Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 17

Li Wenzhong froze. Had he not told the Crown Prince that Commander Si was in the princess’s residence?

Yun Chen looked at Yun Zishu coldly. “Ninth sister, I want to make it clear to you that your marriage with Xiao Yunheng was bestowed by the Emperor. Don’t even think about divorcing him. Even if you want to divorce your wife, it’s impossible! If you want to defy the imperial edict, you’d better consider whether you value your life.”

With that, he turned around and hurried out.

The imperial physicians left in the main hall looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

“Gentlemen, you may return now. If my father asks, just tell him that I’ve already woken up and there’s nothing seriously wrong with me.” Yun Zishu said, rising to her feet and rubbing her head. “It’s just that my head is a little sore.”

Imperial Physician Xue still remembered how calmly this princess had exposed the lies of the concubine of the Xiao family through pulse-taking in the morning and sent her to the Dark Shadow Pavilion. He did not dare to be negligent to her at this moment and asked cautiously, “Perhaps your subject should still take Your Highness’s pulse? A head injury can range from minor to severe. If any hidden damage is left behind, the consequences could be disastrous.”

Yun Zishu looked up at him. “Physician Xue has a granddaughter at home, who should be about the same age as me.”

Doctor Xue was startled. “Yes.”

“Has she studied medicine?”

“She has.”

“If that’s the case, send her to my residence tomorrow,” Yun Zishu said. “She will stay by my side and work for me from now on.”

Doctor Xue hesitated for a moment. “She only learned the basics…”

“That’s fine,” Yun Zishu said in a gentle voice. “She should be able to diagnose common ailments like colds and fevers, right? And when women occasionally feel unwell and it’s inconvenient to summon the imperial physician, it’s always better to have someone nearby to take care of things.”

“Yes.”

The imperial physicians soon took their leave and departed.

Yun Zishu walked to the window and stood there, watching as the imperial physicians left.

“Your Highness, Princess…” Li Wenzhong opened his mouth uneasily. “Your subject is deeply aware of his failure in raising his son, and I will definitely discipline him well in the future. Could Your Highness… could you…”

Yun Zishu turned to look at him. “Minister Li wants me to spare Li Xuan?”

Minister Li nodded quickly. “I will definitely teach him well in the future, and I will never dare to offend the princess again.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Leng Yue walked in from outside and brought back the latest news: “The commander also took Li Xuan to the Dark Shadow Pavilion. The crown prince was one step late and missed him.”

Li Wenzhong’s vision went black, and he almost fainted.

Yun Zishu smiled faintly when she heard the words, “Okay, the Crown Prince is going to be furious again.”

The princess’s mansion was not too big, but it was definitely not small. It was not difficult for Si Cang to avoid the Crown Prince and take Li Xuan out.

“Minister Li, you heard it. Li Xuan is now taken to the Dark Shadow Pavilion. It is not something I can simply order to release him.” Yun Zishu’s expression was indifferent. “However, I can put in a word with Si Cang, but there is a condition.”

Seeing that there was a turning point, Li Wenzhong quickly said, “Your Highness, please speak. As long as you can let Li Xuan go, I am willing to agree to any condition of the princess.”

“Li Xuan’s offense against me is a fact. I was really frightened today, and I am also feeling unwell,” Yun Zishu said. “I’m merely a princess and don’t have the authority to punish court officials. Minister Li, you should go to the Emperor to plead guilty by admitting that you failed to teach your son well. If you can voluntarily give up the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, I’ll ask Si Cang to release Li Xuan soon.”

Give up the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?

This…

Li Wenzhong’s face changed. “Your Highness, I…”

“Minister Li can also refuse; anyway, whether Li Xuan lives or dies depends on your choice.” Yun Zishu walked to the window and sat down, raising her hand to rub her eyebrows. “I won’t force you.”

He weighed the importance of his official position against that of his son.

Li Wenzhong was still struggling. “If the Emperor does not agree…”

“If you confess your guilt with a more sincere attitude, you will get what you want.” Yun Zishu said with a faint smile. “I believe that after serving as an official for so many years, you would know what to say and what not to say. If I find out you have said something you shouldn’t have said, then I can’t guarantee whether Li Xuan and Li Xue won’t subjected to torture in the Dark Shadow Pavilion.”

Li Wenzhong’s face turned pale.

Yun Zishu waved her hand. “You may leave.”

Li Wenzhong wanted to say more, but when he saw Yun Zishu’s cold and beautiful face, all the words seemed to be stuck in his throat. He couldn’t utter a single word.

He had no idea what Yun Zishu was trying to do. Li Xuan’s offense deserved punishment, but from a woman’s perspective, wouldn’t a severe beating suffice?

Why did he, an old father, get implicated and was forced to give up his official position?

At this moment, Li Wenzhong deeply resented his wife, Lu. If she hadn’t spoiled their children so much, how could they have caused such a disaster today?

He had thought that with the Crown Prince protecting them, they would be given a small punishment as a warning, but he didn’t expect that not only was Li Xue taken to the Dark Shadow Pavilion, but even Li Xuan had fallen into their hands.

The thought of the ruthless shadow guards of the Dark Shadow Pavilion and Si Cang, whom all court officials feared, made Minister Li’s heart tremble with dread, as if a heavy stone were pressing down on him.

“Your Highness must be tired today. Wash up and rest early.” Leng Shuang said, bringing over a basin of water. “The Li family is a member of the Crown Prince’s faction. The Crown Prince will undoubtedly protect them fiercely, and the Xiao family will never give up easily. I’m afraid we will have more to deal with tomorrow.”

Yun Zishu remained silent.

For her, this tumultuous day had come to an end, but she knew that it was far from over for others.

Xiao Yunheng was beaten, Madam Xiao was on edge, General Xiao had entered the palace to plead guilty, and the Xiao family’s opponents would not miss this opportunity to impeach him.

The crown prince will certainly be unable to not sleep tonight either, as the emperor will put pressure on him.

Her marriage to Xiao Yunheng was the result of the emperor’s repeated calculations. The Emperor would never agree to let her divorce Xiao Yunheng so easily. Otherwise, his plan to restrain the Feng family would be lost, and he also would not have the opportunity to get rid of her, his daughter, in a legitimate way.

The Feng family.

Yun Zishu quietly gazed at the night scene outside the window.

The Feng family was the family of the emperor’s uncle, commanding 200,000 private soldiers. They were meritorious officials who had supported the emperor’s ascension to the throne but now have become a lurking threat. The emperor has always wanted to take back the Feng family’s military power, but he has never found a legitimate excuse.

Half of the elite troops of the Great Yong Dynasty were in the hands of the Feng family, who had rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor to the throne. After the emperor ascended the throne, the son of the Duke of Feng directly assumed the position of the Grand Chancellor. However, as the emperor became more and more suspicious, the Feng family could only keep a low profile and even tried to reduce their presence in the court as much as possible.

The Xiao family controls 150,000 Tiger Guard troops, which can barely rival the Feng family. However, the Xiao family has been more prominent in the past few years because the Xiao family has led troops in both internal rebellions and border wars in recent years.

The Xiao family had made great military achievements.

The Feng family never volunteered to fight, and the emperor did not want the Feng family to have the opportunity to make contributions. But even so, the 200,000 Feng family army still made the emperor sleepless at night, and he dreamed of reclaiming the forces and finding an excuse to get rid of the Feng family.

Yun Zishu exhaled softly.

Her father was deeply paranoid, burdened by too many misdeeds and too many enemies he wished to eliminate. Being emperor was truly exhausting.