Just now, he had some admiration for these people in his heart and was thinking of giving them some extra silver after he stayed. Now, he only wished he could drag them out and behead them on the spot.
Prince Lian took a deep breath and endured for a long time before he managed to keep his composure.
A forced smile appeared on his face. "Of course, it should be this subject who receives the punishment. But how does Your Majesty plan to punish me?"
For the time being, he could only hope that the young emperor would be lenient.
The young emperor had no intention of going overboard anyway, as he still needed Prince Lian alive to go to Luolin.
"How about punishing you with ten strokes of the cane in public here?"
Prince Lian's eyes widened in disbelief. "Your Majesty means to carry out the punishment right here?"
His voice almost broke. If he were to be beaten here, this matter would surely spread to the court, and more people would laugh at him.
He remembered that he had already been laughed at by his colleagues for a long time after being punished by the emperor to go to Luolin. If this incident were added, he might not be able to regain his dignity in the capital for three to five years.
Prince Lian's body went stiff. "Your Majesty, could we change the place? There are so many common people here. After all, this subject is a member of the royal clan."
Ji Hengda achieved the effect he wanted and vented his anger from before. Now he was in a great mood.
"Precisely because you are a member of the royal clan, the punishment should be carried out in public here, so that all the common people can see that even if the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he will be treated the same as the common people, let alone a member of the royal clan. As the Son of Heaven, I should be fair, shouldn't I?"
With his words, Prince Lian couldn't find a single word to refute. There was no other way, and the punishment could only be carried out in public.
Shi Muyuan propped her chin up and peeked through the bead curtain at the outside. The corner of her mouth curled up, and she was in a good mood.
"Your Majesty is giving the prince such a grand send - off ceremony before his departure. I think it's quite good."
Xiao Xiao knew that her mistress loved to watch the fun the most, and she couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Your Majesty is giving the prince a warning. It seems that His Majesty is well - aware of what happened today."
"Yes, His Majesty is as clear as a mirror."
After the punishment ceremony was over, the young emperor readily let the people go. Having learned their lesson this time, those people didn't dare to stay any longer. They hurriedly left in the chaos.
Just as the group was about to return to the palace, suddenly another piece of news came. The young emperor immediately ordered them to change their direction.
Shi Muyuan was very confused when she saw that the direction was wrong.
"Shouldn't we be returning to the palace now?"
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager may not know. The National Teacher's Mansion sent a message that the National Teacher just woke up today."
Thinking of the annoying look of that man in front of her, and now he just announced that he had woken up. It was probably because all these matters had been settled. This couldn't help but make her suspect that he had been pretending to be in a coma just to avoid these things.
After arriving at the National Teacher's Mansion, the young emperor quickened his pace.
"Mother, hurry up and have a look. We must be the first to confirm that the National Teacher is safe and sound."
Just as the two of them walked into the front hall, they immediately bumped into someone head - on.
At this time, that man had changed his clothes. Gone was the sickly look from a few days ago. He had regained his former vigor. The setting sun cast a golden glow on his body, making him look even more attractive.
Shi Muyuan curled her lips and averted her gaze.
If she didn't know that this man was inherently annoying, she might have been deceived.
Humph, she wouldn't be tempted by his good looks.
Cui Qizhou raised his eyebrows and didn't miss the expression on the woman's face. He was in a good mood and met the young emperor's gaze.
"Your Majesty, during the days I was in a coma, I heard that many things happened. I hope Your Majesty could handle them well?"
The young emperor responded with a grunt. Seeing that he was really safe and sound, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Since you're awake, come back to the court quickly to help me. By the way, send more people to keep an eye on the envoy from Lanxi. If there's anything suspicious, report it immediately."
This was exactly what he wanted to say. Now that the emperor had brought it up on his own initiative, he didn't need to say it anymore.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. This subject will surely keep a close eye on that envoy."
The young emperor gave some other instructions and then took Shi Muyuan back directly.
However, the news that Cui Qizhou had woken up quickly spread. The people who came to visit the National Teacher's Mansion almost broke the threshold.
Shi Muyuan leaned on the imperial concubine's couch and never forgot what that man had told her.
She knew that if she didn't handle the matter that man had told her well, he would surely come to the palace again.
So, when Fan Zhen came to the Shoukang Palace, she took the initiative to ask, "Brother Fan, is your mission going smoothly recently?"
The sudden concern caught Fan Zhen off guard. He looked at the person in front of him and his lips twitched.
"It's... going quite smoothly. Why does Your Majesty the Empress Dowager suddenly care about me?"
"It's nothing. I just thought that since you're by my side, I should at least show some concern."
This statement seemed reasonable. Fan Zhen pursed his lips. "Does Your Majesty the Empress Dowager have something to say today?"
Was her intention that obvious? Shi Muyuan pouted. "It's not a particularly important matter. I just have something else I want to ask you."
Since she had said so much, he surely couldn't refuse.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please just say it directly. I'm not used to you being like this."
Saying so, Fan Zhen pushed the pastries in front of him aside.
He had been by the Empress Dowager's side for so long and knew her quite well. She was definitely a person who protected her own people, but she was also quite ruthless when it came to using them.
Sure enough, Shi Muyuan didn't hesitate at all.
"Then I'll just say it straight. Does your Black Tower have any valuable treasures?"
She had thought for a long time and felt that this was the most appropriate way to put it.
Fan Zhen staggered and almost fell to the ground. It took him a while to steady himself. He twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager doesn't have to be so straightforward."
"I can't think of any other way to say it. Anyway, just answer me. Do you have any valuable treasures?"
Fan Zhen felt a pang in his heart. Those treasures were all he had painstakingly retrieved. However, the person in front of him had been kind to him. What did it matter if he gave away a few treasures? After thinking like this, he generously admitted.
"If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager wants something, just go back with me to get it."
Things went so smoothly that Shi Muyuan slowly let out a sigh of relief.
The two immediately set off for the Black Tower. When the people inside saw them, it had to be said that there was surprise in their eyes.
These two rarely appeared in the Black Tower these days.