Soon enough, Shi Chong and his 23122 loyal troops followed their way to the city of Huangying under the escort of the colossal robots while the remaining forces, such as surviving adventurers, disciples of various sects, and even Dragon Empireâs silver legion were left behind in the frozen imperial city, trapped in a spatial prison along with the citizens of the city.@@novelbin@@
While the demigod brought the state of the city to normal and then went on trying everything to remove the spatial imprisonment that cut off the city from the rest of the world, the entire world trembled at the news.
Even the Dragon Empire received the news, but the Tang Dynasty founder didnât accept the young Emperorâs request to free them. The Emperor of the so-called strongest empire in the world for the past millennium couldnât do anything in the situation and waited as he was instructed.
Three days later, King Qiâs army returned to the capital city; almost all the citizens came out of their homes to cheer for their King, who had finished his conquest.
The soldiers of the Leon Empire were thrown into prisons while Shi Chong was under house arrest, following the millennium-old customs of the Leon Empire. Shi Chong was a former emperor, and until he was sentenced, he had to be treated as a guest, although without any freedom.
A day after his arrival, Mark made his visit. While he was welcomed greatly, he didnât bother wasting time on unnecessary hospitality and went directly to the throne hall. Mark sat on the throne that usually King Qi sits and the latter sat on the throne of a minister, alongside the ministers and generals. Alina just stood beside the throne like an attendant.
Shi Chong soon arrived at the throne hall and stood in the center of the hall with his hands joined to the front and his gaze on the floor. Poor guy didnât even have proper sleep or food for the past three days over nervousness and he could feel a murderous aura emitting from everywhere. What else could he do other than try to stand straight in his place...
Mark looked down at him from the higher spot on the throne and only said, "So, I heard that you mentioned that you actually didnât abduct Queen Consort Bai but she willingly eloped with you."
"Huh?" Shi Chong couldnât help but raise his head to look at Mark in surprise. "Your Majesty..." King Qi also rose to his feet with his eyes widened. He couldnât help but raise his voice, knowing where this would go. The ministers and generals followed the suits.
Mark gestured for them to sit down, and as they did, he looked at Shi Chong, "well? Is that true?"
Shi Chong glanced at King Qi and took a deep breath before giving a firm nod, "Yes. That is true."
"Lies... How dare you try to smear my queenâs reputation with your filthy mouth..." King Qi flared up, taking out his sword.
"Qi Tianchen..." Markâs deep voice then rose higher, with a hint of displeasure. King Qi shivered for a moment, "Your Majesty..."
"Iâm going to say one last time. Sit down." Mark ordered. King Qi clenched his open arm, sheathed his sword, and sat down.
Bai Lianhua nodded slowly. Her fingers twisted together into each other in nervousness.
"Shi Chong claimed that you left this palace with him and went to Leon Empireâs imperial city voluntarily. Is that claim true or false? No explanation. Only answer. True or False..."
At once, all eyes fell upon the Queen Consort, including King Qiâs.
She slowly nodded, "It is true, Your Majesty."
"Bai Lianhua..." King Qiâs hand reached the handle and grabbed it but he didnât pull it out of the sheath. He might have controlled his actions but the emotions of betrayal were clearly evident on his face.
Meanwhile, Shi Chong couldnât help but clench his fist and he smiled. He looked as if he was victorious.
"Understood," Mark gave a nod and then asked, "Now, for my next question. Why? You were the principal queen of once the second-largest vassal state of Leon Empire. You were aware that your actions would bring nothing but chaos, yet you risked it. Were you mistreated by your husband? If so, then speak. There is no place for domestic abuse on my land."
"Huh?" Perhaps Bai Lianhua was taken aback by Markâs words. She raised her head to look at the young and handsome but mighty figure sitting on the throne her husband usually sits on, feeling as if she were staring at a deity.
She lowered her gaze once again and answered, "I was the daughter of the late General Bai Minghwan, Your Majesty. I was engaged to my husband when I was very young, and I loved him ever since. In our twenty years of marriage, neither has ever spent as much as an hour with me nor did he give me a child. Assuming that I was infertile, not only was I treated harshly by the Late Queen Mother for more than a decade, but she also married him a couple of more times and even assigned concubines. However, none have become mothers so far. No one dared to point their finger at my husband for his impotency or possible homosexuality, for he is the mighty King Qi, and instead, they just either say that we are all infertile or King Qi is too busy on the battlefield.
Your Majesty, I was sick of him. I donât understand why I even existed. I canât become a mother. I canât get the love of a husband or my in-laws. As a queen, I was prohibited from cultivating or practicing the martial arts that my father taught me. Iâm not even a bridge that connects a great noble house to the royal family. When I was at my lowest, Prince Shi Chong was the only one who gave attention to me, listened to me, encouraged me, and gave me a purpose to live.
If it was anyone else, I wouldnât dare to accept the feelings of a man other than my husband. But he was the Crown Prince of the Shi Dynasty. If anyone could save me from this hellish marriage of mine, it was him. That is why I risked everything to leave with him.
Blame my fate, even the Emperor feared my husbandâs retaliation and sent me back. I thought I would be able to escape my crimes by acting as a victim. It seems one has to face their karma. In the end, Iâm here, standing in the middle of two dozen men on the charges of infidelity. Now that Your Majesty knows everything, I await your judgment. Iâm ready to face public execution but I wonât admit that Iâm guilty. I believe I broke the law but didnât do the sin."
Everyone still maintained silence. They heard her loud and clear; all digested the whole truth. Some sympathized with her situation, some sympathized with Shi Chong, who was probably used by her, some thought that she deserved death regardless, some mocked King Qi in their hearts, and some didnât have a particular opinion and were waiting for what their Chancellor would think.
Surprising them, Mark turned his attention to King Qi, "Qi Tianchen, my eyes of truth see that you are not impotent. Then, why didnât you father children?"
"Eh?"