Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 3

Si Cang walked up to Yun Zishu, his thin lips lightly pursed, his deep gaze fixed on her face, his eyes filled with indescribable complexity. After a moment, he bowed his head and greeted her, “Your Highness, I pay my respects. How is Your Highness?”

“I’m fine.” Yun Zishu replied, looking at him with equally complicated emotions in her eyes. “You came at the right time.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunheng’s expression changed again, and he looked coldly at Yun Zishu.

What did she mean by that?

Yun Zishu ignored him and continued, “Does my father know you’re here?”

“His Majesty doesn’t know yet,” Si Cang said respectfully. “However, I have already sent someone to inform the Emperor. I believe the Emperor will know soon.”

“Then,”Yun Zishu suppressed the turmoil in her heart, “will you obey my orders?”

Xiao Yunheng was both shocked and furious: “Yun Zishu!”

“Yes.” Si Cang lowered his eyes, his voice steady as a rock, mixed with a barely noticeable hint of submission, “If the princess has any orders, I will definitely comply.”

“In that case, listen carefully,” Yun Zishu enunciated every word coldly. “Later, when the imperial physician makes his diagnosis, it is confirmed that the concubine’s miscarriage was caused by me pushing her into the lake, then I will submit to whatever punishment the Xiao family deems fit—no complaints.”

Xiao Yunheng’s expressions stiffened.

“If the diagnosis does not match the facts and proves that the concubine is lying, then both Madam Xiao and Xiao Yunheng have wronged the princess, and the concubine has falsely accused the princess. They should be punished accordingly,” Yun Zishu said. “Moreover, the princess will divorce Xiao Yunheng.”

“Yun Zishu!”

“Your Highness!”

Madam Xiao angrily said, “It’s simply absurd!”

“No problem,” Si Cang replied calmly, ignoring the impotent rage of the Xiao mother and son. “The Xiao family will definitely comply with Her Highness’s request.”

They had no choice but to agree.

Xiao Yunheng clenched his fist, his gaze fixed on Yun Zishu’s breathtakingly beautiful yet calm and indifferent face, and an ominous premonition suddenly arose in his heart.

Could it be that she was truly wronged?

But the maid beside her clearly said that it was Yun Zishu who pushed the concubine into the lake.

Xiao Yunheng was just about to say something when a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside. The servant shouted, “Madam, Young General, the imperial physician has arrived!”

Everyone turned to look.

Several imperial physicians from outside the courtyard walked in a line, each carrying a medicine box. All of them were over fifty years old and were the most skilled physicians in the Imperial Medical Institute.

Among them, there are two who are skilled in women’s ailments, specifically responsible for ensuring the safety of pregnant concubines in the harem and helping them maintain their health.

Xiao Yunheng felt a slight heaviness in his heart. For some reason, he suddenly regretted his earlier impulsiveness.

He should have first got to the bottom of the matter before confronting Yun Zishu to demand an explanation…

“Your Highness,” Madam Xiao frowned, seemingly holding back something with great effort. “As a concubine, Xue’er wouldn’t dare to truly hold the princess accountable. As long as the princess apologizes to Xue’er, this matter can be considered settled. There’s no need to make it a public spectacle.”

“But now it’s already known by everyone.” Yun Zishu gave a faint smile, as if finding her words amusing. “Do you really think this princess is someone who can be easily manipulated?”

Madam Xiao gritted her teeth coldly. “If this gets out of hand, it will be hard to explain to the Emperor.”

“Don’t you worry about it,” Yun Zishu said coldly. “Even if this princess were to die, it would never be at the Xiao family’s residence.”

“You—”

“The imperial physician has arrived; no need for more nonsense.” Si Cang spoke, his voice cold and firm, “Someone, go bring the concubine here.”

Madam Xiao said, “Xue’er just had a miscarriage and is injured—”

“If she can’t walk on her own, have someone carry her over,” Si Cang ordered, his tone leaving no room for discussion. “Leng Shuang.”

“Yes.”

Leng Shuang accepted the order and left.

Madam Xiao was so furious that her chest ached. She cursed Yun Zishu in her heart, calling her a shameless woman. Clearly not of noble birth, yet she was trying to flaunt her princess-like authority here.

The emperor has already betrothed her to Yun Heng, yet she still refused to behave. Absolutely…

“Madam Xiao is cursing me in her heart?” Yun Zishu said casually, with a mocking expression, “You might as well say it out loud so you don’t end up harming your health.”

Madam Xiao’s face stiffened: “Your Highness, the princess, is joking.”

Yun Zishu gave a slight smile.

Whether it was a joke or not didn’t matter. What mattered was that soon, someone wouldn’t be laughing anymore.

“I’m going to check on Xue’er.” Madam Xiao planned to leave.

“Stay.” Si Cang lifted his gaze, his tone as hard as iron. “The princess hasn’t dismissed you yet. It’s best if Madam Xiao remains here.”

Madam Xiao froze in her tracks, her anger boiling over, wishing she could immediately call the guards to come and tear Si Cang apart.

A Shadow Guard captain actually dares to speak so boldly in the Xiao family?

Who exactly gave him such authority?

“Zishu.” Xiao Yunheng realised the situation was not good, suppressed his temper, turned to look at Yun Zishu, and tried hard to make his tone gentler, “If there is any misunderstanding in this matter, I am willing to listen to your explanation. Xue’er has just had a miscarriage and is still weak. You are making such a big fuss…”

“The imperial physician is already here; we can’t let them make a trip for nothing, can we?” Yun Zishu said with a calm smile. “Besides, since it was a miscarriage caused by falling into the water, it’s just right to have the imperial physicians give her some treatment to prevent any lingering issues.”

Xiao Yunheng was left speechless.

Yun Zishu waited patiently, wanting to see how Li Xue, who had plotted against her with a full belly of schemes, would handle herself once the lies were exposed.

“Are all the servants of the Xiao family so undisciplined?” Si Cang turned his head and shot a glance, his gaze sharp and chilling. “The princess has been standing here for so long, and not even a chair is provided?”

The servants of the Xiao family, who were watching, turned pale with fright and hurriedly went to bring a chair for Her Highness the Princess.

Your Highness, the Princess is not scary; what’s scary is that this Commander can kill at any time, and he isn’t breaking any laws—it’s permitted by the Emperor. As long as he provides a reasonable justification, the Emperor won’t say a word.

The leader of the Shadow Guards, Si Cang, has a beauty that borders on the supernatural, yet he is a ruthless killer who doesn’t blink an eye when taking a life.

“Your Highness,” several imperial physicians approached and bowed to Yun Zishu. “We pay our respects to Your Highness. Are you feeling unwell, Your Highness?”

“No need for excessive courtesy,” Yun Zishu said. “My health is fine. I invited a few imperial physicians today to clarify some matters.”

“Your Highness, please speak.”

“She’ll be here shortly,” Yun Zishu said. “Please wait a moment.”

Several imperial physicians nodded. Although they were puzzled, they patiently waited.

After all, since the commander is so patient, they naturally need to be even more patient.

A servant soon brought over an ornate pearwood chair. Yun Zishu smoothed her skirts and sat down expressionlessly.

Madam Xiao’s and Xiao Yunheng’s faces were stiff and pale, their expressions indescribably grim.

Originally, they had come to demand answers. Madam Xiao had even planned to take Yun Zishu to the ancestral hall for punishment. Yet the situation has spiralled far beyond their expectations, leaving them unprepared.

Now, Yun Zishu was sitting, and they were standing.

The hierarchy was clear.

How could Madam Xiao stomach this?

The Crown Prince had clearly promised that as long as Princess Yun Zishu entered the Xiao family, she would become a member of the Xiao family, needing to follow the Xiao family’s rules, serve her in-laws, support her husband and raise children, and treat others with kindness.

If she fell short, Madam Xiao had the authority to discipline her, and no one would fault her even if she was beaten or punished.

So why was this happening?

Why was Si Cang, the Shadow Guard Commander, so protective of her? His loyalty should belong to the Emperor, not the Princess.