The world suddenly fell silent.

Deathly quiet.

A cool breeze blew past, causing clothes to tremble.

All the servants in the palace felt as if they were close to death.

After struggling to pass numerous screenings just to serve the Master of the Harem, the outcome was nothing but a "day tour"!

Amidst the silence.

The eunuch hurriedly reacted, swiftly wiping the shattered bird egg off Xiao Luming’s face.

The smell of the bird egg filled Xiao Luming’s nostrils, nauseating him several times, but he held it back.

His face was filled with gloom, and his body trembled with suppressed anger.

If not for Prime Minister Song and General Xie, if not for his promise to his father and mother to treat Xie Qianyun well, Xie Qianyun would have died a thousand times by his hand!

Xiao Luming closed his eyes, evidently composing his emotions.

After a long while, he steadied himself.

It doesn’t mean he wasn’t angry; he was just used to keeping his emotions hidden.

Esteemed as the supreme ruler, the monarch of a kingdom, he must maintain his strict demeanor at all times without fail.

"Come down now!" Xiao Luming slightly lifted his eyes, with a sound of gnashing teeth and a hint of hostility.

Xie Qianyun still held the bird’s nest in her hand, startled by the scene before her.

Someone clearly gone, how could they suddenly return.

What an unfortunate mischance, her hand slipped, and a bird’s egg fell directly onto Xiao Luming’s handsome and fair face, turning it completely black. She didn’t dare to go down.

Afraid that coming down, she would be instantly dragged down for beheading.

Though she wasn’t afraid of death, she felt dying so easily for fetching a bird’s nest wasn’t worthwhile.

Now threatened by Xiao Luming, she exercised her Qinggong and leaped down.

Upon landing, she immediately knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, your humble servant pays respects."

Xiao Luming gazed at Xie Qianyun.

Currently, her clothes stained with green sap from the tree, her hair and ornaments were all disheveled.

Simply unbearable to look at.

The dignified daughter of Prime Minister Song, the foremost scholar of Daxuan Kingdom, was so unkempt, with no ambition.

Xiao Luming, with restraint, said, "Before entering the palace, didn’t the Ministry of Rites inform the Empress of the rules that must be upheld inside the palace?"

"They did." Xie Qianyun hurriedly responded, "But there were too many for your humble servant to remember."

"From this day forth, the Emperor commands someone to reteach you the empress’s palace etiquette." Xiao Luming delivered his order.

Xie Qianyun felt utterly unwell.

The ceremonies taught by the Ministry of Rites for entering the palace nearly killed her back then, and now again?!

Is there no reprieve?

"Your Majesty, quickly express gratitude." the eunuch promptly reminded.

Realizing the Emperor had reached his extreme limit.

Though the Emperor wouldn’t be swayed by emotions, with the Empress continuously courting disaster, no one could guarantee what consequences might transpire.

"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for Your great benevolence."

"Learn well. The Emperor will occasionally come to check. If the Empress hasn’t learned well, the Emperor will ensure the Empress learns until satisfied."

This time, leaving behind a statement, he strode out without looking back.

Exiting Jingxiu Palace, Xiao Luming could no longer hold it back, retching.

"Your Majesty." the eunuch rushed forward to care.

"Prepare a bath for me." Xiao Luming ordered sternly.

His body reeked of the bird egg smell, remembering that yellow sticky liquid...

"Ugh." Xiao Luming retched again.

Is Xie Qianyun really his nemesis?!

...

Xie Qianyun got up from the ground.

All the servants also gingerly got up.

Though the Emperor didn’t punish them.

Living in fear like this every day, sooner or later, a heart ailment would lead to their demise.

"Your Majesty, you truly scared the servant just now." Qiu Yin said with lingering fear, "What if you fell from such a high tree? Please stop doing such frightening things."

"I wouldn’t get the chance to do it now." Xie Qianyun replied, displeased.

This little Emperor, living his life, interfering widely.

No wonder at just over twenty, he’s similar to an old man in his fifties.

"Your Majesty, with the bird egg..." Qiu Yin looked at the bird egg in Xie Qianyun’s hand, trembling as she asked.

"Cook and eat it." Xie Qianyun replied.

"..."

Xie Qianyun gave the bird egg to Qiu Yin and returned to the grand hall, irate.

...

Fengqi Palace.

Xiao Jinxing and An Ning were having lunch together.

"I heard the Empress gathered all the concubines in the harem for gambling today?" An Ning casually asked her palace attendant.

"Returning to Your Majesty, the Empress gathered for gambling and was caught by the Emperor. The Emperor punished the concubines with three days of confinement, instructing the Empress never to offend again." The palace attendant respectfully replied.