Lee Chang Hao's face drained of color as he stared at the blood-stained fabric in his hands. The familiar pattern of embroidery around the edges confirmed his worst fears - this was indeed part of Bella's morning dress.
"What did you do?" he repeated, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. He took a step toward Cheng, the parcel clutched so tightly his knuckles whitened.
Cheng crossed her arms defensively, her earlier confidence faltering under the weight of his fury. "I did what needed to be done! That little slut was ruining everything - your focus, your reputation, your marriage!"
She gestured dismissively at the evidence. "I merely arranged for her to take a permanent vacation along the river. It was clean, efficient, and now you can stop moping over her memory."
The Emperor's breathing grew ragged as he processed her casual admission of murder.
Cheng's grin widened at the Emperor's furious reaction, enjoying the way his face paled as he stared at the blood-stained fabric. She sauntered closer to the map table where he stood clutching the evidence.
"Why so gloom?" she asked cheerfully, picking up a stray scroll and pretending to examine it casually. "Don't glare at me .I just had my people dispose of certain problems. Turns out your precious little dragon wasn't very skilled at fighting. Such a frail little thing."
Her tone dripped with mock sympathy as she circled behind him. "Don't look so shocked, my husband. You knew she was going to die eventually - either by bandits, suicide, drowning or whatever unfortunate accident befell her. I simply expedited the process."
Cheng leaned against the table beside him, crossing her arms expectantly. "Now we can focus on ruling this empire properly without distractions from low-born concubines who think they can command your affection."
Furious, he raised his hand and slapped her harshly across the face, making the fearless Cheng Mei to stumble back a little holding her reddened cheeks with her head snapped to the side . She widens her eyes in shock.
This was the first time he had ever smacked a her or any woman. Ignoring the pain, she regains her composure and glared right at the enraged emperor.
Cheng's hand flew to her stinging cheek, her eyes flashing with a mixture of pain and indignation. The sound of the slap echoed in the silent chamber, startling even herself. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe, how to speak - the Emperor had *struck* her.
Slowly, she regained control of her facial muscles, tilting her head back to meet his furious gaze head-on. Blood rushed to her face, staining it a vibrant red that contrasted sharply with the pale pallor of shock beneath.
"How dare you," she whispered through gritted teeth, her voice shaking not with fear but pure rage. "You lay your filthy hands on your Empress? Because of *that girl*?"
Her own hand trembled slightly as she pointed toward the bloody cloth still clutched in his fist. "You would strike me over a dead whore? Over some peasant who couldn't even please you properly?"
He points his seething finger at her "One more word from you and- ", his threat was cut short by an agitated empress.
"And what?!!! You will hit me again? You are so weak and pathetic. You couldn't even protect the one you claim you love... Even the lowest level servant could treat their women better", she accused. That struck a cord in him. He raised his hand to hit her again, but she didn't back down. Instead she growls at him.
"Touch me again and I will ruin you and everything you walked hard for. Trust me you know I will". He knew she was serious. He slowly pulled down his hand to his side clenching it. Seeing that he had surrendered , she moved from him and breathed out in relief.
"Well, now that you you decided to have some common sense. I have some demands " she said with such venom as she crossed her arms.