"Wei Chi Lianping."
"I am present."
Emperor Wu Su’s eyes were icy as he asked, "Brawling within the army. What is the punishnt?"
Wei Chi Lianping answered imdiately, "It is handled according to military law. Depending on the severity of the offense, the punishnt ranges from fifty to one hundred strokes with the military baton."
The court-ordered beatings administered in the palace were nothing compared to the military baton.
Every strike from the military baton was brutally heavy. Having one’s skin split open was considered a light outco; it wasn’t uncommon for those with weaker constitutions to die from it.
Princess Hua Chang stood to the side, her face pale. She looked as if she had suffered a great shock, only snapping back to her senses when she heard the words "military baton."
She took a few steps forward. "Your Majesty, isn’t punishnt by military law too severe? Mr. Ji is not a soldier. I fear he won’t be able to withstand the military baton."
Hearing Princess Hua Chang speak, Wei Chi Lianping thought she was about to plead for him.
But when she finished, his fists clenched, veins bulged on his forehead, and he glared viciously at Ji Changlin.
"I can take it! I ask for Your Majesty’s punishnt!"
Princess Hua Chang shot him a sharp look.
’What is this brute saying? If Ji Changlin’s punishnt is lessened, wouldn’t his own be reduced as well?’
’He beat that man into such a state—his face is a ss, and he’s clutching his ribs, coughing nonstop. How could I possibly plead for him?’
Emperor Wu Su glanced at the still-indignant Wei Chi Lianping and said flatly, "You can take it? Then you will be beaten until you can’t."
His tone was light, but his eyes were utterly cold.
Ji Qingwu simply stood and watched, feeling as if she couldn’t breathe.
Even though General Wei Chi was a trusted confidant who had helped the Emperor conquer the realm, the Emperor showed no rcy when he made a mistake.
A mont ago, Wei Chi Lianping had been acting out of a fit of pique. Now, swept by the Emperor’s gaze, which felt like a cold arrow, he cald down completely.
He knew in his heart that the cold and unfeeling Emperor Wu Su was not joking; he would really do it.
Wei Chi Lianping kowtowed and said devoutly, "I know my cri. I beg for Your Majesty’s rcy."
Princess Hua Chang was familiar with the Emperor’s expressions. Seeing the faint signs of his impending fury, she too knelt between the two n.
She pleaded, "I beg Your Majesty to be lenient with my husband."
Hearing her call him her husband finally put Wei Chi Lianping’s heart at ease.
But then he saw that Princess Hua Chang was kneeling closer to Ji Changlin, and his brows furrowed again. ’What is she doing, kneeling so close to him? Does she think I’m dead?!’
But in front of Emperor Wu Su, Wei Chi Lianping did not dare act foolishly again.
"Ji Changlin, do you have anything to say?"
"Your Majesty, the fault is all mine. General Wei Chi is due to depart for the Northern Border Army soon. I implore Your Majesty to grant him a lenient sentence."
It would have been better if he hadn’t said anything. The mont Ji Changlin ntioned his imminent departure for the Northern Border, Wei Chi Lianping gritted his teeth in hatred. But no matter how resentful he felt, he could only swallow it for now.
With the others all kneeling, only Ji Qingwu was left standing. Feeling that this was inappropriate, she quietly moved beside her elder brother and slowly knelt.
She thought no one had noticed, but the mont her knees touched the stone floor, a stern voice ca from above her.
"Why are you kneeling?"
Caught off guard, Ji Qingwu looked up and t the Emperor’s frigid gaze. She said with so apprehension, "I ask Your Majesty to quell your anger."
She didn’t plead for anyone; she only asked him to calm his anger.
Unexpectedly, her words were well-received.
Emperor Wu Su gave a slight nod. Looking at her fluttering eyes, his expression softened considerably, not wanting to frighten her further.
He turned to Wei Chi Lianping and said, "In light of your many years of military service and repeated ritorious deeds, I will fine you half a year’s salary and demote you by one rank. The entirety of the fine will be given to Ji Changlin as compensation for his dical expenses."
Wei Chi Lianping’s brow knitted together. It was true that Ji Changlin had taken a punch from him.
He reluctantly placed his palms on the floor. "I obey."
’As long as he avoided the military baton,’ Princess Hua Chang thought, letting out a soft sigh of relief.
Thankfully, the young lady from the Ji Family was present. Emperor Wu Su’s aura had softened significantly. A demotion and a fine were already a show of rcy; there would be no actual beating.
Then she heard the Emperor say, "Ji Changlin is promoted to Imperial Scholar. After his injuries heal, he will serve as an envoy to Nanchu, carrying an imperial edict, and will reside in the foreign legation."
Princess Hua Chang turned her head to look at the man kneeling to her right. She saw the corner of his robe, embroidered with bamboo leaves. In her mory, he had always been a gentleman as refined and graceful as slender bamboo in a clear breeze.
Ji Changlin said bitterly, "I... thank Your Majesty for your imnse grace."
A demotion for one and a promotion for the other. On the surface, it seed the Emperor favored Ji Changlin more. In reality, being sent as an envoy to the Nanchu legation ant he would be stationed abroad long-term.
Princess Hua Chang turned her gaze to watch Emperor Wu Su’s departing figure.
’His Majesty is a man of deep thoughts. He must have understood the reason behind our dispute, which is why he didn’t ask about it. He saved my face in front of everyone.’
’And by transferring Ji Changlin out of Lin’an City, he has also appeased Wei Chi Lianping.’
「In the carriage on the way back.」
Princess Hua Chang sat primly on a magnificent brocade cushion, her expression as cold and unapproachable as ever.
Wei Chi Lianping sat with his arms crossed and a stiff expression on his face. He waited a long ti, but she never offered an explanation.
Unable to hold back any longer, he asked, "The Princess’s heart must be breaking, isn’t it?"
"What are you trying to say?"
Wei Chi Lianping couldn’t hide his thoughts. He sneered, "Was the Princess really that impatient? Today was a palace banquet, yet you went to have a secret tryst with your old fla. Why couldn’t you wait until I had broken camp and left for the Northern Border Army? Was there really a need to be so furtive?"
The reason they had co to blows was that Wei Chi Lianping had caught Princess Hua Chang and Ji Changlin having a secret rendezvous in Handan Hall.
"We just happened to run into each other."
He pressed her aggressively, "The doors and windows were shut tight! An unmarried man and woman alone in a room—if that’s not a secret tryst, what is?!"
Princess Hua Chang rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
She had been led to the upper floor of Handan Hall after hearing that the Emperor had recently acquired several authentic works by Mr. Yan and had them hung there.
The banquet was dull, and as an admirer of Mr. Yan’s literary talent, she wanted to see them.
Who would have known that Ji Changlin was taking a short rest there to avoid drinking?
The two had t, and before they could even exchange more than a few words, the door was kicked open by Wei Chi Lianping.
Before she could explain, he had rushed over and started fighting with Ji Changlin.
Seeing her silence, Wei Chi Lianping took it as an admission. His face darkened as he said, "I don’t care what sort of relationship you two had before. You are married to , and you can only be my woman."
"If I ever find you two involved again, I will—" He glared and said fiercely, "I’ll break Ji Changlin’s legs!"
Even as he spewed vicious threats, he never thought of harming her.
Princess Hua Chang didn’t understand why he was so determined to brand her an adulteress, making it sound as if she and Ji Changlin were so kind of illicit couple.
She didn’t want to argue with him. With a clear conscience, she said, "Think whatever you want."
Wei Chi Lianping was provoked by Princess Hua Chang’s indifferent attitude. He seized her by the arm and roughly pulled her in front of him.
She rebuked him, "What are you doing? Let go!"
He looked down at her fairy-like face.
"I won’t! I know you didn’t want to marry . You were sched against by the Empress Dowager, which is why you and Ji Changlin, two people in love, were forced apart."
As he spoke in a pained voice, he couldn’t help but tighten his grip.
"But now you show less and less respect. Have I been too good to you, Princess? So good that you feel you can just trample all over ?"
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