The imperial edict was issued, shocking Du Wei’s double chin right off!
From the moment he was escorted in to the moment he was dragged out, he didn’t get to say a single word.
He was pinned to the ground, his pants were pulled down, and the paddling began!
With the Emperor enraged, the guards struck with extra force, terrified that if they didn’t hit hard enough, they would have to take a blow for this old eunuch themselves!
With the first strike, Du Wei’s skin split open and his flesh was torn.
“Ahhhh!”
“Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me!”
Screams, cries of pain, pleas for mercy…
As the sounds drifted in, Xie Yuantang lowered her head, hiding the slight curve of her lips.
This was only the beginning.
Suddenly, a large, warm hand gently covered her ears.
Xie Yuantang looked up and met Si Tu Yan’s clear Peach Blossom Eyes.
“Wifey, don’t listen. If you don’t listen, you won’t be scared.”
Xie Yuantang paused for a moment, then smiled.
She was someone who dared to dissect zombies with her bare hands. How could she be afraid of this?
But while she wasn’t afraid, someone else was.
Ever since Du Wei and the others had appeared, Empress Jiang’s expression had grown increasingly grim.
Especially after Du Wei had called out her name.
“Her Majesty the Empress, save me!”
“Your Majesty, save this servant!”
On the dragon throne, Situ Qing’s gaze on Empress Jiang gradually deepened.
Outside the hall, an inconspicuous young eunuch appeared briefly at the doorway. Gui Momo glanced over but made no move, only giving an imperceptible nod when Empress Jiang looked her way.
Empress Jiang instantly felt a wave of relief.
But she had only half-exhaled when that unique, innocent, and childish voice piped up, “Huh? Your Majesty the Empress, why does Du Wei keep calling for you?”
Empress Jiang was speechless.
You wretched girl, sooner or later, I will tear that detestable mouth off your face!
Though she silently cursed Xie Yuantang’s quick tongue, Empress Jiang knew she couldn’t let Du Wei continue speaking. She took a deep breath and said to Situ Qing:
“Your Majesty, for these damnable servants to commit such a depraved act, a mere two hundred strokes of the paddle is far too lenient for them.”
Situ Qing narrowed his eyes. “Oh? Then how should they be dealt with, in the Empress’s opinion?”
“According to the Xuan Zhao Laws, a servant who insults their master shall be executed.”
Situ Qing said, “Du Wei is one of your people, after all. Is the Empress not going to plead for him?”
Empress Jiang declared with righteous integrity, “He committed insubordination, tarnished my reputation, and sowed discord between me and Yan’er. Keeping such a wicked servant would only bring disaster.”
Xie Yuantang sneered inwardly. What a passionate speech, but it’s nothing more than sacrificing a pawn to save the king.
But from Situ Qing’s attitude, it seemed the Empress would be let off the hook today.
After all, how could a few eunuchs possibly be enough to bring down the empress of a nation?
As expected, Situ Qing looked at Yan Guanqing. “What does my dear subject think?”
Yan Guanqing’s gaze swept imperceptibly over Xie Yuantang and Si Tu Yan. “This subject believes Her Majesty the Empress is absolutely right.”
“Men!”
Without even needing a trial, Situ Qing issued the decree directly: “Take Du Wei and the other two into custody. They will be executed on a chosen date!”
“Yes.”
Du Wei probably never imagined that merely bullying Si Tu Yan as he usually did would lead to his own beheading.
The two hundred strokes had already left Du Wei and the others half-dead.
Now, this imperial edict shocked him into a final burst of life. He clung to the bench and wailed, “Her Majesty the Empress, save me! This servant was only— Mmph, mmph…”
No one listened to him any longer. The guards clamped their hands over his, Xiao Li Zi’s, and Xiao Shunzi’s mouths and dragged them away, leaving only a pool of blood on the ground outside the hall.
Si Tu Yan stared blankly at the departing Du Wei, then suddenly turned and asked Xie Yuantang, “Wifey, if I take steamed buns in the future, will I not get beaten?”
“Of course!”
Xie Yuantang’s eyes curved into crescents as she nodded her little head affirmatively. “You can take as many steamed buns as you want!”
Si Tu Yan’s Peach Blossom Eyes lit up, as if he had just discovered some new feeding channel. “Then I’ll get steamed buns for Wifey every day!”
Xie Yuantang replied, “…That won’t be necessary.”
Listening to the two children go on about steamed buns, Situ Qing felt a smile tug at his lips. He beckoned them over. “Alright, the matter of the wicked servants is resolved. It’s time for the tea ceremony, isn’t it?”
Empress Jiang was quick to get back on track. The spring-like smile on her face made it seem as if the previous incident had never happened. She nodded and said, “Indeed. You two, why don’t you hurry up and serve tea to your Imperial Father?”
Xie Yuantang blinked, only now remembering that the original purpose of their visit to the palace today was the tea ceremony.
The two of them came forward, knelt before the Emperor and Empress, and served them tea respectively.
Empress Jiang accepted Xie Yuantang’s tea and took a small sip before suddenly adopting the tone of a strict mother. “Yuantang, you are now a member of the imperial family. While you may be informal before your Imperial Father and me today, you must learn all the palace rules in the future. How about this: starting tomorrow, you will come to the palace daily, and I will have Gui Momo teach you the rules.”
Xie Yuantang thought, Damn it!
So you’re using this trick against me, you old witch?
Xie Yuantang blinked, then turned to look at Situ Qing with a pitiful expression. “Imperial Father, Tangtang knows she isn’t good enough, but Tangtang’s body hurts so much, and my face hurts too…”
As she spoke, her large eyes filled with glistening tears.
It was a heart-wrenching sight.
Situ Qing immediately made a decision. “The rules can be learned anytime. Focus on healing your injuries first!”
“Besides, Yuantang has her homecoming visit the day after tomorrow. The residence will surely be busy. There’s no need to rush these next two days.”
“Imperial Father is the best!”
Xie Yuantang offered a bit of flattery, and then, as her big eyes darted around, an idea sparked.
Apocalypse Survival Rule #2: Settle grudges on the same day! And make each act of revenge stronger than the last!
Trying to trap me into learning rules?
Watch as the great Tangtang pulls you out by the roots!
“Imperial Father…”
A timid, soft voice sounded. Xie Yuantang blinked her large, frightened eyes and asked in a small voice, “Imperial Father punished Du Wei, but there are still so many people in the residence… Will they beat my husband and me again? Tangtang is scared…”
Her small body trembled as she huddled next to Si Tu Yan.
Imagining such a scene, Si Tu Yan’s handsome face turned pale, and he began to tremble as well. He mustered his courage and looked at Situ Qing. “Imperial Father, can… can Wifey not live in the Prince’s Residence? She’ll be beaten, she won’t have enough to eat… I’m useless, I can’t protect her.”
The two of them, one big and one small, knelt there, looking weak, helpless, and utterly pitiable.
The scarce paternal love in Situ Qing’s heart was instantly aroused. He waved his hand grandly and declared, “They dare not!”
“You need not fear. I will thoroughly investigate the Prince’s Residence. Every last one of those treacherous servants who bullies their masters will be thrown out!”
“Really?”
Xie Yuantang’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her small hands in admiration. “Imperial Father is the best! Long live Imperial Father!”
She jumped up, the tassels on her head swinging back and forth, looking absolutely adorable.
Situ Qing’s old fatherly heart melted.
Xie Yuantang winked at Si Tu Yan. “Husband, isn’t Imperial Father amazing?”
Si Tu Yan tilted his head and looked at Situ Qing.
For a moment, Situ Qing actually felt a little nervous, his hand tightening slightly on the armrest.
“Mm, amazing.”
His Peach Blossom Eyes curved, and Si Tu Yan said honestly, “Imperial Father can defeat Du Wei. He’s super amazing!”
He mimicked Xie Yuantang’s phrasing and even gave Situ Qing a proper thumbs-up.
Situ Qing was slightly taken aback, then burst out laughing. “Good! Good!”
Xie Yuantang glanced at Yan Guanqing beside them and gave him a thumbs-up too. “Uncle is awesome too!”
Yan Guanqing thought, …You little rascal.
In his delight, Situ Qing bestowed many gifts upon Xie Yuantang and Si Tu Yan—countless gold, silver, jewels, clothes, and accessories. Furthermore, he assigned his trusted head eunuch, Qu Gonggong, to the couple.
“Let Qu Pei go back with you. Tidy up what needs tidying in the residence, and clean out who needs cleaning out. We’ll talk about learning the rules when the residence is peaceful.”
Xie Yuantang’s big eyes suddenly shone.
A proper cleanup would surely take more than two or three days.
That meant Qu Pei would definitely still be with them during her homecoming visit.
This was practically a living, breathing seal of approval!
She refused to believe that the Xie family would dare to disrespect her, or even more so, disrespect the Emperor behind Qu Gonggong!
Hmph.
Scum father, vile concubine, and dear little sister, your Tang is coming for you now!