Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 108 Memories in the Main Hall

She remembered that it was in the Xuanzheng Hall, the place where the emperor held court and listened to government affairs.

In her previous life, Jiang Mian also sat in that position, overlooking the courtiers and commanding the officials.

But that place was also a place that caused her immense humiliation.

That day, Xiao Hengzhi dismissed the court officials and summoned her to the palace.

Perhaps troubled by political affairs, his complexion was not good. He sat high in the main seat, the jade thumb ring on his fingertip turning lightly, leaning lazily against the back of the chair.

His gaze fell upon her like cold frost.

Cold, contemptuous, as if mocking her pitifulness.

The former empress was trampled underfoot, so wretched that she didn't even dare to utter a word of rebuttal.

Jiang Mian knelt in the hall, letting him scrutinize her. After a moment, a voice came from above her head.

"I heard that you practiced a dance to please Ning Zhi?"

She bit her lip tightly and didn't answer.

"What, have you become mute?" Xiao Hengzhi's voice deepened, and he slammed his jade thumb ring on the table with a sharp "snap," making a jarring sound. "You've become mute when you come to me?"

“No…” she began, her voice trembling.

"If not, then put on a show. I would like to enjoy it."

His eyes were half-closed, and his voice was full of indifference.

Jiang Mian remembered that time, when she harbored unspeakable humiliation and pain.

Barefoot and somewhat stiff, she offered a dance.

Every step, every turn, carries a heavy burden.

Naturally, he was not satisfied.

So she jumped again, but it didn't help at all.

Just then, a court official returned to report to him and glanced at her from outside.

The poor courtier was summoned in by Xiao Hengzhi.

"What do you think of her dancing, Lord Wang?" he asked with a low chuckle.

Minister Wang was a former official of Jiang Wan, and also the one who used to call her a vixen the most.

She had always wanted to get rid of him, but this man surnamed Wang was quick-witted, good at reading people's minds, and had a silver tongue, which made it difficult for her to find any fault with him.

Minister Wang was a shrewd man. He could tell that the Regent Prince was ostensibly punishing the late Emperor's Empress, but in reality, he cared about her.

So he smoothly said, "Your Majesty is dressed in plain clothes, which are not luxurious, but your dance is graceful and elegant."

He boasted that he had spoken aptly.

Xiao Hengzhi narrowed his eyes in that instant, his gaze as cold as a knife, as if a knife was hanging over his head that could fall at any moment.

The hall fell into a deathly silence; no one dared to utter a sound.

Minister Wang suddenly realized something, and the smile on his face froze.

Before he could explain, Xiao Hengzhi raised his hand and waved: "Gouge out his eyes."

"Your Highness, spare me! I didn't see it, I didn't see it! Ah!!"

A scream followed by the sound of gushing blood, and two eyeballs fell behind Jiang Mian. Then the person was dragged out, like a dying ant, and soon fell silent.

That day, Jiang Wan was terrified. She couldn't even move her legs, let alone dance.

Minister Wang's death was like a warning to her. Even if this madman didn't kill her, he would find countless ways to torture her.

At that time, Xiao Hengzhi looked the same way, with a dangerous smile on his face, and lazily called to her, "Come here."

Jiang Mian stood frozen in place, clutching her sleeves, her eyes fixed on the ground, so nervous that she almost stopped breathing.

Seeing that she didn't move, Xiao Hengzhi chuckled softly, his voice trailing off: "I'm calling you—to come here."

His patience waned, and he forced her to get closer little by little.

Jiang Mian trembled all over, her eyes lowered the whole time, not daring to look at him.

Reaching the dragon throne, he finally collapsed, his body slumped, and he knelt down with a thud: "Your Highness... I didn't dance well just now, I'll dance again..."

“No need.” He picked up her coat and said with a smile, “If you’re not good at dancing, you must have other skills.”

His eyes were sharp and cold, showing no pity, and he held her rooted to the spot.

Jiang Mian bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears, her voice trembling and unable to utter a sound.

She was his prisoner. No matter how high the hall was, she was still like an ant, trampled and humiliated by him at will.

The dragon throne was so cold it chilled her to the touch, and in a daze, she even felt a group of courtiers staring at her from behind.

"Jiang Wan, did you ever imagine that this day would come?"

He locked her up, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, their intimacy chilling to the bone.

"Empress?... Ha, how did he address you? Empress? Or... Mianmian?"

He looked at her tightly closed eyes, her features scrunched up, and his heart was filled with excitement, wishing he could go to the underworld with her right then and there.

The spacious hall was filled with enchanting sounds.

He grabbed the back of her neck, whispered obscene words in her ear.

It felt like a knife piercing her heart, causing her to weep with pain.

Tears dripped onto his chest, but he still commanded her without any pity: "Stop crying. If you cry again, I will gouge your eyes out."

She trembled, no longer daring to cry. Lord Wang's eyeballs, which had been there moments before, were still on the ground, a warning to her.

She bit her lower lip tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

Xiao Hengzhi, like a scorpion, raised his venomous stinger and almost frantically licked her tears, which were hot and wet: "How could you be so foolish? Did you really believe it? I was lying to you, how could I bear to..."

"Your eyes are still looking at me..."

"You can only...look at me...you understand?"

He felt an overwhelming shock, his slender, pale fingers seeming to want to crush the person in front of him into dust.

"You are mine...and can only be mine..."

Jiang Wan had never felt that the imperial court was so high. It was only a few steps, yet she couldn't descend them. Every inch of her skin felt like it was being torn apart, the pain making her vision go black, and the scattered lights in the hall gradually went out.

"Xiao Hengzhi..."

Her voice was so weak it was almost inaudible. She loosened her clenched fist, revealing a cut on her palm and some blood on her fingertips.

"I know I was wrong..."

She closed her eyes and reached out to cover her trembling eyelashes.

"Please... let me go..."

Her voice grew increasingly choked with sobs, as if her soul had died completely at that moment.

It hurts so much.

Even now, just thinking about it still causes me excruciating pain.

Suddenly, the bed shook, and Xiao Hengzhi stood up and walked to her.

She seemed to wake up from a nightmare, staring blankly at the person in front of her, her heart pounding, her fingers trembling slightly, but she didn't know what to say.

"what happened?"

Xiao Hengzhi saw her staring blankly.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her emotions, and said calmly, "It's alright, Your Highness. Please wash up and have breakfast."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and went to get his clothes.

Xiao Hengzhi pulled her over and asked, "Why didn't you answer the question the maid asked you earlier?"

Jiang Mian's mind was just coming back to normal, and her thoughts were gradually coming together.

When the maid asked her if she liked the prince, she did indeed give a vague and silent response.

Xiao Hengzhi scanned her expression, then pulled her into his arms: "Am I really that unlikable?"

Jiang Mian realized that she still needed to keep him at the manor, so she loosened her grip on his hand, which had been struggling, and gently hugged him back.

"If Your Highness stays with me for a few more days, you will naturally know the answer."

Xiao Hengzhi smiled and replied, "Alright, I'll stay with you these next few days, but you must give me a satisfactory answer."

His smile was gentle, completely unlike his arrogant self from his previous life.

But Jiang Mian felt even more afraid, always feeling that beneath his gentle gaze lay unfathomable undercurrents.