After all, newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. This truly touched His Highness’ sore spot.

Chang’an smiled coldly, but in his heart he was already calculating Liangchun’s time of death.

“How dare you!” Yue Guanyi narrowed his dangerous phoenix eyes and reprimanded sternly. The palace servants outside all shrank their necks in fear.

His phoenix eyes were filled with gloom, so dark they could almost wring out thick poison: “What do you think you are? A lowly trial marriage servant, of humble birth, without proper betrothal. How dare you call the consort ‘wife-master’ in front of me? It seems the Empress Dowager hasn’t taught you palace etiquette well!”

In Da Qi, it was one wife with multiple servants. There was only one proper husband, the rest were servants, equivalent to concubines in the previous life. They were the master’s servants. Even if they served in bed every day, they could never be called ‘wife-master’, but had to call them ‘master’.

Liangchun was just getting carried away, thinking that because he was young and beautiful, and more gentle and sensual than Yue Guanyi, he would surely be favored forever in the future. That’s why he dared to ride roughshod over Yue Guanyi.

“Liangchun is young and has offended Your Highness momentarily. Please forgive him, Your Highness. This servant will take him back to Qingning Palace immediately and have the Empress Dowager personally teach Liangchun proper conduct.” Yu Ye quickly kowtowed and begged for forgiveness.

Yue Guanyi’s cold phoenix eyes were full of murderous intent as he smiled coldly: “Father has already worked hard to help me choose a trial marriage prince. How could I trouble Father to teach him personally? It just so happens that I have free time tonight and don’t need to go to Zhaoyu. Let me personally teach you what proper conduct means!”

Yue Guanyi’s smile was chilling, even Liangchun was frightened by his demeanor. He had thought that since he was the Empress Dowager’s person, Yue Guanyi wouldn’t dare do anything to him, but he didn’t expect Yue Guanyi to be so domineering and tyrannical.

He looked to Yu Ye for help.

Yu Ye was also helpless. Who told this ignorant thing to touch His Highness’ weak spot? He had already repeatedly warned him not to mention Lord Qiu before coming, but Liangchun was young and impetuous and still couldn’t control his mouth.

“This… Your Highness, it’s already late. You have many official duties and shouldn’t waste time on such small matters. Why don’t you let this servant take Liangchun back first, and he can personally ask Your Highness for guidance tomorrow?” Yu Ye said.

Yue Guanyi narrowed his phoenix eyes, the slightly upturned corners filled with dangerous, intimidating pressure: “The trial marriage prince concerns the reputation of the royal family. How can you call this a small matter? Or do you intend to deliberately let this thing embarrass himself in front of the consort?”

“This servant wouldn’t dare.” Yu Ye quickly kowtowed.

“Then let him stay here for the night. I will personally instruct him,” Yue Guanyi said carelessly, but in a tone that left no room for further questioning.

Yu Ye had no choice but to take his leave, giving Liangchun a look that said “fend for yourself”.

His Highness the Crown Prince has been immersed in Zhaoyu for many years and knows all kinds of torture methods. Liangchun has angered His Highness, who knows if he can survive until tomorrow… But he’s just a palace servant after all. If one dies, another pretty one can be found to replace him. There are three thousand beauties in the palace, each more beautiful and alluring than the last. Liangchun is not irreplaceable.

As soon as Yu Ye left, Liangchun’s face turned deathly pale. His lips, which had been so vibrant and charming before, now seemed to have lost all color, as pale as if drained of blood.

Yue Guanyi’s thin lips curled into a gloomy cold smile: “Why are you staying so far away? Am I an evil spirit?”

Liangchun, having lost his confidence, shook his head repeatedly and crawled closer to Yue Guanyi, half kneeling and half crawling.

Yue Guanyi grabbed Liangchun’s delicate face with one hand, forcing him to look up: “Indeed a young beauty. This face feels so soft in my hand, as if it could shatter with just a bit more force.”

Liangchun was so scared he almost lost his soul. His clear eyes were brimming with tears, and he let out two faint sobbing sounds, enough to make one’s heart ache.

Hearing this soul-stirring sound, Yue Guanyi narrowed his sharp eyes even more, hissing with venom: “What a nice voice, like an oriole’s. This voice alone could attract a crowd of women to stop and listen.”

“This servant wouldn’t dare!” Liangchun was terrified.

“You wouldn’t dare? I think there’s nothing you wouldn’t dare do.” Yue Guanyi no longer concealed the madness and viciousness in his eyes. He directly stomped his foot hard on that seductive face, pressing it firmly against the floor tiles with his clean shoe sole, deforming it under the pressure.

It’s this face that will soon serve Lady Qiu, writhing and begging for favor under Lady Qiu. It’s this lowly voice that will soon moan and coo in Lady Qiu’s arms. This despicable face will kiss and lick Lady Qiu’s hands, Lady Qiu’s waist, Lady Qiu’s softness, all the places he yearns for but dares not touch.

Thinking of that scene of flickering red candles, boundless jealousy and hatred arose in Yue Guanyi’s slender phoenix eyes. He ground his foot down even harder, twisting it twice.

Liangchun let out a miserable cry, his black hair in disarray. His pitiable face had its skin rubbed raw, with blue and red bloodstains seeping through, taking on a somewhat hideous appearance.

“You lowly thing! His Highness the Crown Prince is teaching you manners. How dare you make a sound without His Highness’ command!” Chang’an went over and gave him a kick.

Yue Guanyi withdrew his foot, his anger still not dissipated. His cold eyes stared at Liangchun as if looking at a piece of rotten meat: “Liangchun doesn’t follow rules and doesn’t listen to instructions. Go kneel in the courtyard.”

“Yes.” Chang’an smiled coldly as he dragged Liangchun out.

On a midsummer night, there was a slight chill that didn’t make one feel cold. Liangchun covered his face pitifully, his beautiful eyes full of resentment and hatred. Yue Guanyi, you bully me with your power. When he serves Lord Qiu and gains favor, he will surely take revenge for everything today.

“This is the board for punishment kneeling. Kneel on it.” Chang’an placed a wooden board in front of Liangchun.

Liangchun took a closer look and was so frightened he almost lost his soul. The seemingly ordinary wooden board had a cold glint. Looking carefully, he realized that dozens of extremely sharp and thin silver needles were embedded in the board.

“No, I don’t want to-” Liangchun backed away in horror.

“This is His Highness’ order. Whether you want to or not, you have to.” Chang’an gritted his teeth and firmly pressed the struggling Liangchun onto the wooden board.