Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 16

Yun Zishu frowned. “Is he ever going to stop?”

Such a trivial matter—first, imperial decrees were issued repeatedly, and now the crown prince had come in person. Did they have nothing else to attend to?

The subordinate who reported the news was shocked and silently retreated a few steps.

“I’ll go deal with it.” Si Cang stood up and was about to go out when Yun Zishu grabbed his arm. “Sit down.”

Si Cang turned his head. “Your Highness?”

“No matter how big things are, eating comes first.” Yun Zishu looked at the food on the table and said in a faint voice, “We can’t waste food. Finish eating before going.”

“Yes.” Si Cang sat down again.

Yun Zishu ate quietly, not wanting to pay attention to the things outside.

Yun Chen came with the imperial physicians and imperial guards. His purpose was obvious. First, he wanted to confirm whether Yun Zishu was really injured, and second, he wanted to take Li Xuan away by force.

But Yun Zishu would not let him have his way.

In the front yard, Yun Chen looked at Li Wenzhong kneeling on the bluestone slab in disbelief. “Minister Li, what are you doing?”

Li Wenzhong turned his head and saw the crown prince. He quickly bowed in greeting. “Your Highness, I am guilty! I have failed to teach my son, so I came to apologize to the princess. I only hope that the princess will be generous and forgive Xuan’er this time.”

Yun Chen said coldly, “Ninth Sister has not shown up?”

How can a dignified official of the imperial court kneel here and beg for mercy from a princess?

Yun Zishu is simply outrageous!

And this is Li Wenzhong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He had originally hoped that he would be promoted to the position of minister and secure the Ministry of Revenue for him. However, is such a cowardly and incompetent person worthy of sitting in the position of minister?

“I… I just arrived and don’t know how severe the princess’s injuries are…”

Yun Chen looked up at the guards blocking his way and said, “Get out of the way!”

“Her Highness is not feeling well. Commander Si has given strict orders that no one is allowed to disturb her before she wakes up so as to prevent anyone from doing anything to hurt her again.”

“Presumptuous!” Yun Chen shouted angrily. “I am the crown prince, and you dare to stop me?”

The guards blocking the way were unmoved.

The Shadow Pavilion served the emperor and obeyed their commander, but they did not take orders from the crown prince. Therefore, Yun Chen’s prestige is not effective in front of the Shadow Pavilion’s shadow guards.

Of course, Yun Chen did not know how many Shadow Guards Si Cang had arranged in the princess’s mansion. The similar black guard uniforms made it impossible to tell who was an ordinary guard and who was from the Shadow Pavilion.

Yun Chen was furious and said coldly, “I have brought imperial physicians to examine Ninth Sister’s injuries. All of you get out of my way. If her condition worsens because of your delay, I will take your lives!”

The guards stood in a row in front of him, silent and unmoved, their expressions unwavering.

Yun Chen’s face darkened. “You don’t listen to what I say; do you want to rebel?”

“We dare not,” said the guard on the left with his head lowered. “It’s just that we were negligent today, causing the princess to be injured by the eldest son of the Li family, who broke in. Several guards responsible for guarding the inner courtyard were taken to the punishment hall to be punished. It’s hard to say whether they can survive. Please forgive me, Your Highness. I dare not challenge the authority of Commander Si.”

Such an explanation could be considered a legitimate reason, allowing His Highness the Crown Prince to understand their difficulties, rather than disobeying orders for no reason.

After hearing this, Yun Chen’s face did soften a little. “So that’s how it is.”

Li Wenzhong’s face changed drastically when he heard this. Several guards who had failed to protect their master had been taken to the punishment hall and severely punished. Then his son… his son had personally injured the princess. This…

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Li Wenzhong’s face was pale. “I beg Your Highness the Crown Prince to save Xuan’er! He didn’t mean to offend the Ninth Princess, Your Highness…”

Yun Chen suppressed the anger in his heart and said, “You go and report now; say that this crown prince has brought imperial physicians to treat ninth sister’s injuries. I mean no harm.”

“Yes.”

One of the guards turned to deliver the message, while the others remained stationed at the entrance, preventing anyone from entering the inner courtyard easily.

Yun Chen fumed at the sight before him. Although he had brought the Imperial Guards for intimidation, their numbers were limited. He could not possibly start a confrontation with the Dark Shadow Guards here in the princess’s residence.

So Yun Chen waited here until Yun Zishu finished her meal in a leisurely manner and drank her tea before finally replying to the guard, “Just say that this princess has just woken up and her head is still aching. Let the imperial physicians come in.”

“Yes.”

Yun Zishu walked into the inner room, took off her outer robe, and calmly lay down on the bed. “Leng Shuang and Leng Yue will serve by the side. Everyone else, leave.”

A smile flashed across Si Cang’s lips, and he turned and walked out.

“Where is the eldest son of the Li family being held?”

“The northwest courtyard.”

“Take me there.”

“Yes.”

When Yun Chen brought the imperial physician in, he saw Yun Zishu lying weakly on the bed. As soon as he entered the door, he questioned, “Lord Li is an official of the court. Is it appropriate for the Ninth Sister to make him kneel outside like this?”

Yun Zishu got up and leaned against the head of the bed, her voice cold. “Are the officials of the imperial court more noble than the princess?”

“You—”

“Li Xuan broke into my residence and disrespectfully dragged me to the ground without any justification. Such insubordination warrants punishment as severe as the confiscation of his property and extermination of the family.” Yun Zishu said icily, “Minister Li failed to educate his son properly. Shouldn’t he be apologizing?”

Yun Chen’s face was ugly. “Yun Zishu.”

“Li Xue framed the princess, which is a capital crime.” Zi Shu looked stern. “I originally wanted to punish her a little and then let her out, but since Young Master Li has offended me so much, I think we should deal with it according to the rules.”

Li Wenzhong’s face changed drastically, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. “Your Highness, please forgive me! This old minister knows his guilt and begs Your Highness to forgive that rebellious son, Li Xuan. After returning, this old minister will definitely teach him a good lesson. I beg Your Highness to be generous and forgive him this time! Your Highness—”

Yun Zishu glanced at him. “The Li family’s education of their children has certainly broadened my horizons.”

Li Wenzhong’s face was pale, and he repeatedly admitted his mistakes and asked for punishment.

He wasn’t afraid of Yun Zishu. If this princess was just a person, with the protection of the Crown Prince and the Xiao family, even Li Xuan’s insubordination would not have consequences. But Si Cang was in the princess’s residence at this time.

Who is Si Cang?

In the eyes of the civil and military officials, he was a cold-blooded and ruthless evil spirit who killed people without blinking an eye. It was okay if no handle fell into his hands, but once there was a handle, he could make people die without a burial place at any time.

The power of the Dark Shadow Pavilion has been growing in the past two years. Even the Crown Prince is afraid of it, let alone a mere fourth-rank vice minister?

Li Wenzhong would never dare to underestimate Yun Zishu here. Who knew what medicine Si Cang had taken wrong and suddenly wanted to protect Yun Zishu so much?

Yun Chen stood with his hands behind his back, glanced at Li Wenzhong’s humble appearance with displeasure, and turned to look at Yun Zishu. “Let the imperial physicians take your pulse and examine your injuries. That way I can return to the palace sooner to report.”

His tone was unmistakably commanding.

Yun Zishu raised her hand to rub the back of her head, as if she was a little uncomfortable. She frowned and said, “There’s no need to take my pulse. Aside from a slight headache, I don’t feel unwell anywhere else.”

Yun Chen couldn’t be bothered to care whether she was in pain or not. “Since that’s the case, let me take Li Xuan away.”

“Li Xuan?” Yun Zishu frowned. “He hasn’t returned home yet?”

Yun Chen’s face turned cold. “Are you playing dumb?”

“There’s no need for the Crown Prince to fly into a rage.” Yun Zishu said calmly. “I only remember him rushing in like a madman and dragging me to the ground, and then I fainted. I don’t know what happened after that.”

“Your Highness,” Leng Shuang, who was standing to the side, said, “Li Xuan has been locked up by the Shadow Guards.”

“Is that so?” Yun Zishu said, “Where is he being held now?”

“He’s locked in the firewood room in the northwest courtyard of the princess’s mansion. The commander has already gone over.”

What?

Yun Chen’s face changed dramatically. “Si Cang is also here?”