Chapter 223: Chapter 223
The little girl’s small hand fearfully clutched Emperor Yongning’s dragon robe.
The little girl said nothing, but she fully expressed her inner fear, dread, and terror...
Emperor Yongning looked at the small hand behind him, filled with guilt.
When the little girl walked in just now, he should have immediately stood up to greet her, thereby avoiding this scene of the little girl being frightened.
It’s entirely his fault.
With such feelings, Emperor Yongning harbored even more resentment toward Prince Xiao Yao, and his attitude wasn’t any better. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✦𝓷𝓮𝓽
Emperor Yongning looked coldly at Prince Xiao Yao and questioned, "Your Highness, without even asking, you wanted to hit my beloved daughter? Pray tell, with what intent, and what punishment should there be?"
Upon hearing these words, Prince Xiao Yao was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized.
"She... She is His Majesty’s daughter, that is, Princess Anle?"
Although Prince Xiao Yao asked this question in a tone of doubt, he was almost certain in his heart that the little girl he was about to hit just now was indeed His Majesty’s daughter.
He hadn’t guessed wrong before; the girl who beat Jun Yang in the palace was indeed Princess Anle. It was Jun Yang who misled him into thinking that the one who hit him was some minister’s daughter.
That was the Emperor’s daughter!
He, he, what had he just done? He was actually going to hit the Emperor’s most cherished daughter?
How daring must he be? How many lives does he have?
He should know that previously, the Empress offended this little brat, and then so many scandals were exposed about her, leading to the execution of her entire family, the Marquis Zhongyong.
This incident was in an uproar throughout the Imperial City; he was well aware of it.
Not only was he aware, but he also understood that it was proof of the Emperor’s fondness for Princess Anle.
For her, the Emperor was relentless towards the erring Empress, even going so far as to depose and execute her.
Even the Empress suffered a fall dealing with this little brat, gaining no advantage whatsoever.
And he... actually dared to hit this little brat in the Emperor’s presence?
He must be tired of living!
Prince Xiao Yao dragged Jun Yang to kneel down, knocking his head thoroughly toward Emperor Yongning, sweating profusely as he begged for forgiveness, "Your Majesty, I, I know my mistake, please, Your Majesty, harshly punish me!"
Emperor Yongning really didn’t hold back, replying along Prince Xiao Yao’s words, "Your Highness, it was you who requested me to punish you, don’t you dare blame me!"
"Xiao Lizi!" Emperor Yongning looked at Xiao Lizi with displeasure, showing no face to Prince Xiao Yao, saying, "You will carry out twenty slaps for Prince Xiao Yao!"
The one who bullied his beloved daughter, he would return it twentyfold.
The suddenly named Xiao Lizi was terrified as he accepted the task.
He walked over to Prince Xiao Yao, rolled up his sleeves, and began slapping Prince Xiao Yao.
Logically, this was a task offending the royal he shouldn’t undertake. But today, the Emperor suddenly called his name, clearly chiding him for allowing Prince Xiao Yao to drag the princess away, intending to hit her when he was so close, yet did nothing in prevention.
Heaven and earth can attest, Xiao Lizi truly did not willingly refrain from stopping it.
It was merely because before Prince Xiao Yao acted, he deliberately cast a terrifyingly warning look, telling him not to intervene or face dire consequences!
That’s why Xiao Lizi dared not intervene.
The Emperor did not understand the difficulties of being a servant!
Xiao Lizi, feeling wronged, earnestly slapped Prince Xiao Yao.
Xiao Lizi also knew in his heart that if he didn’t perform well in this task of slapping today, the Emperor wouldn’t forgive him!
He energetically slapped Prince Xiao Yao, but it took a psychological toll to finally complete the task after the twenty slaps.
Prince Xiao Yao, already plump, became even plumper after being slapped twenty times.
His whole face swelled up like a pig’s head, his eyes were swollen shut, turning to mere slits.
To avoid being resented by Prince Xiao Yao, Xiao Lizi quickly retreated to the corner after slapping was finished, staying silently, not daring to speak, or even breathe too loudly.
Afraid that someone of high status would notice him!
Prince Xiao Yao indeed had no time to pay attention to Xiao Lizi as he continued kneeling and admitting fault to Emperor Yongning.
Finally, after bowing for a long time, Emperor Yongning was appeased and forgave him.
However, he unwisely brought up the issue of Jun Yang being beaten again.
Today, both he and his beloved daughter suffered due to this Princess Anle, and he absolutely refused to let it go.
If the Emperor didn’t sort it out for him, he would take it up to the Empress Dowager. He didn’t believe that with her love for Yang Er, she wouldn’t take care of the situation for him.
Emperor Yongning did not avoid this matter either. Embracing Jun Ning, he moved to sit on the dragon chair at the desk, gently patting Jun Ning’s back to soothe her while looking toward the young Prince Xiao Yao, saying to Prince Xiao Yao, "Regarding this matter, who is right and who is wrong, let us first clarify the entire story."
Emperor Yongning looked at Jun Ning in his arms, "Yi Yi, tell me why you hit Jun Yang?" Pausing, he continued, "Speak slowly, clarify it, don’t leave out any details."
Jun Ning nodded, preparing to start speaking.
Prince Xiao Yao, however, disdainfully snorted, thinking to himself, "This big little brat can call out Father Emperor and Mother Consort, but them to expect her to clarify things? Ha, isn’t that overestimating her?"
Despite his mockery, Prince Xiao Yao felt hope for his own Yang Er again.
If that brat couldn’t clarify things, they certainly wouldn’t be able to determine right from wrong, and by then, wouldn’t it just boil down to who got hurt who was right!
That brat, humph, would have to return the slap she gave his Yang Er along with the ones that caused him to endure!
As it turned out, Prince Xiao Yao really underestimated Jun Ning.
Once Jun Ning finished recounting the full story of her conflict with Jun Yang, Prince Xiao Yao was completely dumbfounded.
The little brat not only explained things very clearly, but she also articulated the entire course of events accurately.
"Your Highness, did you hear clearly, that it was Jun Yang who first obstructed Princess Anle, and it was Jun Yang who first spoke improperly to, and acted aggressively toward Princess Anle. Jun Yang getting beaten is not Princess Anle’s fault," Emperor Yongning reminded.
Prince Xiao Yao, feeling aggrieved, said, "Even if it wasn’t Princess Anle’s fault, she still beat my daughter to such a state!"
In any case, Princess Anle did hit someone!
The victim is his daughter.
Regarding this point, Princess Anle will need to give an explanation!
Prince Xiao Yao, feeling aggrieved, said, "Even if it wasn’t Princess Anle’s fault, she still beat my daughter to such a state!"
In any case, Princess Anle did hit someone!
The victim is his daughter.
Regarding this point, Princess Anle will need to give an explanation!
Prince Xiao Yao, feeling aggrieved, said, "Even if it wasn’t Princess Anle’s fault, she still beat my daughter to such a state!"
In any case, Princess Anle did hit someone!
The victim is his daughter.
Regarding this point, Princess Anle will need to give an explanation!
Prince Xiao Yao, feeling aggrieved, said, "Even if it wasn’t Princess Anle’s fault, she still beat my daughter to such a state!"