"Concubine Li, I will give you one last chance. Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"

There was a trace of struggle in Concubine Li's eyes, but in the end, she shook her head.

"It seems that you don't want to drink the wine, so you have to drink the wine for punishment." Ying Yuan's voice became even colder. He waved his hand and said, "Come here, drag Concubine Li away and beat her to death!"

Concubine Li's cries echoed throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but no one dared to plead for her.

Ying Yuan looked at Concubine Li being dragged away, without a trace of pity in his eyes. He knew that this was just the beginning. The conspiracy hidden in the harem was far more complicated and dangerous than he had imagined.

"Qingge," Ying Yuan turned his head and looked at Shen Qingge standing beside him, with a hint of tenderness in his eyes, "During this period of time, you stay by my side and don't go anywhere."

Shen Qingge nodded. She knew that Ying Yuan was protecting her.

However, Shen Qingge didn't know that she had been involved in a bigger conspiracy, and this conspiracy would completely change her fate...

At the same time, in a hidden manor outside Xianyang City, a man in black was kneeling in front of a mysterious man in a black cloak.

"How's the matter going?" the mysterious man asked in a hoarse and low voice.

"My Lord, everything went well." The man in black replied respectfully, "Fengyi Palace has been burned down, and Doctor Li is dead. Ying Yuan is now busy investigating the matter and has no time to take care of other things."

"Very good." The mysterious man nodded with satisfaction. "Next, it's time to proceed to the next plan."

"Master, what is the next plan?" asked the man in black.

The mysterious man slowly raised his head, revealing a pale and gloomy face, with a sinister smile at the corner of his mouth.

"The next plan is to... bring disgrace to Ying Yuan and ruin his country and family!"

Ying Yuan's cold gaze made Concubine Li's heart break. She collapsed on the ground, like a fish on a chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered. The force of the drag made her gorgeous clothes stained with dust. Her once proud head drooped weakly, and blood dripped from her forehead, blooming into sad and beautiful flowers on the smooth floor.

The words "beaten to death" echoed loudly in the empty Hall of Supreme Harmony, and also shattered Concubine Li's last hope. Her desperate cries were like the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies in Ying Yuan's ears, not worth mentioning.

Shen Qingge stood beside Ying Yuan, lowering her head slightly, her long eyelashes hiding the emotions in her eyes. She could feel the chill emanating from Ying Yuan, and could also hear Concubine Li's shrill cries. This harem was like a huge cage, imprisoning the youth and dreams of countless women, and also devouring their lives and hopes.

After dealing with Concubine Li, Ying Yuan turned to look at Shen Qingge, his eyes softened a lot, like the warm spring sun after the ice and snow melted. "Qingge, are you afraid?"

Shen Qingge shook her head gently, "Don't be afraid, His Majesty is here." Her voice was soft, but with a barely perceptible tremor.

"Okay." Ying Yuan smiled with satisfaction, and reached out to gently stroke Shen Qingge's soft hair. "I will protect you and will not let you get hurt."

However, Ying Yuan didn't know that the real danger had just begun.

In the manor outside Xianyang city, the man in black was still kneeling in front of the mysterious man, reporting on the progress of the matter.

"Fengyi Palace has been destroyed and Doctor Li is dead. What should we do next?" The man in black's voice was a little anxious.

The mysterious man smiled coldly, his voice was like a ghost from hell, "Don't worry, the fun has just begun. Doesn't Ying Yuan like Shen Qingge? Then start with her."

"Master, what do you mean..." the man in black asked tentatively. "I want to make Ying Yuan feel the pain of losing his beloved. I want to make his life worse than death!" The mysterious man's voice was filled with hatred and madness.

At the same time, Ying Yuan was reviewing the memorials. His brows were furrowed, and he was obviously not in a relaxed mood. This fire made him realize that the situation in the harem was far more complicated than he had imagined.

"Your Majesty," Shen Qingge walked in with a cup of hot tea, "Take a rest."

Ying Yuan raised his head and looked at Shen Qingge, with a hint of tenderness in his eyes, "Qingge, you are here."

"Your Majesty works day and night. Please take care of your health." Shen Qingge handed the teacup to Ying Yuan and said with concern.

Ying Yuan took the teacup and took a sip. A warm current flowed into his heart. He looked at Shen Qingge, his heart full of gratitude and love. This woman was his only warmth in this cold harem.

"Qingge," Ying Yuan put down the teacup and took Shen Qingge's hand, "I want to make you my queen."

Shen Qingge was stunned. She didn't expect Ying Yuan to suddenly bring up the idea of ​​establishing a queen. She raised her head and looked at Ying Yuan, her eyes full of surprise and confusion.

"Your Majesty, I am my concubine..."

"I know you have concerns," Ying Yuan interrupted Shen Qingge, "but I have made up my mind. You are gentle, kind, well-educated and reasonable, and you are the best candidate for the queen."

Shen Qingge was deeply moved. Her eyes were slightly red and she choked up as she said, "I thank your majesty for your grace."

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Ying Yuan embraced Shen Qingge in his arms, holding her tightly, as if he wanted to merge her into his body.

"Qingge, I will give you a grand wedding and let everyone in the world know that you are my queen."

However, just when Ying Yuan was immersed in happiness, a piece of news came like a bolt from the blue, sending him from heaven to hell.

"Report! Your Majesty, news has come from outside the palace. The Shen family... the entire Shen family has been massacred!"

Ying Yuan's body suddenly stiffened. He looked up in disbelief and looked at the guard who came to report. He asked in a trembling voice, "What did you say?"

"The Shen family...the entire family was slaughtered, no one was spared!" The guard's voice was filled with fear and sadness.

Ying Yuan felt his eyes go dark and he almost fainted. He pushed Shen Qingge away and staggered back a few steps, his eyes empty, like a walking corpse without a soul.

Shen Qingge was also stunned by the news. Her face was pale and her lips were trembling, but she couldn't say a word.

"No...impossible..." Ying Yuan murmured to himself. He could not accept this cruel reality.

He had just been immersed in the joy of becoming the queen, but in the blink of an eye, he lost his beloved family. This huge gap almost made him collapse.

Ying Yuan raised his head suddenly, his eyes filled with anger and hatred. He gritted his teeth and said, "Who is it! Who did it! I will tear him into pieces!"

At this moment, Ying Yuan was like a trapped beast, full of despair and madness. He didn't know that this was just the first step of the mysterious man's plan, and a bigger conspiracy was waiting for him.

And Shen Qingge, in this sudden change, completely lost her support, and her future fate was full of unknowns and confusion... (End of this chapter)