Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 23

Yun Chen didn’t expect her to suddenly lose her temper and was startled. His face then changed. “Why is Ninth Sister so bad-tempered? I was kindly advising you. Which couple doesn’t quarrel?”

The Emperor’s expression had already darkened.

“Zishu, don’t lose the demeanor of a royal princess.” He said coldly, his tone already showing dissatisfaction, “Crying in front of so many people—what kind of decorum is that?”

Most of the imperial guards brought by the emperor remained outside the princess’s mansion. At this time, only a few close guards followed inside, each keeping to themselves and avoiding eye contact. The maids belonging to the princess’s mansion lowered their heads, shrank their shoulders, and did not dare to raise their heads.

If they had a choice, they would have buried themselves in the ground.

Yun Zishu took a deep breath. “So it doesn’t matter if I suffer grievances? Even if I die in the Xiao family, it’s unimportant? If I am being wronged, I should never speak of them? I must swallow my pride to maintain the face of the royal family and the demeanor of the princess?”

Yun Chen was furious. “Ninth sister!”

“What happened at the Xiao family yesterday—I have already been magnanimous and forgiven Madam Xiao and Xiao Yunheng.” Yun Zishu raised her eyes slightly and looked at her dearest father. “But does Father have to force me to go back into that den of man-eating wolves?”

The emperor’s face was gloomy, and his heart was turbulent. He was furious at Yun Zishu’s stubbornness, but when he saw her red eyes, he felt a little guilty for a while.

In order to maintain the illusion of a deep father-daughter relationship, he had to patiently persuade her. “Why didn’t you tell me directly when you were wronged before?”

“Madam Xiao kept saying that this was a family matter, which is why I didn’t report it to Father Emperor in time.” Yun Zishu raised her hand to wipe away her tears. “Your daughter also didn’t want to make Father Emperor worry. Besides, this daughter can solve this matter herself—”

“Your solution is to divorce your husband?” Yun Chen frowned.

Yun Zishu didn’t want to pay attention to this fool.

The emperor, with a sullen face, remained silent. He lifted his foot and walked towards the main courtyard. Yun Chen and Yun Zishu followed silently until they entered the main hall, where the emperor sat down in the main seat.

Yun Zishu stood to one side and did not sit down.

Si Cang had already arrived outside the main hall, his black robe exuding an imposing aura.

The grand eunuch Yang Xi, who had followed the emperor, instructed the maids to serve tea and then ordered everyone to leave. Only he remained to attend to the Emperor.

“Zishu, the princess represents the dignity of the royal family. The Xiao family is a family of military generals that I value. Your conflict with them puts me in an embarrassing situation.” The emperor suppressed his dissatisfaction and began to retreat in order to advance, trying to arouse Yun Zishu’s guilt. “If this really escalates into a stalemate, the Xiao family and the royal family will have a gap…”

“It is the duty of subjects to be loyal to their monarch, and it should not involve other things,” Yun Zishu said calmly. “If they are disloyal to their monarch just because they are not on good terms with the princess, such subjects are not worthy of trust and should not be given important positions.”

The emperor’s face darkened. “Zishu, how can you say such things?”

Yang Xi quickly interjected with a smile, “Your Highness, you may not know this, but after the Emperor severely punished Xiao Yunheng last night, he couldn’t sleep all night as he was worried about you… After all, the princess is a delicate woman. How can you manage without someone to protect you? The princess should also consider the emperor’s fatherly love, right?”

“I have been unfilial.” Yun Zishu said, lowering her eyes respectfully and self-reproachfully. “I ask Father to punish me.”

“I know you’ve been wronged. I’ll have Madam Xiao come and pick you up later. In my presence, she must make a promise to never neglect or bully you again.” The emperor said and ordered people to bring up the things he had brought for Zishu, “I brought some ginseng and bird’s nest to nourish your body.”

Yun Zishu stood to the side without saying a word, but she understood in her heart that the emperor was using both kindness and force. He was presenting her with ginseng and bird’s nest while having Madam Xiao come to personally apologize. He was forcing her to return to the Xiao family.

Have Madam Xiao make a promise?

No matter what promises Madam Xiao made today, Yun Zishu knew very well that if she really went back, it wouldn’t matter whether the promise was kept. Even if Madam Xiao imprisoned her and subjected her to abuse and beatings, her father would never stand up for her.

The outside world would never hear even a whisper of it.

Will the Xiao family really let it go after suffering this loss and pretend that nothing has happened?

Yun Zishu sneered in her heart. She would have to be completely out of her mind to believe what these people were saying.

“As for Li Xue,” the emperor frowned, “she is indeed outrageous. As a concubine, she dares to climb on the head of the legal wife and act wildly. I have decided to punish her severely.”

Zi Shu said calmly, “Li Xue framed this princess. According to the rules, her family should be executed and her property confiscated.”

Yun Chen frowned. “Ninth sister.”

“Zishu, I have already ordered Li Wenzhong to be suspended from his post and reflect at home. It is a bit excessive to confiscate his family property and exterminate his clan.” The emperor explained patiently, “When an official’s son marries a princess, it inherently carries risks. It is inevitable that there will be quarrels and arguments between husband and wife. If we immediately accuse them of overstepping and executing their families over a mere disagreement, who will dare to marry a princess in the future?”

Yun Zishu didn’t speak, her gaze drifting towards the main hall’s entrance.

Dressed in black robes, Si Cang’s profile was as sharply handsome as if carved by a knife, cold and noble. Even standing silently outside, he brought her a sense of profound ease.

“Your Majesty,” a bodyguard came quickly and knelt on one knee outside the hall. “General Xiao and Madam Xiao have arrived.”

The emperor composed his expression and spoke with authority. “Let them in.”

“Yes.”

The imperial guard left in a hurry. Yun Zishu withdrew her gaze and silently stared at the black brick floor in the hall. A trace of mockery appeared in her eyes.

In order to force her to return to the Xiao family, her father really played the role of a “good father” to the fullest. Not only did he personally visit her to persuade her, but he even left her no room for refusal.

Yun Chen sat on the other side, holding a teacup in his hand, and sneered to himself.

A princess without her mother’s protection thought she could defy Father by throwing a tantrum? After the Xiao family has been humiliated this time, let’s see if she will have a good time when she returns back.

Xiao Yuanting and his wife soon rushed over.

“Your subject ( the subject’s wife) greets Your Majesty; may Your Majesty live ten thousand years! Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince; may His Highness live a thousand years!”

“Rise.”

“General Xiao and Madam Xiao, did you not see this princess?” Yun Zishu’s gaze shifted coldly towards them. “Or do the two of you not regard this princess with any respect?”

The emperor frowned deeply.

General Xiao, who was about to stand up, knelt down again. “Your subject pays his respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess—”

“General Xiao,” Yun Zishu calmly reminded him. “This princess is the Guardian State’s legitimate princess. Which princess are you addressing?”

Xiao Yuanting was furious, but his face did not show any emotional fluctuations. He respectfully changed his words. “Your subject pays his respects to the Guardian State’s legitimate princess; may Your Highness live a thousand years.”

Madam Xiao followed suit and bowed. “Your subject’s wife greets the Guardian State’s legitimate princess; may Your Highness live a thousand years.”