Chapter 146: This Damn Oppression

The Wang family didn’t dare to question the Empress. She was the Empress first and a daughter of the Wang family second. If they themselves showed no respect for the Empress, then they couldn’t possibly enjoy the glory that came with having one of their own as the Empress.

The Wang family had to uphold the Empress’s dignity, so for now, they could only keep their mouths shut.

As for Marquis Xuanping... ’My son is only seriously injured, it’s not like he’s going to die.’

Besides, it wasn’t as if he was truly unaware of his son’s character. He was merely taking advantage of Princess Xuanyang’s poor reputation, hoping to use this opportunity to squeeze some benefits out of the Emperor.

His calculations should have been flawless, but he never expected the Wang family’s daughter to forsake all decorum just to accuse his son. The situation was now unfavorable, and he wasn’t a fool. If he kept pushing this, things would get genuinely serious.

"When I saw my son so grievously injured, I was overcome with anxiety and failed to ascertain the truth of the matter. I beg Your Majesty and the Empress to forgive me!"

In the end, Marquis Xuanping knelt. As he lowered his head, he shot a hard glare at his son, who was awake but couldn’t move.

’Worthless son!’

With both families taking a step back, the matter became much easier to resolve.

The Empress, who just moments before had been so imposing and stern, now bowed to the Emperor. "I have overstepped my bounds. I ask for Your Majesty’s judgment."

Her expression instantly turned placid and cool, as if she weren’t the one who had just displayed such strong emotions.

The Emperor raised a hand. "You were right. What crime is there to speak of?"

With that, he announced his decision. "This matter ends here. Marquis Xuanping will be fined one year’s stipend. He Chengfeng’s title of Princely Heir will be retained for now, pending observation of his future conduct. Wang Wanqing is granted the status of a female official, with all arrangements to be handled by the Empress."

Xiao Li leaned forward slightly. "Brother, what about me? You can’t just ignore me!"

The Emperor shot her a sideways glance. "What are you trying to do?"

Xiao Li put on a righteous expression. "What a question, Brother! Do you have any idea how wronged I feel? For once in my life, I do something glorious, noble, and just—helping someone in need—and I get slandered for it! He even tried to get you to punish me! Am I not aggrieved? Am I not pitiable? Is there to be no compensation for my troubles?"

The Emperor thought, ’Yes, it was a good deed, but you should consider why he slandered you. Isn’t it because you’ve never done a single good deed before?’

"So what do you want?" The Emperor was quite fed up with his sister, yet he felt a certain helplessness, knowing full well what she was up to but not quite having the heart to stop her.

Xiao Li turned to Marquis Xuanping, her eyes narrowing into a smile like a fox about to sneak a fish. Ill intent was written all over her face. "I’m a very reasonable person. Although Marquis Xuanping has slandered my reputation and wounded my budding righteous spirit, if he is willing to offer up ten thousand taels of silver as consolation... then, for my brother’s sake, I can find it in my heart to graciously forgive his transgressions."

’I knew it!’ the Emperor thought.

’She actually said it!’ everyone thought.

Marquis Xuanping’s face flushed with anger. "Ten thousand taels? Why don’t you just rob me?"

Xiao Li let out a bewitching, sinister smile, her eyes glinting with a cold light. "But I am robbing you."

The moment the words left her mouth, she snatched the duster from a nearby little eunuch and, giving no one a chance to react, began swinging it at Marquis Xuanping.

"AH!"

The duster smacked Marquis Xuanping hard across the face. He screamed in pain, but before he could even register what happened, the next strike was already on its way.

"AHHH..."

Marquis Xuanping knew some martial arts, but years of pampered living and a portly physique had made him less than agile.

Xiao Li’s fighting style, however, was all about speed and flexibility. With every strike aimed at his face, he was hit so relentlessly that he couldn’t even open his eyes. All he could do was cover his face with one hand and swing his fists wildly with the other.

"Ah, Your Majesty... Your Majesty, help me..."

It all happened in an instant. Everyone was dumbfounded.

By the time the Emperor remembered to intervene, Xiao Li had already sent Marquis Xuanping tumbling to the ground with a final smack of the duster. As luck would have it, he landed right on his son’s legs.

He Chengfeng, who had been lying on the ground ’unconscious’, instantly shot up as if brought back from the dead. "AHH!! FATHER!!"

The scream was earth-shattering, utterly tragic, and too gruesome for words...

The Emperor’s mouth hung open. He was stunned for a moment, having forgotten what he was about to say.

The Wang father and son both took a step back, their faces tense. ’This damn oppressive feeling!’

’Last time the Princess came at us with a sword, this time she’s beating Marquis Xuanping with a duster.’

’It doesn’t feel all that surprising, really!’

’No wonder something felt off before. Princess Xuanyang being accused and just sitting there quietly... it was just too strange.’

’Now *this* feels more like her.’

If one had to say who was more terrifying, the Emperor or Princess Xuanyang, the answer was definitely Princess Xuanyang.

The Emperor had to stabilize his throne and act as a wise monarch. He had to rely on his ministers, which meant he always had to consider their public image and weigh the pros and cons of his actions.

But Princess Xuanyang was different. Whoever offended her, she would genuinely strike to kill.

She had no birth mother, no husband, and no children.

She was all alone in the world and didn’t care about life or death. When provoked, she went straight for the attack.

While Princess Xuanyang lacked their political power, her martial prowess was high, and she was ruthless. The pain from her blades and clubs striking your body, blow by blow, was very, very real.

The only person Princess Xuanyang listened to was the Emperor, but they couldn’t very well threaten a princess with the Emperor’s life and safety, could they?

That would be like rebelling against the heavens themselves—a surefire way to get yourself killed.

It was in that very instant that the elderly Chief Minister Wang had a sudden realization: this Princess Xuanyang, who appeared to be mad, was actually incredibly clever.

And then, the very same Princess Xuanyang whom he had just deemed a peerless intellect, began to curse up a storm at the He family father and son.

"I told you to cough up some money, and that was me being merciful! Do you really think I care about your pathetic scraps?"

"Don’t you know what kind of person your son is? If he hadn’t crossed my path, I wouldn’t even bother hitting him. Just looking at him is enough to dirty my eyes!"

"Like father, like son. You can’t be much better, can you?"

"You dared to accuse me without even getting your facts straight. You think I don’t know what you’re up to? You see my bad reputation and think I’m an easy target, is that it?"

"No matter how bad my reputation is, I am still a princess! The Emperor’s most cherished, beloved, and precious sister! Before you make false accusations again, you should go take a long piss and wash that filth out of your brain!"

’Damn, she’s vicious,’ the Emperor thought. ’And did she just slip a little something extra in there for herself?’

"Ahem! Xuanyang, that’s enough!"

Xiao Li held up a hand as if to stop him, her voice filled with righteous indignation. "Brother, I know you are benevolent. You respect the founding ministers and are exceedingly tolerant of their descendants. But! That is no reason for them to use their ancestors’ merits as a shield to disrespect Your Majesty, speak impertinently, and push you around!"

The Emperor thought, ’Suddenly, my blood is boiling!’

’My sister makes a good point.’

Xiao Li continued, "Your Majesty is destined to be a wise ruler, a King beloved by all the people. You handle countless matters daily and shoulder immense responsibility; your time and energy are invaluable. If everyone were like him, coming before you with false accusations without getting their facts straight, attempting to challenge the Imperial Power and heavenly might, wouldn’t that hinder Your Majesty’s grand ambitions? Wouldn’t it hinder the future of our Longsheng Country and its foundation for ages to come?"

"Vermin like this should be sentenced to death by a thousand cuts, their entire households executed, their nine familial exterminations carried out, and their bones ground to dust..."

Marquis Xuanping had been angry, but now all anger was forgotten, replaced by pure terror. He didn’t even have the capacity to ponder the exaggeration and absurdity of her accusations. As she piled one seemingly ridiculous yet vaguely plausible charge after another onto him, how could a crude man like him, who coasted on his ancestors’ glory, possibly bear it? He dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty, spare me! I know my crime! I won’t dare do it again!"

The Wang father and son broke out in a cold sweat listening to this and hurriedly interceded. "Your Majesty, please be lenient! Princess, please quell your anger! Marquis Xuanping was merely confused for a moment, his crime does not warrant such a punishment!"

’It’s not that serious! It’s really not!’

The Empress’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. Unable to stop them, she finally just covered her eyes with her hand.

Wang Wanqing’s eyes were wide with shock, her pure, clear gaze filled with the awe and adoration of someone witnessing a whole new world.

The palace maids and eunuchs all thought, ’...Princess Xuanyang is terrifying!’