As soon as The Old Emperor gave the order, the eunuchs rushed in like wolves and tigers. Instantly, the screams of a man and a woman rang out from inside. Before long, they were dragged out, hair disheveled, outer robes hastily thrown over their bodies, belts undone, looking extremely untidy.

　　Imperial Grandson's teeth chattered, “Grand... Grandfather...”

　　The Old Emperor unleashed his full authority, striding forward with the bearing of a dragon or tiger, and swung his arm to give Imperial Grandson a resounding slap. The Great Xia Dynasty had only been founded for about thirty years, and this world was seized by The Old Emperor with blade and spear. The emperor, born of the military, struck in a fit of rage—a blow no pampered imperial grandson could withstand.

　　Immediately, he was sent rolling across the floor. When he climbed back up, his face was swollen and red, and a bloodied tooth lay on the ground.

　　“Beast!”

　　The Old Emperor's face twisted with rage. “This is your grandmother!”

　　Imperial Grandson clutched his face, forcing himself to stand straight. “Grandfather! She is my mistress! You’re taking her by force!”

　　“Hah—”

　　The Old Emperor narrowed his eyes, casting him a contemptuous glance. “The whole world belongs to me. Don’t talk to me about a mere mistress—even you, Imperial Grandson, if I want you, you’ll have to get in my bed.”

　　For the first time, Imperial Grandson was hit by the harshness of reality, standing there dumbfounded, his expression utterly blank.

　　The Old Emperor said coolly, “Qige’er, you are not the emperor yet.”

　　“Guards, strip Imperial Grandson of his finery. He is to wear only coarse hemp clothes, and be sent to the imperial prison in a caged cart!”

　　Imperial Grandson opened his mouth, unable to utter a word.

　　Is this really the grandfather who always doted on me?

　　He’s actually sending me to prison in a caged cart? How could Grandfather treat me like this! Being thrown into a prison cart and locked up—this is a huge blow to my prestige!

　　Suddenly, someone rushed forward, clutching at The Old Emperor's trouser leg. “Your Majesty! It’s not His Highness’s fault! I seduced him! Please, I beg you, don’t send him to prison! He is Imperial Grandson—to imprison him in front of the whole world is to disgrace him!”

　　Imperial Grandson's eyes filled with tears. “Annie...”

　　The woman turned back, her tear-filled eyes gazing at him. Then, as if making a decision, she suddenly turned her head, her voice tragic yet resolute. “Your Majesty! This has nothing to do with His Highness! I coveted the glory of the palace and entered it, and after entering, I was drawn to the Crown Prince’s talent, so I seduced him. His Highness is young—how could he resist my advances? He was confused and I led him astray...”

　　“Annie!!!” Imperial Grandson was both pained and moved. He fell to his knees with a thud, crying out, “Grandfather! Imperial Grandfather! I beg you! Annie and I truly love each other!”

　　The Old Emperor watched this pair of “star-crossed lovers” coldly, without a trace of pity.

　　The Crown Prince’s reputation? When he was fooling around with his grandfather’s woman, did he ever think about his grandfather’s reputation?

　　Especially since the entire court now knew he’d been cuckolded!!!

　　Besides...

　　If you really loved her so much, why didn’t you openly marry her as your Crown Princess? Even taking her as a concubine would have been fine, but you insisted on keeping her as a mistress, degrading her like that, and now you have the nerve to call it true love?

　　Do you think your imperial grandfather is senile?

　　“What are you standing there for?” The Old Emperor said coldly, his chest heaving with anger. “Hurry up and drag him away!”

　　The eunuchs’ rough hands, hardened by years of labor, pressed down on Imperial Grandson's struggling shoulders. His clothes and legs scraped across the floor with a “swish, swish” sound. Annie Quinn's body trembled, an indescribable fear rising from the depths of her heart. She felt an icy gaze sweeping over her, the faint earthy smell of dust in the air tickling her nose...

　　Annie Quinn trembled even more violently.

　　If the emperor wouldn’t spare even his own grandson, how could he possibly spare her!

　　“Your Majesty—”

　　The cold wind cut through her throat like a sharp knife, and her voice became a heart-wrenching scream.

　　“I am already carrying His Highness’s child!”

　　“What?!”

　　Imperial Grandson froze. Then, wild joy overtook him.

　　The Old Emperor, on the other hand, saw black before his eyes.

　　At this point, it was no longer a matter of being cuckolded, but rather...

　　＊

　　【Holy crap! That Grace Quinn is already pregnant with the Crown Prince’s child! It’s been a month!】

　　With The Old Emperor absent, Evan Foster certainly wasn’t idle—he kept gossiping, and then, he stumbled upon a huge scoop.

　　【Oh my god! Doesn’t this mean that if The Old Emperor hadn’t caught them, he’d be raising someone else’s son?】

　　Scandalous! So scandalous!

　　Evan Foster's throat was parched with excitement, and he swallowed hard.

　　The entire court: “!!!”

　　Everyone’s ears perked up.

　　Everyone loves gossip. Quick! Tell us more, we love to hear it—who would dare spread royal gossip under normal circumstances!

　　The court was utterly silent, except for the crackling of the fire nearby, roasting dry wood and sending up a fragrant, smoky aroma.

　　Minister of Rites Peter Clark heard a faint gurgling sound from those around him, and he nervously swallowed as well. He was just short of shaking Evan Foster's shoulders, urging him to quickly use that magical “system” of his.

　　【How did they meet? Let me check.】

　　Here it comes!

　　The officials’ eyes burned with anticipation.