You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

Chu Nianci, kneeling on the ground, pretended to be confused and looked up at him, asking, "Huh? What did you say?"

"Still lying," Duanmu Qingyu said in a gentle tone, like the tip of a sword just beginning to emerge. "The snow in Kunning Palace is always the first thing the palace has cleared, so what snow scene is there? You deliberately chose that road, were you intentionally going to see him?"

Chu Nianci immediately went limp, her eyes reddening as she said, "Your Majesty, I really was just greedy for a shortcut... In my heart, you are wise, mighty, and peerless. No one in this world can compare to you. Not to mention a prince, even a king, a prince, or the Jade Emperor cannot compare to a single hair on your head. Your Majesty, believe me, you are the only one in my heart..."

Duanmu Qingyu looked down at her for a moment, then raised the corner of her thin red lips to reveal her snow-white teeth, like ice cracking open and letting out a ray of white light.

"You only have me in your heart," he suddenly squatted down, reached out and pinched her delicate chin, making her look into his eyes: "You haven't served him yet, so what if you admit it? If you want to go back to him, I will issue an edict to let you go back, but if you are fickle and wavering, then the law is merciless..."

His fingertips slowly slid down her chin, gently tracing the throbbing pulse on her snowy neck.

"If it comes to that, we'll have to cut open your heart to see if it's red or black."

Chu Nianci's shoulders trembled.

If you were to dig out your own heart and take a look, you would surely be dead.

Duanmu Qingyu narrowed his phoenix eyes, his bright light piercing, and Chu Nianci felt a chill run down his spine.

So she quickly forced an even more ingratiating smile: "I swear, I only entered the palace because I hated him. I loathe him the moment I see him. How could I possibly still have any respect for him? Even one of your toes is a thousand times better than him!"

Duanmu Qingyu stared at her and saw that she had her hair styled in a double bun, and her black hair made her face look as smooth as pearls and jade. Her slender neck tilted slightly forward, as graceful and beautiful as the stem of a weeping crabapple.

She had a slender waist and a graceful figure. Her hands peeked out from her sleeves, revealing snow-white skin and fingertips with a faint pink tinge.

A delicate beauty mark between her brows, with a faint fragrance that is intoxicating when you get close.

Her eyes were pure and innocent, so innocent that every word she spoke seemed so believable.

"Remember your words," Duanmu Qingyu's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly withdrew his hand. "I will not give you the chance to go back on your word."

Seeing his piercing, icy gaze fixed on her, Chu Nianci trembled, her eyes widening as she looked at him like a little tabby cat.

Although I knew all along that the calm, handsome young emperor I knew was just putting on an act, Your Majesty, even if you wear a mask, please wear it forever and don't always show your true face to me.

Your Majesty is truly beyond my ability to handle.

Duanmu Qingyu's expression froze, probably realizing that she had lost her composure.

But when he met Chu Nianci's wide eyes, which looked like a little raccoon, he wanted to laugh, but he quickly held it back. He raised an eyebrow and calmly regained his imposing demeanor: "Why are you staring at me? Just remember what I said."

Chu Nianci's expression relaxed: Thank goodness, his second face wasn't too bad yet, and he seamlessly switched back in the blink of an eye.

Seeing that he had toned down his sharp demeanor.

She knelt down again, raised her finger, and said, "I swear to Heaven that if anything I said just now was false, may I never be allowed to serve the Emperor again, and may I be a lonely palace maid until the end of my life!"

This oath was made...

Looking at her "loyal and devoted as the sun and moon," Duanmu Qingyu's icy expression melted away, and he smiled gently.

"I believe you." His tone softened, but then he asked, "In that case, tell me, where did he touch you when he was pulling and tugging at you?"

Chu Nianci's eyes darted around, and she was startled.

I suddenly remembered that he once said that if someone touched him, he would chop off the part that was touched.

So she muttered under her breath, "It's nothing... I just tugged at my sleeve."

Seeing that her long, fan-like eyelashes fluttered slightly, but her eyes were darting around, Duanmu Qingyu said indifferently, "Go and get the ruler from behind the curtain."

Chu Nianci muttered to himself, but still walked to the back window and sure enough, he saw a smooth bamboo ruler in the plum vase.

She took it, held it in both hands, knelt down beside his legs, and looked at him expectantly.

Duanmu Qingyu took the ruler and weighed it in his hand: "I said that if someone touches your hands, then those hands will be forfeited. But considering that you have rendered a service today, you still have to extricate yourself from this predicament. You have some quick wit and have not disgraced me... You may be spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment."

He said slowly, "Then I'll punish you with ten slaps on the hand. Since you're someone close to me, I'll give you some face. Hold out your hand, and I'll strike it myself."

Chu Nianci was taken aback.

While she was inwardly grumbling, she obediently extended her left hand, thinking to herself: If you really wanted to punish me, you would have called the eunuchs outside to carry out the punishment. You clearly don't want to hit me, you're just too proud to admit it.

They say one thing and do another.

If you win, then I'll lose.

"Thank you for the punishment, Your Majesty." Her voice was soft and gentle, but her eyes drooped down like a pitiful puppy.

Duanmu Qingyu grasped her jade-like fingertips, flattened her palm, and saw that her hand had a lustrous sheen like white jade.

The ruler felt cool to the touch.

"The first strike." As soon as he finished speaking, the ruler was raised.

With a crisp "snap," it landed squarely in her palm.

Chu Nianci immediately withdrew her hand.

The ruler struck the small table next to him squarely.

Chu Nianci's fingertips curled slightly, then immediately straightened.

She pursed her lips, remained silent, and looked at him with her pink lips pouting.

Duanmu Qingyu looked down at her, about to reprimand her.

Seeing her eyelashes tremble slightly, like a butterfly landing on the ground, gently fluttering its wings.

My heart softened slightly.

The ruler fell a second and a third time, and indeed it fell like a feather... landing entirely on the small table.

After ten strokes, Duanmu Qingyu stopped, noticed her tightly clenched lips, and suddenly asked, "Do you know you were wrong?"

Chu Nianci immediately nodded: "I know I was wrong."

"Where did we go wrong?"

"The mistake was... letting someone touch my sleeve." She answered quickly, but a sly glint flashed in her eyes.

Duanmu Qingyu chuckled softly.

Outside the palace, the eunuch could not hear what was being said inside.

All that could be heard were the sounds of slapping; it was easy to guess that His Majesty was hitting someone.

Terrified, she shrank back and whispered to Eunuch Jingxi, "Brother happy, Consort Hui is in big trouble. His Majesty is so angry that he took matters into his own hands."

Jingxi glanced at him sideways and sneered, "Have you ever seen His Majesty personally beat someone?"

Young eunuch: "No."

Isn't this blatant flirting?

Jingxi thought to himself, "Let's proceed according to this plan."

It's no wonder this young eunuch is so clueless; His Majesty flirting with someone like this is truly unprecedented.

From now on, we must treat Miss Hui with even greater respect, for I fear her future prospects will not be limited to those who frequently associate with noble people...

"I've got it," he put down the ruler, his fingertips stroking her jade-like palm. "If it happens again, it won't be so easy."

She looked up and saw Duanmu Qingyu's exquisite eyes reflecting the warm light of the lamp, and her heart softened instantly.