye Yue and Murong Yun’s faces and let out a cold laugh.

“Hahaha! Ye Yue, Murong Yun—you really think you can kill me?”

She swept her sleeve and laughed grandly.

“Guards! Ye Yue and Murong Yun have committed regicide, they are—”

Before she could finish, a sharp slap rang out.

Tang Yu, at the end of his patience, strode forward and backhanded her across the face with such force that she was sent sprawling.

He cursed furiously:

“You really are asking for a beating! How many times do I have to put up with you—do you really take me for a pushover?”

The sudden reversal stunned everyone present.

Had the emperor ever displayed such authority before? Was this not the man who usually clung to Consort Su as if she were a plaster stuck to his skin, impossible to shake off? Yet now, he radiated the might of a true sovereign.

Murong Yun’s eyes lit up, hope blossoming in his heart.

There was hope!

“You really think I’m a fool? Today I’ll make things clear for you.

According to Da Xia law, women of the harem may not interfere in government. Yet you have sown chaos in the court, overstepped your bounds, and brought disaster upon the realm—your first crime.

Second, you’ve made murderous attempts on Da Xia’s loyal subjects. If not for Ye Yue’s martial prowess, I would have met my end in this very hall today—your second crime.

Third, you stole my imperial seal and exiled Commander Murong to the frontier, forbidding her return without decree—your third crime.”

Tang Yu’s voice was neither loud nor soft, yet the weight of his words pressed upon Consort Su like Mount Tai.

Any one of these charges alone would mean death.

Consort Su stared in shock at the man before her—he seemed a different person. The love in his eyes had frozen to ice.

His every word was cold as winter.

With a mocking smile, Tang Yu crouched down, pinched her chin, and whispered:

“If I were to list all your crimes, even exterminating your entire clan would not suffice. How many heads do you have to lose?”

That smile made her skin crawl.

Ye Yue was momentarily stunned, a thought flickering through her mind: Why did he seem like a changed man?

Consort Su, realizing the gravity of her plight, began to tremble uncontrollably, shaking her head like a rattle-drum and muttering,

“No... no... no... Tang Yu, you won’t kill me.” Then, as something occurred to her, her eyes grew vicious. “You dare kill me? Dare bear the consequences?!”

Behind her stood not only Su Li, but also Prime Minister Su—her own father.

Her father wielded power second only to the emperor himself.

Kill her? Ridiculous! Let them consider whether they could withstand the wrath of those behind her.

A flash of murderous intent crossed Tang Yu’s eyes; his every gesture exuded imperial majesty.

“A mere prime minister’s daughter dares threaten me?”

If he were truly cowed by Consort Su, what sort of emperor would he be?

With a sweeping gesture, he commanded,

“Take her away—throw her into the Imperial Prison!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Murong Yun finally snapped back to reality. Several Murong guards rushed forward and seized Consort Su without the slightest courtesy.

“Let go of me! How dare you lay hands on me?!”

Consort Su struggled wildly, trying to break free, but the guards’ iron grip held her fast. The more she fought, the more frenzied she became.

Her hair disheveled, all trace of noble bearing vanished; she looked like a madwoman from the countryside, clawing and shrieking in Tang Yu’s direction:

“Tang Yu, I want you dead! I want you dead!”

Turning away, Tang Yu said nothing, his face grave.

As her screams faded into the distance, calm returned to the grand hall—as if nothing had ever happened, were it not for the corpses strewn about.

He let out a long sigh, gazing at the dragon throne before him, feeling an inexplicable heat. He realized, with a sinking heart, that the situation in Da Xia was far graver than he had imagined.

Still, now that he had arrived and inherited this mess, he was determined to set things right. After all, he was a man of the modern age.

Potato cultivation techniques, farming implements, the Art of War—these were etched in his very DNA. Not to mention his knowledge of history—could he really not outmaneuver one mere Prime Minister Su?