The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

"Didn't you hear me? I told you to shut up, kneel down, and beg forgiveness from Her Majesty the Empress."

Liu Pengfei was utterly speechless at Liu Zhenzhen's continued attempts to cause trouble, even though she still hadn't grasped the situation.

He understood one thing very well at that moment: regardless of whether Shen Tianjiao would let the Liu family off this time, Liu Zhenzhen and her younger brother Liu Yitong were doomed.

After being scolded by Liu Pengfei again, Liu Zhenzhen finally behaved herself this time.

Even if she's completely brainless, she'll still be able to read people's expressions.

At this moment, Liu Pengfei's face was deathly pale, and it also revealed fear and terror. Liu Zhenzhen had never seen such an expression on Liu Pengfei's face before.

Although Liu Zhenzhen still didn't understand what she had done wrong, she still obediently knelt down and kowtowed to Shen Tianjiao to admit her mistake.

"This humble girl, Liu Zhenzhen, greets Your Majesty the Empress and begs Your Majesty to forgive my ignorance."

Liu Yitong was following behind Liu Zhenzhen, completely bewildered.

He is only eleven or twelve years old now, and he is spoiled and doesn't understand anything.

He followed Liu Zhenzhen to the palace simply for fun.

At that moment, he was completely unaware of the catastrophic consequences his playful actions would bring upon him.

"Liu Pengfei, you can't be unaware of what the Empress Dowager did, can you?"

Shen Tianjiao knew Liu Zhenzhen and Liu Yitong; the two of them hadn't even entered the gates of Kangning Palace, but were captured outside.

Since neither of them knew anything about what had happened in Kangning Palace, Shen Tianjiao was unwilling to say anything more.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

Liu Pengfei was trembling with fear. The Empress had not exposed the various crimes of Empress Dowager Liu when the Liu family was in trouble.

It wasn't because the Liu family was so important to the Empress, but because the Empress was unwilling to tear off that fig leaf; she wanted to preserve the last shred of dignity for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

Now, the Liu family insists on coming to the palace and tearing away this fig leaf. Isn't this just courting death?

They thought the Liu family had escaped a calamity and that from now on they only needed to keep a low profile. Although the family would never be as prosperous as it once was, at least they could save their lives.

Moreover, because of the family's wealth, the family members are not living too badly.

But who could have imagined that Liu Zhenzhen would cause such a change?

Could there really be such a thing as karma and reincarnation?

His Liu family ancestors committed many evils, and now that their power has waned, does that mean everyone has to take back what they owe?

That's why they're using Liu Zhenzhen to completely ruin the Liu family.

"Alright, since you know Liu Pengfei, then I'd like to ask you, what do you plan to do?"

Shen Tianjiao's gaze was like an awl, fixed on Liu Pengfei.

Even though Liu Pengfei was kneeling on the ground with his face down, he could still feel the pressure from Shen Tianjiao.

The Empress is now asking him what to do. Liu Pengfei gave a bitter smile, and a deep sadness welled up in his heart.

What should he do? What else can he do?

The lives of the entire Liu clan are now in the hands of the powerful Empress Regent before them.

Whether the Liu family members live or die is entirely up to her.

Who can tell him what he should do now, and what he can do?

He had endured for so many years, finally outliving his bastard father and withstanding all the persecution from his nominal mother, who was actually just his stepmother.

Now that he has secured his position as the head of the Liu family, he can finally avenge his past humiliations and the torment he suffered at the hands of his mother.

But who would have thought that before he could even settle into his position as head of the family, he would be buried alive along with the Liu family.

He was filled with fear and resentment.

If you really want to ask him what he wants to do, then if he wants to kill people, he'll kill his fourth brother's whole family first.

That bastard could raise such an arrogant and ignorant daughter. Even if she survives this time, she will eventually cause trouble and bring disaster to the whole family.

Rather than that, it would be better to just send their whole family to their deaths now.

It's better to die early and be reborn sooner, so as to avoid burdening others while alive.

After killing the fourth son's family, his next target was his mistress, who wore a mask of hypocrisy and appeared to be a kind, virtuous, understanding, and reasonable matriarch.

But in reality, she is a vicious, jealous woman, more terrifying than the devil.

The fourth son is her own flesh and blood. She has spoiled her granddaughter so much that she wants to kill the entire Liu family. Then she has even less reason to live.

Then there were those members of the Liu family who had bullied him, always wanting to trample him underfoot and make him wish he were dead.

Rather than waiting for the Empress to order their property confiscated and them exiled, it would be better to let them all die at his hands.

At this moment, Liu Pengfei had gone mad with rage. All he could think about was killing, killing, killing!

"Liu Pengfei, did you not hear my question?"

Shen Tianjiao stared at Liu Pengfei, who was lying motionless on the ground, wondering what he was thinking.

Upon being nominated, Liu Pengfei involuntarily trembled and replied hesitantly, "This sinful subject and his family are willing to accept any punishment from Her Majesty the Empress."

Liu Pengfei's answer immediately disappointed Shen Tianjiao.

She had originally thought that Liu Pengfei would say something that would make her feel that this person was useful.

Unexpectedly, Liu Pengfei said that he would punish him however he pleased.

If she wanted to punish the Liu family, would she need to ask Liu Pengfei for his opinion?

Despite her disappointment, Shen Tianjiao still wanted to give Liu Pengfei another chance.

Her intuition was always accurate, and she believed her judgment was correct.

"Liu Pengfei, listen carefully. I am asking what you want to do, not telling you what to do."

Shen Tianjiao's words were like a wake-up call, instantly sobering Liu Pengfei up.

If the Empress asked him this question, does it mean that she intends to continue, for the sake of the Emperor's face, and is unwilling to personally tear off this fig leaf?

I'm willing to give the Liu family another chance, but only if they handle this matter properly.

Just now, Liu Pengfei was so preoccupied with his frustration that he didn't think straight at all, but now he's come to his senses.

Naturally, they would then know what to do.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject will take these two rebellious sons back first."

"Before the palace gates close today, this humble subject will certainly give Your Majesty the Empress a satisfactory answer."

Although Liu Pengfei did not explain clearly in person how he intended to handle the matter, his attitude towards Shen Tianjiao spoke volumes.

"Very well, I will wait until the palace gates close today."

"I hope you won't disappoint me."

"Liu Pengfei, remember this well, this is your last chance, and the last chance for your Liu family."

"If you handle this matter in a way that displeases me, or if various rumors start circulating in the capital soon, then..."

"Then no matter who it is, they can't stop your Liu family from being executed along with your entire clan. Do you understand?"

Shen Tianjiao's threat to exterminate the entire Liu family, including nine generations of relatives, was not just a bluff; she meant it.

The affair between Empress Dowager Liu and her brother-in-law Li Hong was no secret among the imperial family and powerful clans.

They all knew, but knowing was one thing; no one dared to say it aloud, much less talk about it openly outside.

This secret that everyone knows can only remain a secret.

The reason is simple: all of these people have to consider Li Rui's feelings.

After all, no matter how much power these people wield, it can never surpass that of the emperor.

The emperor is the sovereign, and they are the subjects. Tell me, which brainless person would dare to expose the scandal of the empress dowager's affair and slap the emperor in the face?

The emperor holds the power of life and death, but on ordinary days he may not be able to do anything about his relatives and powerful ministers.

However, once they cross the emperor's bottom line, the emperor can punish them in a matter of minutes, causing them to fall from grace and be trampled to death, never to rise again.

Everyone understands the principle; no one would be foolish enough to joke about the lives of their own people.

However, if this secret was leaked from the Empress Dowager's family, then the situation would be different.

The Empress Dowager's family members didn't care about her shameful deeds and were unwilling to cover them up, so they could freely spread them.

Then why would anyone else care about the emperor's face?

In any case, the source of this scandal is the Empress Dowager's family. If something happens, the Emperor will first hold the Liu family accountable.

It's not their turn to get into trouble, those who are behind the scenes fanning the flames and echoing the sentiment.

So as long as the Liu family keeps their own family members quiet, everyone can continue to pretend they don't know about this matter and treat it as a secret that everyone knows.

"Liu Pengfei understands. I guarantee with the lives of my entire Liu family that the Empress Dowager's affairs will absolutely not be revealed by any member of the Liu family."

"Anyone who dares to utter a single word will be wiped out from this world forever."

Shen Tianjiao was fairly satisfied with Liu Pengfei's answer, but whether he could actually do it depended on how capable Liu Pengfei was.

"Very well, I will remember what you said."

"Take both of them and leave."

Shen Tianjiao doesn't need to worry about anything now; she can just sit here and wait for news.

"Yes, this guilty subject will take his leave."

Liu Pengfei didn't dare to delay. He immediately got up, pulled up the things on the ground, and Liu Zhenzhen and Liu Yitong turned and left.

After watching their figures disappear, Shen Tianjiao looked up and said, "It seems it's time to announce the news of Empress Dowager Liu's passing."

"This way, we can prevent anyone from being unwilling to give up and always trying to use this dead empress dowager to stir up trouble and cause chaos in the world."

"Master, shall we prepare now?"

Chun Chao handed the hand warmer to Shen Tianjiao and asked for her opinion.

"Let's wait a little longer. It's best if Auntie takes charge of this matter when she comes back."

"We can't just announce the cause of Empress Dowager Liu's death right after the Liu family members have arrived at the palace and caused such a scene. That would arouse suspicion."

"And the matter of Liu Zhenzhen and Liu Yitong entering the palace today has not been thoroughly investigated yet, and we still don't know if someone is behind it."

"Let's talk about it after everything has settled down."

Shen Tianjiao was really tired at this moment. There was nothing in or outside the palace that made her feel at ease.

"Master, we have already found out everything."

Before Shen Tianjiao could even rest and catch her breath, Xia He rushed in.

"Go ahead."

Shen Tianjiao casually picked up the hot tea from the table and drank several mouthfuls.

She doesn't usually like drinking hot tea, but at this moment, in order to stay awake, she didn't care about that.

"Master, we have found out everything about Liu Pengfei."

"He is the child of Liu Lei, the previous head of the Liu family, who married his wife when he was young and traveling outside."

"At that time, Liu Lei was the most inconspicuous among the many children of the Liu family's direct line, and he had no presence at all."

"No one expected that the position of head of the Liu family would fall to him."

"Because at that time, the Liu family already had a candidate for the next head of the family, namely Liu Lei's eldest brother. In addition, Liu Lei had two older brothers."

"So when the Liu family learned that Liu Lei, who had no potential for development, had married someone outside the family, their reaction was not strong."

"After getting married, Liu Lei stayed in Xuzhou. His wife, Dong, gave birth to two sons and a daughter for him."

"The eldest son is Liu Pengfei. The younger son died of a sudden illness not long after he was born."

"Liu Lei had already decided that he would stay in Xuzhou and spend the rest of his life with his wife and children."

"But then the Liu family suffered one misfortune after another. First, the eldest son who was chosen as the next head of the family was beaten to death in a brothel after causing trouble while drunk."

"Then came the second son, who fell off his horse and became disabled while playing polo. Later, the third son got into trouble in the capital and offended someone he shouldn't have."

"Although the person was not killed, he was practically turned into a living dead."

"At that time, Liu Lei's mother was unwilling to let the position of head of the family fall into the hands of others, so she had Liu Lei forcibly taken back to the capital."

"But they only brought Liu Lei back; they didn't bring his wife and children back."

"Because if Liu Lei is to become the next head of the Liu family, his wife whom he married in Xuzhou without permission and the children he had will be considered very undignified."

"Liu Lei returned to the capital, accepted the family's arrangements, and worked hard to learn how to be the next head of the Liu family."

"During this period, his parents repeatedly urged him to divorce his wife and remarry, to find a wife of equal social standing, because only such a woman could be worthy of Liu Lei's status."