Prime Minister Ning had already undressed Dugu Luanyue, leaving only a thin red bellyband on her.
He knelt on his knees beside the woman's legs on the bed. Just as he was about to lean over and plant that disgusting kiss,
someone grabbed his hair and yanked him off the bed with great force. Before he could come to his senses,
a solid wooden stool came crashing down on him. With a loud thud, the wood shattered into pieces. The attacker had clearly put all their strength into it.
Prime Minister Ning groaned in pain. "Who? Who is it? Ouch, it hurts! It hurts so much!"
Huo Wei kicked him, and Prime Minister Ning fainted.
Huo Wei quickly rushed to the bedside. Looking at Dugu Luanyue, whose eyes were hazy with intoxication but still held a glimmer of shame and indignation, he frowned tightly. Without saying a word, he quickly covered her with his clothes.
Then he helped Dugu Luanyue sit up on the bed. As soon as she steadied herself, tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down.
"Huo Wei... I've been praying to God in my heart to let you come and save me. Maybe God really heard my prayers." She raised her weak arm, and Huo Wei hugged her tightly.
Huo Wei gritted his teeth. "Was it that bastard Murong Min who did this?"
Dugu Luanyue nodded, her face full of grievance. "Yes."
Huo Wei was so angry that his chest seemed to be on fire. Rage boiled in his deep, black eyes as he muttered hatefully,
"You're at least his queen! How could he be so disgusting and have no bottom - line at all!"
Dugu Luanyue didn't say a word. She tried to hold back her tears, but ended up crying even more violently on his shoulder.
He gently wiped away the tears under Dugu Luanyue's eyes. "Don't cry. Later, I'll blind Prime Minister Ning's eyes and break his hands to avenge you."
Dugu Luanyue was truly terrified this time. Just thinking about it made her feel nauseous.
But the drug in her body hadn't worn off yet. Her whole body was burning hot as she pressed against Huo Wei's chest. Her jade - like eyes were full of intoxication and desire. "I've also been drugged. It's the incense in this room. You should leave quickly."
Huo Wei got up, threw the incense out, then came back and reached out to touch her burning - hot and blushing cheeks.
Dugu Luanyue went completely limp. She had an even stronger urge to kiss him. Unable to resist, she slipped her hand into his robe and gently caressed his chest as if ten thousand feathers were tickling him. "Huo Wei, I..."
Huo Wei's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. A tingling sensation spread across his chest. He leaned over and kissed her, pinning her down on the bed. His passion was a hundred times more intense than that of a drugged person.
Like a wild beast, Huo Wei whispered in her ear in his deep, magnetic voice,
"Do you know what it means when you look at a normal man with such eyes?"
Seeing Dugu Luanyue's flushed face and hazy eyes, he instantly transformed from a man into a wild beast.
"Murong Min will send someone to catch us in the act later. This is his scheme." While she refused, she found it hard to resist. Her whole body felt as if it was being gnawed by a hundred ants.
Huo Wei bit her earlobe. The sweet fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose as he kissed every inch of her chest. "I'm going crazy. Do you know that?"
Dugu Luanyue covered his lips. Her warm breath sprayed on his handsome face as she said in a soft and charming voice, "I feel the same. Kiss me quick."
There was a noise outside the door. Sheng Yunqi kicked open the front door and rushed in. Strangely enough, the door wasn't even latched.
As soon as he reached the bedside, he saw the two of them cuddling and doing something shameful.
At that moment, something in his heart collapsed instantly. He reached out and yanked Huo Wei off the bed.
"You lecher! You... Huo Wei, the Emperor is coming. What are you doing!"
Huo Wei's thick eyebrows furrowed menacingly. "That old bastard is disgusting, and you're no better."
Dugu Luanyue forced herself to regain her senses and hissed,
"Drag that man on the ground onto the bed to make Murong Min think that the deed is already done.
But Huo Wei, punch him a few more times. I'm afraid he'll wake up. Then you two should leave quickly! Hurry!"
Murong Min came to the wing - room alone. He knew very well that this was a scandal and couldn't be made public.
He walked to the bedside. Looking at Prime Minister Ning, who was sleeping like a dead pig, and the queen on the bed sobbing softly, he curled his lips. "You've suffered, Queen. I'll never treat you badly."
Dugu Luanyue, wearing a skewed red bellyband, quickly covered her body. Tears still glistened in her eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness."
Murong Min took out a special snuff bottle and waved it under Prime Minister Ning's nose. Prime Minister Ning woke up after a while. By then, the room was already brightly lit.
He turned to look at the woman beside him. His mind was still a bit muddled when he heard Murong Min say coldly, "Prime Minister Ning, you're so bold!"
Dugu Luanyue wrapped herself in a long dress. Her hair was in a loose bun as she got out of bed and knelt on the ground without saying a word.
Prime Minister Ning was so scared that he rolled off the bed. "Your Majesty, please spare my life! Please spare my life!"
Murong Min looked at Dugu Luanyue. "Queen, you may leave first."
Dugu Luanyue silently disappeared from the wing - room. As she walked out of the Zichen Palace, Aunt Meijiang quickly draped a phoenix robe over her and helped her onto the imperial sedan chair.
Aunt Meijiang gritted her teeth. "Your Highness, this old servant was trapped in the Imperial Household Department and was being scolded.
It was the Prince of Yuzhang who sent someone to inform this old servant to bring clothes for you and also sent this imperial sedan chair to take you back to the palace."
Dugu Luanyue's face was cold. She nodded slightly. Her eyes were downcast, full of hatred. She stared straight at the cold moon hanging in the sky, unable to say a word.
In the imperial garden, Huo Wei confronted Sheng Yunqi.
Sheng Yunqi grabbed Huo Wei's lapel and glared at him. "What were you doing to Luanyue just now? Don't you know there's a generational gap between you two?"
Huo Wei grabbed his wrist and flung it away. He curled his lips.
"Can't you tell what I want to do to her? She and I are in love with each other, regardless of moral constraints."
He calmly adjusted Sheng Yunqi's lapel. His black eyes were full of provocation and pride.
"On the way to send her to Southern Chu last time, she told me in person that she only has feelings for me."
Sheng Yunqi sneered. "Luanyue will be the future female emperor. So what if she loves you? Won't there still be thousands of concubines in the harem? How long can you stay in her favor?
I'm different. I'm the emperor's husband. I'm the master of the whole harem.
If you ever come to Southern Chu in the future, you'll still have to kneel and pay respects to me. I'm the master, and you're the servant.
Any child Luanyue gives birth to will call me 'Imperial Father'. Even if it's your child, they'll only call you 'Uncle'."
The fire in Huo Wei's black eyes blazed. He kicked Sheng Yunqi and stepped on his chest with his long leg.
"Listen up. Dugu Luanyue will only have me as a man in her life. Anyone else who dares to lay a finger on her will end up dead. Sheng Yunqi, you're no exception."
Meng Tan found Huo Wei in the imperial garden. He said anxiously, "Something bad has happened, Your Highness. The Crown Prince is in trouble."
Huo Wei turned his head. His voice was calm. "The Crown Prince is in high spirits today. What trouble could he possibly get into?"
Meng Tan lowered his voice. "The Crown Prince has passed away."
Huo Wei's eyes widened in shock. He retracted the leg that was on Sheng Yunqi's chest. He asked in disbelief,
"Meng Tan, do you know what you're saying? The Crown Prince... has passed away?"
Meng Tan replied, "Yes, Your Highness. You should go to the palace banquet quickly. As the commander of the imperial guards, you need to seal off the scene right away!"