Ji Cheng pursed his lips seeing the handprint on Zhao Ming's face. His jaw tightened as he felt a suffocating feeling in his heart.

He turned to Wen Xu who was already panicking because she wasn't expecting this outcome. She had thought that even if she slapped Zhao Ming, it won't be a big issue since it wasn't her first time.

In the past, she has done the same but at that time Ji Cheng was not in the palace. But now he has seen this himself.

" Ji Cheng, you..you need to believe in me. I..I hit her because she insulted me and you. She said..that she is good in bed and will make you against us. She..is just a slut who is playing with you and your feelings.".

" You can't see her true face because you love her. But she is just playing with you. She told me herself. She just wanted the position of Empress Dowager. You need to see things clearly and then make a decision."

She blabbered without waiting for him to say anything. She was already in a state of panic and seeing his increasing cold expression, the fear in her heart was increasing.

Zhao Ming frowned upon hearing Wen Xu's words but she felt something tight around her waist.

She looked down and saw Ji Cheng was holding her waist and his grip around her was gradually tightening.

She pursed her lips as she felt bad for him. Right now, he was in a great dilemma because the people in the argument were his wife and mother.

Even though Wen Xu is wrong, it's quite difficult for him to give her severe punishment. He can give a budget cut or suspend her but these punishments are not enough to keep Wen Xu in check.

It's not that he can send her to a cold palace just because she slapped her. After all, in position, Wen Xu is still above her.

Even though she is suspended from royal duties it will be really complicated and difficult to give her some serious punishment for it.

After all, it wasn't his fault that he got such a mother. She has also experienced this uncomfortable feeling because of her father.

So she knows very well how he must be feeling.

" Shut up " he bellowed at Wen Xu as he was fed up hearing her words.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from Zhao Ming? Didn't I tell you earlier to come to me if you have anything and not her?"

" Then by what authority did you slap her? She is my wife, how can you slap her?"

Wen Xu pursed her lips seeing Ji Cheng's outburst.

" Now do you realize why I gave you a red-letter and deducted your budget for three months? It's because of these shrew actions of yours. You're the Empress Dowager, can't you just act like one? Why do you have to make your son's life so hard?"

" Why are you making me feel pathetic in front of my wife?"

Zhao Ming looked at Ji Cheng who looked vulnerable and it ached her heart seeing him in this condition.

She had always thought that men never have to face any problems after marriage because they don't need to leave their house for someone. She always believed that it's always the women who have to adjust.

But it seems like things are not easy for men either. On one side is his wife and on other his mother.

Even the Emperor is not saved from such familial problems.

She sighed and tapped his other hand which was holding her waist.

He looked at her and rather than seeing the disappointment in those eyes for him, he saw her smile.

" You stay away from this. It's not a matter for you to interfere. I will handle it myself. You just.. Don't say anything. " she said while looking into his eyes.

At first, she wanted him to punish Wen Xu severely but she realized that it would only hurt himself if he punished his own mother. It's better that she does it herself.

After all, she has hurt her. So it's fair for her to punish Wen Xu herself.

Before Ji Cheng could say anything, she got away from his embrace and walked closer to Wen Xu while staring directly into her eyes.

Wen Xu panicked seeing the sudden change in Zhao Ming's aura. She looked...so dangerous.

Zhao Ming's eyes were shooting daggers at her and rather than smiling, her jaw was tightened and was glaring at her scarily.

Wen Xu swallowed as she stepped back and asked nervously, " What...what are you doing? Are you trying to hit me? Don't.. Don't forget that I am the Empress Dowager."

Wen Xu's lips quivered seeing that Zhao King was not backing away and kept walking towards her, closing the distance between them.

She looked at Ji Cheng in a panic hoping for him to stop this crazy brat but he just stood there without saying anything.

"-_-"

Her face fell seeing that even her son was doing nothing for her.

When Zhao Ming got close to her, there was very little distance between them. She looked into her eyes from close and smirked.

" Empress Dowager, huh? Do you remember what you did to my father after accusing him of giving you poisonous medicine?" Zhao Ming said while staring into Wen Xu's eyes.

Wen Xu started sweating profusely seeing Zhao Ming's dangerous aura.

" You guys just accused him and punished him for trying to kill you, that too without any proper investigation. He was innocent yet you gave him such cruel punishment. "

"But Today, you slapped the Empress, that too in front of the Emperor of the Ji Dynasty. Now you decide, what should I do with you?"

" Should I send you to a detention room just like you did to my father? "

"What...what are you saying? I am the Empress Dowager. You want me to send you to the confinement room? You want me to punish me? Hah, who are you to do that? Do you think you are capable of doing that?" Wen Xu shouted but the panic was obvious in her eyes.

Because Zhao Ming's eyes did not look like she was joking at all.

##

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