Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace-Chapter 199 - 198 Choices

In the private room.

Wang Liu and Li Qi were pulled apart, both with bruised and swollen faces, yet despite being separated, they still glared at each other angrily.

Kneeling behind the long table, Chen Jie looked somewhat restless.

This matter was caused by her, and she didn’t know how it would be handled, making her a bit scared.

Standing at the entrance of the private room, Gao Zheng looked a bit complicated. Just because they disliked someone for being unable to have children, they found themselves in a fight because others took a fancy to them. This left Gao Zheng feeling uneasy, trying not to forget to keep an eye on Chen Jie.

"Sir."

"Sir."

A subordinate’s voice rang from outside, and Gao Zheng quickly opened the door, bowed to Chen Mo, and respectfully said, "Sir."

Wang Liu and Li Qi also hurriedly got up to salute, though their voices trembled, clearly frightened.

Chen Jie did the same.

"Close the door," Chen Mo said to Liu Dan.

Liu Dan nodded, closed the door, and stood guard outside.

Seeing this, Wang Liu and Li Qi’s legs trembled. Although Chen Mo was usually gentle, they both knew that during battles, he was a ruthless person who once killed thousands of enemy soldiers without blinking an eye.

They were very worried about their fate.

Chen Mo sat down, and just as he picked up a teacup, Chen Jie quickly filled it for him.

Chen Mo looked at her curiously.

Although, by his standards, Chen Jie looked ordinary, there was something alluring about the corners of her eyes, which was irresistible to an old man who had been single for decades.

Chen Mo took a sip of tea and calmly said, "Who won the fight?"

Wang Liu and Li Qi were stunned, not understanding why the officer asked this.

But Gao Zheng knew; this was the calm before the storm.

The two hesitated, and Li Qi, unwilling to feel inferior, pointed at Wang Liu, who nodded.

"Since Wang Liu won, as per your agreement, Li Qi, you should give up. Why did you fight again?" Chen Mo looked at Li Qi.

Thinking the officer was there to uphold justice, Wang Liu immediately said, "He wouldn’t accept the loss."

Chen Mo frowned: "Is that true?"

Li Qi nodded with a flushed face but was worried the officer would award Chen Jie to Wang Liu, so he argued, "But Chen Jie... favored me."

"Nonsense," Wang Liu shouted.

Chen Mo’s gaze swept over the two, then slowly put down the teacup, making them panic.

Sure enough.

Chen Mo suddenly slammed the table, and with a loud snap, it fell apart. His gaze turned sharply to Chen Jie as he shouted:

"Bold Chen Jie, you already know your answer, why not say it earlier? You ruined their friendship, what is your crime? Someone, take her out and give her twenty lashes."

This punishment shocked everyone in the private room.

Chen Jie’s face turned pale with fear.

Just then, Wang Liu suddenly shielded Chen Jie, saying: "Sir, this... all started because of me, if there is to be a punishment, punish me; it’s got nothing to do with her."

Chen Jie widened her eyes, looking at Wang Liu in amazement, then glanced at Li Qi, who remained unmoved, feeling inexplicably sad.

"You want to play hero?" Chen Mo squinted his eyes.

Wang Liu trembled violently, but did not leave Chen Jie’s side, shaking his head: "No, this is my fault, as a man, I can’t let a woman take the fall for me."

"Fine, since you’re so brave, I’ll grant your wish." Chen Mo raised his hand, and two soldiers lifted Wang Liu, as Chen Mo continued, "Take him out and give him fifty lashes."

"Yes, sir."

Very quickly, Wang Liu was taken out.

Then Chen Mo looked at Li Qi, saying: "Ignoring military discipline, unwilling to concede, and cheating. Take him out and give him thirty lashes."

Quickly, Li Qi was also taken out.

In the private room, only Chen Mo, Gao Zheng, and Chen Jie remained.

Chen Jie was so scared she didn’t dare lift her head, trembling all over.

"Raise your head," Chen Mo said.

Chen Jie slowly lifted her head, now crying heavily, having never witnessed such a scene before, only knowing to beg for mercy.

"Alright, stop crying, Wang Liu already took the punishment for you, I’ll let you off."

"Thank...thank you, sir."

"You shouldn’t thank me, you should thank Wang Liu." Chen Mo stood up, then said: "Now that Gao Zheng is here to witness, I ask you, between Wang Liu and Li Qi, who do you truly prefer?"

Chen Jie was stunned, just about to answer.

Chen Mo then said, "Think carefully before you speak; once decided, it cannot be changed."

"Li Qi." The words slipped from Chen Jie’s mouth.

Chen Mo frowned but said nothing, respecting Chen Jie’s decision, and just as he was about to leave, Chen Jie added, "I initially favored Li Qi, but now I feel Wang Liu is more reliable, so... I want to choose him."

Stopping in his tracks, Chen Mo turned to Gao Zheng and said, "Did you hear that?"

"Yes, sir, she chose Wang Liu," Gao Zheng said.

"Then that’s settled, inform the two later," Chen Mo ordered.

"Yes, sir."

...

Outside the Celestial River Tower.

"Ah...ah, it’s killing me, ease up a bit," Wang Liu shouted irritably as the soldiers struck hard.

Responding with an even harder blow, the soldier smiled, "Commander Wang, this is on the officer’s direct orders, you can’t blame me, he said this is the price of playing hero."

Hearing it was the officer’s orders, Wang Liu sealed his lips, not daring to say more.

Soon he saw Li Qi being dragged out for his thirty lashes, immediately laughed out loud: "Haha, damn it, you’re getting it too, the officer is truly fair, suddenly the pain seems less."

Li Qi glared at Wang Liu, enduring the pain from his buttocks, and said: "What are you laughing at, Chen Jie’s into me, if it weren’t for you, this wouldn’t have happened. Even though I’m getting hit, I’ll eventually win her heart, just you wait."

Hearing this, Wang Liu suddenly felt the pain again.

After their punishments, Gao Zheng brought Chen Jie out of the Celestial River Tower.

Li Qi grinned, attempting to go greet her with the help of a soldier.

But Chen Jie walked right past him, blushing, and supported Wang Liu.

Li Qi was dumbfounded.

Wang Liu was also stunned, but then grinned widely.

Li Qi quickly asked, "Captain Gao, what’s going on? Did they beat her to give Wang Liu the favor?"

"Don’t speculate," Gao Zheng glared at Li Qi, saying, "This was Chen Jie’s own decision, let it go, and find someone else."