Based on these two points, Lucas Bennett had no choice but to believe and rebuked, “Marquis Tianshui, stand down.”

“Your Majesty, this person is spreading heretical lies…” Marquis Carter became anxious.

“Stand down!” The monarch was very angry.

Marquis Carter obediently retreated into the crowd. He really wanted to suppress the Jiang family, but that didn’t mean he dared to defy the monarch.

“Your Majesty, the divine spirit is very angry. Those who spoke disrespectfully just now must slap themselves three times before the spirit will speak. However, Marquis Carter is a regional lord—if you make him slap himself, isn’t that putting him in a difficult position?”

“Besides, with Your Majesty’s benevolence, how could you possibly order a lord to slap himself? So, it depends on whether Marquis Carter is self-aware, whether he is truly loyal to the monarch and the country. If it were me, I wouldn’t hesitate—let alone three slaps, even thirty slaps, I’d do it without a second thought.”

As soon as Ethan Grant said this, the officials who had come with Lucas Bennett began whispering among themselves. Some thought Ethan Grant was just putting on a show, while others wondered if it might actually be true.

Of course, since they weren’t the ones being told to slap themselves, everyone watched the spectacle with no pressure at all. Their gazes all neatly turned to Marquis Carter, who was trying to blend into the crowd.

The people around Marquis Carter all consciously made some space, subtly keeping a certain distance from him, leaving Marquis Carter exposed.

Suddenly, Marquis Carter felt a chill all over his body. In that instant, he sadly realized that none of his colleagues or close allies dared to speak up for him—he felt as if he’d been isolated by the whole world.

Chapter 0004: This Face, You’d Better Slap Yourself

Most of the lords who came this time were following Marquis Carter to bolster his momentum, planning to kick the Jiang family while they were down.

But at this moment, who would dare to speak up?

Anyone who spoke up to defend Marquis Carter would be opposing the gods and the monarch, and would be seen as not wanting the princess to recover from her illness.

At this point, Fat Gavin finally caught on. Always one to enjoy a spectacle, he immediately joined in the jeering: “Marquis Carter, you always boast about your loyalty, claiming that among all the lords, you’re second to none. Now’s the time to test your loyalty, but you’re making excuses—what’s that about?”

“Marquis Carter, just now you kept threatening to exterminate my whole clan. Now, no one’s asking you to do that—just slap yourself three times, and you’re hesitating?”

Naturally, Ethan Grant wouldn’t miss the chance to kick someone when they’re down. Clicking his tongue, he said, “So much for being the most loyal in the land. Turns out Marquis Carter’s famous loyalty is just a joke he made up to amuse everyone.”

Marquis Carter had originally come to watch Marquis Grant make a fool of himself and to add insult to injury. But now, he had become the target of everyone’s criticism—something he never could have imagined.

But Marquis Carter was an old hand at court politics and quickly regained his composure. With righteous indignation, he declared, “Not to mention three slaps, even if Your Majesty ordered me to commit suicide for the sake of the nation, I wouldn’t even frown. Ethan Grant, I’ll slap myself three times for Your Majesty’s sake. But if you’re lying, what then?”

Indeed, if this kid was lying, wouldn’t the entire court have been made fools of?

Ethan Grant’s tone turned cold: “Marquis Carter, you can insult me, Ethan Grant, but you must not blaspheme the gods! Your Majesty, this man has repeatedly spoken out of turn. The gods are already angry. I fear I am powerless to help the princess…”

Lucas Bennett was shocked and furious when he heard this. Why are you, Marquis Carter, still rambling? If you’re really so loyal, just slap yourself three times and be done with it! Why not just find yourself a way out? Must I personally order it and risk being accused of bullying my officials?

With this thought, Lucas Bennett became extremely displeased, his eyebrows twitching slightly. Marquis Carter was very skilled at reading the monarch’s moods, having spent much time studying his joys and sorrows.

Seeing Lucas Bennett’s eyebrow twitch, he knew the monarch was truly angry. In a panic, he slapped himself seven or eight times in quick succession.

Each slap was solid—he knew the harder he hit, the more likely he was to dispel the monarch’s anger.

After this round of slaps, his whole face was swollen like a pig’s head.

When it was over, all eyes once again focused on Ethan Grant.

Ethan Grant said unhurriedly, “I told you to slap yourself three times, but you did it seven or eight times—what’s the meaning of that? Are you dissatisfied? Are you defying the will of the gods, or the will of the monarch? Never mind, never mind, I’ll reluctantly forgive you this time.”

He let it go, but Marquis Carter’s allies were not so willing. Watching Marquis Carter slap himself, they were miserable but couldn’t speak up.

But now that it was over, surely they could demand an explanation for Marquis Carter? He couldn’t have slapped himself for nothing, right?

Immediately, someone jumped out: “Ethan Grant, how long are you going to keep up this charade? Marquis Carter has already slapped himself. If you can’t give us a proper answer, your crime will be even greater.”

“Yes, if you can’t explain, you’re deceiving the monarch and mocking the entire court. Your whole clan should be executed.”

These guys really were all of one mind—even their catchphrase “exterminate the whole clan” was exactly the same.