Chapter 231: "Xiao Lan, Kill Him.

After giving her orders and having Xiao Mo sent to follow Xu Xingchen, Xiao Yang turned around and went back to sleep.

She had no intention of staying up all night and waiting.

Xiao Yang had absolute power, and Xu Xingchen had absolute efficiency. In less than four hours, before the sky had even grown light, Xu Xingchen had found her.

Ji Feifei had been abducted by Prime Minister Song’s younger brother-in-law, Jiang Xu. A few days prior, Ji Feifei had run into him while out shopping. Jiang Xu had no real talents to speak of; he was merely greedy and lecherous, often consorting with courtesans from the brothels.

That day, he had taken his beloved Miss Liuli out, intending to buy his darling some jewelry to curry her favor and show off his wealth at the same time.

As it happened, Ji Feifei was also selecting jewelry. Since Ji Feifei was attractive, Jiang Xu couldn’t help but stare, which made Miss Liuli jealous. Of all the hairpins available, she insisted on having the one in Ji Feifei’s hand.

Jiang Xu figured he could just buy it—money was no object. He offered double the price and told the Shopkeeper to wrap it up for him.

But Ji Feifei wasn’t having it. She insisted she had seen the hairpin first. Who did he think he was, trying to snatch it away just because he said so?

The two sides began to argue. Jiang Xu tried to use his status to intimidate Ji Feifei, announcing that he was a member of the Jiang Family and that his brother-in-law was the Prime Minister, Song Qinghe.

Unimpressed, Ji Feifei brought up Xiao Mo, retorting that he was a Prince.

Jiang Xu scoffed that Xiao Mo was just a second-rate prince with no official title.

Furious, Ji Feifei paid the Shopkeeper, then smashed the hairpin right in front of him.

She declared that she would rather destroy it than let him have it and proceeded to call him a "spoiled brat," a "worthless bum," "human scum," and a "stupid pig." After unleashing a tirade of insults, she stormed out.

Jiang Xu had been publicly humiliated. Even Miss Liuli lost respect for him and promptly found her way into another man’s arms.

The more he stewed on it, the angrier he became, so he had his men kidnap Ji Feifei.

’Xiao Mo might be a prince, however pathetic, but Ji Feifei wasn’t a Princess Consort.’

’She was just a fake cousin with no blood ties to Xiao Mo at all. His own brother-in-law was the current Prime Minister; why should he fear them?’

He had Ji Feifei tied up, planning to violate her and then toss her to his men for their "amusement" to teach her a lesson about how cruel the world could be.

When Xu Xingchen and his men found them, Jiang Xu was just about to commit the vile act. Ji Feifei’s clothes were already torn to shreds. They had caught him red-handed.

The moment he saw the Emperor’s Token, he confessed everything without anyone even having to lay a hand on him.

Xiao Yang only saw them after she had woken up and finished her breakfast.

Song Qinghe was kneeling on the floor with his wife, Jiang Rou. Beside them knelt Jiang Xu.

Ji Feifei had changed into a fresh set of clothes, but she clung tightly to Xiao Mo’s arm, her face a deathly white as she trembled uncontrollably, clearly terrified.

Xiao Mo looked terrible as well. He had yet to recover from his own injuries, and Ji Feifei was leaning heavily against him. After what she had just been through, he couldn’t bring himself to push her away, no matter how much pain he was in. He had to endure it, holding onto a pillar for support.

Xu Xingchen and Xiao Lan stood beside Xiao Yang and recounted the events. The culprit had been caught in the act with all the evidence. Jiang Xu had confessed to everything, and his testimony—along with that of Miss Liuli and Ji Feifei—was consistent. The Shopkeeper and several onlookers could also serve as witnesses.

The matter was clear and required no further debate. All that remained was for the Emperor to pass judgment.

After Xu Xingchen finished his account, the entire Imperial Study Room fell deathly silent.

The room was full of people, yet not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

After a few moments of silence, Song Qinghe kowtowed. "This servant has failed to properly manage his family. I implore Your Majesty to issue my punishment."

’Now that the matter has been brought before Her Majesty, pleading for mercy is out of the question. Fortunately, Jiang Xu is only my brother-in-law, not a member of my immediate family. I’ll be implicated, but there’s still a chance to salvage this.’

Jiang Rou glanced at her younger brother, wanting to plead for him. But on their way to the palace, Song Qinghe had already warned her: Jiang Xu was in the Emperor’s hands now, and they could only await Her Majesty’s judgment. She had to choose between the Jiang Family and the Song Family. If she couldn’t grasp the severity of the situation, he would not hesitate to disregard their bond as husband and wife.

Jiang Rou could only steel her heart, close her eyes, and lower her head.

After a moment, Xiao Yang spoke slowly. "Song Qinghe, you will forfeit one year’s salary. Your wife, Jiang Rou’s, imperial title is hereby revoked. The two of you will manage your kin. Should there be a next time, I will not be so lenient."

The weight in Song Qinghe’s chest finally lifted. "This servant accepts your decree. Thank you, Your Majesty. I will heed Your Majesty’s lesson."

Only when Jiang Rou heard that her own imperial title had been revoked did she finally grasp the severity of the situation. Her face ashen, she followed her husband in offering thanks.

Xiao Yang’s gaze shifted to Jiang Xu. "Xu Xingchen, what is his punishment?"

Xu Xingchen replied, "According to the law: thirty lashes, castration, and exile a thousand miles."

Xiao Yang: "Enforce it according to the law."

Jiang Xu instantly broke down. "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, please, spare me! This humble one knows I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"

He dared a glance upward, but the Emperor’s overpowering gaze terrified him into lowering his head again. He looked frantically at Jiang Rou. "Sis, save me! I don’t want to become a eunuch! Sis, please, save me..."

Xiao Lan glanced at the Emperor, then immediately ordered the guards to drag Jiang Xu away.

"Enforce it according to the law" meant that not a single part of the punishment could be omitted.

As the sound of Jiang Xu’s pleas for help faded into the distance, Jiang Rou’s entire body trembled. She bit her lip so hard it bled, but she dared not utter a single word. The Song Family had already been dragged into this; she could not allow her own children to be ruined as well.

Xiao Yang raised a hand, dismissing them. Song Qinghe departed with his wife, leaving only Xiao Mo and Ji Feifei behind.

"What, do you expect me to invite you to stay for a meal?"

’It’s not like I’m supposed to comfort them, is it?’

Xiao Mo, at least, had some sense left. He knew he had wrongly accused the Emperor today, but he didn’t regret storming the palace. If he hadn’t, Ji Feifei might not have been rescued.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Mo bowed, hoping to bring the matter to a close.

He hadn’t forgotten the Emperor’s promise that he would pay the price for slandering the throne.

The Emperor’s strict, impartial handling of Jiang Xu and the Song Family only proved that she was a woman of her word.

The price for ruining the imperial examinations had nearly killed him; he truly might not be able to bear the price for slandering the Emperor.

But, as fate would have it, one’s greatest fears are often the ones that come to pass.

Before the Emperor could say anything, Ji Feifei suddenly spoke up. "I implore Your Majesty to grant my cousin a princedom."

She knelt on the ground, her face still deathly pale, yet her expression was one of defiant, self-sacrificing heroism. "My cousin is a Prince. He should be unparalleled in his nobility. It is only because he lacks a formal title that anyone dares to slander him. Since Your Majesty has already allowed him to be recognized by the imperial family, it is only right that you grant him a princedom."

Xiao Yang: "..."

’Arguing so righteously for Xiao Mo’s sake... does she think she looks terribly heroic right now?’

Xiao Yang clicked her tongue, a cold smile playing on her lips as she asked Xiao Mo, "You’ve read so many books. Why don’t you explain to your dear cousin what ’unparalleled in nobility’ truly means?"

’To think someone would dare utter the words "unparalleled in nobility" before the Emperor.’

Xiao Mo scrambled to plead for mercy, but Xiao Yang’s sentence had already been decided.

"Ji Xun has failed in raising his daughter. Strip him of his official position and confiscate his family’s assets."

There was a price to pay for such arrogant words before the Emperor.

Ji Feifei’s eyes flew wide in disbelief. "On what grounds—"

Xiao Yang’s brows furrowed. "Slap her."

In the next instant, Nanny Yang struck.

SLAP!

A vicious slap landed squarely across Ji Feifei’s mouth.

Ji Feifei was stunned. By the time she looked up, Nanny Yang had struck her again.

Ten slaps in total, each one landing on her mouth.

"Enough!"

Xiao Mo roared, "That’s enough! It was a mere slip of the tongue. Must you be so cruel?"

Xiao Yang let out a long sigh, her expression one of utter weariness. "Xiao Lan, kill him."

Xiao Lan’s expression froze for a fraction of a second, but he struck without hesitation in the very next moment.

Xiao Mo: !!!!

Before Xiao Mo could even form a question, Xiao Lan’s sword was upon him. This was no test; it was a true killing blow.