Lu Yuanyi watched with fascinated admiration.
"So this is the legendary female general. Liu Yao, what kind of leverage does Chaochao have in her hands to make him so obedient?"
Liu Yao wore a meaningful smile.
"Young Master, you don’t understand—this is what they call mutual affection."
Lu Yuanyi clicked his tongue.
"Hiss, I really don’t get it. But since Chaochao has such a beauty by his side, I won’t be a bother here."
He’d go bother someone else instead.
Rumor had it that Heir Xiao had committed no shortage of crimes and misdeeds. Giving him some "entertainment" would be nothing short of righteous justice.
In the Golden Hall,
The Emperor glared at the memorial of impeachment on the table before hurling it at the Marquis of Nanchang below.
"Abducting common women, oppressing the people, and now you’ve grown so bold as to detain imperial officials at will! Who gave you the audacity?!"
The Marquis of Nanchang kept his head low, sweat dripping from his forehead, not daring to meet the Emperor’s furious gaze. He kowtowed repeatedly, his voice pleading.
"Your Majesty, this lowly servant deserves death! My son Shining has committed such grave offenses—it is all my fault for failing to discipline him. Shining lost his mother at a young age, and the Grand Imperial Concubine, pitying his lonely childhood and him being my only heir, indulged him excessively. Never did I imagine he would grow so reckless! Upon my return, I will discipline him harshly and ensure he mends his ways. I beg Your Majesty, in light of my years of service to the court, to grant him one chance to repent. This lowly servant would be eternally grateful!"
Seated upon the dragon throne, the Emperor looked down at the trembling Marquis, his anger unrelenting, his gaze as cold as midwinter ice.
Useless Nanchang Marquisate—always causing trouble!
Now, Xiao Zheng’s reputation had only soared.
Especially after she kicked down the gates of the Nanchang Marquisate—news of it spread like wildfire through the capital, with commoners flocking to see the broken gates! And yet this fool of a Marquis wanted to keep the gates as evidence to complain to the Emperor!
The female general, no less formidable than any man, had defied imperial authority in righteous fury for her beloved, openly challenging the Nanchang Marquisate. The oppressed people saw her as their champion.
Public outrage surged. The drums before the Censorate rang from dawn till dusk, as people clutching petitions, faces filled with grief and indignation, demanded justice against Xiao Shining.
"Lord Lu, what do you think of this matter?"
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering meaningfully on the conspicuously injured Lord Lu, who today wore medicinal plasters and a head wrap, looking every bit the aggrieved victim.
"Lord Lu! I beg you, show mercy and spare my son! Give him a chance to redeem himself! If you relent, I swear he will serve you faithfully in the future, obeying your every command without complaint!"
Seeing the Marquis about to kowtow to him, Lord Lu dared not accept such deference and promptly knelt himself, addressing the Emperor with earnest humility.
"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your grace, allowing my son and me to serve in court. Having enjoyed the Emperor’s bounty, it is only right that I share Your Majesty’s burdens. I defer to Your Majesty’s judgment!"
Prince Kang nearly laughed aloud.
Lord Lu’s sons were all cunning foxes, but the man himself had little tact.
His words left not just the Emperor but even the Marquis of Nanchang momentarily speechless.
After a long silence, the Emperor spoke slowly.
"Marquis of Nanchang, your paternal love is understandable, but the law of the land is supreme—how can personal feelings override it?"
Tears streamed down the Marquis’s face as he wailed.
"Your Majesty, I dare not defy the law! But Shining is still young, merely foolish for a moment. I am willing to forfeit half my family’s wealth to atone for his crimes—only grant him one chance to reform! I swear to compensate the victims and quell the public’s anger! From now on, I will oversee his conduct daily, ensuring he never strays again. I beg Your Majesty’s mercy!"
The Emperor’s gaze grew distant, as if recalling the past.
"The Old Marquis once fought alongside the Late Emperor, achieving glorious feats. I still remember how he nearly died saving the Late Emperor, riddled with arrows. Over the years, the Nanchang Marquisate has grown arrogant, but out of respect for the Old Marquis, I have often turned a blind eye."
"Your Majesty is most benevolent!"
The ministers chorused in praise.
The Emperor sighed softly, as if reaching a decision.
"Today, I shall spare his life. But while death may be pardoned, punishment cannot be escaped. Xiao Shining, reckless and lawless, must be disciplined harshly to satisfy the people. Twenty lashes! Henceforth, the Nanchang Marquisate is demoted to a county earldom, with half its lands confiscated and half its wealth seized as a warning!"
His gaze hardened as he turned to the Marquis.
"As his father, your failure to discipline him is also a dereliction of duty. You are confined to your residence for three months to reflect!"
Though resentful, the Marquis had no choice but to kowtow in gratitude.
When Xiao Shining was dragged into the palace, fear finally caught up with him. Even the Grand Imperial Concubine’s fainting spells could no longer save him.
The executioner swung the whip with force—Prince Kang had made sure it was soaked in saltwater, ensuring the pain would be unforgettable.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao’s health gradually improved. Lady Lu planned to prepare generous gifts for the Crown Prince’s Residence to thank the Crown Prince’s concubine for saving his life.
One early dawn, before daybreak, Lady Lu had just risen, still drowsy, when her maidservant rushed in.
"My Lady, word from His Lordship—last night, the Crown Prince’s concubine went into labor and gave birth to an Imperial Grandson!"
Lady Lu frowned slightly and called for the gift list.
"In that case, we must revise the gifts. But with the Crown Prince’s Residence surely in chaos right now, our sudden visit would only be a nuisance. Best to wait."
Plans had changed, and Lu Chao’s little schemes would have to wait for another opportunity.
After learning the village woman had been swapped, Xiao Zheng ordered her subordinates to investigate discreetly while she shifted her focus to the Crown Prince’s Residence.
Using military merits to secure an official post for her beloved, then kicking down the Nanchang Marquisate’s gates—she had earned herself the title of a hopeless romantic. Meanwhile, Lu Chao became the subject of wild rumors. Some said his beauty rivaled a woman’s, ensnaring the female general’s heart. Others mocked him as a pretty-faced freeloader, clinging to power without talent. The harshest called him a "caged canary," all looks and no substance.
Lu Chao, however, was unbothered. Grinning ear to ear, he even wrote a romance novel titled The Overbearing Female General and Her Delicate Husband, which sold out instantly upon release—especially among noble ladies, with the Grand Princess being particularly enamored. Who would’ve guessed the author was the subject of the rumors himself? Lu Chao profited handsomely, his shamelessness leaving even Zhou Qingyuan and the others speechless.
Xiao Zheng nervously submitted a memorial, requesting to remain in the capital to care for Lu Chao. Surprisingly, the old Emperor did not object and even granted her leave.
That day, as Xiao Zheng was carefully studying the traced handwriting of the letter, the voice of Li Tie echoed from outside the door.
"General! Young Master Xiao Huan requests an audience!"
