TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 137: Your Majesty, Please Make Me a Daoist Nun

The young man retched as he hastily retracted his hand. He retrieved a handkerchief to scrub his hand and said in disgust, "What is the use of being so fat and ugly? Men, feed her to the dogs."

Several guards immediately approached at his order. They were obviously well trained. As the woman was about to scream in fright, her mouth was gagged and her hands caught.

They dragged her down and vanished into the crowd.

The young man finally wiped his hands clean and tossed the handkerchief away. He next strode to Chen Rong and Chen Gongrang.

Standing before them, he cocked his head to stare at Chen Rong and then almost suddenly, he pointed at her and blurted, "I like her." His words caused Wang Hong's closed eyes to fly open.

Before the young man could speak any further, Wang Hong lightly nodded from the carriage.

Just as he said to Chen Gongrang, "This girl isn't too bad, let her..." a series of voices cried out: "All hail His Majesty, the Emperor!"

Everyone was instantaneously stunned by the loud roar. Thereupon, countless 'All hail His Majesty, the Emperor' rang, along with the sound of people dropping to their knees. The noblemen were just bowing, but the scattered commoners by this time had prostrated on the ground.

These noises drowned out all other sounds so that even the young man's next sentence was covered up.

His Majesty?

Shocked, Chen Rong stared at him and then stepped back to accord him a curtsy.

The young man frowned. He waited for the noises to die down and unhappily looked around. "What the hell? Didn't I tell you not to recognize me?"

Seeing everyone bowing their heads, some still retreating in fear, he looked to be greatly disappointed and mutteringly turned to look at Chen Rong.

At the sight of her bowing deeply, he sighed in disappointment.

"All rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He sighed and ordered, "Go, you're all dismissed."

"Aye, sire."

Only the commoners followed his order and dispersed, his bodyguards just took three steps back, and the dignitaries didn't move at all.

The man was apparently used to this situation. Unfazed, he stepped forward and leaned closer to Chen Rong.

The minister by his side immediately received a multitude of looks from all directions. He stepped forward and whispered to the young man, "Your Majesty, there are too many people here."

The young emperor's face fell.

He scowled while, at the same time, his eyes remained locked on Chen Rong.

At length, he softly said to her, "I'm called Sima Zhang. And you? What is your name?"

Never in a million years would Chen Rong expect the emperor to use this tone to speak to her. She raised her head. Chen Gongrang clasped his hands in a solemn reply: "Your Majesty, she is Ah Rong of the Chen House."

"I'm asking the pretty girl, why are you answering?" the young emperor bristled.

The emperor's anger did not cause Chen Gongrang any unease, nor did it draw any reaction from his guards and the noblemen.

Chen Gongrang smiled and deeply bowed. "Your Majesty, have you heard of a woman who went to Mo'yang out of gratitude when Murong Ke laid siege to the city? The same woman who charged into battle in a bloodied robe when Nan'yang was under attack?"