Feng Zhao was surprised.
As someone who ran a martial arts school, she actually got blocked by someone—moreover, it was a five-year-old child.
She was momentarily stunned by the small figure standing in front of her with arms spread wide.
When she came back to her senses, she quickly pulled him aside.
“What are you doing here? Are you hurt? Let me see!”
She wanted to check Xiao Hongyi’s injuries, but he covered himself and refused to let her touch him.
At this moment, Xiao Hongyi looked like an angry little bun.
His big almond eyes were burning with rage as he glared at the Consort Wen.
Consort Wen was already irritated from Feng Zhao making trouble for her earlier. Now even Xiao Hongyi—whom she had always looked down on—dared to glare at her. She no longer cared about restraint. She regretted not kicking him earlier, and now it was too late.
“Guards! Protect the emperor!”
“How dare you injure His Majesty!”
Eunuch Xiao Li rushed forward with guards and surrounded Xiao Hongyi.
Xiao Hongyi pushed them aside and faced Consort Wen directly, not even understanding what he had done wrong.
“Consort Wen! How dare you hurt my mother!”
The emperor’s tone was serious.
Consort Wen smiled coldly. “Your Majesty is joking. I merely slipped and accidentally spilled tea. I did not mean it.”
But her expression clearly said: So what if I did it on purpose?
With her background, even if she “accidentally” harmed someone, nothing would happen to her.
“Very well,” Xiao Hongyi said coldly. “You attempted to harm the emperor and show no remorse. Drag her away—thirty strikes of the rod!”
The usually soft little emperor was not easy to bully anymore.
“You—!” Consort Wen glared at the guards. “How dare you! Do you want to die?”
“How would we not dare? This is the emperor’s order!”
Xiao Hongyi said loudly, “The emperor’s order is imperial decree! Whose command will you follow—hers or mine?!”
The guards hesitated.
At that moment, Feng Zhao spoke.
“Lian Qiao, tell them. What is the punishment for disobeying an imperial decree?”
“Replying to Your Majesty—punishment is extermination of nine clans.”
Feng Zhao sat behind Xiao Hongyi like a shield, backing him completely.
“I’ll give you one more chance. The Feng family is not to be underestimated. Do you think I cannot act faster than the Wen family?”
The guards finally gave in and dragged Consort Wen away.
Consort Wen struggled wildly.
“You dare touch me today, I will never let you go!”
But she was no match for trained guards and was quickly dragged to the punishment bench.
Xiao Hongyi insisted on watching the punishment himself, afraid the guards might go easy.
The sound of screams filled the air.
Feng Zhao’s hands tightened slightly behind her back. When Consort Wen finally passed out and was taken away, Xiao Hongyi relaxed and stumbled back, falling into Feng Zhao’s arms.
Feng Zhao noticed his palms and forehead were covered in cold sweat. She immediately realized the child had not been as calm as he looked.
“Summon the imperial physician! Quickly!”
She originally planned to take him back to the main hall, but Xiao Hongyi tugged at her sleeve.
“Mother… can I go to your Fengming Palace?”
The main hall was too big and cold. He wanted to be a little bold today.
Feng Zhao looked down at him. Seeing his nervousness, she sighed inwardly.
She picked him up.
“Only this once. No next time.”
Xiao Hongyi had never been held like this before. Being in her arms made him forget his fear. He quietly smiled but hid it in her clothes so she wouldn’t see.
Feng Zhao noticed everything but did not expose him.
They quickly arrived at Fengming Palace. She placed him in a familiar room.
Xiao Hongyi immediately rolled into the bedding, hugging the blanket tightly.
Everything was just like before. Nothing had been thrown away.
Feng Zhao tried to check his injuries again, but he refused once more.
“Mother…” His face turned slightly red.
“Shy?”
“Why is a five-year-old being shy?”
Xiao Hongyi buried himself under the blanket to prove that yes—five-year-olds can be shy.
At that moment, Lian Qiao reported: “Your Majesty, the imperial physician has arrived.”
Feng Zhao said, “Let him in.”
After examining him, the physician reported:
“His Majesty is fine. The chest bruise is not serious. Apply medicine for a few days and he will recover.”
Feng Zhao accepted the medicine bottle but asked Lian Qiao to check it first before using it.
In the palace, caution was always necessary.
“Will there be scars?” Feng Zhao asked.
The physician shook his head. “No, as long as he rests properly and avoids water.”
Feng Zhao listened carefully, then dismissed the physician and returned to the bedside.