Chapter 26: The Beautiful Princess vs. The Deranged, Sickly Tyrant (3)

“Even if I don’t frame her, Consort Yun must die!”

Empress Qi sneered. “Pei Tingche, don’t think for a second that I fear you. You’re nothing but a bastard! Your mother had an affair with a private tutor before marriage—that’s how you, this wretched spawn, came to be. The pure bloodline of Great Qi will not be sullied by filth like you!”

Ning Wanguan felt her heart sink as the Empress rattled off like a machine gun.

The way she’s handling this… It’s like setting up a bed in a public toilet—she’s not far from death.

Nearby, King Qi knelt on the ground, his face suddenly grim. Over the years, he had indulged in wine and women, neglecting court affairs while his people suffered.

Back then, Consort Yun was merely one of the many women in his vast harem, someone he never spared a glance for. Other than their first night together, she had never been favored.

Killings in the harem were common, and he never interfered. He just never expected that the truth behind this incident would lead to the revelation of the Fourth Prince’s origins.

As an emperor, how could he possibly endure the humiliation of being cuckolded?

In his rage, he executed the entire Pei clan.

Now, old grudges and new hatred left no room for negotiation.

Yet, the instinct to survive made King Qi take one last gamble. With tears streaming down his face, he tried to appeal to Pei Tingche with familial ties.

“Tingche, for the sake of our father-son bond—”

Before he could finish, Pei Tingche cut him off.

“May I ask—what father-son bond?”

King Qi’s face darkened.

Empress Qi clutched his sleeve, sobbing. “Your Majesty, you mustn’t beg him! You are the ruler of this nation!”

King Qi forcefully shook off her hand. “Shut up, you wretched woman! If not for all your scheming, would we be in this situation today?!”

Empress Qi stared at him in disbelief. “Your Majesty… you’re blaming me?”

“If not for you, would we be prisoners today?”

Empress Qi let out a cold laugh. “All you do is drink and revel with those fox-like concubines in the harem! You ignore state affairs, listen to the flattery of treacherous officials, and let the people starve! Tell me, Your Majesty, how can you face your ancestors? Great Qi’s downfall is entirely your doing!”

“You wretched woman!” King Qi slapped her across the face.

Ning Wanguan watched her biological parents tear into each other, her expression complicated.

What a collection of villains.

“Mother…”

She called out softly, giving Empress Qi a look. Now is not the time for a marital dispute—there’s still a cold-blooded demon sitting on the throne.

But Empress Qi failed to read the room and wailed, “Changyu… Your father is truly heartless… Everything I did was for you!”

“…”

Ning Wanguan’s face changed. Why is the fire being redirected at me now?!

“Enough!”

Pei Tingche’s sharp brows furrowed as he cast a weary gaze over the crowd. A chilling aura flashed in his eyes.

“Since everyone is here, let’s all witness my coronation.”

Everyone was stunned.

His gaze swept toward Ning Wanguan, his phoenix eyes carrying a hint of amusement—but the smile never reached them, sending a chill down her spine.

“Seventh Sister, come here.”

Hearing her name, Ning Wanguan trembled. The fire really did land on me after all.

Guards, swords in hand, forced her to move toward Pei Tingche step by step.

Standing before him, she heard his deep, magnetic voice.

“Lift your head.”

She hesitantly raised her gaze.

Their eyes met.

She saw the mockery in his.

“Seventh Sister has grown quite beautiful.”

She froze for a second, not quite understanding his words.

The next moment, she was yanked forward by an unseen force, losing her balance and falling onto his lap. Panicked, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck to avoid falling further.

Empress Qi erupted in fury. “Pei Tingche! What are you doing?! Changyu is your sister!”

Her words were like adding fuel to the fire.

Pei Tingche, who hadn’t planned on doing much, suddenly wanted to do something.

He grabbed the back of her head, and his cold lips crashed against hers, prying her mouth open in a forceful, storm-like kiss.

Everyone in the hall gasped.

A bloodcurdling scream rang out.

“Pei Tingche, you bastard! Let go of Changyu!”

The more hysterically Empress Qi cursed, the more ruthlessly Pei Tingche kissed. Ning Wanguan, caught between the two, tried to escape but found herself locked in his grip, pressed against his lap.

“Mmph…!”

She was suffocating, her face burning red as she feebly pounded his chest, letting out muffled whimpers.

Weak. Helpless. Pathetic.

The overwhelming sense of suffocation finally made him let go.

His dark eyes studied her intently.

She trembled, her eyes rimmed with tears, gasping for breath like a small, abused rabbit.

Her slightly parted lips glistened, as if inviting another taste.

Her lingering sweetness on his lips was a sensation he had never experienced before. It was… strangely pleasant.

Before he could think, he lowered his head again, driven by an inexplicable urge, capturing her lips in another feverish kiss.

She tried to resist, but her hands were pinned behind her back.

With her mouth sealed, she could say nothing.

Her delicate face was covered in tear-streaked misery.

Damn this system.

It had locked her under the “Love Interest Protection Mechanism”, which meant her combat abilities worked against everyone—except Pei Tingche. As the protagonist, she couldn’t attack him.

In front of him, she was merely a powerless, fragile girl.

Even pushing him away was impossible.

What kind of perverted setting is this?!

Her thoughts were a chaotic mess.

Pei Tingche wasn’t faring much better—his body was reacting in ways he couldn’t control.

He bit her lips harder.

Originally, he had only wanted to humiliate her in front of everyone, to shame the Empress by defiling her most precious daughter. But now… he found himself losing control.

Realizing this, he abruptly shoved her away, panting heavily.

She, too, gasped for air, looking pitifully at him.

His long, thick lashes cast shadows under his downcast eyes.

Half of his face was hidden in darkness, his gaze unreadable.

Heat radiated from his body.

She stiffened, overwhelmed with both shame and rage. She opened her mouth to curse him—

But before she could say anything, he pushed her away, sending her crashing to the floor.

Ning Wanguan’s head spun from the impact.

She cursed both the system and the man in her heart. Damn system! Damn bastard!

He started it, and now he has the audacity to act disgusted?!

The warmth of her body leaving his made him feel an unfamiliar emptiness for a split second.

It was unsettling.

But he despised his own reaction.

He would never—never—allow himself to have feelings for this girl.