Chapter 106

Chapter 106: Punishment

Emperor Chong Sheng gave a snort. Emperor Chong Sheng was still displeased, but the expression visibly eased.

Third Prince Sheng Yuan Hao continued, “In war, how could there be no deaths? Besides, General Qi still won in the end. Imperial Father should not punish him too harshly.”

“As for Miss Meng.” Sheng Yuan Hao looked at Meng Yang. A hint of impatience hid in his eyes, yet his words went the opposite way. “Miss Meng truly meant to heal and save people. Though she made mistakes, she did save many Soldiers.”

Meng Yang immediately looked at Sheng Yuan Hao with gratitude.

“Her ‘Surgical Procedure,’ I heard, prevented many Soldiers from bleeding out. Their wounds stopped worsening, and their lives were preserved. In this son’s opinion, she had merits and faults. Her crime did not deserve death.” Sheng Yuan Hao smiled back at her as he spoke.

Emperor Chong Sheng sighed. The pressure in Emperor Chong Sheng’s body loosened, and Emperor Chong Sheng patted Sheng Yuan Hao’s shoulder.

Looking at that face, so similar to Consort Yuan, even Emperor Chong Sheng’s anger faded by several degrees.

“Yuan Hao, you are soft-hearted,” Emperor Chong Sheng said.

After thinking a moment, Emperor Chong Sheng looked at Meng Yang. “Fine. I will spare your life, but you will not escape punishment. Since Yuan Hao spoke for you, I will give a light warning as discipline.”

“Imperial Father is indeed kind and benevolent,” Sheng Yuan Hao said with a smile.

Emperor Chong Sheng spoke after a pause. “Since hundreds of Soldiers died because of you, you will go door to door to apologize to their families and make amends. You will also present condolence silver to each household.”

As soon as Emperor Chong Sheng finished, Meng Yang’s body went limp. She collapsed to the floor, finally letting out a breath.

[Sheng Zhi Wan. Today’s humiliation, I will repay a hundredfold someday!]

Qi Shu Xian quickly pulled Meng Yang up to accept the edict and thank the Emperor, then thanked Third Prince Sheng Yuan Hao again and again.

With just a few sentences, Sheng Yuan Hao made Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang owe him a favor. Sheng Yuan Hao was very satisfied, and Sheng Yuan Hao did not forget to flatter Emperor Chong Sheng. “Imperial Father, the most famous Jiao Niang Wine in the capital city was brewed by Miss Meng.”

“This son will have someone deliver a few jars for Imperial Father to taste.”

“It’s indeed wonderful,” Emperor Chong Sheng said with a nod. “You were thoughtful.”

Sheng Zhi Wan watched Emperor Chong Sheng lift the matter high and set it down lightly. Sheng Zhi Wan sighed inwardly.

In her past life, she had already suspected it. Emperor Chong Sheng always treated his own daughter coldly, guarded and wary, with no warmth of family at all. After returning to life, that feeling was even stronger.

As Sheng Zhi Wan drifted in thought, Emperor Chong Sheng’s dissatisfied gaze turned on her. “Qing Ning, do you know your mistake?”

Sheng Zhi Wan shook her head slightly. “This daughter does not know.”

“You don’t know?” Emperor Chong Sheng narrowed his eyes. “Then that Zhang Da Hu, wasn’t he released on purpose by you?”

“You knew that once that vicious criminal escaped, he would spread scandal through the entire city and stir public anger, bringing shame to the Imperial Court. Yet you, an Imperial House Princess, still added fuel to the fire from behind the scenes!”

“Foolish!”

“For such a small matter you were petty and calculating, only seeking momentary satisfaction. You let the commoner laugh at the Imperial Court’s incompetence. Is that the vision a royal Princess should have?”

The more Emperor Chong Sheng spoke, the angrier Emperor Chong Sheng became. Emperor Chong Sheng seemed deeply disappointed in Sheng Zhi Wan.

“So Imperial Father thought this daughter shamed the Imperial Court,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, lips pressed thin. “But the injustice of those hundreds of Soldiers, who should they speak to?”

Third Prince Sheng Yuan Hao shook his head. “Qing Ning, that was not right. Soldiers dying on the battlefield is common. Besides, the Imperial Court will also provide compensation to their families. When you made such a scene, those ignorant commoner could not understand the Imperial Court’s good intentions. They would only repeat rumors and follow the crowd.”

“We are Imperial Father’s children. If we cannot share Imperial Father’s burdens, then fine. But how can we add trouble instead?”

Emperor Chong Sheng looked pleased.

“If every Prince and Princess understood matters like Yuan Hao, I would not have so many worries,” Emperor Chong Sheng said.

“Thank you for Imperial Father’s praise,” Sheng Yuan Hao replied modestly. “Qing Ning was at fault, but she is still a woman and has little understanding. Her heart only held General Qi. Otherwise, she would not have used a hunger strike to force Imperial Father to grant a marriage. This time, she likely lost reason because she hated Miss Meng.”

“Imperial Father can give a small punishment as a warning. There’s no need to be too harsh.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s face remained calm as Sheng Yuan Hao spoke freely.

Whether in her past life or this one, no one received Emperor Chong Sheng’s favor like Sheng Yuan Hao did. Even with a Crown Prince, Sheng Yuan Hao looked as if he had no interest in the throne at all.

But everything in her past life proved it. Her eldest Imperial Brother had only been a target Imperial Father raised for Sheng Yuan Hao. In the end, that position of Crown Heir would still fall into Sheng Yuan Hao’s hands.

Yet someone who treated commoner lives as worthless, and who in her past life had even used commoner deaths to forge achievements, deserved that seat?

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed her lips tightly together.

“Since that is the case.” Emperor Chong Sheng tapped the armrest with his finger. “Qing Ning, as a Princess you must have a tolerant heart. You must not be jealous.”

“This time, you will be punished to copy Admonitions for Women three hundred times. Until you finish copying, you will not leave Duke Manor.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes turned cold. Sheng Zhi Wan lowered her gaze and answered, “Yes.”

The three left the hall.

Qi Shu Xian yanked Meng Yang’s hand away from his arm and hurried to Sheng Zhi Wan. Qi Shu Xian’s face looked ugly as Qi Shu Xian demanded in a low voice, “Was Zhang Da Hu truly your doing?”

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a cold laugh. “So what if it was?”

“The matters between us could have been handled behind closed doors. Why did you have to throw it outside?” Qi Shu Xian’s voice tightened. “Now are you satisfied? I was punished, and Duke Manor lost all face. What did you gain? What did you get out of it?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s tone turned mocking as Sheng Zhi Wan finally met Qi Shu Xian’s eyes. “Then tell me, Heir Apparent. Concubine Meng found Mountain Bandits to rob this Princess. How did you plan to resolve that?”

Qi Shu Xian was about to speak, but Sheng Zhi Wan cut him off as if she had already seen it coming. “Don’t tell me it was a misunderstanding. Misunderstanding or not, Heir Apparent knows perfectly well!”

Qi Shu Xian’s expression shifted. “I will make her apologize to you.”

“Apologize?” Sheng Zhi Wan let out a scornful laugh.

“If you’re not satisfied, I can also have her confined to her quarters,” Qi Shu Xian added.

Sheng Zhi Wan shook her head. “Kill her. Compared to how she wanted me to be humiliated and die, killing her is already far too kind.”

“Besides, if you kill her, it can count as paying for the Soldiers who died in vain. As long as she dies, I will let this matter go.”

Qi Shu Xian paused. “Impossible.”

When Qi Shu Xian met Sheng Zhi Wan’s open mockery, Qi Shu Xian took a slow breath and softened his voice. “She was wrong, but she did not mean it. Besides, you are unharmed. She also received punishment from His Majesty.”

“In the future I will make her behave, and she will never dare overstep again…”

“Qi Shu Xian.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice turned icy. “As a General, the Soldiers on the battlefield lived and died for the country. They respected you and obeyed you. Those people were willing to die for your commands.”

“And now Meng Yang killed hundreds. How can she be excused with one light sentence like ‘it was unintentional’?”

“Don’t make me look down on you even more.”

Qi Shu Xian stopped in place, stunned.

Sheng Zhi Wan kept walking forward without any intention of turning back.

Meng Yang did not know what they said, but the moment Meng Yang saw the two of them alone together, danger stabbed at her. Meng Yang hurried forward and carefully tugged at Qi Shu Xian’s sleeve.

Qi Shu Xian turned and looked at Meng Yang’s eyes full of reliance. Qi Shu Xian also thought of Third Prince Sheng Yuan Hao.

Qi Shu Xian’s fist slowly tightened, then loosened again. In the end, Qi Shu Xian did not chase after Sheng Zhi Wan.