2428 I Hit Her, and Too Lightly at That

"Please come, Your Highness the Chen Prince. His Majesty and Her Majesty have waited for a long time already." The old eunuch who had come out to report said this with fear and trepidation. Afterwards, he quickly moved his fat body to the side. His head was beading with cold sweat as he requested Duan Yue to come inside.

Duan Yue squinted coldly. Upon entering the temporary residence's main hall, he saw Rong Yuan sitting in the main seat. The sedate and virtuous Empress Liu was sitting beside him with a cold expression.

Princess Jiankang was sitting on her knees beside her mother. She had clearly cried loudly, causing her eyes to redden. Her cheeks had already been applied with medicine, greatly reducing the swelling.

On the other hand, Rong Yuhu had lowered her head while standing solemnly in the main hall.

On the side stood Vassal Prince Rong, who wore a disapproving expression.

"His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience."

The second prince and the third prince request an audience."

"Commandery Princess Xiangchang requests an audience."

The emperor creased his brows. He was clearly displeased as he looked at his sons sauntering inside. "Did they come to watch the drama? Turn them away."

"Your Majesty, Li'er and them must be worried about their seventh sister's injuries." The empress said evenly, but her brows her tinged with chagrin.

Her charming daughter got slapped by that bastard outsider without reason. The swelling on her face had still not gone down. Going outside would definitely rouse people's laughter.

Yet His Majesty actually wanted to protect this bastard. He wanted to shelf the matter and did not wish to make a big fuss of it.

How could she allow him to do that?

The Ultramarine Province Emperor was frustrated and glared at the empress in chagrin. He spoke solemnly, "Let them come in."

The foolish third prince started blustering upon entering the main hall. "I heard that Seventh Sister has been wronged. What exactly happened? Greetings to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother."

"This son greets Imperial Father and Imperial Mother." Behind him were the crown prince Rong Li and the second prince. They were not as antsy as their third brother. They walked up and respectfully saluted before speaking.

"Seventh Sister, why is your face so swollen?"

Her Majesty the Empress angrily set her teacup down on the table. She spoke coldly, "Have Noble Consort Duan make a trip here."

"No need to invite my mother consort. How old are people to cry for their dads and moms once something goes wrong? Are they not weaned off milk yet or what?" Duan Yue brusquely cut off the empress. He ignored her ugly face that had contorted from wrath. He acknowledged coldly, "I did it."

"I hit her. In consideration of Imperial Father's pride, I had even hit her lightly."

The emperor felt stifled and was unable to utter a sound for a long while.

In contrast, Empress Liu furiously smacked her hand on the table. She spoke sharply, "Rong Yue, you are being too insolent!"

"So what? Don't put on your act as the empress in front of me. You should have long restrained your daughter during this time you took to get angry. Then nothing would have happened at all?" Duan Yue's one sentence made the empress choke on her words. Her face contorted as she pointed at him. She was unable to say past "You" while pointing at him. She was so despondent that her chest hurt.

She had truly never seen such a rascally young man.

She was the current empress of the Ultramarine Province, the model for all women. Yet this punk actually dared defy her. It was evident that he did not view her as the empress at all. In that same vein, he also did not attach importance to His Majesty.

Duan Yue's chilly look traced over Empress Liu's body. He slowly said, "Jiankang took advantage of your prestige as the empress to boast around. However, her conduct is even worse than a shrew's! This is the good daughter you have raised."