With a mindset of watching the drama unfold, they observed for a long time. Initially, they hoped that something would happen between the Emperor and that woman, especially after they shut the doors of the Cold Palace and sent everyone away. If nothing happened, it would truly be a waste of their efforts. However, Chef Liu and the others waited and waited, yet nothing happened between the two. After a brief conversation, the two simply walked toward those holding Jun Ning. Chef Liu and a few others sighed in slight disappointment. "What’s there to be disappointed about? Have you forgotten why we came here in the first place? Do I need to remind you again? We came here to watch that brat, who toyed with us, get flayed and his muscles pulled, not for anything else." "Look at yourselves." The only sober person remained clear-headed throughout. His attention was fixed on Jun Ning, who was being held by the Imperial Guard, and thus he wasn’t distracted by the commotion. But sometimes, being clear-headed is the original sin. A sober person among a group of muddle-headed ones stands out in their actions and words, which can seem out of place and even cause resentment if not careful. The criticized few looked at this clear-headed person as if he were an ancient relic, dissatisfied with his words, yet they did not immediately retort. Chef Wang, seeing Emperor Yongning move toward Jun Ning, couldn’t focus on anything else and excitedly reminded, "Stop bickering, look over there, the Emperor is heading toward the brat, the show is about to start." The moment they’d been waiting for, to see the brat get taught a lesson, was finally coming. They could finally avenge their past humiliation. The chefs looked towards Jun Ning with shining eyes, eagerly waiting for him to be punished. "Why don’t we place a bet? Let’s gamble on how the Emperor will punish him?" someone suggested. Chef Liu was the first to respond, "Alright, let’s bet. I bet that brat will be flayed and his tendons pulled." "I bet that brat will have a leg broken and be thrown out of the palace." "I bet that brat will be castrated and made into a eunuch, becoming neither male nor female." The group cheerfully speculated on the possible punishments Jun Ning could face, even betting silver on their guesses. As for what punishment awaited Jun Ning? They would have to wait for Emperor Yongning to announce it. Fortunately, the rooftop where the chefs were wasn’t too far from Jun Ning, so if they listened carefully, they could hear Emperor Yongning and his entourage speaking. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍 The chefs perked their ears, waiting for Emperor Yongning’s final judgment. However, things didn’t go as they wished. Emperor Yongning walked up to Jun Ning, coldly looked at him for a while, then directly ignored Jun Ning’s provocative and defiant gaze. He stretched out his hands and pinched both sides of Jun Ning’s face, pinching for quite a while. Jun Ning teared up in pain, trying to fight back, but he was held down by the Imperial Guard on both sides, completely unable to move or retaliate. "Brat, let this be a lesson for you. If you dare to be so audacious and toy with people again, it won’t be just a face pinch. Watch out, or I’ll break your leg." Emperor Yongning threatened. Could they have misheard just now? The Emperor, for someone who toyed with him like that, only pinched his face?