Hidden genius: Black belly snake

Once Herald started talking, the elf continued spilling the beans nonstop until nothing was left.

He talked about Charlotte's multiple attempts to poison Tang Yue's food.

He talked about how Tang Yue had blackmailed Charlotte and he even talked about the two goblins involved.

Under the tyrant's oppressive glare, Herald did not dare to leave anything out.

Charlotte was one of the crown prince's extremely decorated General's daughter. 

It was highly unlikely that she would be punished for this, but him?

He was a nobody. He might belong to a noble family but he was still a nobody when compared to the royal family members.

How could he dare to hide anything even remotely significant when things have reached this stage?

Xander rapped his fingers on the throne as he patiently listened to the sniffling and sobbing elf.

His crimson red eyes had a strange glint within them. The elf's thin lips remained impassive, but there was an unseen smile dancing on his eyes.

It seemed his consorts have been very busy lately.

Xander's unforgiving cold gaze landed on Tang Yue for a moment and then shifted to his General, who was still kneeling on the floor with his head bowed down.

Though he didn't linger too long on the main instigator, he had picked up every single detail. 

The snake looked pale and weak from having lost too much blood. 

Considering her weak cultivation base, she should be in a lot of pain right now, but none of it was visible on her face.

There was no sign of weakness in her expression.

A soft chuckle escaped Xander's lips, leaving everyone else more anxious and nervous about what the tyrant had found to be amusing.

They were already on pins and needles, so his random amusement only sent shivers down their spine.

"Hai Hai." Xander rose up from his bloody throne abruptly, breaking the ominous silence prevailing in the room.

"Have I been a little too kind lately?" The man's sharp words echoed in the huge empty courtroom.

All the living souls around him instantly froze, afraid to even breathe loudly.

Xander's heavy steps echoed in the otherwise silent space, as he casually walked towards General Salvatore.

"You will personally deliver 100 lashes to your daughter and her companions for treason against the royal family."

"Do it now and use the iron thorn bramble." His indifferent voice sounded. 

The middle-aged elf immediately let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, his daughter was pardoned and not issued the death sentence.

But Charlotte, on the other hand, had an unsightly expression on her face. 

Her body was already at its limits, filled with exhaustion and pain to a crippling intensity.

100 lashes now? How could he be so cruel?

She was the queen consort! Xander was supposed to cherish and protect her.

So why was he punishing her to this extent, that too just for the sake of that filthy snake??

Tears rolled out of Charlotte's disfigured face. She did not care about these wounds. 

They would be healed in no time, but his actions and his indifferent words made her contort with agony.

However, there was nothing that she could do.

Charlotte did not lift her head up. She did not want to meet the man's gaze. 

Not today. Not in her current condition. She did not want to show this ugly side of hers.

She quietly followed her father's footsteps out of the room, along with the rest of her group members.

No one made a noise as they wordlessly accepted the punishment and left the courtroom.

But before they could fully exit, the crown prince casually mentioned something else, adding it as a mere afterthought.

"You will no longer be my queen consort."

Charlotte instantly turned around. No… No… No… She screamed inside her mind.

"You highness… I… I…" The elf stammered, utterly and completely dumbfounded. 

She looked as if several bolts of lightning has struck her.

"Get out," Xander muttered, not even sparing her another glance.

Charlotte almost collapsed on the ground. Her legs that were barely holding, now fully gave out.

She was about to say something when General Salvatore gagged her mouth. 

The old General lifted her and quickly carried her out of the courtroom.

Only after leaving the main quarters, he stopped and reprimanded his daughter. 

"You brought this on yourself. Don't test his majesty's patience."

Charlotte closed her eyes in pain, even more tears flowing out.

"This is all because of that nasty evil snake! I hope she dies!" Her lips quivered.

The group remained in complete silence for the rest of the trip as they walked over to the main courtyard and one by one fulfilled the punishments dolled out to them.

100 lashes with iron thorn bramble might not be a death sentence but it was not a walk in the park either, that too at their current condition.

The sharp edges of the iron rod struck their raw flesh and agonizing screams echoed in the night.

Meanwhile… back in the courtroom…

Crown Prince Xander had dismissed his other palace aides and so now, only he and Tang Yue were left in the huge courtroom.

"Hmm… Now… what punishment should I give you?" His lips curled upwards.

The elf walked around Tang Yue scanning her from top to bottom.

Tang Yue's entire body stiffened. She felt as if the man himself was personally touching each and every part of her body.

"How about I make you my queen consort instead?" Xander leaned in and whispered in her slender short blue ears.

Tang Yue gulped. Her eyes did not meet the mad man's gaze, but his eyes followed the small movement in her throat.

After a moment of silence, she gritted her teeth and muttered. "That would be my honor, your highness."

She knew that the man was merely playing with her, teasing her for amusement. 

So she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of successfully rattling her.

Charlotte might have been lucky enough to receive his mercy and kindness, but Tang Yue was sure that only a death sentence awaited for someone as insignificant as her.

However, contrary to her expectations, Xander merely chuckled. "Is that so?" The elf mumbled with his eyebrows raised ever so slightly.

The snake in front of him was full of surprises.

1 second… 2 seconds… 5 seconds…

Tang Yue trembled but the man continued standing right next to her, so close that his warm breath assaulted her tired body.

His undivided attention was suffocating.

Tang Yue patiently waited for him to react, to declare her punishment, but the man still continued messing with her.

He wordlessly lifted a few strands of her black curls and tucked them away. 

His fingers circled on the exposed flesh and the bleeding cuts, fingernails even poking on certain deep wounds.

After what seemed like an eternity, his thin lips parted again.

A peal of cold but enchanting laughter echoed in the room.

And before Tang Yue could even blink, the arrogant cold-blooded prince disappeared right in front of her, his maniacal laughter still ringing in the air.

Tang Yue clenched her fists tightly. The man's smugness appalled her.

She felt so helpless in his presence and that didn't quite sit well with her.

She felt so humiliated and embarrassed.

But the next instant, her emerald eyes glanced at her body, only to gasp in shock.

Her entire body was completely healed... Restored back to its original healthy glow...