Volume 1, Chapter 55: Sister Imperial Princess Didn't Mean It, Please Don't Domestic Abuse Her!

Empress Xuanyan was currently making her way quietly toward a trap ahead.

She had not yet given up on the idea of ending her own life to escape the clutches of Lin Yao.

However, she could not be certain whether that trap in the distance would instantly obliterate her, allowing her to be reborn from the ashes countless ages later.

Therefore, she wanted to first understand the consequences of acting recklessly, so she could weigh the pros and cons.

Without hesitation, Lin Yao transmitted his voice into her mind: "If you dare pull any stunts, I will subject you all night long to what I did to you earlier inside the Crimson Lotus barrier."

Empress Xuanyan shivered with fright, realizing just how extraordinarily high the risks of this operation were.

It would have been fine if the trap in the treasure hall could instantly kill her, but if she somehow survived, tonight would become utterly miserable.

Yet, the pride deep within her bones drove her to take a gamble.

She would rather endure punishment tonight than let slip any opportunity to escape Lin Yao's clutches.

As she drew closer to the trap ahead, Empress Xuanyan grew increasingly excited.

She kept her spiritual sense focused on the reactions of Lin Yao and his three wives of various statures.

She saw it clearly: as she stepped closer and closer to the trap in front of her, none of them made a single move.

Empress Xuanyan rejoiced inwardly: "The heavens truly favor me! I am about to break free from this scoundrel's clutches!"

Just as she was a single step away from the trap, a twin-winged golden cicada suddenly blocked Empress Xuanyan's path.

"My Lady, please wait! Little Cicada senses a slight anomaly in the energy here. Let me scout the path first before My Lady proceeds."

Sensing that Empress Xuanyan possessed the potential to become the mistress of the harem, the twin-winged golden cicada seized the opportunity to put on a grand display of loyalty.

Without giving Empress Xuanyan a chance to advance further, it flapped its twin wings and darted swiftly toward the front.

The moment the twin-winged golden cicada entered the trap, several terrifying sword qi energies, powerful enough to instantly slay a level-twenty beastmaster, slashed directly across its body.

Yet, with thirty-three shadow werewolf beasts sharing the damage on its behalf, coupled with the protection of the [Impregnable Fortress] skill, the twin-winged golden cicada emerged completely unscathed.

The twin-winged golden cicada felt it had performed a monumental service, equivalent to saving the mistress's life!

There was no achievement greater than saving one's master; though this time it was the mistress, it was still an earth-shattering merit!

However, the twin-winged golden cicada had no idea that EmpressXuanyan at this moment wished she could chop it into a thousand pieces and grind it into dust!

If not for this cicada ruining her plans, her scheme would have succeeded!

Those sword qi slashes, in the absence of an energy barrier to protect her, would undoubtedly have hacked her to pieces.

Discovering that Empress Xuanyan had indeed played another trick, Lin Yao did not stand on ceremony with her.

He said to the twin-winged golden cicada, "You did wonderfully this time. I am recording a merit for you. Continue scouting the path ahead and lead the other three mistresses forward."

The twin-winged golden cicada said smugly, "Master, this is only what your humble servant should do! Rest assured, Master, as long as I live, I will not let the mistresses lose even half a strand of hair!"

After speaking with the cicada, Lin Yao grabbed Empress Xuanyan to keep her from acting rashly.

Before Lin Yao could do anything to Empress Xuanyan, Xia Mengying immediately stepped forward to uphold justice.

"Lin Yao, the Empress certainly didn't mean to lead us the wrong way."

"Besides, if the twin-winged golden cicada hadn't detected the anomaly in time, the Empress would have been the first to face danger."

"You mustn't punish her over such a trivial matter!"

Lin Yao was stunned: Who said he was going to punish the Empress?

What left him even more helpless was that Xia Yumeng and Zhu Zihan were also led astray by Xia Mengying.

Xia Yumeng said with a completely earnest expression on her pretty face, "Husband Lin Yao, you cannot commit domestic violence against Empress Sister, nor can you abuse the rest of us sisters!"

Zhu Zihan also hugged Lin Yao's arm and pleaded, "Brother, don't be angry with Empress Sister. She surely didn't mean it! Zihan thinks she was just clumsy a moment ago."

Lin Yao thought to himself that Empress Xuanyan was neither "clumsy" nor "intentional"—she was intentionally clumsy.

After Xia Mengying and the others pleaded on her behalf, Empress Xuanyan nodded slightly to them: "I appreciate your kind intentions, but there is no need for you to plead for me."

Seeing that the situation was only getting murkier, making it look as though he truly intended to subject Empress Xuanyan to domestic abuse, Lin Yao spoke up to bring the topic to a close.

"Mengying, Yumeng, and Zihan, follow the twin-winged golden cicada and continue forward."

"Empress and I will have a brief discussion, and then we'll come find you."

With those words, Lin Yao took Empress Xuanyan by the hand and walked back toward an open clearing.

Upon reaching a secluded patch of ground, he compelled Empress Xuanyan to release the Crimson Lotus barrier, enveloping them both within it.

The Crimson Lotus barrier possessed formidable defensive power, perfectly ensuring their safety.

However, its most remarkable feature was not its defense, but its shielding effect.

As long as the barrier remained undamaged, no investigative methods could penetrate it or peer into what transpired within.

Upon entering the Crimson Lotus barrier with Lin Yao, Empress Xuanyan showed no panic.

She said with utmost calmness, "This Empress acknowledges her defeat. Do as you will—kill me or carve me up, I submit to your pleasure."

Naturally, Lin Yao did not stand on ceremony with Empress Xuanyan at a time like this.

He pulled her straight into his arms, preparing to teach her a harsh lesson.

Empress Xuanyan offered no resistance, instead stating, "According to our agreement, you can only touch this Empress once a day. After this time, you are forbidden from touching me for the remainder of the day!"

Lin Yao shook his head. "This time doesn't count; this is a punishment for your mischief. Furthermore, every time you act recklessly from now on, I will punish you immediately."

Empress Xuanyan nodded slightly, not accusing Lin Yao of breaking his word, but instead saying:

"In Song Xiyan's memories, this Empress saw a very reasonable saying."

"That is: there are only oxen worked to death, never fields plowed to ruin."

"If you wish to punish this Empress in this manner, then by all means, go ahead."

"In any case, this Empress will try again the moment she finds an opportunity."

"Moreover, I advise you once more: it would be best for you to take my life right this instant, lest you live to regret it."

Lin Yao nodded earnestly. "Very well, I'm going to finish you off right now."

Empress Xuanyan turned pale with fright. "That is not what this Empress meant! I meant for you to kill me!"

She was indeed bent on seeking death, but this was definitely not the kind of "death" she had in mind.

Yet Lin Yao simply ignored her, igniting the flames of war and plunging straight into "battle" with her.

Ahead of them, Xia Mengying remained somewhat worried about Empress Xuanyan.

She whispered to Xia Yumeng, "Yumeng, if Lin Yao really commits domestic violence against the Empress later, you must refuse to be his minor wife!"

Xia Yumeng lost her nerve immediately. "I wouldn't dare! What if the old monster Lin Yao flies into a rage out of shame and punishes me instead?"

Zhu Zihan, on the other hand, said firmly, "Brother always keeps his word! He said he wouldn't commit domestic violence against Empress Sister, so he definitely won't. You can rest easy, Sister Mengying!"