"The supervisor in charge of the horse ranch is also responsible for this. Crown Prince, go and handle this matter personally. From now on, allocate that place to the Women's Academy for equestrian and archery training. It won't be considered part of the palace grounds."
A flicker of annoyance crossed the Emperor's eyes. "If there's nothing else, you may leave."
"Yes!"
The three of them bowed and withdrew.
Outside the imperial study, the group brought from the horse ranch was waiting there for their punishment.
The Crown Prince had thought that the Emperor would order a thorough investigation to silence the public's criticism. However, he didn't expect that the Emperor would only sentence a eunuch to be beaten to death with a cane and didn't even inquire about the ins and outs of the matter.
Such a hasty conclusion...
"Cousin, where are you going?"
Just as Qin Junxing was about to leave in the direction where the young eunuch had been dragged away, he was stopped by the Second Prince.
He turned around, glanced at the Second Prince, and said with a half - smile, "Since I came back from the border, I haven't seen a killing scene for a long time. I've been really missing it. I'm lucky to run into one today, so I'm going to take a look!"
"..." The Second Prince's smile froze. He said awkwardly, "Cousin is joking. There's nothing to miss about that!"
Qin Junxing raised his eyebrows, looking disapproving. "The Second Prince has never been on the battlefield, so he naturally doesn't understand that those who are used to the bloody scenes on the battlefield will feel inexplicably restless if they don't see intestines and guts spilling on the ground for a single day. But today I can finally satisfy my curiosity."
After saying that, his gaze fell on the people waiting for their punishment. He arched his hands towards the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, the main culprit has already been beaten to death. Although these people are guilty of negligence, their crime is not punishable by death. How about letting them go and watch as a minor punishment and a great warning?"
The Crown Prince was preoccupied with other thoughts and didn't have the energy to deal with this. He waved his hand. "Cousin, handle this as you see fit."
"In that case, come here. Take them there."
The guards of the Eastern Palace pushed the people and escorted them to the execution site.
Qin Junxing lagged behind a step, then turned back to greet the Second Prince. "Your Highness, aren't you coming? Although being beaten to death with a cane is not as gory as being disemboweled, you can still see a bloody mess. I don't know how strong the people who execute the punishment in the palace are. If it were in the military camp, the person would surely die within ten strokes. Such a scene..."
"Cousin, you go by yourself. I won't go. I'm going to visit my mother."
Before Qin Junxing could finish his sentence, the Second Prince quickly interrupted him and rushed towards the harem.
Qin Junxing raised his eyebrows and retracted his gaze. "Tsk, he's so easily scared!"
"My lord, this is outside the imperial study. Be careful."
Qing Ye looked back at the courtier - attendant who had been standing stiffly at the door of the imperial study for a long time. He looked at Qin Junxing speechlessly.
Their lord was the first one in the entire Great Yue who dared to scare a prince outside the imperial study!
"What are you afraid of!" His imperial uncle, the Emperor, didn't have the energy to care about him now.
At the Women's Academy today, Teacher Wang was extremely aggressive and defeated several young ladies. If it weren't for his Ranran, the Women's Academy would have lost both its reputation and dignity.
Although the Emperor wanted to give a warning to Scholar Sun, he didn't expect the matter to be messed up. Now he not only had to appease the court officials who supported the Women's Academy but also had to figure out how to discipline the Wang family.
Qing Ye didn't know what his lord was thinking. He quietly followed behind him.
When they arrived at the execution site, the young eunuch was already unconscious from the beating. Qin Junxing frowned and shouted, "Stop. I have something to ask."
The two courtier - attendants who were executing the punishment raised their sticks, not knowing whether they should strike or not.
Taking this opportunity, Qin Junxing walked over, glanced at the two of them, then looked down at the young eunuch. Suddenly, he leaned close to the eunuch's ear and whispered, "Princess San said that your family has already gone down to accompany you first!"
"Ah!" The young eunuch, who seemed to be on his last breath, suddenly struggled. His face was ferocious as he tried to break free from the restraints but was firmly pressed down.
The young eunuch was obviously stimulated by this sentence. He spat out a mouthful of blood and was on the verge of death.
Qin Junxing understood what was going on. He waved his hand. "Continue."
The two courtier - attendants didn't understand what this person had said to anger the young eunuch so much. But seeing that he didn't intend to interfere, they both heaved a sigh of relief and continued the punishment.
Qin Junxing had suspected something for a long time. He just wanted to confirm it again. Now it seemed that it was indeed that fool Qin Zhaoyang who had done it.
"Go to the horse ranch. I'll take these people back with me."
The leader of the Eastern Palace guards pointed out a few people to follow Qin Junxing and send these people back to the horse ranch.
At the horse ranch, the next test, archery, was in progress. Xie Fengran had been waiting by the field. As for Qi Yueheng, no one knew where he had gone with Sun Jiming.
On the field, Qi Yueying still outperformed the other young ladies by a large margin. Princess Si sighed, "No wonder this girl dared to test you like this. With such excellent archery skills, even men can't match her."
Xie Fengran nodded. "General Zhao from the Southern Border was the number one scholar in the martial arts imperial examination. He is good at using the long - spear and is also proficient in archery. He was once known as the number one divine archer in the capital. With his high - level martial arts awareness, Emperor Dezong conferred him the title of the Great General Guarding the Border to guard the Southern Border forever."
"The Qi family has a profound family heritage. It's obvious."
Regardless of whether she liked the Qi siblings or not, Xie Fengran could always view things objectively. General Zhao was indeed admirable.
"Sister Xie, you seem to know a lot about the era of the imperial grandmother?"
Xie Fengran smiled and didn't deny it. "I admire Emperor Dezong not because she became an emperor, but because as a woman, she is admirable!"
"Yes, the imperial grandmother is indeed admirable. It's a pity that I wasn't born when the imperial grandmother passed away, and my mother never mentions her in front of me."
Xie Fengran understood and smiled but didn't say a word.
The relationship between a mother - in - law and a daughter - in - law has always been the most difficult one in the world. Even though Emperor Dezong was the supreme ruler, she was still a mother - in - law, and a mother - in - law who had been an emperor.
The current Emperor didn't seem to be a strong - willed emperor. It was likely that when Emperor Dezong was alive, he always deferred to his mother. Naturally, the queen would be wronged. It was no wonder she didn't want to mention her.
Princess Si was about to say something else when there was a commotion at the entrance. The two of them turned their heads and saw Qin Junxing leading the Eastern Palace guards walking in.
Princess Si quickly waved her hand. "Cousin, I'm here!"
Hearing the voice, Qin Junxing looked over and saw the girl sitting beside Princess Si, looking in his direction. His heart softened. He turned back to give a few instructions, then walked straight over.
"Cousin, where are the Crown Prince and the Second Prince?"
"They've gone to the harem." Although Qin Junxing was answering Princess Si's question, his eyes were fixed on Xie Fengran. "You're not taking the exam. Why don't you go back first?"
"I'm not tired. It's because of my matter that the two highnesses have been busy."
Qin Junxing was delighted to see that Xie Fengran didn't deliberately avoid talking to him. The corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily.
This reaction almost blinded Princess Si. She quickly interrupted to show her presence.
"Cousin, has the matter been investigated clearly? What exactly happened?"