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After tucking the child’s hand under the blanket, Wang Gu felt a tinge of disgust towards Concubine Xian and her daughter. How could they be so cruel to such a young child, not only physically harming her themselves but also instructing their guards to do the same?
“For the next half month, she doesn’t need to come to study with me. She can resume once she has recovered. Concubine Li, please inform the Third Princess,” Su Yu spoke up beside them.
“Understood.”
Outside, Concubine Xian had knelt for half an hour, her legs aching, yet Xuan Feiran had not emerged from the inner chamber, causing her some worry.
As Concubine Xian fretted, Xuan Mengya rushed in and, seeing Concubine Xian kneeling discontentedly, remarked, “Mother, why are you kneeling here? Get up!”
Concubine Xian frowned and insisted, “Kneel.”
“Why should I kneel? I refuse to,” Xuan Mengya had yet to grasp the severity of the situation.
Upon hearing the commotion outside, Xuan Feiran’s gaze turned slightly cold.
He hadn’t expected the Second Princess to be so audacious and arrogant.
Walking out with a stern expression, Xuan Mengya was delighted to see Xuan Feiran. She approached him cheerfully, “Father, what brings you here? Shall we go and have fun at Mother’s palace?”
The Emperor’s presence here was truly detestable.
Perhaps he had been too lenient on that wretched girl before.
Observing Xuan Mengya’s demeanor, Xuan Feiran calmly inquired, “Did you inflict the injuries on your third sister?”
“Yes, I did. She wouldn’t listen to me and deserves to be punished severely. Father, you must punish her firmly,” Xuan Mengya, failing to perceive Xuan Feiran’s intentions, earnestly voiced her request.
Concubine Xian, listening to her daughter’s words, was close to being livid.
This child truly dared to say anything, leaving her thoughts completely disarrayed.
“Oh? How do you propose to punish her?” inquired Xuan Feiran.
“Father, you should break her hands so she can’t play the zither anymore,” Xuan Mengya’s eyes sparkled as she made her suggestion.
“Why is that?” asked Xuan Feiran.
“Because how dare she improve her zither skills so quickly? She can’t play better than me,” Xuan Mengya stated matter-of-factly.
She saw no issue with this proposal.
Xuan Feiran trembled with anger, glaring coldly at Concubine Xian kneeling on the ground, “Concubine Xian, you have truly raised quite a daughter.”
At such a young age, she was already so cruel and ruthless, treating her own sister with such malice.
“Imagine how she will act as she grows older”
“Father, is that not acceptable?” inquired Xuan Mengya.
“How about this: your elder sister plays the zither better than Jie’er. What do you think?” Xuan Feiran asked Xuan Mengya.
Realizing she couldn’t allow Xuan Mengya to continue, Concubine Xian interjected hastily, “Your Majesty, it’s my fault for not disciplining her properly. Please forgive me.”
“When I didn’t ask you to speak, keep your mouth shut. Your words irritate me,” Xuan Feiran retorted sharply.
Concubine Xian, pale-faced, gazed at Xuan Feiran, knowing that such words implied her proximity to being sent to the Cold Palace.
“Your Majesty…”
“Father, you must not mistreat Mother,” Xuan Mengya interjected.
This statement amused Xuan Feiran, his gaze slightly cold as he remarked, “Must not? So, It turns out even I have things I must not do! That’s interesting.”
“Calm down.”
“Calm down? Why do I need to calm down? I’m quite pleased right now.”
Even if Xuan Mengya was not the brightest, she could tell that Xuan Feiran was genuinely angry this time.
After swallowing nervously, Xuan Mengya looked at Xuan Feiran and said, “Father, I…”
“Go and bring all the guards from the Second Princess’s side, especially those who laid hands on the Third Princess earlier,” commanded Xuan Feiran.
“Understood.”
Soon, several guards were brought before him.
Xuan Feiran, with a cold tone, ordered, “These guards who dared to act above their station will be executed by caning. Have the Second Princess watch the executions, and she must not close her eyes.”
Concubine Xian stared wide-eyed at Xuan Feiran, pleading, “Your Majesty, the Third Princess is still young. Please spare her this time.”
Having a child witness several individuals being beaten to death was undeniably cruel and harsh.
“Still young? A child of six or seven daring to command guards to harm her own sister, contemplating maiming her sister’s hands just because she plays the zither better—does that sound ‘still young’ to you?” Xuan Feiran’s voice thundered with anger.
Although he hadn’t supervised his daughters outside of Chang Le, Xuan Feiran had provided them with everything they needed. He had arranged for proper education and guidance.
Now, Concubine Xian had raised such a daughter?
“It’s all my fault, Your Majesty. I’m willing to bear all responsibility and beg for mercy for the Second Princess,” Concubine Xian expressed genuine regret now, realizing her mistake in allowing her child to cause trouble for Xuan Mengjie.
She had heard about Xuan Mengjie’s significant changes in recent days, even when Xuan Mengya had hinted at causing trouble, she had silently assented.
However, she had never anticipated that this incident would reach the Emperor’s ears, let alone escalate to this extent. How could she bring this situation to a close?
Su Yu, observing Concubine Xian’s anxious state, spoke up, “Your Majesty, even a child may not dare to act so recklessly in this matter.”
Concubine Xian glared at Su Yu, saying, “Prince Yu, don’t speak so harshly.”
“I didn’t name anyone specifically, Concubine. Why are you so anxious? Besides, you’re right about one thing—she’s just a child. Even a princess wouldn’t be able to command those guards to harm a royal heir unless someone was backing her, and that someone is you,” Su Yu stated, looking directly at Concubine Xian.
Concubine Xian trembled as Su Yu seemed to have unraveled everything.
“If it weren’t for your tacit approval, how could they dare to do such things?”
Xuan Feiran naturally understood Su Yu’s implications. While Su Yu’s words were accurate, without Concubine Xian’s support, how could they have dared to harm a princess?
With these thoughts in mind, Xuan Feiran made a decision.
“Bring Concubine Xian to the Cold Palace for assaulting a royal heir, and take the Second Princess with her,” Xuan Feiran commanded without hesitation, sending them both to the Cold Palace.
Concubine Xian had thought that a mere punishment would resolve the situation, but she never anticipated Xuan Feiran’s decision to send her directly to the Cold Palace.
Even Xuan Mengya was included in the decision.
Being a princess and being sent directly to the Cold Palace was certainly not a favorable outcome.
Concubine Xian felt a chill run through her body, fully aware that even her family’s influence couldn’t sway the Emperor’s decision now.
These weren’t the times when the Emperor was constrained by the Xie family.
At present, Xuan Feiran held immense power, with only a few sharing in that authority. Whether it was military power or key positions in the court, those individuals were all his trusted allies.
Moreover, he had Su Yu by his side.
With Su Yu’s potential intervention, he could easily overturn the ambitions of those disloyal individuals within the court at any given moment.
Her father would never sacrifice the entire family for her and her daughter.
After all…
Upon hearing that she and Concubine Xian were to be sent to the Cold Palace, Xuan Mengya refused outright.
“Why should you send us to the Cold Palace, Father? I refuse to go to such a place.”
With her brazen and disrespectful attitude, Xuan Feiran swiftly formed an opinion of her.