Chapter 103 – Here comes the face slap

Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen

What a powerful psychic attack!

Zheng Nian, as a member of one of the five Dukes and a high-and-mighty S-level Alpha, had never been subjected to a psychic attack before, let alone easily knocked down by one.

After wiping the blood from his mouth, he stood up, furiously demanding, “Who…!”

“It’s me.”

He suddenly turned around to see a tall figure with a silver mask, who had appeared at the Tang residence without anyone noticing. The infamous royal madmad, Duke Xie Qingzhi, stared at him with his dark gray-blue eyes. Like a snake with its tongue out, he coldly and ruthlessly assessed his prey.

The entire room fell silent.

Even though Zheng Nian was the son of the Zheng family, one of the five Dukes, he dared not show any disrespect towards Duke Xie Qingzhi. After all, Xie Qingzhi was not only the highest-ranked Duke among the five, but also the cruelest and most ruthless in the entire empire. Offending him meant that regardless of one’s status or identity as nobility, one could easily lose their life.

Initially arrogant and domineering, Zheng Nian suddenly trembled uncontrollably, his legs weak and powerless, as he gazed in fear at the Alpha before him, stammering, “Your… Your Grace…”

The terror was palpable.

Standing at a towering height of nearly six feet, Xie Qingzhi’s silver mask concealed most of his face, but his imposing presence was undeniable as he looked down upon everyone present. A disdainful smile played on his lips as he walked over to Zheng Nian, casting a glance from above before raising his hand and sending him flying with a single motion!

A loud crash resounded.

The shelf behind Zheng Nian collapsed, sending expensive decorations crashing down, shattering on the ground. He fell heavily amidst the broken glass and ceramic shards.

Since bestowing a large dowry and his late wife’s inheritance to Tang Qing, Father Tang’s assets had significantly diminished. Now, watching the antiques he had treasured for years shattered in an instant, his face turned pale.

He could only stare at the broken pieces on the ground, his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

As the onlookers watched Zheng Nian lying on the ground from a distance, they were filled with dread and dared not approach to help him. Even his date, Tang Shanshan, only gripped Tang Xiaobai’s hand tightly as they silently moved away.

After all, this was Xie Qingzhi, the royal madman, who had the power of the Imperial Torture Department in his hands. If he decided to end someone’s life, who could argue against him?

“Continue speaking, who’s the Beta who can’t even stand on the stage? Weren’t you speaking so boldly just now?” Xie Qingzhi’s throat emitted a chuckle as he looked down at the pale and pained Zheng Nian, his face filled with pleasure and satisfaction.

Like an evil spirit crawling out of hell.

“I’m just a little late due to some matters, and you all want to bully someone under my, Xie Qingzhi’s, protection?” With a high kick, he ruthlessly aimed a blow at Zheng Nian’s abdomen as if kicking trash.

Ignoring Zheng Nian, who was doubled over clutching his stomach on the ground, Xie Qingzhi’s sharp eyes scanned the remaining people in the Tang residence.

Those who met his gaze fell silent, unable to muster the courage to speak up.

“Why so quiet? Speak up!” Xie Qingzhi, with his high-level S-grade psychic power, emitted an unrestrained mental pressure. Anyone who could sense information felt a shiver down their spine, fearing he might hold them accountable.

In the eye of the storm, Zheng Nian’s eyes were bloodshot, breathing difficult, face flushed a liverish hue, appearing on the brink of collapse.

Only Tang Qing, as a Beta, could meet Xie Qingzhi’s gaze head-on.

Is Xie Qingzhi stepping up for him?

Tang Qing found it hard to believe.

Xie Qingzhi withdrew his piercing gaze and looked gently at Tang Qing, asking softly, “Tangtang, who bullied you? Tell me.”

Tang Qing looked at him in surprise.

Since his mother’s passing, apart from his brother Tang Bo, this was the first time someone had stood up for him.

Moreover, his husband, who had always treated him respectfully, was suddenly using his nickname.

Xie Qingzhi walked straight up to Tang Qing, took his hand, and reassured him, “Tangtang, don’t be afraid, I’ll handle this for you.”

Tang Qing, along with everyone else present, was bewildered by Xie Qingzhi’s sudden change in demeanor.

Was Xie Qingzhi really showing such affection towards Tang Qing?

Everyone had thought Tang Qing was merely a good-looking marriage tool chosen by the royal family, considering there wasn’t even a wedding ceremony, and he was sent directly to the Duke’s estate that same night.

They had all assumed Xie Qingzhi’s absence at the Tang residence meant he didn’t care about Tang Qing. But with Xie Qingzhi immediately appearing when Zheng Nian provoked Tang Qing, it was like a slap in the face.

Now, it seemed that within just a few days of entering the Duke’s estate, Tang Qing had managed to tame the notorious royal madman.

The gazes directed at Tang Qing had all changed.

Tang Qing walked over to Xie Qingzhi’s side and explained, “Your Grace, just now, the young master of the Zheng family made some unruly remarks, and as his senior, I gave him a few words of advice.”

Xie Qingzhi glanced at the collapsed Zheng Nian on the ground and said, “If the Zheng family has produced a son like you, give my regards to Old Master Zheng.”

This implied that he intended to settle accounts with the Zheng family later.

“And what about the others?” He scanned the room indifferently and demanded sharply.

Lady Luo Xuanling quickly stepped forward to defuse the situation, “Your Grace, it’s all a misunderstanding. Just now, Shanshan, the child, wasn’t paying attention while walking and slipped. Zheng Nian misunderstood Tang Qing due to the tension.”

Upon hearing her mother mention her name, Tang Shanshan nervously nodded, trying to appear pitiful, stuttering, “Yes… I, I just twisted my foot.”

Xie Qingzhi looked at Tang Shanshan’s pretty legs and chuckled, then calmly commented, “If you can’t even walk properly with this foot… Perhaps it’s better to just cut it off.”

Tang Shanshan, upon hearing this, turned pale, unable to hold back her tears, crying in fear.

Compared to her earlier fake tears, this time it was genuine. She sobbed uncontrollably, trembling all over.

After all, while others might make such threats as intimidation, coming from the mouth of the royal madman, it was a serious matter.

As the head of the household, Father Tang had to step in, saying, “Your Grace, my daughter is young and ignorant, acting impulsively towards the Duchess. I hope Your Grace, for the Duchess’s sake, can overlook this once.”

Xie Qingzhi sneered, “If the young lady is ignorant, are the others ignorant as well? Isn’t her brother right beside her? Couldn’t he have reminded her?”

With that, Xie Qingzhi turned his head and glanced at Tang Xiaobai.

Tang Xiaobai was terrified under the snake-like gaze for the first time. He was trembling like a quail, holding Tang Shanshan’s hand, drenched in cold sweat, fearing that the madman might attack him the next moment.

Father Tang, fearing that his nominal son-in-law might throw his two illegitimate children into the dungeon, had to sternly reprimand, “Tang Xiaobai, Tang Shanshan, why haven’t you apologized to your elder brother yet? You’re making a spectacle of yourselves.”

The two immediately looked up at Tang Qing, showing an unprecedented level of sincerity:

“Elder Brother, we’re sorry. It was my fault for not standing properly and twisting my foot.”

“I’m sorry, Elder Brother. I misjudged and shouldn’t have slandered you.”

Tang Qing looked at the two disheveled individuals sitting on the ground and nodded lightly.

It wasn’t that he felt saintly; he just saw these people as petty troublemakers. They always found ways to make him uncomfortable in strange situations but never truly harmed him. When he did take action against them, it only dirtied his own hands.

Gently taking Xie Qingzhi’s hand, Tang Qing softly said, “Your Grace, let’s go. I want to go home.”

Seeing Tang Qing turn to leave, Zheng Nian hastily stood up, attempting to apologize, “Your Grace, Duchess, I’m sorry…”

Xie Qingzhi coldly cut him off, “No need. If apologies worked, what would be the point of the Imperial Torture Department?”

Zheng Nian froze in place.

“I will have your father teach you what respect means.”

Ignoring him, Xie Qingzhi left with Tang Qing, exiting the Tang residence.

The two boarded the Duke’s hovercar, and Tang Qing finally released Xie Qingzhi’s hand, which he had been holding tightly moments ago.

Tang Qing looked at his cold-faced husband and nervously spoke, “Your Grace, thank you just now. I never expected you to come to the Tang residence, let alone stand up for me.”

Although he didn’t show it on his face earlier, these were Tang Qing’s heartfelt thoughts.

For the first time since his mother’s passing, someone had stood up for him apart from his brother. Whether it was for the sake of royal dignity or to avoid humiliation and disgrace at the Duke’s estate, Xie Qingzhi’s sudden appearance had felt like a godsend to Tang Qing.

Xie Qingzhi turned his head slightly, somewhat awkwardly explaining, “I happened to be returning from the palace and came to pick you up on the way. Otherwise, that woman, Katarina, might think we’re at odds and try to set me up again.”

Who knew that upon arriving, he would find his wife being mistreated.

After the recent events, Tang Qing suddenly felt less afraid of Xie Qingzhi. He smiled gently, his beautiful amber eyes shining with gratitude, and said sincerely, “Regardless of the reason, I want to thank you, Your Grace… I truly, deeply appreciate it.”

Seeing Tang Qing’s grateful expression, Xie Qingzhi couldn’t help but show a disdainful look and said, “It’s just a small matter. But why did you go easy on that brother and sister? I heard they stole your two fiancés?”

Tang Qing chuckled, his exquisite features becoming even more charming, “But, I think they did a good job stealing them.”

“Otherwise, how would I have the chance to be the Duchess?”

Xie Qingzhi felt a slight tug at his heartstrings.

Looking at his wife’s cool and beautiful face, he exhaled softly through his nose.

The people Katarina sent to seduce him were becoming more skilled at their tactics.

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