Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 454: The First Birthday Grabbing Ceremony (4)

After washing up, the two of them went hand in hand to the baby’s room, where two nannies were about to greet them, but Feng Xuxu stopped them with a gesture of her hand.

Feng Xuxu stood by the window, watching Xiaobai and the two little ones sleeping together, smiled happily, then went forward to cover them with a thin blanket and stood up before heading to her own palace with Dugu Chen.

As soon as they entered the palace, the waiting maids cleverly retreated, also closing the doors of the palace.

"Wife, at last it’s just the two of us," he said.

Feng Xuxu looked at him, his eyes full of desire, and her face immediately turned red. Rising on tiptoe, she planted a light kiss on his sexy lips. Before she could draw back, Dugu Chen’s hand wrapped around her waist while the other pressed the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

"Ah,..." Feng Xuxu couldn’t help but let out a whimper, causing Dugu Chen’s body to stiffen even more, and his breathing became erratic.

Dugu Chen, with reluctance, ended the kiss that seemed to have lasted an entire century. His eyes hazy, he stared at the coy beauty in his arms, lifted her up by the waist, and strode into the bedroom.

The candlelight in the palace had begun to dim unknowingly; a breeze passed through the window, rustling the leaves on the trees. A crescent moon hung in the sky, looking upon the passionate couple as if it were a shy girl, hiding behind the clouds, then peeking out half a body curiously, to accompany the stars nearby, softly gazing at the two people below.

Dugu Chen, content, looked at the woman lying on his chest, sweat soaking both of their hair, entangled together. He gently parted their hair, pushing the damp strands to the back to reveal her blushing face, her small, diamond-shaped mouth shining with a crystal luster. He touched her little mouth with a finger, admiring it for a moment before getting up and carrying her into the bath.

Inside the great hall, Dugu Chen had changed from his usual attire, donning casual clothes as he took his seat on the supreme Dragon Throne. His cold eyes held a trace of warmth, inspiring awe yet not freezing those around him. The Ministers below, although sensing today’s Emperor was somehow different, could not pinpoint the disparity, and were puzzled.

"Mingyi Country has been thoroughly defeated by us and Lou Qianyu after a mere five months; henceforth, there is no more Mingyi Country in history."

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!" The Ministers, smiling, one by one fell to their knees, chanting the emperor’s longevity.

Dugu Chen’s lips pursed, looking at the Ministers below: "I don’t want longevity; I just wish to live a few more days, not to be cursed to death by the spit of the common folk."

"Your subjects are terrified."

"Rise," he said after a brief pause, his lips parting slightly coldly.

Since ancient times, Ministers have shouted such exclamations during court sessions; Emperor Jinghe himself has been hailed this way since his ascension. Yet, why he would speak so today puzzled them, and none dared to question the Emperor.

The Prime Minister, sneaking a glance at the Emperor on the Dragon Throne, slightly turned his eyeballs and could nearly guess why the Emperor spoke this way.

"Your Majesty, there is a matter your subject wishes to report," declared the Prime Minister, stepping forward and standing at the center of the hall, bowing with his body bent low and eyes cast downward.

Dugu Chen’s tightly pursed lips relaxed slightly, his gaze towards the Prime Minister less harsh than before: "Granted."

"Your Majesty, the Duke of the Zhenguo and Marquis Bo have been forcibly abducting women from the public, senselessly slaughtering innocents, and even more outrageously, acting unlawfully in the name of the Royal Family, accepting bribes, and secretly pulling strings for anyone who can pay a considerable amount of silver, even smuggling illicit salt."

Dugu Chen scanned the Ministers with a cold gaze, his suppressed fury skyrocketing, corners of his mouth curling into a mocking arc: "Is it that only the Prime Minister is aware of these matters?"

The great hall fell silent, no one daring to step forward with an answer. Ministers lowered their heads, sweeping sideways glances, their foreheads beading with sweat that slid down unawares.

"Where is the Imperial Censor?" Dugu Chen called out, seeing them all acting like turtles in their shells.

The Imperial Censor’s legs trembled as he stepped forward, his face solemn: "Present."

"As an Imperial Censor, you have the power to impeach the hundred officials, yet why have I not heard you impeach the duke’s house already or Marquis Bo’s family? Their misdeeds are known even to commoners on the streets. Don’t tell me you are unaware of these matters?"

"Your servant is guilty," the Imperial Censor fell to the ground with a thud, earnestly knocking his forehead against the stone floor, closing his eyes, well aware that his end had come.

"Where is the Ministry of Personnel?"

"Here," replied a tall middle-aged man, stepping out from the crowd, immediately kneeling as well.

"Do you acknowledge your crime?"

"Your servant,... your servant is guilty." His head hung low, sweat trickling down his face.

Narrowing his eyes, he gazed at the others, the mocking curve of his lips growing larger: "You all feed on the Imperial Court’s salary, deceiving and hoodwinking; your audacity is indeed great."

"We dare not," the Ministers trembled at the Emperor’s words, all kneeling on the ground. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Hmpph, dare not? Then, is what the Prime Minister said not the truth?"

"..."

Dugu Chen’s chest heaved in anger, and he closed his eyes to take a deep breath: "Pass my decree, considering the Duke of the Zhenguo’s contributions in conquering the world alongside my ancestors, his three clans shall be extinguished, and the other several clans exiled to a bitterly cold and icy place; the Marquis Bo’s family shall be wiped out, and the remaining few clans also exiled to a bitterly cold and icy place."

"We, your servants, shall obey the order."