Ruyi and Jixiang knelt on the ground with deathly pale faces, never having imagined they would hear such shocking news. The princess… was not His Majesty’s biological daughter after all.

“If you had simply remained as Princess Jinyang, that would have been fine, but you insisted on meddling in everything. First, you secretly ran out of the palace to assassinate Li Yuan, then repeatedly showed disrespect to me. I thought once you were married off, there would be peace, but unexpectedly, two consecutive arranged marriages both ended badly. Zheng Yang died, Cui Ji was punished to the quarry. You’re like a disaster star – calamity arrives even before you do. I even wonder if the Great Sui’s disasters were also brought by you!”

Every word Yang Guang spoke was like a needle piercing through, causing Yunyi unbearable pain. This was her father emperor, the father emperor she had once revered like a deity. Heh, how laughable… truly laughable!

Intermittent laughter escaped from those pale lips, carrying endless sorrow and desolation. Such laughter fell harshly on Yang Guang’s ears, prompting him to rebuke sharply: “What are you laughing at?!”

Yunyi paid him no heed, only continuing to laugh until tears came, until Yang Guang grabbed her chin and demanded again: “I ask you what you’re laughing at – speak!”

Yunyi stared at that face, swollen and pale from nights of debauchery and obsession with women, and slowly said: “I laugh at you, for still refusing to admit your own mistakes even now!”

“I have made no mistakes!” Yang Guang’s words had barely fallen when Yunyi replied: “If you were without fault, rebellions would not be appearing everywhere; if you were without fault, the people of Jiangdu would not be without clothes to cover their bodies or food to fill their bellies; if you were without fault, the people of the realm would not hate you to the bone!”

“Stop your nonsense!” As he spoke, Yang Guang had already raised his hand again, ready to strike at any moment.

Facing this scene, Yunyi did not dodge, gritting her teeth: “You may be able to silence me alone, but you cannot silence the voices of all the people under heaven. If you continue with such perverse actions, the Great Sui realm will surely be ruined in your hands!”

Before her words finished, Yang Guang’s raised hand had already swung down, but this time it did not land on Yunyi’s face. Not because Yang Guang was merciful, but because Ruyi had timely shielded Yunyi from this slap. The force was tremendous, leaving Ruyi’s ears ringing and unable to hear anything for a long time.

Yang Guang stared at Yunyi, his eyes constantly twitching. Since ascending the throne, no one had ever spoken to him this way – not even Xiao Shi. This bastard child was simply seeking death!

Meeting his gaze, cold as ice from the deepest hell, Yunyi said: “If you still want to preserve this realm, want to continue being emperor, immediately open the granaries and distribute grain to save those people, and save yourself as well!”

Hearing these words, Yang Guang’s expression turned sinister as he suddenly laughed, saying word by word: “The person you should be most worried about right now is yourself!”

Upon hearing this, Jixiang, who was supporting Ruyi, quickly said: “Though the princess is not Your Majesty’s biological daughter, Your Majesty has raised the princess for nineteen years. This bond has long surpassed blood relations. Please calm your anger! Moreover… though the princess’s words were somewhat harsh, everything she said was the truth, and all for Your Majesty’s good. Please calm your anger!”

Yang Guang stared at her with a slightly flushed face: “What are you? When is it your turn to speak?” He had just drunk nearly two pots of wine in one go, and the alcohol was beginning to take effect.

After signaling Jixiang not to speak further, Yunyi said: “However you wish to deal with me is up to you. I only ask that you immediately open the granaries to distribute grain and save those people you have oppressed in every way!”

“What have I oppressed them with? It’s they themselves who…” Before Yang Guang could finish, Yunyi had already said: “You want to say they don’t engage in production and are lazy by nature? Then why could the people here live without worry about food and clothing, in peace and contentment, before you came?”

Yang Guang was left speechless by her words. In his shame and anger, he pointed at her: “You shameless woman! I clothed and fed you well, gave you inexhaustible wealth and honor, yet you repay me thus. You want to die? Fine, I’ll grant your wish!”

Hearing this, Zheng Ying was greatly alarmed and quickly said: “Please suppress your thunderous rage, Your Majesty!”

“You also want to oppose me?” By now, the drunkenness in Yang Guang’s eyes had intensified.

Zheng Ying, fearing to anger him, quickly bowed: “This servant wouldn’t dare.” Then he carefully said: “This servant is concerned about Her Majesty the Empress. You just said the Empress regards Princess Jinyang as her very life. If she dies, I fear Her Majesty will not forgive Your Majesty!”

On any normal day, hearing these words, Yang Guang would certainly have listened, but now with alcohol clouding his mind, he could hear nothing. He waved his hand forcefully: “I don’t need her forgiveness. Nineteen years – I’ve swallowed my pride before her for nineteen years. Isn’t that enough?”

“But…” Zheng Ying had only said two words when Yang Guang shouted: “Keep babbling and I’ll kill you too!”

Seeing that Zheng Ying dared not speak further, Yang Guang grabbed Yunyi and pulled her before him, his large hand falling on her slender jade neck and slowly tightening. Yunyi did not struggle, only gazed sorrowfully at Yang Guang, unable to believe that she had not died at Li Shimin’s hands, yet would die at the hands of the man she had called father emperor for nineteen years. Heaven had truly played a great joke on her.

Just as Yunyi was about to lose the ability to breathe, Yang Guang suddenly released his grip and stroked Yunyi’s cheek, murmuring: “So alike, truly so very much like Weiyang!” As he spoke, he actually brought his face closer. Yunyi was horrified and quickly retreated, escaping his control while crying out in panic: “What are you doing?!”

Yang Guang opened his hazy drunken eyes and smiled: “You’re so much like Weiyang, it would be such a waste to kill you just like that. You belong to me, just like Weiyang – you both belong to me.” As he spoke, he rushed forward and grabbed Yunyi’s clothing. With a “rip,” half the garment along with the sleeve was torn away, revealing her fragrant shoulder and arm like tender lotus root, making Yang Guang’s already stirring lust even more intense as he pounced again.

Yunyi knew Yang Guang was debauched and tyrannical, but never imagined he would develop lustful intentions toward her. It was simply… simply madness!

Jixiang, disregarding potential punishment, blocked Yang Guang: “Your Majesty, that is Princess Jinyang, your daughter. You cannot do this.”

“She is not my daughter!” Yang Guang said while pushing her aside, chasing after Yunyi who was running toward the hall entrance and firmly grasping her arm. “I’ve raised you for nineteen years – now it’s time for you to repay me!”

Yunyi struggled desperately, but Yang Guang’s grip was too tight for her to break free. “You tyrannical despot, release me! Release me!”

Though Zheng Ying couldn’t bear to see Yunyi defiled by Yang Guang, he was merely a eunuch – how could he dare step forward to stop it? He could only pretend not to see or hear.

Jixiang got up from the ground and was about to step forward to intervene again when Ruyi said: “You block him here, I’ll go immediately to request Her Majesty the Empress to come.”

Jixiang nodded urgently: “Hurry, I fear I won’t be able to stop him for long.”