Chapter 768: Chapter 768: Bite Back Before Death!

"Yu Zhu’s" face changed dramatically, and she exclaimed, "Your Majesty, I realize my mistake, I truly realize my mistake, please spare me, Your Majesty!"

"Spare you? Then who will spare my Ming Fei and the Prince in her womb? Doctor Wen has already said, Ming Fei’s body is damaged, and it might even harm the fetus in her womb! Someone, drag her away!"

Li Qingmu was genuinely furious; he didn’t even want to waste another word with this Yu Zhu!

"Your Majesty, spare me..."

The guards stepped forward, grabbing Yu Zhu from both sides to drag her away. Yu Zhu struggled frantically, but due to the exertion from both sides, her facial skin was torn apart.

"Rip!"

A chunk of skin fell off, bloody and horrifying to look at.

"Ah ah ah—"

The palace maids watching this scene cried out in shock, with some so terrified they collapsed to the ground.

Even the two guards dragging Yu Zhu were bewildered.

They hadn’t used much force, so how did this result in her skin being torn off?

"The skin of the living dead!"

Li Qingmu’s voice suddenly turned cold, staring murderously at Yu Zhu, "Go, peel all the skin off her face!"

"Yes!"

Immediately, a guard stepped forward and yanked all the remaining skin off Yu Zhu’s face.

"Rip—"

The facial skin was pulled off; due to excessive force, half of her face was now a bloody mess, making it unrecognizable, but the other half remained intact, revealing her true identity.

Upon seeing this face, many of those present were momentarily stunned.

"Lady Jinfu? Wasn’t she confined to the Cold Palace? How did she appear here again?"

"I don’t know, and she even disguised herself as Ming Fei’s personal maid Yu Zhu. So, what happened to the original Yu Zhu?"

"Isn’t it obvious? The skin is on someone else’s face, so that person is surely dead!"

The palace maids murmured among themselves, while Li Qingmu’s face turned icy, "Zhi Jin!"

His voice was cold and filled with anger, "I confined you to the Cold Palace to reflect and repent, not for you to cause trouble! Your attempt to harm Ming Fei today is intolerable! Guards, drag her away and execute her by beating!"

Another execution by beating!

Since Li Qingmu entered the Da Liang Palace, he had executed no fewer than thirty palace maids by beating, most of whom belonged to Rong Si’s people.

Previously, when those people were executed, Rong Si expressed dissatisfaction, and he had to spend a lot of effort to appease her, but not this time.

Zhi Jin intended to harm the child in Ming Fei’s womb? Neither he nor Rong Si could allow it!

So, Zhi Jin was doomed!

Zhi Jin, seeing the guards and eunuchs rushing towards her, realized that she was doomed today, but she couldn’t reconcile with dying like this!

Suddenly, she recalled the black-clad man’s instructions: to sow discord between them!

Sow discord, sow discord...

Right, sow discord!

Even if I die, I must bite you before I do!

Thinking of this, Zhi Jin raised her head abruptly and shouted, "Your Majesty, I am wronged, I am truly wronged! I did not do this; it was... it was the Princess who instructed me!"

As soon as she said this, the expressions of Li Qingmu and Long Yue turned sour.

Seeing their expressions change, Zhi Jin knew she had a chance and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this matter was personally ordered by the Princess. I knew it was wrong, but I am just a servant, when the ruler commands, the servant must obey!"

Zhi Jin spoke with a face full of sorrow and unwillingness, as if it was truly the handiwork of Rong Si!

She was determined to throw the blame onto Rong Si!

Li Qingmu’s expression grew increasingly grim, and he shouted, "What are you waiting for? Seize her and execute her by beating! By beating!"

Zhi Jin really must not be allowed to speak any further; he was too merciful before, sparing her life. If he had killed her immediately, there wouldn’t be this current trouble!

He couldn’t help but think of Qian Yi; indeed, a quick resolution was necessary!

Instantly, the guards surged towards Zhi Jin, surrounding her, then dragged her off for execution!

"Ah, ah, ah..."

The sound of her heartrending cries echoed repeatedly, continuing for a dozen strikes before it finally faded.

"Your Majesty, her leg bones and body are separated, she’s dead beyond dead!"

The executioner came forward to report.

Only then did Li Qingmu’s expression somewhat improve.

"Your Majesty, just executing her like this? Shouldn’t we investigate who ordered her to do this?"

Eunuch Chen from Chen Liu was quite puzzled.

Li Qingmu said, "No need! I just need to convey a message, that my mother’s heart and mine are linked, and no one can use despicable means to cause discord between us!"

Chen Liu was gratified: "Your Majesty is wise!"

This Chen Liu was also one of Rong Si’s confidants, so naturally, he was pleased to hear this.

...

"That Yu Zhu was Zhi Jin in disguise? And she slandered me as the one who instigated it?"

In Fengming Palace, Li Qingmu recounted the events to Rong Si.

Previously, she was only confined to the Cold Palace, but this time she was executed publicly in front of so many people!

They say even when hitting a dog, you should consider the owner; Zhi Jin had served Rong Si for more than a decade, surely there was some bond between master and servant?

By dying like this, Rong Si would certainly have some thoughts.

So Li Qingmu came to apologize.

Rong Si was practicing her skills; she had not been able to come over due to the earlier event, but Li Qingmu briefly explained the situation.

Rong Si, after listening, nodded slightly at Li Qingmu: "Mu’er, you did the right thing! Zhi Jin harbored resentment against me, and thus attempted to harm Ming Fei and failed, which called for her death. She only wanted to drag someone down with her by slandering me, aiming to sow discord between us! You were justified in killing her, no need to apologize!"

"Then, mother, have you considered why she would slander you, and why she would try to sow discord between us? What benefit would it bring her? Or was she acting under someone’s orders?"

Li Qingmu’s questions were sharp; after a round of probing, Rong Si found herself at a loss for words?

"Acting under orders..." Rong Si pondered for a while before saying, "Who would order her? Who could wield influence over her?"

"Mother, think about it. In this Imperial Palace, besides you and me, who else can command both the palace insiders and outsiders?"

Li Qingmu probed again, wanting to ascertain if she and You Su were truly inseparable?

"In this palace, apart from me, there is you and the State Preceptor..."

At this point, Rong Si suddenly froze and angrily said, "Mu’er, are you probing into matters of the State Preceptor again? Remember, from now on, anything concerning him, you are not to interfere!"

Li Qingmu was taken aback for a moment; had Rong Si been completely swayed by You Su, even to the point of defending him?

Was her own sense of judgment entirely void?

"Mother, you..."

"Enough, you are the Emperor, you should focus on state affairs. This matter ends here, you should return and rest soon!"

Rong Si insisted sternly, urging Li Qingmu to leave promptly.

Li Qingmu’s gaze grew slightly heavy, and he replied lightly, "Yes, I understand. Farewell!"

After leaving Fengming Palace, he directly went to Zhaoming Palace. The first words he said upon entering were, "Mother has fallen under You Su’s influence!"