Yan Zheng shuddered, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at her, unable to suppress his disbelief.
Empress Dowager Su gasped, "Y-you... do you even realize what you're saying? Thirty strikes of the rod on your back—you won't survive!"
Chu Huaishan also bellowed, "Ruoyan! Stop this nonsense!"
Chu Ruoyan bowed deeply to her father from a distance. "Father, you taught me since childhood that one must never cling to life at the expense of righteousness. Though I am a woman, I am also of the Yan Family. The Yan Family's creed is—'Better to die in battle than live in disgrace!'"
The court officials stirred.
"Better to die in battle than live in disgrace."
Such courage and unyielding spirit—yet these words came from the lips of a seemingly delicate woman. Finally, a young official could no longer hold back and stepped forward.
"Empress Dowager! The Marchioness of Anning is loyal and righteous. We beg Your Highness to show mercy!"
"Indeed, Empress Dowager! The Marchioness had just cause for storming the palace. We implore you to spare her life!"
"We humbly beseech Your Highness to grant her clemency..."
One after another, the ministers knelt in unison. Empress Dowager Su trembled as she pointed at them. "Y-you... all of you..."
The emperor sighed. "Mother, let it go. This is the will of the people..."
"Nonsense!" Empress Dowager Su turned and glared at him. "Nantian is my nephew, your cousin! Will you stand by and let these officials force him to his death?"
The emperor's gaze was sorrowful.
His mother, after all, was a woman who did not understand that the hearts of the people could shift in an instant.
Water could carry a boat but also overturn it.
Even as the Son of Heaven, he could not defy the will of the masses...
Empress Dowager Su's eyes gradually filled with panic. She shielded the Marquis of Pingjing behind her. "I don't care! If any of you want his life today, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"
At that moment, the herald announced once more, "Princess Ansheng has arrived—"
Princess Ansheng entered, clad in resplendent golden robes, a peony painted between her brows, exuding regal elegance and peerless beauty.
Empress Dowager Su saw her as if grasping at a lifeline. "Qin'er, hurry and save your cousin Nantian!"
Princess Ansheng's given name was Qin—Murong Qin.
She first curtsied gracefully to the emperor, then addressed Empress Dowager Su. "Mother, Cousin Nantian's crimes are unforgivable. Even if His Majesty were to spare him, the Yan Family would not, nor would the people of the realm. Thus, I beg you to prioritize the stability of the empire and not place His Majesty in a difficult position."
Empress Dowager Su froze, her face etched with despair. "Even you...?"
Princess Ansheng dipped her head slightly before turning to the emperor. "However, there may yet be a compromise, Your Majesty. The reason Mother defends the Marquis of Pingjing so fiercely is that he is the sole heir of our uncle. But the Su Family is not without other descendants..."
The emperor immediately grasped her meaning. "Mother! Ansheng is right. By law, the Marquis of Pingjing's crimes warrant the execution of his entire clan. But in light of his past merits, I will pardon his son, Su Tingyun. This way, the Su lineage will continue."
Empress Dowager Su swayed slightly before closing her eyes.
It seemed this was the only way.
Realizing that even his last hope, the Empress Dowager, had abandoned him, the Marquis of Pingjing collapsed to the ground.
He cried out in desperation, "Aunt! When you were once assassinated, it was my father who gave his life to save you! Before he breathed his last, you swore to ensure the Su Family's prosperity for generations. Have you forgotten?"
Empress Dowager Su trembled but refused to look back at him.
Her cold gaze swept over Yan Zheng before settling on Chu Ruoyan. "I will surrender the Marquis of Pingjing. I will also heed the ministers' plea and spare your life. But though the death penalty is waived, punishment cannot be avoided. I decree ten strikes of the rod upon your back. Do you accept?"
Before Chu Ruoyan could respond, Yan Zheng interjected coldly, "I will take her place!"
Empress Dowager Su sneered. "Marquis of Anning, you are General Yan's only heir, and your legs are crippled. I dare not punish you..."
Chu Ruoyan understood—Empress Dowager Su was determined to vent her fury on her.
Ten strikes would not kill her, but they would leave her bedridden for days.
Thus, she replied, "This subject accepts the punishment."
Empress Dowager Su seemed surprised by her compliance but then smirked. "Good. Since you are to be punished, you are now a convicted woman. General Yan was a paragon of loyalty and bravery—how can his son be wed to a criminal? I hereby issue an edict annulling the marriage between Chu Ruoyan and the Marquis of Anning. From this day forth, your ties are severed—no more favors, no more grievances!"
"Mother, this—!" The emperor began, but Empress Dowager Su cut him off. "The Yan Family has taken my nephew's life. This pain cuts deep—did you think I would let it end here?"
The emperor fell silent. Yet, upon reflection, the Marquis and Marchioness of Anning had indeed grown beyond his control.
Chu Huaishan aside, even Cao Yang, the Minister of Revenue, and Grand Tutor Rong—a steadfast official who never took sides—had stepped forward to support them...
Such influence could not be ignored.
Still, he revealed nothing, merely turning to the couple. "Marquis of Anning, Marchioness of Anning... What say you?"
Chu Ruoyan felt little concern.
An annulment was nothing compared to the ten strikes...
But Yan Zheng declared firmly, "I refuse!"
She glanced at him in surprise, and the emperor also paused. "Marquis of Anning, is it the stigma of annulment you fear—that it may harm Lady Chu's future? If so, I can overrule Her Highness and grant you a divorce instead."
Just as Yan Zheng was about to speak, Chu Ruoyan interrupted, "My Lord!"
Ten strikes and a divorce decree—in exchange for the Marquis of Pingjing's death and the Yan Family's vindication—was far better than she had hoped.
After all, they were dealing with the imperial family. How could they not pay a price?
"Your Majesty! You may not know this, but before entering the palace, His Lordship already gave me a letter of divorce. Thus, from today onward, I am no longer a member of the Yan Family!"
The court erupted in shock.
Chu Huaishan roared in fury, "What? He dared to divorce you?!"
Others, though astonished, were envious. Even after divorce, this woman had risked her life to storm the palace and plead his case—what more could a man ask for in a wife?
Yan Zheng gritted his teeth, never expecting her to reveal the divorce letter now.
He finally understood the meaning of "hoist with his own petard." But the deed was done.
The emperor, delighted, immediately said, "Mother, did you hear?"
Empress Dowager Su scoffed. "Your Majesty, do not forget—the ten strikes remain!"
The emperor hesitated, but Chu Huaishan interjected, "Empress Dowager! There's no need for the Yan Family to divorce her—my Chu Family will disown him instead! But my daughter is frail. Could the ten strikes perhaps be..."
Before he could finish, Chu Ruoyan declared, "This subject willingly accepts the punishment!"
Boom!
A thunderclap split the sky, and torrential rain poured down.
Outside the Hall of Heavenly Favor, the woman knelt in the downpour, drenched yet unwavering in her resolve.
"Carry out the punishment!"
As the herald announced, the rod descended.
Chu Ruoyan flinched in agony but remained kneeling upright, refusing to collapse...
The ministers could not bear to watch, averting their eyes.
Only Yan Zheng stared unblinkingly, his fingers clenched so tightly that blood seeped from his nails...
"Strike harder! Strike harder!" The Marquis of Pingjing, driven to madness by despair, lunged toward the hall's entrance, howling. "Hit her! Harder! Beat her to death—!"
His words were cut short.
A flash of cold steel.
Blood sprayed from his neck.
The Marquis clutched his throat, his head tilting—then, with a sickening crack, it tumbled from his shoulders.
