Chapter 1993: The Days of Being Pampered by My Wife in the Insect Tribe 26

"Young master, the head of the family is waiting for you in the punishment chamber." The attendant stopped Ze Nuoer's steps toward the attic and pointed in another direction.

Ze Nuoer's steps paused slightly, his thoughts tracing back to that day's warning at the prince's mansion; he now knew what he would have to face.

The punishment chamber has always been cold and gloomy.

Ze Nuoer hasn't been here for a long time; since marrying Jin Chen, even the consorts who would normally be whipped have not seen such wounds, as if he were living in a greenhouse filled with sunshine and rain.

Upon entering again, he inevitably felt uncomfortable.

He walked slowly, came before Earl Yitun, and knelt with his back straight.

Mother.

"Ze Nuoer, actually, I originally didn't want you to come here."

Earl Yitun frowned, hands behind his back, and said, "You are now the consort of the S-rank Male Insect Excellency, a noble female insect of the empire and even the primary planet; by rights, I should not punish you."

"But you still had me come." Ze Nuoer's tone was flat, just like when he had asked Duke Claude's residence to change his fiancé that day.

"You think I made the wrong choice, don't you?" Ze Nuoer looked up at his mother, who had since he could remember single-handedly controlled the military females of the Ze Nuoer family, cold-faced and ruthless, treating rules as iron law.

Having grown up in such an environment, he repeatedly defied his mother's orders.

"Then, Ze Nuoer." Earl Yitun's eyes were disappointed, his heart holding anger, "Why didn't you do as I said? You should have long ago chosen a suitable consort for Jin Chen Excellency."

Ze Nuoer: "I will never do that."

He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them, fearlessly meeting his mother's anger: "I will not walk the path you walked."

"I will not, during the newlywed period, select female attendants for the male lord, then go to the front lines and leave home for five years, returning to take over the Ze Nuoer family, nor will I let those female insects bury the gravely ill male lord as a sacrifice to pave the way for honor and status."

Swish!

"Ze Nuoer!"

A solid whip lash struck Ze Nuoer's back, blood instantly flowing, skin splitting and flesh tearing.

He merely twitched, still kneeling upright, but felt sorrow in his heart.

Earl Yitun's voice was heavy, actually sounding somewhat bitter, "Are you blaming my mistake? Do you think Jin Chen Excellency can indulge you forever? You have nothing; are you to be trapped alive to death?"

"Mother, Jin Chen is different."

Ze Nuoer clenched his jaw tight, his voice choking, "He won't."

"The male lord has already agreed to let me return to the Ministry of War for work, agreed to let me go to the front lines to fight, as long as I guarantee safety……"

Earl Yitun had never believed such words before, but seeing his daughter so deeply fallen, he knew that no matter what he said, she would not change her mind.

"You are my most proud child." Earl Yitun lashed another whip, his back to Ze Nuoer sighing, "Now, however, you are the one who disappoints me the most."

Ze Nuoer tugged at his lips, his chest filling with endless bitterness.

He very much wanted to ask whether such pride and affection needed scars and blood to be earned, but he swallowed the question.

It no longer mattered.

The words he never asked as a boy are now too late to say.

"Mother, the male lord is still waiting for me outside." Ze Nuoer stood, his back muscles bleeding profusely onto the ground, bowed slightly toward Earl Yitun, maintaining the dignity of the Ze Nuoer family.

"Farewell."

Ze Nuoer returned to his room to change into formal attire, somewhat anxiously hoping the bloody smell wouldn't be too strong, and went straight to the palace outskirts to find Jin Chen.

The other side of the corridor.

Jin Chen sat beside the rocking chair, once again refusing the invitations of the noble male insects, seeming not to understand their blatant and veiled mockery, still appearing somewhat fragile and harmless.

Unseen by them, spiritual power formed threads that circled Huo Bote to test, then looped around Wei Ka, finally returning to Jin Chen's body, bringing the test results.

"Host, they're cursing you!" Ling Gun Gun twisted his buttocks, "A scholar can endure, but wood cannot!"

Jin Chen flicked his fingertip, raised the highball glass, took a sip of wine, and a mischievous thought arose.

Clap.

The clear sound of the highball glass set on the terrace tea table was obviously insignificant, yet inexplicably made the male insects who had been chatting loudly fall silent.

A heavy, sharp-edged spiritual power pressed down.

The noble male insects present changed color, immediately standing up, "Jin Chen Excellency, what are you doing?!"

"Gentlemen, have you finished speaking?" Jin Chen shifted to a leisurely reclining pose, his handsome brows and eyes half-hidden in the dim silver moonlight, yet devoid of any warmth.

"You think I'm stupid, can't understand those vulgar remarks?"

He did not answer but turned the question back, his expression revealing indifferent nonchalance, far removed from his earlier fragility, leaving the male insects who wanted to defend themselves speechless.

Only then did they truly realize the terror of an S-rank Male Insect.

It was merely spiritual power oppression; the pressure continuously transmitted in their skulls was about to explode.

"No……" Those of slightly lower rank could no longer support themselves, collapsing with a thud, clutching their heads to explain: "No, Your Excellency! It's your elder brother Huo Bote! He keeps telling us in front of you that you're useless!"

These nobles, pampered as they were, had long forgotten how unpleasant spiritual power oppression could be.

Huo Bote stiffened his body, needing great effort to suppress himself so as not to kneel, while the female insect Wei Ka beside him had already trembled and curled up.

"Jin Chen! You dare…… ah!"

An extremely sharp spike extended from behind Jin Chen, pressing against Huo Bote's throat.

"Elder brother, watch your words." Jin Chen's fingertip tapped the tea table, supporting his chin as he looked at him, "You don't really want to die here tonight, do you? You know the empire won't punish my crime."

The entire small garden fell silent.

Every male insect stared in terror at that spike, trembling like a sieve.

"Spiritual power…… materializing……"

In the silence, the spike turned into a clap, delivering several slaps to each male insect with a dirty mouth.

Until the guests drawn by the shouting arrived, Jin Chen leisurely retracted the spike and stepped out of the shadow.

The young, handsome male insect, carefree and relaxed, bathed in moonlight as if drenched in divine radiance, left the nobles unable to voice their questions.

Even if they lie on the ground covered with male insects.

"Psychic power materialized, Lord Jin Chen!" the Insect Emperor's minister rushed over, almost fervently inquiring: "Have you already mastered this ability?"

Amid the noisy crowd, Jin Chen saw Zenoer at the end of the corridor and subconsciously furrowed brows.

His consort seems a bit off.

"Yes," Jin Chen didn't look at the dying Huobote on the ground, "Thanks to these few, they forced out my potential."

"This..." the minister immediately made a decision, not daring to offend either side, wishing to go ask the Insect Emperor at once, could only say: "We will give you a satisfactory answer."

"Then, please make way now."

Jin Chen walked out of the terrace surrounded by them, glanced at Earl Eaton, "I'm going to find my consort; I hope he's alright."

Earl Eaton's expression was surprised, yet as if nothing had happened: "Lord Jin Chen, you don't need to choose a dance partner, do you?"

Jin Chen: "..."

Father-in-law, is that something you should say?

These nobles are really inexplicable.

"No need."

Jin Chen left that remark behind and hurried away.