Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 12

But they knew very well that the Xiao family was the Crown Prince’s backing, holding command over 150,000 soldiers of the Great Yong Dynasty, wielding significant power and influence. They were currently the military family most relied upon by the Emperor.

The emperor wanted to use the Xiao family to restrain the Feng family; how could he let the princess divorce her husband?

What is a mere princess?

What’s wrong with the princess suffering a little grievance for the sake of the emperor, the crown prince, and the stability of the country of the Great Yong Dynasty?

They thought that if the princess was sensible and took the overall situation into consideration, she should swallow her anger and bear it silently.

Who would have expected that this princess would refuse to accept her fate?

What was even more unexpected was that the Commander of the Shadow Pavilion had been protecting Yun Zishu consistently today. What was his relationship with Yun Zishu?

“Si Cang,” Yun Chen narrowed his eyes, looking at him with suspicion. “Don’t you think you have interfered too much in the Xiao family’s affairs? Does the Dark Shadow Pavilion listen to Father or to Yun Zishu?”

“The Shadow Pavilion is under the command of the Emperor, but its duty is to state the facts and find out the truth. It will not favor anyone based on personal feelings.” Si Cang said expressionlessly. “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince of the Great Yong and the next Emperor of the dynasty. Are you sure you want to turn a blind eye to the Xiao family’s blatant act of deceiving the Emperor?”

Yun Chen was so angry that he said, “You—”

“Enough,” the Emperor interrupted their argument with displeasure, his expression cold and stern. “What are you arguing about? Do you think I don’t have enough headaches today?”

Yun Chen closed his mouth awkwardly.

“Everything else is negotiable, but I will not agree to the divorce.” The emperor suppressed his anger and tried to remain calm. “When Zishu’s health has recovered a little, let her come to the palace. I will have a good talk with her.”

Xiao Yunheng suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yun Chen’s expression also eased, and he snorted coldly.

Si Cang did not comment; his tone was always calm and indifferent. “Xiao Yunheng has committed the crime of insubordination; how does the Emperor think he should be dealt with?”

“Insubordination?” Yun Chen said in a deep voice, “I’ve already said it was a misunderstanding—”

“Your Highness, the country has its laws, and the family has its rules.” The Prime Minister interjected calmly. “No matter what the reason is, it is an indisputable fact that General Xiao has offended the princess, and he should be punished.”

The emperor raised his eyes. “What does the prime minister think should be done?”

“I think he should be dealt with according to the rules of the court,” said Prime Minister Wei. “He should receive the same punishment as any official who oversteps their bounds.”

“Your son also agrees with this,” the third prince, Yun Hui, said respectfully. “He has committed the crime of insubordination and should be punished with fifty strokes of the cane.”

Xiao Yunheng’s face paled instantly.

Fifty strokes?!

Si Cang lowered his eyes. “Please, Your Majesty, make the decision.”

The emperor looked at Xiao Yunheng and asked in a low voice, “Xiao Yunheng, what do you think?”

Xiao Yunheng’s heart sank, and he subconsciously felt a little scared. But he knew that his top priority was to win Yun Zishu back. No matter what happened to him or what others thought, Yun Zishu must return to the Xiao family.

This was the emperor’s idea and also the crown prince’s intention.

As long as he endured the punishment he deserved, winning Yun Zishu would follow naturally.

Xiao Yunheng lowered his head and said. “I am willing to accept any punishment.”

“Since that’s the case,” the emperor waved his hand wearily, “take him out and give him fifty strokes.”

“Yes.”

Soon, imperial guards walked into the imperial study and took Xiao Yunheng out. Before long, the sound of cane strikes echoed from outside.

The expressions of the people in the imperial study were varying. Yun Chen quietly clenched his hands, seething with hatred for Si Cang.

The third prince, Yun Hui; the fifth prince, Yun Ye; and the seventh prince, Yun Chi, stood quietly to the side, listening to the sounds of punishment with a look of contentment.

Although they had no feelings for Yun Zishu, they took pleasure in anything that displeased the crown prince.

“Your Majesty!” A hurried voice suddenly sounded outside. “The eldest son of the Li family, Li Xuan, broke into the Princess’s residence with a large group of guards, dragged the Princess down from the bed, causing the Princess, who was already weak, to fall on the back of her head. She fainted immediately!”

As soon as the words fell, the imperial study was silent.

The Prime Minister’s face darkened. “So the Li family has grown so bold as to disregard the sovereign entirely? They even dare to break into the princess’s mansion. It’s simply absurd!”

Subconsciously, Grand Tutor Wu wanted to find a reason for Li Xuan. “This… this could be a misunderstanding?”

“Misunderstanding?” The prime minister looked at the grand tutor, his eyes accusatory. “What kind of misunderstanding does the grand tutor think can justify the Li family’s son acting so recklessly and using brute force against the princess?”

Grand Tutor Wu was rendered speechless by his question.

No matter what the reason, it is an act of treason for a man to break into the princess’s bedroom and drag her down and injure her in a barbaric and rude manner. There is no excuse for it.

Yun Chen’s heart sank to the bottom.

“The eldest son of the Li family?” Yun Hui frowned. “Is that the Li Xuan who kept saying that his sister was gentle and virtuous and would become the mistress of the Xiao family in less than two years?”

“Silence!” The Emperor roared. “Yunhui, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Yun Hui’s face turned pale, and he instantly knelt down. “Father, please calm down. I was just… just telling the truth. That Li Xuan did say such words. I’m not making up stories or spreading rumors.”

“Your Majesty, I have heard such words as well,” Yun Ye said with a bow. “The Li family has never taken the Ninth Princess seriously. The Xiao family has allowed a concubine to ride on the Ninth Princess’ head and act wildly. This is because Madam Xiao has indulged her. Li Xue openly framed the Ninth Princess, and Li Xuan spoke wildly outside—all because the Xiao family, starting with Madam Xiao, intended to bully the Ninth Sister. In an ordinary family, no one would dare to treat an imperial daughter with so much disrespect!”

Yun Chi added fuel to the fire. “Reporting to Father, I also heard Li Xuan spreading rumors amongst sons of aristocratic families, saying that the ninth sister was lucky to marry Xiao Yunheng, and even the father had to rely on the military power of the Xiao family. Even if the ninth princess was bullied, she could only blame herself. I hope the father will investigate.”

The emperor’s face grew colder and colder, as if it had been covered with a layer of ice. “All of you shut up!”

All the princes knelt down in unison. “Father, please calm down.”

“Your Majesty, please calm down.” Several old ministers also knelt down, “We deserve to die.”

Si Cang watched the scene before him with cold eyes, his gaze lifting indifferently towards the Emperor.

Meeting his cold eyes, the Emperor’s pupils contracted slightly, and he took a deep breath.

“Since Zishu has been frightened, she will stay in the princess’s mansion for a few days,” he said, suppressing his emotions and trying to keep calm. “We’ll talk about it when she’s feeling better.”

“Father…” Yun Ye said softly, “I heard that the ninth sister has sent someone to deliver the letter of divorce to the Xiao family. Now everyone in the imperial city knows… knows that Xiao Yunheng has been divorced…”

The emperor gripped the teacup tightly. The anger that had yet to subside suddenly flared up as if doused with hot oil.

But his sinister, cold eyes forcefully suppressed his urge to erupt. A strong killing intent surged within the Emperor’s heart—directed at Si Cang.