QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots-Chapter 322 - 10.23

Xiao Jinan’s face was already as dark as the bottom of a pot.

He noticed that Jiang Jiamian looked as if he were ready to enjoy the drama at any moment. Furious, angry, and embarrassed all at once, Xiao Jinan snapped, "You’re not disturbing my peace, you’re disturbing the Empress’s peace! Which palace maid are you from? Doesn’t anyone discipline you? Don’t you know the rules of this palace?! Who gave you permission to behave so insolently here?!"

This woman, her collar pulled down so low, what kind of decorum was that?!

The more Xiao Jinan thought about it, the angrier he became. He suddenly turned his head and barked at Jiang Jiamian, "Close your eyes!"

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

No, wait, why is he taking his anger out on me?

Xiao Jinan was furious, and when the Emperor was furious, the consequences were always severe.

Jiang Jiamian curled his lips, stepped forward, and reached out to help the person kneeling on the ground. "Oh dear, such a beauty kneeling on cold ground, how pitiful. Hurry and stand up!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The system: "..."

Done.

"Let go!"

In the next second, Xiao Jinan completely lost control. He lunged forward and grabbed Jiang Jiamian’s wrist before it could touch the woman.

"Have you seen her several times these past few days? You like her!?" Xiao Jinan roared. "I hereby order that this palace maid who violates palace regulations and disrespects the Empress be beaten to death! Guards!"

Jiang Jiamian raised an eyebrow, but did not stop him.

The new dynasty had just been established. The inner palace was unstable, and many remnants of the old order were still lurking in the shadows.

It really was necessary to kill one person to warn a hundred.

Moreover, according to the palace regulations of any dynasty, unless the Emperor truly favored her, what this palace maid had done was a capital crime.

It was obvious that she was nothing more than a deliberately pushed-out scapegoat, sent by someone with ulterior motives to test Xiao Jinan’s attitude.

Once Xiao Jinan showed even the slightest hesitation, palace maids, singers, dancers, noble daughters, and ladies from prominent families would soon be sent to him one after another, arranged by ministers and stewards with connections outside the palace.

After all, in their eyes, how could an emperor who had just seized the throne not be lustful?

And with a male empress established, how could he truly ignore the matter of heirs, even if he claimed otherwise?

Did they really believe Xiao Jinan had worked so hard to usurp the throne only to let the dynasty end with him?

That was why this palace maid appeared.

"No! No! This servant will never dare again!" The maid screamed. "Your Majesty, spare me!"

She had always believed herself to be a once-in-a-lifetime beauty, fully confident she could capture the Emperor’s heart.

Who could have imagined that the man before her would show not the slightest pity?

He even wanted her beaten to death.

Seeing the eunuchs rush forward at Xiao Jinan’s command, the palace maid’s carefully practiced pitiful expression completely collapsed into raw panic.

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty the Empress, spare me! This servant knows her mistake! I will never dare again!"

"Who arranged for you to enter the palace?"

Jiang Jiamian suddenly spoke.

Xiao Jinan’s eyes darkened.

Yes.

This woman could not have acted alone.

This is clearly a test of his attitude toward women, a probing stone planted by someone.

"No, no one arranged it!" The maid stammered, her eyes darting. "I just wanted to sing and forgot the rules..."

"Oh?" Jiang Jiamian slowly raised an eyebrow.

"According to palace rules, you should be beaten to death. Beaten to death, blow after blow, skin split, flesh torn, blood everywhere. How agonizing." His voice was gentle. "And you, such a delicate beauty, what a pity."

He smiled faintly. "But if you answer properly, perhaps a lighter punishment can be considered."

Xiao Jinan’s face darkened further.

Hearing Jiang Jiamian use words like delicate beauty and pity in such a calm tone made his fists clench uncontrollably.

If he hadn’t known Jiang Jiamian was trying to force a confession, he might have already killed her.

Terrified, the palace maid’s face drained of color. She immediately blurted out, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty the Empress! It was Steward Fang of the Imperial Kitchen! He promised me wealth, honor, and glory if I succeeded! Only after entering the palace did I learn that I was meant to wait in the Imperial Garden and seduce Your Majesty!"

Xiao Jinan’s eyes turned icy.

Steward Fang of the Imperial Kitchen?

So that was it.

Now that he was Emperor, those eager to place women at his side were almost certainly ministers hoping to become his in-laws.

Especially those with daughters of marriageable age.

As for the eunuchs in the harem?

They wouldn’t be so impatient unless someone outside the palace was offering them benefits.

"Guards!" Jiang Jiamian said calmly, "Since she confessed readily, don’t beat her to death."

He paused, "Strangle her."

Jiang Jiamian had no intention of softening the punishment.

If the first warning was too gentle, people would believe there was still hope, still a chance, and would continue to stir up trouble.

With chaos both inside and outside the court, who had the time to deal with endless scheming?

Better to be ruthless once, and cut those thoughts off at the root.

At least for a long while, they would quiet down.

Hearing this, Xiao Jinan finally relaxed. A faint, satisfied smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

As expected of his Empress.

Strangle her?!

The palace maid’s eyes widened. She struggled violently. "Your Majesty the Empress! You promised leniency! I confessed!"

Jiang Jiamian smiled gently. "Yes. Beating you would be very painful. Strangling only takes a moment. Isn’t that already sparing you suffering?"

The palace maid’s body went limp.

"No... no..."

"Let’s go back."

Xiao Jinan could no longer be bothered to watch. He gestured for the eunuchs to carry out the order, then wrapped an arm around Jiang Jiamian’s waist and led him away.

"It’s almost noon, let’s go see my father-in-law."