Chapter 539: The monarch is barbaric, wine pools and meat forests!

Is this to shut oneself away and reflect on one's faults?

Li Qingluo and Jin Yun quickly exchanged glances.

Unexpectedly, they hadn't even had a chance to act tonight when Zongzheng Wuxie was already sent away from the palace.

Jin Yun furrowed her brows deeply.

Such a mild punishment, neither painful nor itchy, was naturally insufficient for her.

What she wanted all along was Zongzheng Wuxie's life.

Li Qingluo looked deeply at Jin Yun several times.

He wanted her to calm down a bit.

Who said that to frame someone, one must be present in person?

It is an off‑site framing that makes it hardest for him to defend himself with a hundred mouths.

Although this incident occurred at the Empress's birthday banquet, it made the Empress extremely uneasy.

But seeing the Fourth Prince punished and scolded, the Crown Prince's faction felt delighted in their hearts.

The Empress gently stepped forward and advised the Chu Emperor a few words.

Although the Chu Emperor is cruel, he has always been relatively respectful and kind toward his empress.

Therefore, even though the Crown Prince is mediocre in both civil and military abilities, inferior to the other princes, he still appointed the heir as the Eastern Palace's master.

This is also what the other princes find most unacceptable.

However, there are not a few veteran officials in court who support the heir to uphold orthodoxy, so now two strong factions have formed, almost ready to surface openly, and the Chu Emperor turns a blind eye.

Li Qingluo: "This emperor wants to use the Fourth Prince to give the Crown Prince some practice."

"Yet the Crown Prince repeatedly disappoints him."

"If we continue like this, it will be hard to decide a winner."

"It's up to us how to add fuel to their fire."

Li Qingluo dipped her finger in wine and drew two circles on the table.

She whispered, in a voice only she and Que'er could hear, and drew an arrow piercing the two circles.

As Zongzheng Wuxie left in disgrace with his entourage, the maid beside him, who had been looking straight ahead, suddenly turned her gaze to Li Qingluo.

A flicker of surprise seemed to flash in her eyes.

Li Qingluo frowned tightly, waited until they were far away, then ordered Que'er: "Have Sha San personally investigate this maid's background."

She suspected the person was from Cloud Valley.

But as Jin Yun said, in MiaoJiang actually few people have truly seen Li Qingluo's appearance.

Those who had seen her were all dead.

Therefore, that maid's special attention to me must have some reason.

The twelve dancers in the hall were still gracefully dancing.

The reclining Chu Emperor was growing ever less patient.

These dances, these wines, are really too ordinary, lacking any novelty.

His ability to endure watching this long already gave the Empress ample face.

So, when a dancer slightly misstepped, he suddenly flew into a rage and smashed his wine jug hard at her.

"Drag her away!"

The dancer, her head still bleeding, was dragged out with her mouth gagged.

Her fate needs no explanation.

The remaining dancers all trembled as they knelt on the ground.

The Chu Emperor's face showed a hint of evil smile.

"What's there to see in these ordinary performances?"

"Dear officials, would you like to see something fresh?"

No one downstairs dared to respond.

Everyone lowered their eyes, faces full of panic.

The Chu Emperor snorted coldly, looking at the Empress: "Do you also want to dampen my spirits?"

The Empress, always understanding, never defied the Chu Emperor: "Today everything follows Your Majesty's arrangements; this is my blessing."

The Chu Emperor waved his hand, and the attendant Eunuch Ji rose to announce: "Proceed to the Snow Stepping Terrace——"

The Chu Emperor rose first, lifted his robes, and strode out of the main hall with long, swift steps.

An uproar rose downstairs.

Some faces showed shock and fear.

"What to do? It's the Snow Stepping Terrace again!"

"Last time many died there; I don't want to go."

"Mother, I'm afraid……"

It seems the Snow Stepping Terrace really isn't a good place.

Even though everyone inwardly resists and fears it, who dares to truly refuse to go?

Li Qingluo: "I had long heard of the Chu Emperor's cruelty; today, seeing him, I realize the rumors fall short of nine‑tenths of the truth."

Looking up at the entire Great Chu Dynasty, she couldn't help but shake her head.

Originally, DaLiang was not as strong as the State of Liang in populace and vigor, and these years it has been corroded at court by such a mad emperor for so long.

All civil and military officials above and below court think not of how to revive court order to bless the people and the realm, but each is engaged in factions vying for the throne.

In Taizu's time, the Yin‑Yang Master's critique was taken by the entire Zongzheng clan as an immunity medal.

It seems that no matter how this dynasty creates turmoil and destroys its foundations, one day a ruler who unifies the six realms of the world will still appear.

It truly is laughable.

She thinks that the great Chu is not far from extinction.

Li Qingluo follows the crowd into the imperial garden.

A palace maid hurried to her side: "Lady Nangong, the Seventh Princess requests your presence."

The people nearby immediately cast glances at her.

The incident at the Flower Pavilion tavern that day also had noblewomen from several families present, so the truth spread quickly.

Now Princess Changning is confined at home and may not go out, so she did not appear even at tonight's palace banquet.

So, does that mean Lady Nangong is the Seventh Princess's lifesaver?

Now her husband has become a new favorite before Your Highness, and even if she later becomes a secondary wife, this woman is already remarkable.

For a merchant's daughter to reach this point is already the limit of her life.

Under the curious gazes of the crowd, Li Qingluo follows the palace maid, walks straight through the people to the front.

The Seventh Princess, dressed in a majestic and luxurious outfit, gives her a slight nod upon seeing her.

Li Qingluo quickly returns the salute.

Seventh Princess: "No need for formalities, relax."

"Tonight you will stay by my side, and I will ensure your safety."

Li Qingluo: "Thank Your Highness for the favor."

She did not expect the Seventh Princess to reach out to her tonight.

However, there is one matter that Li Qingluo worries about.

That day, when Jin Huo went to the Flower Pavilion tavern to rescue the Seventh Princess, she wore a veil, but if the Seventh Princess recognized her, it would become a troublesome matter.

The so‑called Snow‑treading Terrace is reached after passing through a bamboo forest, walking over a damp stone path, when a vast wine‑filled pool and meat forest opens before the eyes.

Even at night, the lights here are as bright as day, illuminating the place transparently.

The Chu Emperor is already reclining on the main throne, one hand holding a wine goblet, the other propping his head, and after watching countless beauties dancing gracefully in the wine pool, he finally breaks into a smile.

"Excellent!"

"Reward—there are rewards for everyone!"

The women of the various families all turned pale at this scene.

Those beauties each wore revealing clothing and danced with seductive grace.

That would be tolerable, but at each low table beside every seat, a beauty of this sort is kneeling.

They wear transparent sheer veils, with undershirts of different colors plainly visible.

Today's palace banquet, besides the renowned royal family members and officials, also includes many court attendants like Li Qingluo.

They were selected by the Internal Affairs Office, which personally sent palace notices to each household.

Therefore, each of them has been taught strict inner‑chamber etiquette since childhood.

Have they ever seen such a display before?

Such a loss of decorum, yet they must grit their teeth and sit down.

A maid began to sob softly in grievance.

The woman beside her quickly covered her mouth with one hand.

"Don't involve the whole family!"

However, the Chu Emperor soon learned of this.

"Oh? Someone dissatisfied with my Snow‑treading Terrace?"

"There are beauties attending, fine wine and dishes, and such scenery to enjoy. Is the discontent about tonight's banquet, or about me?"

"Bring the person up, let me see with my own eyes who dares such audacity!"

In an instant, the maid was dragged up.

"What a pretty head."

"Tsk, a shame it has a mouth."

"Guards, cut off her mouth."