Having many handsome men means no worries; pampering them all keeps me in good spirits.

Mo Ting's ears turned slightly red, and his heart was beating faster and faster. Tonight... did the Emperor really intend to take him?

Jiang Qingyan ripped off Mo Ting's outer robe, pushed him onto the couch, and then gently pressed herself against him.

She gently rubbed Mo Ting's reddened earlobes, smiled softly, and kissed him deeply...

After a long while, Jiang Qingyan slowly withdrew her tongue from Mo Ting's mouth. She gently stroked Mo Ting's cheek and said softly, "Mo Ting, you are so handsome... I really like you..."

Mo Ting's breathing became rapid, and he involuntarily grabbed Jiang Qingyan's hand and kissed it.

Jiang Qingyan smiled, her fingers slowly sliding towards Mo Ting's belt, easily untying it...

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Jiang Qingyan immediately stopped what she was doing and pulled the blanket over Mo Ting.

The door was pushed open, and Yinxing walked in. She glanced at the Regent on the bed and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager sent me to deliver a message, saying that she has something to discuss with you."

Jiang Qingyan frowned, a hint of displeasure on her face. But she still got up, straightened her clothes, and said to Mo Ting, "I'll go take a look. You go to sleep first."

After saying that, she followed Yinxing out of the room. Mo Ting watched her departing figure, a sense of loss welling up in his heart.

Stepping outside, Jiang Qingyan touched the brocade box she had casually taken before leaving, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips.

Long before Mo Ting arrived, she had instructed Eunuch Wang that after having dinner with Mo Ting tonight, he must send someone to the Empress Dowager's palace to tell her that the Regent would be spending the night with her.

Although Eunuch Wang had no idea what tricks the Emperor was up to this time, he had no choice but to obey the Emperor's orders...

Upon arriving at Yongshou Palace, Empress Dowager Rui closed her eyes and remained half-reclined on the couch. This time, her two male favorites simply stopped pretending and lay down directly on the Empress Dowager's lap!

Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, and asked, "What important matter does Mother have that requires her son to come so late?"

Empress Dowager Rui gently patted the heads of the two male concubines, signaling them to leave first, leaving only the two of them in the room.

"I heard you summoned the Regent to bed again tonight?" Empress Dowager Rui frowned, her tone very displeased.

"So what if it is?" Jiang Qingyan said calmly.

Empress Dowager Rui's face turned red with anger, and she pointed at Jiang Qingyan's face, scolding:

"It seems I didn't hit you hard enough with that slap last time! How could you so easily let the Regent know your identity?" The Empress Dowager sat up and continued, "Who is the Regent? He holds real power and truly controls the court!"

Jiang Qingyan then asked, "So what?"

Empress Dowager Rui looked at him with exasperation, "If he uses your status to his advantage and seizes the throne, do you think you'll have a good end?" The old woman was so angry that her mouth was full of spittle.

Jiang Qingyan sneered, "Heh, as if I've met a bad end. Aren't I still being beaten and scolded by the Empress Dowager at will?"

Empress Dowager Rui was speechless for a moment, her hands trembling with anger, and she shouted:

"You unfilial son, kneel down before me! Ginkgo, bring the whip!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ginkgo walked in carrying a whip.

Jiang Qingyan glared at Yinxing, then turned her head and stared intently at Empress Dowager Rui, her eyes filled with anger. "You old hag, have I been too kind to you?"

"Ginkgo, hit her!" Empress Dowager Rui was already furious, and hearing Jiang Qingyan's insults made her veins bulge with rage.

With a sharp crack, the whip lashed across Jiang Qingyan's back, causing her forehead to instantly break out in a cold sweat. Just as she was about to turn around, another lash struck...

Jiang Qingyan clearly felt a burning sensation on her back, as if the dragon robe had been ripped in two places... But she was just a weak, ordinary woman, her fists were no match for the whip!

She secretly vowed that one day she would repay this humiliation a thousandfold!

Just as the third lash was about to fall, Eunuch Wang's voice rang out from outside the door: "Your Majesty, General Lu requests an audience."

Yinxing immediately stopped what she was doing and glanced at the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Rui said coldly, "Today we'll just give him a small punishment as a warning. If there's a next time... humph... anyway, Mo Ting's days are numbered."

Jiang Qingyan's lips were pale. She struggled to straighten up and walked out of the hall. What did it mean that Mo Ting was about to die? What was that old woman up to now?

Seeing Jiang Qingyan's weak state, Eunuch Wang, who was waiting outside the door, quickly supported her and said anxiously:

"Your Majesty, please sit down and rest. This old servant will go and summon the imperial physician immediately!"

Jiang Qingyan patted Eunuch Wang's hand and said softly, "No need, I don't want to stay in this godforsaken place for another second! Let's go back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation!"

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Lu Nian was already waiting. Seeing Jiang Qingyan's pale face and forehead covered in large beads of sweat, he was completely shocked and stood frozen in place...

As Jiang Qingyan passed by him, he noticed two long, bloody welts on her back, and two tears in her dragon robe…

"Your Majesty... what's wrong with you..." Lu Nian asked in a hoarse voice.

Jiang Qingyan didn't answer him. Instead, she took out the jade seal from her sleeve, stamped it on the imperial edict, and handed it to Lu Nian. "Here, quickly take this imperial edict and summon the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Lu Nian stepped forward and accepted the imperial edict, but did not leave.

He walked behind Jiang Qingyan and carefully examined the two wounds. Based on his many years of combat experience, they were clearly whip marks!

But within this palace, the only person who could whip the emperor before being executed along with his entire family was... Empress Dowager Rui!

Lu Nian frowned, pursed her lips, and a hint of heartache flashed in her eyes. She had heard before that Empress Dowager Rui was ruthless, and today it seems... it is indeed true!

Lu Nian rummaged in his pocket for a long time and then took out a small bottle of wound medicine, which he handed to Jiang Qingyan. “Your Majesty, this is a superior wound medicine that I obtained by chance. I use it every time I am wounded in battle, and the wound will heal in three days.”

Jiang Qingyan didn't take it. She slightly curled her bloodless lips and said in a low voice, "Such good medicine, you should keep it for yourself. You're going to the Southern Frontier tomorrow, and this medicine might be very useful."

Lu Nian tightened her grip on the medicine bottle. Even though she was in so much pain, the Emperor's delicate body was still worried about her…

"How about I help Your Majesty apply the medicine?" Lu Nian said, his hand already resting on Jiang Qingyan's collar.

Jiang Qingyan immediately grabbed his hand, feigning composure as she teased, "What? General Lu wants to see my body? But you'll have to take responsibility if you do!"

Lu Nian paused, then withdrew his hand. He knew the Emperor had said that on purpose, so he didn't reply.

Jiang Qingyan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Alright, don't worry about me. Remember what I said: no matter what, your safety is the most important thing to me."

Lu Nian's heart trembled slightly. Even at this point, the Emperor was still worried about his safety... A warmth rose within him, and he secretly vowed:

This time, he will definitely take down the King of Southern Xinjiang in one fell swoop and will not let the Emperor down!