The moment Alexander Hayes declared his intention to pardon Mrs. Penny Zhao and her child, the entire House of Zhao was left utterly dumbfounded!
The Zhao family had schemed to trick Alexander Hayes, hoping to coax him into taking the fall and bear the brunt of the Qian family's revenge.
Who could have expected Alexander Hayes to break all the rules and play his own game?!
A cold sweat broke out on Zachary Yan’s forehead. This was the Zhao family’s last desperate gambit—if Alexander Hayes refused to take the bait, they’d have no way out and would be forced to submit to him forever.
Zachary Yan stammered, "Th-this... Your Majesty is merciful, and I am deeply grateful. But Mrs. Penny Zhao’s husband, Justin Zhao, and her father-in-law were the ringleaders of the rebellion. To truly eliminate the threat, one must pull it up by the roots. Your Majesty, please don’t let a moment of soft-heartedness keep that mother and child alive—they’ll only bring disaster!"
A cold, mocking smile curled at the corner of Alexander Hayes’s lips as his sharp gaze swept across the crowd.
The Zhao family really had hit a dead end—they were panicking now.
Though Alexander Hayes saw through everything as clear as day, he didn’t call anyone out. He simply looked at Zachary Yan and said coolly, "If you want to uproot the problem... Mrs. Penny Zhao and her child aren’t the only ones with rebel ties. Every one of you here is a member of the Zhao clan! Treason implicates nine generations—if I truly pursued this, none of you would escape the chopping block..."
His meaning was crystal clear—if you want to punish Mrs. Penny Zhao and her child, then all you Zhao clan members are going down with them. Not a single one will escape.
So stop your whining. I’ll pardon whoever I please. Keep running your mouths, and I’ll have you all dragged off to lose your heads!
Everyone from the House of Zhao on the square was terrified. The entire clan—men, women, and children—had gathered, and if Alexander Hayes decided to punish them for treason, not a single one would escape!
So, in a dense, dark mass, the Zhao family all knelt on the ground, not daring to lift their heads.
With a thud, Zachary Yan’s legs gave out and he knelt at Alexander Hayes’s feet, trembling, his lips purple as he stammered, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please show mercy..."
"Well then, does anyone else object to my decision to pardon Mrs. Penny Zhao and her child?" Alexander Hayes raised his eyelids, his tone formal and cold.
"We dare not, absolutely dare not object!" the Zhao family shouted in unison.
The entire Zhao family knelt, cowed by Alexander Hayes like frightened children, answering in trembling voices. Lily Evans was stunned—how had Alexander managed to bend the Zhao family to his will in just a few days?
He’s just too impressive!
Lily looked at Alexander Hayes beside her, eyes full of admiration and awe. Her man really was the most incredible in the world!
Alexander Hayes keenly sensed his little wife’s adoring gaze and felt utterly pleased. Hidden beneath his wide sleeves, his fingers playfully brushed Lily’s palm.
The Zhao family, kneeling in fearful silence, could never have imagined that the iron-fisted King of Qin—whom they dreaded—could be so gentle and indulgent with his queen behind the scenes.
Alexander Hayes remained silent for a long time, making the Zhao family even more nervous. Finally, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he spoke again, tossing the clan leader list at Zachary Yan’s face, his voice slow and calm: “I am merciful, unwilling to spill more blood, so I spare your clan. Yet you harbor disloyalty, which greatly disappoints me…”