Chapter 98 – Such beautiful feet should be collected

Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen

In the evening, the Tang residence welcomed a distinguished guest.

It turned out to be Empress Katarina herself who came to personally send off Tang Qing for his marriage.

The Empress, dressed modestly but unable to hide her elegance and beauty, declined the warm hospitality of Tang’s father and went straight to Tang Qing’s room.

Upon seeing Tang Qing, Empress Katarina nodded in satisfaction and gave him a big smile.

“Xiao Qing, you truly live up to the rumors, your unparalleled beauty truly makes you the Empire’s number one beauty.”

Tang Qing quickly stood up and politely replied to Empress Katarina, “It’s all just rumors. Your Majesty is truly elegant and majestic, the epitome of grace.”

After exchanging pleasantries, the Empress finally stated her purpose.

Looking at Tang Qing’s delicate features, Empress Katarina reached out and touched his hand, saying, “Xiao Qing, I know it’s a compromise for someone as beautiful as you to marry Qingzhi…”

Tang Qing hurriedly interjected, “Not at all, I have admired you for a long time, being able to marry into the royal family is my good fortune. Tang Qing does not feel aggrieved.”

The Empress seemed comforted by his words and happily said, “It’s good that you think that way. The Empress knows you are a good child. It’s just a pity that you are a Beta and cannot bear children for Qingzhi.”

Tang Qing furrowed his brow slightly, not quite understanding what the Empress was trying to convey with her words.

When they chose him as a marriage partner, hadn’t they considered that he was a Beta?

Of course, Tang Qing privately felt that being an ordinary Beta was fine. He had no desire for heat cycles or the mysterious ability to procreate.

He just wanted to complete the mission and run away.

But Tang Qing couldn’t speak his mind, so he forced himself to say, “It’s truly a pity. It’s all Tang Qing’s fault for not being able to bear offspring for Duke Qingzhi.”

The Empress looked at Tang Qing meaningfully, revealing a profound smile.

Then, she took out an exquisite box from her bag.

She solemnly opened the box, revealing a jet-black pill inside, its luster indicating it was no ordinary medicine.

Tang Qing was puzzled, not understanding what it was.

Empress Katarina elegantly said, “Xiao Qing, this is a pill prepared by ancient Eastern doctors using a secret formula. After taking it, as long as you are with a top-tier Alpha, even a Beta can have the ability to conceive offspring.”

Tang Qing couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

This… It’s a combination of Eastern and Western technology. What kind of advanced technology is this?

No wonder the royal family chose him, a Beta for marriage. It’s not just because of the Tang family’s status or his appearance, but because the royal family has this kind of advanced technology pill. They aren’t worried about Beta infertility issues at all.

So this old fox was chatting with him here for so long, setting a trap for him to fall into.

Tang Qing struggled to speak, declining, “Your Majesty, it would be a pity for Tang Qing to take such a precious pill. It would be better to save it for someone else who needs it.”

Empress Katarina held his hand tightly, afraid he might run away, and gently smiled, “Why would it be a waste? You two are so compatible and perfect for each other. If you can’t marry due to your inability to conceive, that would be the real regret.”

Tang Qing understood.

After all that talk, this woman wanted to put the hat on him, make him take the medicine, to show his loyalty to this marriage. Otherwise, if he didn’t cooperate, it could jeopardize the royal marriage.

The Empress, with a smile on her face, took out the pill, staring at Tang Qing intently.

Tang Qing had no choice but to take the pill and hold it in his palm.

He still wanted to find an excuse to delay taking it until another day.

But the Empress tightened her grip on his hand and gently said, “Xiao Qing, take it now. After taking it tonight, you can further develop with Qingzhi.”

Tang Qing looked at the pill, realizing that this woman deliberately came at this time to ensure he took the pill before she would be satisfied.

He had to take the pill, opened his mouth, and swallowed it in front of the Empress.

He intended to keep the pill in his mouth and spit it out after the Empress left.

However, the Empress seemed to anticipate his actions, sitting still and watching him with a smile.

The pill gradually dissolved in his mouth.

It tasted bitter and astringent.

Tang Qing began to feel his consciousness blur, and the woman in front of him appeared blurry.

He passed out in the end.

Empress Katarina supported Tang Qing as if his fainting was no surprise to her.

She called a few maids to take Tang Qing away.

In the dungeon, people were hanging, emitting dismal cries.

Duke Xie Qingzhi sat in a chair, casually admiring the pitiful sight of these people.

The individuals in front of him had already been disemboweled, their fresh blood staining the floor red.

“My lord, Her Majesty has already sent the madam to your room,” Steward Li said, head bowed, avoiding looking at the bloodied figure on the platform.

Duke Xie Qingzhi nodded indifferently.

He did have some interest in the Empire’s number one beauty, but it was limited to that.

His mother, the Empress, had even once suspected whether he had been disfigured as a child, causing problems in his mind or body, making him disinterested in any beauty.

In fact, he wasn’t incapable of empathy.

It’s just that compared to **, the thrill he got from slaughter and bloodshed far exceeded any interest in beauty.

He despised this world; life was the most boring thing in the world.

Only death and bloodshed could excite him.

He held a long, thorn-covered whip in hand, continuing the punishment.

Tang Qing slept until late at night before waking up.

He groggily opened his eyes, unable to discern his surroundings.

He found himself in a strange room, feeling his naked skin against the velvety bedspread.

So, it seemed that the Empress was afraid he would be frightened by the madman, stiffening up and not being able to attract the Duke to spend the night with him.

So she directly knocked him out and then stripped him naked, sending him directly to the Duke’s bed?

This woman Katarina, after so many years of infighting within the royal family, indeed had all kinds of means at her disposal.

He sat up.

The room was very dark, and despite his strong night vision, he couldn’t make out what was around him.

He strained to open his eyes wider, only able to see that the room was large, sparsely decorated, giving an empty and quiet impression. There seemed to be something tall like a coat rack in the distance.

Suddenly, a strange and short laughter echoed in the darkness.

“You sure can sleep.”

Tang Qing was startled, only to realize that what he thought was a coat rack was actually a tall man.

“…Duke Xie?”

To appear in this room, and in such a peculiar manner, this man was probably his marriage partner.

With a snap, Xie Qingzhi turned on the room’s light.

It was the first time Tang Qing had seen this rumored marriage partner.

The man’s face carried a malicious smirk.

His skin was overly pale, with a translucent quality, and his pupils were different from normal people, a kind of gray-blue, looking somewhat eerie. What stood out was the left half of his face, covered by a strange silver mask, revealing only a prominent nose.

His physique wasn’t bulky; he had broad shoulders and a slim waist, well-proportioned and taller than most. His exposed arm muscles were very firm and robust, as if he could easily crush someone’s throat.

Tang Qing suddenly realized he was sitting on the bed completely naked, hastily pulling up the covers in a futile attempt to hide his exposed body.

Unbeknownst to him, the man had already seen everything.

Xie Qingzhi casually grabbed a set of clothes and threw them at Tang Qing, his voice cold, “That woman Katarina likes to play these games. She’s afraid I won’t give her a grandson to secure her power.”

In fact, the current Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, was not born from the Empress but from the late previous Empress. Therefore, the Empress had always wanted to support Xie Qingzhi in taking the position of the Crown Prince.

Sadly, Xie Qingzhi had no interest in that and had a terrible reputation, making it impossible for him to become the Crown Prince. The Empress could only hope that Xie Qingzhi’s son would make a difference.

Tang Qing took the clothes but hesitated to put them on.

He really wanted the man to turn around.

It was quite awkward to change clothes while being stared at so intently by the man.

But he felt that saying something would be too presumptuous. The Duke’s gaze held nothing but disdain and mockery, showing no interest in his body at all.

He slowly peeled himself out from under the covers, revealing his fair and smooth body, along with the two light-colored points on his chest.

He quickly buttoned up the silk pyjamas.

Due to feeling a bit embarrassed and hurried, a faint pink blush rose on his face, making him look alluring and beautiful without realizing it.

Hiding in the covers, he quickly put on a pair of white underwear and silk pyjama bottoms.

Finally no longer completely naked, he emerged from the covers and sat facing Xie Qingzhi.

Xie Qingzhi indeed had no interest in his body, but at this moment, his gaze fell on his bare feet resting on the covers.

The dark blue covers made his feet look like exquisite jade under the light, emitting a radiant white glow. Each toe had a hint of pale pink.

Flawless and lovely.

Tang Qing also noticed the man’s gaze, fixed on his feet without any disguise.

“My lord, where will I be sleeping tonight?” Tang Qing bit his lip, pretending to ask casually.

The man didn’t answer his question but instead unabashedly admired his bare feet, his eyes revealing an eerie light as he muttered to himself, “These feet are truly beautiful.”

Tang Qing knew he was good-looking, having gotten used to admiring gazes his whole life. However, no one had ever stared at him so unabashedly like Xie Qingzhi did.

Feeling a bit awkward, he remained composed on the surface.

He subtly curled his toes, revealing his nervousness.

The man’s gaze never left his feet, as if he had discovered some new and intriguing toy, his voice filled with a perverse and strange excitement:

“These beautiful feet, I want to chop them off and put them in my collection cabinet.”

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