Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 13

Yun Chen glared coldly at the princes kneeling beside him, silently marking this grudge.

It was rare for princes to coexist harmoniously. For the sake of the throne and power, they have been engaged in intrigue and locked in life-and-death struggles.

This generation of the Yun family princes of the Great Yong Dynasty were no exception.

Superficial brotherly affection did not mean they hesitated to stab each other in private.

Not all the ministers in the court were supporters of the crown prince. Some ministers were secretly waiting for the opportunity to pull the crown prince down and support their favorite prince to seize the throne.

Therefore, when trouble befell the Xiao family, the other princes were naturally happy to see it happen, and they didn’t mind adding fuel to the fire when necessary. Of course, the oil could not be poured too fiercely, otherwise the emperor would be angry, and no one could bear the consequences.

Yun Hui was scolded and knelt down beside him in fear, not daring to speak further. The other princes also knew better and shut their mouths.

Anyway, the Xiao family’s reputation is in tatters this time, and the crown prince will have to deal with the fallout.

The imperial study was silent for a long time and no one spoke.

All that could be heard was the dull thud of the cane outside, occasionally accompanied by suppressed and painful groans which made people feel uneasy.

Emperor Zhaoming’s expression was grim, and Yun Chen’s face was equally dark.

Yun Zishu found an excuse not to enter the palace. Si Cang’s firm stance, backed by evidence and reason, along with the prime minister’s defense, left even the emperor and the Crown Prince powerless to salvage the Xiao family’s situation.

Xiao Yunheng was punished for overstepping his bounds. The people who did it were not instructed, and they did not know whether to punish him lightly or heavily. They just did it according to the usual strength. After a round of punishment, Xiao Yunheng also suffered a lot.

When the punishment was over, his back was crisscrossed with bloody welts, his robes soaked through. His face was deathly pale, and he had bitten his lip until it bled.

Xiao Yunheng struggled to get up from the ground, walked into the imperial study with faltering steps, and knelt down to thank the emperor.

Si Cang watched coldly from the sidelines.

The princes kneeling nearby clicked their tongues, thinking that it was really pitiful. The young general Xiao, who used to be so powerful, had been reduced to such a miserable state, which was really regrettable.

“Go back and rest.” The Emperor frowned when he saw him in this state. “Yun Chen, have someone send him back.”

“Yes.” Yun Chen suppressed his anger, glanced at Si Cang expressionlessly, and turned to leave.

“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!” Xiao Yunheng’s body was spasming with pain, and he trembled as he kowtowed in gratitude. “Your subject takes his leave.”

Yun Chen called two people over to help Xiao Yunheng up from the ground, turned around, and walked out.

Xiao Yunheng’s injuries were too severe for him to walk out of the palace on his own. Yun Chen ordered someone to find a soft stretcher from the Imperial Hospital. Four people carried Xiao Yunheng out of the palace and sent him back to the Xiao family. An imperial physician was also sent along to diagnose and administer medicine.

Such treatment surpassed even that of most imperial relatives.

The atmosphere remained silent for a moment.

“Your humble servant will take his leave.” Si Cang was the first to speak. “The eldest son of the Li family is rebellious and openly broke into the princess’s residence. I’ll go and deal with this matter.”

“Stay,” the Emperor said in a cold voice. “I have something to say to you.”

Si Cang stopped.

“Everyone else, leave.”

So the Grand Tutor, the Prime Minister, and several princes successively took their leave, leaving only Si Cang alone to face the emperor in the imperial study.

“Si Cang, you and Zi Shu…” The emperor’s gaze on him was profound and inscrutable. “You wouldn’t have any improper thoughts, would you?”

Si Cang said lightly, “Your Majesty is overthinking.”

“I hope I’m just being paranoid,” the Emperor warned coldly. “Zishu is a royal princess, a noble jewel. She’s not someone you can have any designs on.”

Si Cang still said the same thing: “Your Majesty is overthinking.”

“Don’t forget what you promised me.” Emperor Zhaoming said sternly. “If you dare to reveal the secret, I will make you wish you were dead.”

“Your humble servant’s life is of little consequence.” Si Cang’s voice was as calm as snow. “As the commander of the Dark Shadow Pavilion, I must act with impartiality. This is the iron law that the Shadow Pavilion has followed for generations, and no one can disobey it. I hope His Majesty will understand.”

Emperor Zhaoming coldly stated, “I am the Emperor. The Shadow Pavilion serves me.”

“The Shadow Pavilion is loyal to the Emperor and acts on the Emperor’s orders, but its words and deeds must be based on the truth. It must not deceive or falsify, nor deceive the Emperor or the people.” Si Cang said word by word, resolute and forceful. “I hope Your Majesty will take this into consideration.”

A sharp glint flashed in Emperor Zhaoming’s eyes, and his face was tense. The murderous intent of an emperor surfaced clearly in his heart at that moment, but it came and went out quickly.

In an instant, he slowly reined in all the emotions he had been leaking, leaving only cold authority. “I hope you will always remain loyal and devoted.”

He emphasized the words ‘loyal and devoted”, laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Si Cang bowed silently, turned around, and walked out.

Emperor Zhaoming stared at his tall and lean back and clenched the teacup fiercely, as if he wanted to crush it.

Si…Cang.

“Your Majesty.” A black shadow flashed out and knelt on the ground.

“Your current martial arts are still no match for Si Cang’s?”

“Your subordinate is incompetent.”

“Is there any other way to get rid of Si Cang as soon as possible?”

“I will find a way.”

Emperor Zhaoming slowly released the teacup, his voice returning to its usual calm. “I’ll give you a month.”

“Yes.”

Si Cang walked out of the imperial study and heard a familiar voice from afar. “Commander Si.”

He raised his eyes slightly and saw Yun Chen, dressed in the crown prince’s python robe standing in the palace corridor, looking at him expressionlessly.

Si Cang didn’t speak and silently walked over.

“Si Cang.” Yun Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his handsome face arrogant, but his tone was somewhat negotiating. “Yun Zishu is already a married woman, no longer a pure and innocent girl. There is more than one noble princess in the royal family. If you really want to marry a princess, this crown prince will make the decision to marry the eleventh sister to you. What do you think?”

Si Cang said indifferently, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I am not worthy of a noble princess.”

Yun Chen said coldly, “And you think you’re worthy of Yun Zishu?”

Si Cang was too lazy to waste his breath on him and turned to leave.

“As the saying goes, couples quarrel at the head of the bed but make up at the foot. No matter how big the quarrel is today, it cannot change the fact that Yun Zishu is a woman of the Xiao family.” Yun Chen said, staring at his retreating figure. “She will soon return to the Xiao family, and by then you’ll be left with nothing.”

Si Cang left without looking back.

Yun Zishu will never return to the Xiao family. Whether it was the Emperor or the Crown Prince, no one could force Yun Zishu to do anything she did not want to do.

From the moment she stepped out of the Xiao family’s gate, there was only hatred between her and Xiao Yunheng—nothing else.

“Your Highness,” Leng Shuang quickly returned to the mansion and reported the latest situation. “Xiao Yunheng was beaten with fifty strokes of the cane, and the Crown Prince sent someone to carry him back to the Xiao family.”

Yun Zishu leaned against the window, and upon hearing this, let out a soft “oh.”. She took a sip of tea in satisfaction. “Very good.”

“Also,” Leng Shuang continued, “on my way back to the mansion, I saw members of the Li family heading to the Xiao residence. General Xiao also rushed back home in a hurry.”

Yun Zishu turned her head to look out the window. “The good show has begun.”