Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

There were no lights on in the Imperial Study.

The heavy curtains completely blocked out the light from the window, making the whole room dark and oppressive.

The air was filled with a strong scent of ambergris, mixed with a faint smell of rust.

It smelled like the lingering scent of blood after it had been wiped clean.

Jiang Yining knelt on the ground, her knees aching terribly from kneeling for so long.

But she dared not move.

Because the man in the dragon robe was standing in front of her, looking down at her and scrutinizing her.

Ye Wuhen toyed with a sharp dagger in his hand, the blade flying between his fingers, its cold light flashing and reflecting on his eerie and dangerous face.

"Raise your head."

His voice was languid, carrying a hint of nonchalant cruelty.

Jiang Yining slowly raised her head, and their eyes met.

Those scarlet eyes held only naked desire and malice.

"You are very smart."

Ye Wuhen crouched down, the cold blade of his dagger pressed against Jiang Yining's cheek, slowly sliding down her face until it stopped at her slender neck.

"Those words spoken in the Golden Palace even moved the heart of that blockhead chief minister like myself."

Jiang Yining felt a chill on her neck, and the hairs on her body stood on end.

This mad emperor is truly capable of killing.

"This humble woman... is simply telling the truth."

Jiang Yining forced herself to calm down, her voice trembling slightly: "The Chu family was indeed wronged."

"Injustice?"

Ye Wuhen chuckled, as if he had heard a joke.

"If I say the world is black, then it is black; if I say it is white, then it is white."

Whether Chu Jinglan is a traitor or not is unimportant.

"The important thing is that I don't like disobedient dogs."

He applied slight pressure with his fingers, and the dagger pressed a bloody mark on Jiang Yining's neck.

"The Chu family, with their military power, should have died long ago."

Jiang Yining's pupils suddenly contracted.

Could it be that there was no treason at all, and this was just a complete political purge?

It was this mad emperor who wanted to reclaim military power and deliberately set a trap to kill 100,000 soldiers!

A surge of anger rose from the bottom of her heart, but she suppressed it fiercely.

If you provoke him now, you'll only face death.

"Since His Majesty wanted the Chu family dead, why did he change his mind in the main hall?"

Jiang Yining looked directly into his eyes: "Your Majesty spared my life, surely not out of kindness?"

"Hahaha!"

Ye Wuhen burst into laughter, laughing so hard he almost fell over, as if he had encountered something extremely joyful.

"Smart! I like talking to smart people."

Ye Wuhen released her, walked straight to the dragon bed, sat down, tilted his head back and took a swig of wine. The wine flowed down his neck and soaked into his clothes.

Jiang Yining remained kneeling on the spot.

"Isn't kneeling tiring?"

"Your Majesty has not summoned me, so I dare not rise."

"Heh." Ye Wuhen chuckled lightly, "Weren't you quite the talker in court?"

He beckoned with his finger: "Come here."

Jiang Yining hesitated for a moment, but still stood up, supporting herself on her numb knees, and slowly moved over.

Just as I reached the bedside, my wrist was suddenly grabbed.

A powerful force struck her, making her spin around and throw her directly onto the dragon bed.

"what!"

Before she could react, Ye Wuhen had already pressed forward, placing his hands on either side of her body and trapping her in a small space.

Those scarlet eyes, so close, were filled with aggression.

"What's so good about Chu Jinglan?"

Ye Wuhen suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.

"I heard you didn't even spend your wedding night together."

"Madam has never experienced ultimate bliss, so she doesn't know how wonderful it is."

Jiang Yining blurted out instinctively, "Has Your Majesty already tasted it?"

It is said that the Night Emperor detests women the most, and his harem is empty.

Ye Wuhen froze, his cheeks puffed out, and he laughed in exasperation.

He reached out and gently stroked Jiang Yining's cheek with his fingertips: "Is it worth it to live a life of widowhood for such a dead man, to die so young?"

Ye Wuhen grabbed Jiang Yining's chin and pulled her face closer to his.

The two could hear each other's breaths.

"I originally intended to wipe out the entire Chu family."

Ye Wuhen's gaze fell on Jiang Yining's red lips, his eyes becoming dark and deep.

"But after seeing you, I changed my mind."

"That good-for-nothing Chu Jinglan actually married such a beauty and left her at home to live a life of widowhood. It's such a waste."

Jiang Yining turned her head away, avoiding his hand.

"Your Majesty, please have some self-respect."

"Self-respect?"

Ye Wuhen seemed to have heard a joke: "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king, and you are also my subject."

"I never need to hesitate when I want something."

"Sizzle—"

Jiang Yining's collar was roughly ripped open, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin and the bodice underneath.

In the dim light, her skin appeared as clear and translucent as a naturally occurring snow lotus.

Her exquisite, soft, and fragrant body instantly ignited the lust in Ye Wuhen's eyes.

"Stay tonight."

"If you serve me well, I will spare the Chu family's orphan and widow."

"I could even... bestow an official title upon that blind man, ensuring the prosperity of the Chu family for three generations."

Ye Wuhen lowered his head, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and took a deep breath: "You can even be the master of this harem."

The conditions are very tempting.

If it were an ordinary housewife confined to her home, she would probably have given in to such coercion and enticement long ago.

But Jiang Yining only felt disgusted.

Although she had no memory, her body's instincts told her that she hated the feeling of being controlled.

I hate this unpredictable madman even more.

"His Majesty."

Jiang Yining suddenly stopped struggling: "Are you making a deal with me?"

Ye Wuhen paused, then looked up at her.

"Use my body to save the lives of over a hundred members of the Chu family?"

"You can understand it that way," Ye Wuhen raised an eyebrow.

"Then Your Majesty has made a terrible mistake in this deal."

Jiang Yining looked directly into his eyes, a sneer on her lips.

"I'm just a widow who's been married before, and I'm not particularly pretty."

"Your Majesty possesses the entire world; what kind of beauty doesn't you have? Why ruin your reputation for a withered woman like me?"

"Besides..."

Jiang Yining's eyes turned cold, and a gold hairpin appeared in her hand, which she had pulled from her hair during the struggle.

The tip of the hairpin pressed against his throat.

"Although Chu Jinglan is dead, his backbone is still strong."

"His woman must not be weak-willed."

"If Your Majesty desires a corpse, then we can proceed now."

The gold hairpin pierced the skin, and a drop of blood flowed down.

Ye Wuhen's pupils contracted.

He stared at the drop of blood, the lust in his eyes slowly subsiding. He released his grip and sat up straight.

"interesting."

Ye Wuhen licked his lips, as if savoring the confrontation from just moments ago.

"I have seen many women; some weep and whine, some fawn and flatter, and some pretend to be aloof."

"You are the first person to dare threaten me with death."

He reached out and snatched the gold hairpin from Jiang Yining's hand, then casually threw it on the ground.

"Want to die?"

"It's not that easy."

Ye Wuhen stood up and looked down at Jiang Yining, whose clothes were disheveled.

"I'll give you three days to consider."

"To rise to the top, or to descend into hell with the Chu family."