Help! The Villainess Trapped in the Beast World's Drama!

Chapter 453: Chapter 442: Plotting Against the Monarch—Nine Familial Exterminations

”Head of the Wu Family! You cannot enter! If you force your way into the palace again, don’t blame us for being rude!”

The Imperial Palace guards blocked the Wu Family and their entourage outside the palace.

Wu Hong’s face turned red with anger, and he cursed, ”Ji Jiuli is truly going too far; make him come out and see me!”

Ge Chen shouted angrily, ”How insolent, you, a mere Family Head, dare to call Your Majesty by his name! Are you rebelling?!”

”You even dare to bring troops uninvited in the dead of night, what is your intent?!”

The two groups clashed, creating chaos.

Wu Qing stepped forward and said, ”If you don’t let my father in, then let me enter the palace; I’ll meet with His Majesty alone!”

”Impossible, His Majesty has already retired for the night; without a summons, no unauthorized person shall enter!”

”Unauthorized person?” Wu Qing laughed in exasperation, producing an edict left by the late Emperor, stating clearly, ”I am the openly wedded partner of His Majesty, known to everyone in the Empire! Is it not possible for me to even see my own partner? In reality, you are merely my servants, yet you dare to block me outside the palace; who gave you the audacity?!”

At these words, Ge Chen and the palace guards exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.

His Majesty had unilaterally announced the annulment of the marriage contract, but indeed, the Wu Family held the late Emperor’s edict, and had never agreed to dissolve the marriage.

Wu Qing’s reasoning was irrefutable; a group of outsiders had no right to prevent a female from meeting her Beast Husband.

Ge Chen and his group had no choice but to let Wu Qing enter.

Late at night, Wu Qing barged into the bedchamber and saw a tall figure behind the screen, one she had not seen for a long time.

Wu Qing’s expression changed instantly, tears falling like rain. Her beautiful, blue-green eyes were red with emotion as she pitifully questioned, ”Your Majesty, you have gone too far! How could you do this to the Wu Family? I request the annulment of this decree!”

Shen Li turned to look at her, his cool and exquisite eyebrows showed no hint of a smile, causing a primal fear, ”Oh? Where exactly does the noble female find it excessive?”

”Your Majesty...” Wu Qing’s heart skipped a beat seeing this indifferent expression on the man’s face; the tenderness shared during their wedding felt like a daydream she’d conjured.

She clasped her hands over her chest, appearing even more pitiful, ”Your Majesty, surely you jest? Every crime needs a motive; how can you justify banishing our Wu Family to guard the border over such a reason?”

”Your Majesty is indeed tyrannical and capricious; ever since you began ruling directly, many outside have harbored dissatisfaction... This decree not only disheartens our Wu Family but also causes countless aristocratic families to feel threatened!”

Wu Qing posed as weak and pitiable, but her words were forceful and relentless, ”Moreover, you and I were betrothed by the late Emperor; it cannot be undone merely by a word from you! Our Wu Family is a founding contributor to the Empire and cannot be so easily dismissed by Your Majesty!”

”...If Your Majesty does not revoke the decree tonight and give our family an explanation, do not blame our Wu Family for defending our honor!” The delicate female voice carried a hint of threat.

Inside the hall, the two stood facing each other, Wu Qing’s beautiful eyes reflecting a faint light in the dim moonlight.

Outside, the night was dense, the wind raged; distant sounds of clashing armies grew increasingly intense.

The Wu Family had clearly made up their minds tonight to risk everything, maintaining their hard stance—if the weakened Emperor did not provide an explanation, they would not hesitate to force a confrontation to demand one!

What if Ji Jiuli was the Emperor? Did he really think the Wu Family were easily bullied?!

The late Emperor died young, the current Emperor was forced to ascend as a child, and had been sidelined by the Regent King for years; how much power did he truly have in hand?

Now, imperial power was waning; the five great families held deep roots with independent territories and armies.

If a real conflict broke out one day, the Wu Family might not be so afraid of Ji Jiuli!

Moreover, Ji Jiuli’s harsh measures in reorganizing the Empire had incited a great deal of dissatisfaction.

Now, another charge was being pinned on the Wu Family, a disaster befalling them for no reason, giving them every excuse to garner support from other families.

Perhaps, there really was a chance—to change the dynasty!

”An explanation?” Shen Li held one hand behind him, his narrow, sharp fox eyes glanced out the window, seemingly seeing the Wu Family troops besieging the palace.

A touch of unfathomable coldness flitted across his enchantingly handsome face, ”The Wu Family brings troops to the palace late at night; shouldn’t you first explain yourselves to this Emperor?”

Wu Qing looked at the man’s cold and unfeeling appearance, biting her lip nearly to bleeding, wiping away the fake tears on her face, her attitude becoming even tougher, ”This is Your Majesty forcing us! If we do not plead with all our might tonight, must we endure this groundless charge, our entire family exiled to the frontier, suffering the ridicule of the world?!”

Shen Li’s attitude did not waver, making it all the more heart-chilling, ”Even now, do you not realize your error?”

Upon hearing this, Wu Qing understood why Ji Jiuli was making things difficult for the Wu Family; it seemed to be because of that foreign female!

No wonder, he would come back so late; their plan had succeeded, and that slut was dead!

”What did I do wrong?” Wu Qing felt a sense of elation in her heart, unable to suppress her emotions any longer, glaring at him fiercely with reddened eyes, and hysterically said, ”I am the openly wedded partner, the female married to you, yet as Emperor, you consort privately with an outsider female; if this were known, it would disgrace the Royal Family! The entire Empire would despise you, not me!”

Shen Li quietly watched her, his expression growing increasingly calm, as if gazing at a madwoman.

Wu Qing was more infuriated by his demeanor, but it no longer mattered; the die was cast.

She lifted her chin defiantly, ”I did nothing wrong; it is you who erred first! Anyone would do the same if they were jilted on the verge of marriage, only to find their partner taken by an outsider female!”

Wu Qing saw the cold and silent man, becoming increasingly smug, loudly questioned, ”Ji Jiuli, you are too naive! Did you think the throne is yours without obligation? Sitting in that position comes with responsibilities, and your actions completely defy your duties! Do you really think you can protect her forever?”

”Do you plan to avenge that slut and retaliate against our Wu Family? Hah, let me tell you, Ji Jiuli, I am not afraid of the consequences! If you wish to tear this apart, I can immediately expose your affair with that foreign female, and you will be scorned by all the world!”

Wu Qing was confident; she was a noble female of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan, untouchable by anyone.

With the late Emperor’s marriage decree and her role as the victim in public judgment, she could easily stand on moral high ground, forcing Ji Jiuli to kneel for forgiveness!

If he dared act against her, unless he truly wished to bear the infamy of a foolish sovereign, condemned for generations!

”You are right, with just these unfounded accusations, I indeed cannot act against you or the Wu Family.” Shen Li regarded the arrogant female before him and, after a long silence, spoke calmly.

From his palm emerged a Green Lotus Needle shimmering with a ghostly light, ”But what is this? The noble female of the Wu Family must surely recognize it?”

From his right hand appeared bare bone, with blood and flesh entwined by a clear, faint fire,

”Someone intended to use this to harm the Emperor, and I have evidence in hand.”

”You have always been clever and quick-witted; should know that the first law of the Empire is—”

”Conspiring against the Monarch, the nine clans are to be executed.”