Chapter 1489: Chapter 1496: Confrontation (4)

Empress Dowager Mo’s temperament was always stern and tough, never willing to speak soft words. For her, being able to utter these words of concession was no easy feat, and was indirectly tantamount to lowering her head to Cai Wei.

Cai Wei was not the type to be unreasonable when she had the upper hand. Besides, Empress Dowager Mo was Nangong Yi’s mother and the bond with her man was unbreakable, bone-deep and connected by sinew. For this alone, she did not wish to freeze their relationship into hostility, to avoid putting her man in a difficult position between them.

Upon hearing Empress Dowager Mo’s words, she laughed and said with grace, “All of these are duties this concubine ought to perform. Imperial Mother need not be burdened with concern. You have just received quite the scare; please return and rest soon. Once the affairs here are settled, this concubine and The Emperor will come to pay respects to you.”

Seeing Cai Wei so easily accept her olive branch, Empress Dowager Mo was also very heartened. She had thought Cai Wei was someone who wouldn’t relent once she had reason on her side. Unexpectedly, Cai Wei was so magnanimous and forgave her easily, leaving the Empress Dowager both touched and moved. She took a deep look at her daughter-in-law, then supported by the Palace maid’s hand, left…

The Retired Emperor did not leave immediately. He gave the white-furred tiger a solemn look for a long time before turning to Cai Wei and said, “If the Empress can spare the time, make a trip to Qixia Palace. The hermit has something to tell you.”

Cai Wei quickly bowed deeply and respectfully replied, “Yes!”

With Cai Wei’s consent, the Retired Emperor was pleased and after one last lingering look at the white-furred tiger, reluctantly left.

After seeing off the Retired Emperor, Nangong Yi accompanied Cai Wei back to the Royal study. After the Emperor and Empress were seated, they had Li Kaifeng brought in.

Li Kaifeng, dragged in, was already in agony close to death. His face was marred by a deep, bone-deep wound, and below, his manhood had been brutally crushed.

This monkey was just so damn vulgar. The men who were squeezed could not die but were no longer men. To men, this was truly more cruel than killing them. Such a tactic, too damaging!

Li Kaifeng groaned, in relentless pain. Now, his life was ruined. Even if he had succeeded in seizing the nation and killed The Emperor, he himself was now a eunuch. The Ministers would never allow a eunuch to ascend the throne and reign as Emperor; he would be despised and mocked for all his life.

However, he couldn’t afford to be disheartened right now, tormented by pain that was so intense he wished he could faint, but being a soldier, he had an exceptionally strong constitution, and even such heart-piercing and bone-piercing pain did not knock him unconscious. Large beads of sweat fell, dripping into the bloodied, flesh-torn wounds on his face, rendering his pain receptors even more sensitive!

“Uh… ah…”

He was kneeling on the ground, unable to stop himself from moaning, the intense pain made him forget his dignity as a Great General. At that moment, his only thought was pain, damn the pain!

Nangong Yi sat on the Dragon Chair, looking at Li Kaifeng in excruciating pain, coldly laughed and said, “Empress, what do you think? If the Great General actually succeeded in revolting, could he be an Emperor in this state?”

Cai Wei giggled and said, “Your Majesty jests. Since the dawn of time, there has never been a eunuch who became an Emperor. Isn’t that a laughable thought, capable of making people lose their teeth?”

Li Kaifeng, kneeling on the ground, heard their humiliation and shook as he raised his head and said, “Your Majesty, this subject… has never… plotted a revolt. I am just… performing the duties… of a subject!”

Nangong Yi scoffed with mockery, “Ha, such a dutiful and responsible Great General. Your men, upon seeing me, did not hesitate to attempt to take my life; is this also you performing your duties as a subject? You have been a subject to the Retired Emperor for decades; how could you not recognize him? Why slander him as an impostor, a substitute? Your traitorous ambition has already been laid bare; do you still delude yourself into thinking you can deny it?”