The Birth Of A Villainess

The gift that Qu Xing Xu was talking about was naturally the poppy flowers that he had sent to him the other day.

Poppy flowers were known to have a beautiful appearance that could make anyone enchanted just by looking at them. However, beneath that beautiful appearance was a tricky and deadly poison.

It all started when an explorer discovered something that would bring chaos to the world. That explorer came from the West and wanted to rule the world. But ruling the world was not an easy task, nor was it something that could be achieved quickly. Thus, the explorer went to different cities and continents in search of a solution to his problem.

That's when he discovered that there was a drug that would eat away a person's mind. It was the drug that was made of Poppy flowers.

The drug that was produced from the Poppy flowers might be subtle in effect. In fact, many physicians and martial artists believed that it was a medicine because of its fast effect of calming one's heart and also making one forget their worries. It was a wondrous medicine that many people wanted to covet.

But they did not know that once a person gets used to the drug and becomes addicted, there is no saving them!

Soon, they will fall into an addictive state where they can no longer live without it. And if they get their hands on them, their judgments will be clouded and they will no longer have any control over themselves.

Many people have fallen to ruin because of that medicine.

But the explorer, who was fascinated by the effects of the medicine soon hunted Poppy Flowers.

In less than a decade, he was able to produce hundreds of thousands of it. He fed his enemies, his neighbors, and even his close ties. His only purpose was to control them.

Since then, Poppy flowers have been avoided and never planted in anyone's garden no matter how pretty they looked.

However, Qu Xing Xu had precisely 'gifted' that flower to Emperor Yun.

As an Emperor, everyone should live by obeying his orders and fearing him. But it was the opposite in his case, Emperor Yun feared Qu Xing Xu instead.

Emperor Yun gritted his teeth and replied, "No. I'm satisfied with what Duke Xin has given me."

He was certainly scared that if he dared to say that he wasn't satisfied, Qu Xing Xu would send another basket of that cursed flower!

"Is that so?" Qu Xing Xu's eyes gleamed with joy. But his words tossed a cold bucket on top of Emperor Yun's head. "Then, since Your Majesty is satisfied, I should have my gardener cut all the Poppy Flowers in my garden and have them planted in the Imperial Palace."

"You!—"

Emperor Yun stared in shock and disbelief at him.

Similarly, the rest of the people inside the Imperial Study were staring at Qu Xing Xu as if he were a ghost.

D—did they hear that right?

He gave the emperor Poppy Flowers?

How incredibly bold!

Every lord was impressed by Qu Xing Xu's fearlessness. Ever since the latter took over the post as the Duke of Xin, Qu Xing Xu has been uncontrollable, making others want to stay away from him. It's not that they didn't try. No. They tried so hard to bring Qu Xing Xu to their side even at the cost of their family's fortune.

But no matter who and what identity the other person had, Qu Xing Xu remained unmoved and powerful.

Even the princes of the Empire couldn't do anything to him. They couldn't even compare to what Qu Xing Xu could do.

Yet, people still believed that for as long as Qu Xing Xu was in front of the emperor, he would surely cower in fear of the repercussions of his actions and obediently follow the emperor's orders.

But today, they just witnessed a shocking discovery.

Qu Xing Xu did not show fear in front of the emperor. He even challenged and threatened the emperor with pretty-looking, but deadly flowers!

It was an unexpected situation. However, the nobles still believed that Qu Xing Xu would still fear Emperor Yun and try not to be punished.

At this moment, Emperor Yun was so humiliated. Although it was just verbal threats and many would think that it was nothing, he knew it was far from being nothing. Qu Xing Xu would and could really give him a garden full of poisonous and deadly flowers.

He shuddered just by thinking of that.

Gritting his teeth, Emperor Yun glanced up at the rows of noble lords in front of him. Even though they had their heads lowered and their eyes were not seen, he could already tell that some of them were waiting to see him make a fool of himself!

So irritating.

To be honest, he couldn't refute their opinions as well. Because he knew that Qu Xing Xu was a formidable man and that even he, the emperor, could do nothing.

But that was before today…

Emperor Yun moved his gaze away and landed on the minister from the rear.

For a brief moment, the emperor and the minister's eyes met. But the latter lowered his head again.

However, it was enough for Emperor Yun to gather his courage and boldly glare at Qu Xing Xu. If he was not wrong, for as long as he could give some support, they would do the rest for him.

"Let's not talk about trivial things. Instead, let's talk about what I shall give you as a reward!" Emperor Yun's sudden act of changing the topic stunned the ministers and noblemen in the Imperial Study. But nobody said anything to denounce the emperor.

Only Qu Xing Xu raised his brow slightly as he also didn't expect the emperor to do this.

Emperor Yun started to announce, "Duke Xin has accumulated several victories and made the Chu Empire's military force retreat. As the ruler of the Zheng Empire, I am greatly satisfied with the service Duke Qu Xing Xu has shown to me. And thus, I shall reward him one hundred thousand gold, one thousand hectares of land in the Henan Province, and give him the highest title of a Duke!"

The rewards were astonishing. A hundred thousand gold could buy several cities. One thousand hectares of land was the same as owning your city and ruling it as you please. As for the title of the highest Duke, it was something that everyone in the Imperial Palace coveted. It was a title that was second only to the Emperor!

As expected, as soon as Emperor Yun finished his words, the eyes of the people inside the Imperial Study were filled with envy and greed. If they could, they would want to kill Qu Xing Xu right there and then stop him from getting that title!

'How's that?' Emperor Yun laughed inwardly. He wanted to show Qu Xing Xu that no matter how powerful and uncontrollable he was, he could never go up against these numerous people who harbored hatred towards him. He also wanted to prove that Qu Xing Xu could not control him anymore!