Chapter 10

That morning, the Emperor sat expressionlessly on the Dragon Throne, his golden robe, spread on the black jade tiles forth him, that glowing golden color distinct against the cold darkness.

His face was pale and freezing and his whole person was exuding a cold imposing aura. He sat upright majestically as he swept his freezing gaze across the Court Hall. His slender but pale fingers played with a little glassy phial that had a white powder like content in it. He was not in a very good mood.

How could he not be angry? When he reminded the embarrassing scene from the night before, he strongly wanted to smash something into pieces. He just couldn't believe that he can't control Shen Nuo.

The moment Shen Nuo said that Minghe was awake and was watching, he had turned his head to look. Taking chance in that bare second, Shen Nuo dared to kick his privates again. That kick was not less worse than the kick he was given in that deserted lane. If not for Minghe who was watching horror struck, he would have strangled Shen Nuo on the spot to death...

What could he possibly do? Though he be the mighty Emperor, he was still a human. He feels happiness and sorrow, bitterness and pain like others do.

So the mighty Emperor hugged a pillow and rolled on the bed while Shen Nuo grew wings and flew away like a bird.

While he was lost in his own thoughts, the officials stood either sides, silently. Consort Lian sobbed helplessly by a side, down the stairway to the throne. Her face was halfway veiled only revealing her beautiful eyes.

Those eyes touched with tears looked glassy and very beautiful. Anyone who saw her face would feel pity for her. Of course this was definitely one of her amazing capabilities.

There were also a few who knew about the evil soul hidden beneath this beautiful self of a consort. One was definitely Minister Zhanhua. He frowned and looked away.

Suddenly the entire Court Hall felled into a strange silence. Almost every head turned to look at the entrance. They couldn't help but whisper among themselves. Some were purely amazed but many were shocked.

A tall and a slender handsome man entered the Court Hall with a maid. He was wholly dressed in a casual robe of black. His hair was combed neatly to a side and held into a high ponytail. There were several strands of sleeky black hair that rippled down his temples endowing him a seductive look.

This person was familiar but also unfamiliar. He should be dressed in his uniform harem robe of dark green as the only Imperial Noble Consort of the Emperor. But he wore black...

He should be wearing many accessories as a consort he was but he only had a simple red ribbon tightened around his ponytail.

His face should have layers of makeup but now his face looked natural and that face was extremely handsome and youthful, enchanting and mesmerizing that the officials couldn't help but gape.

Once this person used to use heavy makeup and looked unpleasant and ugly. But how can the mere face of him have such a transformation without makeup? It was definitely beautiful than Consort Lian's...

He walked into the Court Hall with steady steps and bowed to the Emperor with a strange smile. "Shen Nuo greets Your Majesty!" His voice was pleasant but unfaltering.

The officials exchanged blank looks. Of course, Shen Nuo was a shy person who rarely walked in public. He used to be meek and shy. But this...

The Emperor pursed his thin lips. His unfathomable phoenix eyes lingered upon Shen Nuo for a moment before he turned to look away darkly.

"Time to start the Court." He said coldly. "Consort Shen, there's a case against you. Consort Lian, you speak first!"

Consort Lian immediately felled onto her knees forth the throne. "Your Majesty!" She wept miserably. "Your Majesty aught to decide fairly. Little brother Shen Nuo poisoned chen qie again!"

(Like Zhen is used by the Emperor to refer to himself infront of others, chen qie is the word used by harem folk instead of using I when speaking forth seniors.)

Shen Nuo smiled bitterly. You still dare to inferior me? Looks like I didn't teach you enough yesterday!

The Emperor looked at Shen Nuo. "Consort Shen, is that true?"

Shen Nuo smiled. "Yes!" He said in an unfaltering voice, causing the entire Court Hall to gasp. Even Consort Lian who was crying, couldn't help but choke in her breath.

"But what I gave Consort Lian was but a medicine and not poison." Shen Nuo said again. He looked at Consort Lian. "Sister Lian, what I gave you was a rare medicine that can cure the rashes. You-"

"Liar!" Consort Lian cried out. She looked at the Emperor miserably. "Your Majesty, chen qie paid a visit to Consort Shen yesterday. After he felled into the Ice Lake, chen qie was very concerned. But chen qie didn't think little brother would poison chen qie's tea, Your Majesty! Chen qie's face had grown rashes!" She looked at Shen Nuo furiously. "Little brother, still you won't admit the truth. Chen qie is very good to little brother but why do you..." She cried furiously. "Chen qie's face..." Tears were welling down her cat eyes. It looked very pitiful.

Yanlong pressed his fingertips upon his brow bone feeling a headache "Guards! Summon the Imperial Doctor!"

Doctor Xuan was very old and had served Li Yang for more than forty years. He was highly skilled and experienced. He hurried to the Court Hall under the summon, carrying his little medicine box.

"Imperial Doctor Xuan." The Emperor said in his icy voice. "Zhen needs to know about a certain content whether it's poison or not."

Doctor Xuan bowed. "At your service! Your Majesty!"

Yanlong handed over the phial to Zhangsun, his bodyguard who stood beside him dutifully. He brought the phial and handed it over to the doctor.

Shen Nuo smiled. All was going according to the plan. He purposely left the phial at the desk inside the pavilion yesterday, knowing that Consort Lian would definitely plot against him. Of course she had taken the phial early morning to visit the Emperor.

But it was that he wasn't the original Shen Nuo anymore. And Consort Lian had truly underestimated him this time.

He looked at the phial leisurely. It's the time for Consort Lian to pay for all what she did to him in the past. Bitch!

The old man checked the phial and smelled it for a long time. "Your Majesty, this is an extremely rare medicine used for skin rashes and inflammations. The ingredients are Aloe Vera and -"

"Xu Chang Qing and Qiang Huo." Shen Nuo completed it for him. "The rashes upon Consort Lian's face was caused by the mixture of the makeup and the wine that I accidentally spilled on her face. It's not a poison. It's a skin allergy."

The sixty years old doctor couldn't help but smile in amazement. "Consort Shen is true! This indeed is a rare medicine that is known by a very few. And it's extremely cautiously prepared. Even the ingredients are neither too less nor too much. May this subject have the honor of asking who made this?"

Everyone else: "..."

The Emperor furrowed his brows. "It was made by Consort Shen. It's not a poison?"

The old man simply stared at Shen Nuo. He couldn't believe his old ears. He was speechless.

"Doctor, you don't have to praise me." Shen Nuo said smiling brightly. "This consort just happened to learn some skills from a wandering doctor when he was small. Anyway, it was me who accidentally spilled the wine on sister Lian's face. So I was guilty. I only wanted her cured but..." He looked at Consort Lian helplessly. "She...she-"

The Emperor slapped his palm on the desk, silencing the entire Court Hall in a moment. "Doctor Xuan, are you sure that there's nothing else mixed with the content?" He asked through gritted  teeth. If he didn't find a fault within this day to get Shen Nuo netted, then he's a ...

The old man pulled out a silver needle from the pouch and inserted it carefully into the phial. After withdrawing it back, he took a deep look at the needle.

It showed no color change or a sign of poisoning. He bowed deeply to the Emperor. "This is not poisoned in any way, Your Majesty, the medicine is quite safe and usable. And this subject thinks that this is a highly effective medicine."

Yanlong raised his brows at loss of hopes. He just didn't believe it. "Explain."

"Aloe Vera is a natural supplement which is used in decoctions or herbal soups that nurtures the skin. Xu Chang Qing and Qiang Huo have effects against inflammation and itchiness of the skin. This indeed is a good and a simple medicine. This subject cannot detect any other ingredients added. Since the silver needle didn't show a color change, this thing is not poisoned."

Consort Lian shook her head in disbelief. "No!" She sobbed. "Look at my face! It shouldn't be like this! He definitely poisoned me!"

She openly pulled out her veil in the public this time. Officials gasped in shock. It looked hideous, like half of her face was burned.

She would never let go of Shen Nuo this time. She will make sure he would pay...

But unfortunately, less did she know that Shen Nuo wanted the same thing to happen. Shen Nuo smiled counting in his heart. One...two...

Consort Lian narrowed her eyes, breathing hard. "Consort Shen even told chen qie not to use makeup!"

Three!

Shen Nuo immediately hid his smile and pulled that innocent look. "Wait!" He walked towards Consort Lian with gentle steps and looked at her face closely. "Sister Lian, you're wearing makeup!"

Consort Lian looked blank. She was a consort. It was normal to wear makeup.

Shen Nuo looked even furious. "Sister Lian, after I gave you the medicine, I clearly told you not to use makeup today! Because it can only worsen the skin allergy!"

Consort Lian looked shocked. She shook her head in disbelief. She suddenly understood everything. She never thought Shen Nuo could be this shameless... Even from the beginning, it turns out to be that he was actually using her! But it was too late...

The Emperor turned his frosty gaze towards Consort Lian. "Did Consort Shen ask you not to use makeup?"

Consort Lian gritted her teeth. She wanted to hack Shen Nuo to death. She lowered her head pitifully but it couldn't hide the hate. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor looked at Shen Nuo. "Consort Shen, what do you think, the remedy must be?"

Shen Nuo smiled sweetly. "This Shen Nuo is not a physician. How about Your Majesty ask it from Doctor Xuan?"

The old man looked at the Emperor with weary eyes. "This...this -"

"Speak!" Yanlong said.

"This allergy had worsened because of the makeup. Consort Shen was right. Consort Lian shouldn't have used any makeup after the medicine is taken. So, it's better for her to not to use any makeup at least for six months..."

"What-?" Consort Lian gasped in incredulous disbelief. She thought she was going to have a heart attack. Don't use makeup? And for six months!!?

She felt dizzy.

Shen Nuo smiled maliciously. "Sister Lian, little brother shouldn't let your rashes get worse. So this little brother will make sure all your makeup would be confiscated."

No one spoke for a moment. Consort Lian was breathing hard again. She looked at Shen Nuo weakly.

Shen Nuo gave her a charming harmless smile that was bewitching and alluring. But only she knew how much mock and derisive smirks were hidden within...

It was so hard to keep her face neutral forth this kind of situation. She forcefully suppressed the evil fire from rushing out of her and bowed to Shen Nuo tearfully. "Chen qie thanks Consort Shen for the concern!"

Yanlong leaned on to the back of the throne, waving his slender arm majestically. "Zhen needs rest. All of you now get out!"

Even Consort Lian had to be pulled away by her maid forcefully. The officials silently swept away. They all had their own thoughts to wonder upon. Specially the change they saw in Consort Shen was unbelievable... And when did he learn medicines!!?

As Shen Nuo stood he felt a sharp gaze upon him. Silently turning to the left, he suddenly saw Minister Zhanhua, looking at him like a statue. Shen Nuo couldn't help but secretly smile. Zhanhua was too cute...

Since that day Zhanhua helped him escape safely into his own quarters right under the Emperor's nose, he felt a blind respect towards Zhanhua. Anyway, Zhanhua was a good person. Shen Nuo would always consider him as a good brother. So he secretly presented him with a seductive wink.

He just forgot that in this world, he was not a man and was a ger. It would be highly improper for a married ger to do such a thing.

Zhanhua was aware. His face blushed deeply. He couldn't believe.

He was just now mesmerized by the beauty of that person before realizing he had been rudely staring at that person. But when their eyes met, that person winked!!?

He did not know what to feel. But he felt a warmness spread in the depths of his heart. He smiled weakly, answered Shen Nuo with a respectful slight bow and joined the others to the exit of the hall.

But they both did not know that this action was seen by a third person. That person's hands clenched into fists under the dense golden sleeves of the dragon robe. His teeth clenched behind his pursed lips. He sat on his Dragon Throne silently and his face looked icy than ever.

So when Shen Nuo turned back, he happened to meet the terrifying eyes of the Emperor. Those eyes were sharp and deadly. His entire kingly self released a cold murderous aura. He did not move his eyes away from Shen Nuo.

Shen Nuo's hair stood on end. His scalp went numb. He was a strong person. He knew the Emperor was ruthless since he had read the novel. But he never thought the Emperor could be this scary. He felt his legs go numb.

Did the Emperor see me wink to Zhanhua just now? @#$k!

As the Court Hall gradually emptied, the Emperor stepped down the broad stairway forth the throne. His face showed no emotion but he looked calm and unfathomably deadly.

He stood forth Shen Nuo. He was still very tall and Shen Nuo's top of head barely touched the Emperor's nose. Yanlong lowered his eyes to look at him.

His expressionless glare now definitely carried the intent of murder, like a sharp blade dazzling to the extreme which made others involuntarily avoid his gaze.

Shen Nuo couldn't help but feel a chill run down his back. His skin grew a layer of goosebumps when the Emperor leaned over, his thin and icy cold lips, just inches away from Shen Nuo's ear.

"Zhen can pretend he didn't see for the first time, second time but there will be no third time!" He said in a softer but more dangerous voice, and his freezing breath grazed Shen Nuo's soft and pale earlobe to flush red. "So you better not forget that you're already married to Zhen!"

Shen Nuo clearly felt the menacing aura of the Emperor. He pursed his lips tightly and didn't say anything.

The Emperor, after glaring at Shen Nuo for a while, flicked his sleeve and strode away.

Shen Nuo narrowed his eyes darkly. He looked at the figure of the Emperor (who couldn't see him) and raised his hand and showed him the middle finger. "@#$k you Yanlong!"

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