“I have always treated everyone equally. If the elder receives twenty lashes, the younger shall also receive twenty.”
“Otherwise, outsiders might think I am biased.”
“Xuan Yu, there is no need for Princess Consort to administer this punishment personally. You may do it instead.
Xuan Yu immediately replied, “Yes!”
She then took the whip from Lu Qiuci’s hand; Lu Qiuci quickly let go and handed it over.
He unconsciously shot Xu Chen a grateful glance.
Lu Rong’s hand was also forcibly pulled forward. She was young, so her hands were small, but they were plump. Her short, thick fingernails were caked with black mud from playing around. Xuan Yu showed no mercy and lashed out with the whip.
Xuan Yu was a guard trained in martial arts—and a formidable one at that. Her strength was nothing like that of a frail young master like Lu Qiuci.
With a single lash, the red welts swelled higher than those on Lu Xuan’s hand.
After fewer than ten lashes, Lu Rong’s hand was already a patchwork of bruises and purple marks, with no spot left untouched.
Lu Rong was crying so hard she nearly fainted. Lu Huan couldn’t bear to watch and several times considered pleading with Xu Chen for mercy.
But they had all been thoroughly cowed by Xu Chen and dared not make a move.
Xu Chen’s moods were unpredictable and terrifying. Lu Huan couldn’t bear the consequences of provoking her again.
Otherwise, it would likely be far more than just twenty lashes.
Seeing that she could barely endure even ten lashes, Xuan Yu was at a loss. Xu Chen ordered directly, “Strike her legs.”
When she said twenty lashes, she meant twenty. If there weren’t enough lashes for her hands, they would be administered to her legs—not a single one would be spared.
That was Xu Chen.
The Crown Princess never spoke idly; otherwise, those beneath her might think her words could be taken with a grain of salt.
Once the punishment was administered and the purpose achieved, Xu Chen saw no reason to keep Lu Huan and Wei Hanjun any longer. She said, “Qiu Ci misses her father. I am very pleased that Censor Lu and Lord Wei came to visit.”
“Although there was a minor, unpleasant incident today, I believe you didn’t deliberately send your child to cause trouble. A small punishment serves as a great warning; I hope you will take better care to uphold proper family discipline in the future.”
“You may go. The next time Qiu Ci wishes to see her father, the Princess’s Residence will send someone to fetch him.”
This was a message to Lu Huan: she valued Lu Qiuci, and as Lu Qiuci’s father, Wei Hanjun was welcome to visit the Princess’s Mansion at any time. Lu Huan had better think carefully about how she should conduct herself.
In fact, Lu Qiuci’s earlier warning had intended to convey the same message.
His father already had powerful backing. If Lu Huan knew what was good for her, she would treat his father with respect and stop indulging Sun Wendan’s mistreatment of him.
However, when Lu Qiuci spoke to her calmly, Lu Huan refused to listen. It wasn’t until her son and daughter were each sentenced to forty lashes that she finally understood the gravity of the situation.
Lu Huan couldn’t bear to stay at the Princess’s residence a moment longer; when she heard Xu Chen tell them to return, it was as if she’d been granted a pardon.
Wei Hanjun exchanged a few more words with Lu Qiuci before reluctantly following the Lu family’s carriage out of the Princess’s residence.
To resolve the issue once and for all and cut off any potential future trouble, Xu Chen simply ordered Wei Hanjun to take two servants back with him.
He’d treat it as a sign of Lu Qiuci’s filial piety toward him. From now on, the Lu Mansion would have an informant within the Crown Princess’s residence, so Lu Huan and Sun Wendan wouldn’t stand a chance of pulling any more bullying stunts.
As for Sun Wendan, who had been waiting at home, secretly hoping to scoop up some goodies from the Princess’s Mansion, she was instead met with the sight of her own son and daughter leaving in high spirits only to return in tears, throwing the entire Lu Mansion into chaos.
Unable to cause trouble for Wei Hanjun, she could only throw a tantrum at Lu Huan, creating a scene of domestic turmoil—but that was of no concern to Lu Qiuci and Xu Chen.
“Your Highness, you went to the Ministry of War early this morning and didn’t return until after noon. Have you had lunch yet?”
“Not yet.”
Lu Qiuci quickly summoned Di Liu. “Go tell the kitchen to send another set of dishes. We can’t let Your Highness go hungry.”
Di Liu gave a quick, “Yes,” and hurried out the door.
Lu Qiuci then looked at the official robes Xu Chen was wearing and asked cautiously, “Your Highness, now that you’re back at the mansion, should you change out of your official robes?”
Xu Chen gave Lu Qiuci another lingering look, making his throat go dry, before finally saying, “Yes, let’s change.”
The two entered the inner chamber, where Xu Chen had risen that morning. Lu Qiuci slipped on his indoor shoes and hurried to fetch Xu Chen’s clothes. By the time he returned, Xu Chen had already unbuttoned half of her outer robe.
He immediately stepped forward to help Xu Chen remove her outer robe, gently brushing her hair aside before assisting her into her everyday attire, fastening the sash, and smoothing out the folds.
These simple tasks were not something Xu Chen would normally delegate to others. In a private space like the bedroom, she disliked servants coming and going, so she had no need for them to assist her with dressing. Yichi Xingxue
Coming from the modern world, she did not hesitate to enjoy life’s pleasures when the occasion called for it, but she had no intention of becoming someone who could not take care of herself.
So she really didn’t need Lu Qiuci to help her put on her shoes or pull up her pants.
It was just that at this moment, she noticed Lu Qiuci was being a bit overly attentive—not on purpose, but in a subconscious way, like a little puppy circling her, trying to be of some help.
Or perhaps like a fawn rescued by a kind stranger in the wild, following her every step with a blade of grass in its mouth, perhaps hoping to offer it to her to eat.
Xu Chen knew Lu Qiuci was actually a bit afraid of her, but now the fear in his eyes had faded by more than half.
Had he completely come to see her as a good person? Xu Chen couldn’t help but smile; but perhaps that was her goal all along, and she was quite happy to see it come to fruition.
“Your Highness, thank you.”
Xu Chen: “For what?”
Lu Qiuci fastened her buttons and smoothed her collar as he replied, “The reward you gave me earlier didn’t include stepping in personally to back me up.”
“And the attendant you sent to my father—I didn’t expect Your Highness to be so thoughtful.”
“If Your Highness hadn’t come, and I’d had to handle it alone, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”
Xu Chen asked him in return, “Are you curious?”
Lu Qiuci let out a soft “Ah,” somewhat puzzled.
“The platform you’ve built for yourself is already sufficient proof of my favor. Logically speaking, your mother should have been wary.”
“But she wasn’t. Instead, she put you in a passive position.”
“But the moment I arrived, your mother suddenly became open to communication and began weighing the pros and cons.”
“Why is that?” Lu Qiuci murmured. Xu Chen was so perceptive; he was indeed very curious.
“Because fools fear might, not virtue. If she doesn’t understand reason, I am well-versed in force.”
Xu Chen patted him on the head.
Smart kids are just so endearing; it had been a long time since she’d felt this urge to teach and guide someone.
She had certain plans for Lu Qiuci, and if he could learn a few more things, it would be to her advantage.
Xu Chen asked him again, “Do you like horsewhips?”
Lu Qiuci: “Hm?”
Xu Chen: “Later, I’ll have someone make one just for you—to use when punishing others. Many official husbands discipline their servants by slapping them across the face, but that’s not really suitable for you. You need a tool with more deterrent power.”
“Your mother holds an official position, so even as the Crown Princess, you can’t just act freely. But you can punish the two younger ones or that concubine, just like you did today.”
“You may also punish lesser lords who offend you. Remember, you are My Imperial Princess Consort.”
Lu Qiuci was completely taken aback; he had never imagined he possessed such authority.
The principal consorts of the imperial princesses were mostly drawn from the families of the dukes. Their legitimate sons were educated from childhood to become imperial consorts, ensuring they could handle all manner of affairs the moment they entered the palace walls.
But this did not apply to Lu Qiuci. Had it not been for a series of fortuitous events, he would have been nothing more than the consort of a minor noble family, with no need for such knowledge.
He had never been taught these things. Xu Chen’s biological father, the late royal consort, had passed away too early, leaving Xu Chen to instruct him personally.
However, what Xu Chen taught him might differ in some details from what a traditional Crown Princess Consort was supposed to learn.
Xu Chen emerged after changing clothes to find the meal already prepared outside.
The two took their seats. Lu Qiuci had just eaten and wasn’t very hungry now, so he focused on serving food for Xu Chen—it seemed his desire to curry favor hadn’t waned.
Xu Chen had many matters to attend to, so she departed after finishing lunch.
Lu Qiuci didn’t know if Xu Chen would come to the Yuhe Courtyard tonight, just as she had the night before and the night before that. However, in the late afternoon, he received the riding crop Xu Chen had asked to have crafted for him.
This riding crop was somewhat different from Xu Chen’s own. The whip was white, and when swung, it looked like a flash of silver—it would be quite beautiful.
But Lu Qiuci was preoccupied with other thoughts. Before Xu Chen left at noon, she had told him to prepare himself, as a palace banquet was likely to be held within the next couple of days.
The purpose was for Xu Chen to take him to meet the other members of the imperial family.
Lu Qiuci immediately grew nervous.
He couldn’t help but dwell on the matter, unconsciously running his fingers over the whip that had just been delivered to him.
That evening, Xu Chen indeed did not return to the Yuhe Courtyard, but Di Liu quietly told him that the Crown Princess had not gone to the West Courtyard either, but had instead spent the night in her own Chenghua Hall.
Lu Qiuci’s face flushed instantly. He playfully scolded Di Liu for telling him this specifically, but if Di Liu hadn’t said anything, he suspected he would have been lost in wild speculation anyway.
Unable to calm his mind, he took out the zither that Lu Xuan had nearly snatched from him earlier that day and played a tune under the moonlight.
He couldn’t help but wonder if Her Highness the Crown Princess enjoyed listening to the zither. He played quite well; perhaps he would have the chance to play specifically for her someday.
In reality, Xu Chen hadn’t slept at all; she had entered the spatial pocket she carried with her—that now-deserted mental hospital.
Upon entering the space, she materialized on the outdoor lawn of the mental hospital. Having been in this world for so long, this was the first time Xu Chen had ever set foot inside the mental hospital, let alone her former ward.
Today, she finally took that step.
The Princess’s Mansion had already been cleared out, but with better options available, Chenghua Hall could no longer be considered an absolutely safe place.
Xu Chen decided to store many top-secret items directly in this soul space she carried with her.
Although the mental hospital was deserted, the belongings left behind by doctors, nurses, and even patients were still there. She needed to explore every corner of the hospital to take inventory of exactly what was there.
Many of these supplies were priceless treasures in this ancient matriarchal world, and they might prove immensely valuable in her future plans.
*
Imperial orders could not be disobeyed. Although she didn’t know why Emperor Yongji had suddenly summoned her to the palace, Xu Zhao hurried to Fengming Palace as quickly as possible.
She wasn’t overly concerned that her unauthorized withdrawal of treasury funds would be exposed; the incident had only just occurred, and it was unlikely news of it would reach the palace so quickly.
Xu Chen had no evidence, Zhao Yu was on her side, and Hu Nanqin had no motive to expose her.
Therefore, Xu Zhao was even more puzzled as to what urgent matter the Emperor-Mother could possibly have for her.
Upon arriving at Fengming Palace, a palace maid announced her arrival, and she immediately entered the hall.
“Mother Emperor?
With a loud thud, a memorial was hurled directly at her.
Startled, Xu Zhao quickly lifted her robe and knelt on the ground. “Please, Mother Emperor, do not be angry!”
Emperor Yongji: “Read it yourself.”
Xu Zhao hurriedly picked up the memorial. It was rare for Emperor Yongji to fly into such a rage at her, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her back.
The contents of the memorial were simple—just one matter.
The assassin who had attempted to kill the Crown Princess several days ago was still nowhere to be found, but a troubling rumor had recently spread throughout Tai’an City. Almost the entire city was abuzz with the claim that the person behind the assassination attempt on the Crown Princess was an associate of the Sixth Princess.
Even children’s rhymes were being sung, accusing the noble lady of the inner palace of harboring wolfish ambitions, and the Sixth Princess of coveting the throne—using the assassination attempt to eliminate the current Crown Princess and install a new heir.
High palace walls, the Buddha smiles, the one with six fingers is greedy, stealing sweet cakes!
Crys by day, screams by night, raise the butcher’s knife, raise the butcher’s knife!
“Woof! Woof!”
The yellow dog snatches the embroidered shoes, the rat drags away the phoenix crown!
Xu Zhao unconsciously recited the nursery rhyme written in the memorial, feeling a chill run through her body as her heart sank to the depths of despair.
She turned abruptly to Empress Yongji, her hoarse voice urgent: “Your Majesty, please see clearly—it was certainly not I who attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince, nor could it have been Father!”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Empress Yongji’s eyes, but it quickly faded. She swiftly regained control of her emotions—what could she do? After all, this was the child she truly loved, the heir apparent she had chosen.
But perhaps this was for the best. A phoenix raised in too smooth a breeze would never learn to weather the storm; it would remain nothing more than a pheasant fluttering in the wilds.
This was a good opportunity to teach Xu Zhao a long, hard lesson.
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Empress Yongji said impatiently.
“Zhao’er, your true mistake lies in the fact that rumors are already swirling throughout the city, yet not only were you unaware, but you took no measures to address them—and now you expect me to clean up your mess.”
“That Xuan Mu by the Fourth’s side is a cunning one; this scheme is exceptionally vicious. Reflect on your actions. If this nursery rhyme spreads beyond Tai’an, throughout the Kingdom of Zhou, and becomes known to every scholar and official—where three people make a tiger and a thousand voices melt gold—how will you save yourself?”
“It took me so many years to build your reputation; it could all be destroyed in a single night.”
Xu Zhao suddenly felt a surge of panic, her hatred for Xu Chen deepening. She couldn’t help but ask, “Mother Emperor, what should we do now?”
Empress Yongji cast her a sidelong glance.
“The rumor has already spread. What else can be done? We must first cut off the source of the rumor.”
“The verdict is already set: this was a staged assassination attempt orchestrated by the Crown Princess’s residence. After the assassins finished their mission that night, they blended in with the guards at the Crown Princess’s residence. No matter how thoroughly Zhao Jing investigates, he’ll find nothing.”
“The late Emperor left too many capable men behind for the Fourth Prince. We eliminate one group, only for another to emerge. Now that the blame has been cast upon you, I have no choice but to find someone to take the fall immediately. ”
“I have already ordered several death row prisoners to be brought from the Imperial Prison. I have instructed Zhao Jing to announce that the assassins have been captured and brought to justice—that this was the work of foreign spies seeking to undermine the very foundations of our Great Zhou Dynasty—in order to clear you of suspicion.”
“This is not a good plan. It will bolster the Fourth Princess’s standing, allowing her to win sympathy and dilute the negative aspects of her character.”
“But your reputation is more important; we cannot allow this matter to fester any further.”
“Yes, thank you, Mother Empress, for your concern for your daughter, Xu Zhao,” she replied hastily.
For the first time in a long while, she felt a surge of intense resentment. If she were in her own residence right now, she would certainly have vented her frustration, but this was the Fengming Palace, and she dared not act out of line.
Emperor Yongji cast a glance at Xu Zhao and saw the resentment in her eyes—like a raging flame—and couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.
This was exactly the reaction she wanted.
“Aside from the assassin incident, we must also deal with that Xuan Mu by the Fourth Daughter’s side without delay, lest it breed further trouble.”
“Zhao’er, what are your thoughts?”