Killing the chicken to warn the monkey.

Emperor furrowed his eyebrows at the dukes behavior, displaying he was not happy about the situation. Consort mu was cursing her cousin inside, though her favorite but displaying such behavior infront of emperor and all the high ranked people was also pulling her face down.

Though people knew of how lustful and dandy of a person the duke was but because of his connection left and right no one would be foolish enough to point it directly.

There were times when the imperial censors had complained infront of the emperor about his misdeeds. But to maintain the balance inside the court and his harem he had to turn deaf ears only punishing lightly.

And because of this very reason, his haughtiness has reached up to the sky. Being in the third prince camp for the battle of throne he was greatly backed by prime minister and consort mu. As they say even though dumb an elephant still has the ability to crush a tiger.

Zhu mama and other people of valley were clearly very unhappy inside but as Yusheng had not reacted they too had to remain calm.

Not getting a reply from her, feeling disgruntled he said " obviously an esteemed Lord like yourself would be very forgiving and kind to accept such a small wish of mine."

Everyone knew he was implying if Yusheng were to not give the person or become angry then she was a petty, and ungenerous person not a suitable character who was a lord of the renowned medicine valley. This was subtly pressuring Yusheng infront of everyone to give the person as to maintain her good and gracious face infront of all the high ranked people of Nanling kingdom.

But who was Yusheng, she would rather be a cruel demon than an angel who sacrifice own self for the better world. She, Yusheng would rather be feared making others unable to raise their head and cursed than to be prayed like a god only to be taken advantage of.

Pei jin was watching and wanted to know what would be the next course of action that will be taken by this small yet adult like girl known as the lord of the medicine valley.

Yusheng moved her eye from this leacherous animal in the shell of human skin then looked at the emperor. Emperor sensing her gaze moving his head met her gaze. Yusheng made the eye contact with the emperor and without saying anything she while maintaining the eye contact flicked her sleeve with Qi.

Ahh..... the wives of the the ranked person below screamed then immediately fainted.

Wave of air thin as a blade had passed through when Yusheng flicked her sleeves with Qi as a result cleanly beheading the duke.

Everyone was shocked to core... never in their wildest dream had they expected for Yusheng to kill a first rank duke titled by the emperor so daringly while maintaining eye contact with the emperor.

Consort mu was so shocked that she forgot to react. Her hands covered her mouth and wide eyes remained as if she was a statue. All the young ones had there eyes covered by their mothers or servants hands.

Then after what seemed like after a long time but was just a few minutes Yusheng who still had eye contact with the emperor opened her mouth her voice cold like ice and filled with Qi "there's always one or two rotten apples in an entire sack, best to throw it out before it affects the good ones."

"Emperor If small holes aren't fixed, then big holes will bring hardship. I understand your hardship but

those who just want speed don't succeed."

Listening to her advise or warning for the first time emperor felt a little happy to know that someone else knows his predicament.

He knew that Yusheng was reminding and warning him that if he keeps loosening his leash on his subjects to balance the court then it will come back to bite him.

There are also other ways to balance the court beside turning deaf ears keeping useless people for them to jump around like clowns here and there.

"Indeed is it like you said".... replies the emperor.

What would anyone say....even the emperor was lectured and forced to step back. Consort mu though bleeding inside was forced to maintain a good posture.

Finally Yusheng turned her head towards the people below and with her cold but beautiful face said -"If you don't do stupid things you won't end up in tragedy...

This lord as you now know has a very short temper, there's a saying which all the people from the medicine valley including this lord recite like a mantra and practice like cultivation -Love the house and its crow."