Chapter 361: Emperor, Your Servant Wishes to Resign

"Your Majesty, Shu’er lost her temper and spoke recklessly. She truly deserves punishment." Consort Yuan watched the Beili Emperor’s expression. After a moment, as if she had his tacit approval, she turned and rebuked Sang Shu, "Guards! Take the Sixth Princess to the confinement chamber to kneel for three days and three nights."

Ye Qianning took in everyone’s expressions. From the moment the Beili Emperor looked at Sang Shu, she knew this would be the outcome.

Sang Shu was different from the other princesses. Because he doted on Consort Yuan, and Sang Shu was their first daughter, the Beili Emperor and Consort Yuan had raised her personally.

It was said that when Sang Shu had her one-month celebration, the Beili Emperor even brought the baby with him to the morning court session.

In an era where women were forbidden from the imperial court, the fact that the Beili Emperor broke protocol to bring a child to a session showed just how much he doted on Sang Shu.

"Yes." A matron stepped forward.

Anyone with eyes could see that the Emperor and Consort Yuan were clearly trying to protect her.

"Hold on." Xiang Minghou took a step forward.

The matron jumped in fright and quickly stepped aside.

Consort Yuan clenched her fists.

The Beili Emperor’s brow furrowed at once. He said gravely, "Xiang Minghou, the Sixth Princess was impetuous and unreasonable. We will certainly punish her severely."

"Your Majesty, I believe the Sixth Princess spoke the truth. Beili may lose one Xiang Minghou, but there will be thousands upon thousands of generals to take my place." Xiang Minghou knelt.

"What is the meaning of this, Xiang Minghou?"

"Your Majesty, I wish to resign from my post. I beg for Your Majesty’s approval." Xiang Minghou kowtowed.

The Beili Emperor was inwardly alarmed, his expression turning grave. "Do you have any idea what you are saying, Xiang Minghou?"

’Resign?’

’For the Great General himself to resign... If the barbarians find out the border is unguarded, it would be a catastrophe.’

"Your Majesty, I am getting old. All I want now is to take my daughter back to the countryside and live out the rest of my days in peace." Xiang Minghou had been in the military camps since he came of age, for many years now.

He had never felt so disheartened and weary. It was time for him to rest.

The Beili Emperor fell into deep thought.

’Getting old?’

’Xiang Minghou is only in his early thirties, in the prime of his strength, and he already wants to retire into seclusion?’

"Your Majesty, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. I implore Your Majesty to grant my resignation."

How could the Beili Emperor let such a formidable general go? "Xiang Minghou, if you wish to rest, We can grant you leave for as long as you need. There is no need to speak of resignation again."

"There is no need to persuade me, Your Majesty. Even the young princess knows that without me, Xiang Minghou, Beili still has other generals. But if I lose my daughter, I will have nothing left." Xiang Minghou’s eyes were red-rimmed. "I beg for Your Majesty’s grace."

"Even if you resign, it will not affect the Crown Prince’s marriage. Knowing this, you still wish to resign?" the Beili Emperor asked.

"I do."

"I don’t! Your Majesty, I don’t!" Ye Qianning wailed, running to her daddy’s side.

Xiang Minghou was slightly surprised.

The Beili Emperor laughed. "Look, even the little one doesn’t agree with your resignation."

"Your Majesty, I said I don’t want to marry the Crown Prince! I want to go live in the countryside with Daddy! I like the countryside, I don’t like the Capital City!" Ye Qianning said through her tears. Although her words weren’t perfectly clear, others could still understand her.

The Beili Emperor’s smile froze.

"I don’t want to be scolded by people! I came to Beili to find my daddy, not to suffer and be insulted!"

"We will issue an edict. From now on, if anyone dares to speak of this again, they will be severely punished."

"The edict Your Majesty issues only stops them from speaking in front of you. When you’re not around, they’ll show their true colors, mocking and insulting me. I’ve seen it all these past few days in the Capital City. Anyway, I don’t believe you, and I don’t want to marry him!" Ye Qianning refused to yield.

’She had seen plenty of people like the Beili Emperor in her modern life. Whether in the business world or among reclusive elite families, they were all ruthless and obsessed with saving face.’

’Envoys from the three kingdoms were all in the Capital City, and the Princess from East Shu was present as well. He had to be cautious.’

Sang Qi already detested Ye Qianning. Seeing her crying and refusing the marriage, he couldn’t hold back any longer. "Father Emperor, I also request that you annul this engagement."

"’Crown Prince,’ the Beili Emperor rebuked, his eyes downcast."

"Father Emperor, I do not want to marry a fatty and make her the Crown Princess Consort. Please, grant my request."

Consort Yuan remained silent, not daring to voice her support.

Dean Chen and his group appeared outwardly indifferent, but their hearts were in their throats. They would only be able to rest easy once the engagement was annulled.

"’Let Us think on this matter.’"

After a long moment, the Beili Emperor spoke in a heavy voice.

"Your Majesty, then my..."

"The matter of Xiang Minghou’s resignation will be discussed at court tomorrow. That is all for today." The Beili Emperor’s tone was majestic and left no room for doubt.

"Yes."

’Xiang Minghou’s mind was made up. No matter where it was discussed, he would not change his decision.’

The Beili Emperor surveyed the utter mess. "For their improper speech and conduct, the Sixth Princess and the Ninth Princess are to kneel for three days and be confined for half a year. The Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince, for brawling, will each receive ten strikes with the military rod. Ye Qianning, for offending her superiors, will be punished with three strikes with the military rod, in light of her young age."

"Your Majesty, ten strikes..."

"Your Majesty, the child is too small to withstand three strikes! If you must strike someone, strike this old man instead!"

Consort Yuan was about to speak, but her words were drowned out by Old Master Gu’s voice.

"’If Your Majesty must strike someone, strike me!’" Xiang Minghou said urgently.

Lady Zhan wanted to plead for mercy but was held back by Zhan Yi. In this situation, saying anything more would only make the Emperor angrier.

"Imperial Uncle, you can’t hit Pangtuan! Pangtuan didn’t do anything wrong!" Nanxiang didn’t understand the finer points of the situation, but she couldn’t stand by when she heard Pangtuan was going to be punished.

Princess Changyang tried to pull her back but couldn’t.

The Beili Emperor turned his gaze. "I had almost forgotten about you. You’ll be punished as well—three strikes with the military rod."

"Your Majesty, Xiang’er’s health is poor! Three strikes is too much for her!" Princess Changyang knelt.

"The Crown Prince was so grievously injured, and his punishment is ten strikes. Can Our royal brother’s daughter not even withstand three?" The Beili Emperor seemed to be speaking to Princess Changyang, but his words were actually meant for Xiang Minghou.

Princess Changyang didn’t dare say more, consumed with worry. Both children were only six years old—a single strike with the military rod could take half their lives.

Old Master Gu and Xiang Minghou wanted to plead for them, but they found themselves unable to speak.

"Mother, don’t cry. It’s just three strikes. Xiang’er isn’t scared."

Princess Changyang sighed. ’Her temperament is becoming more and more like her father’s.’

"’This matter ends here. All of you may disperse,’ the Beili Emperor said, turning away with a dark expression. ’Consort Yuan, you are also at fault for today’s events. Go kneel with the princesses as punishment.’"

"Yes, I accept my punishment."

After bowing, Consort Yuan had the guards escort the Sixth and Ninth Princesses away.

The Emperor flicked his sleeves and departed.

The Empress had wanted to stay and watch the Crown Prince be punished, but seeing the Emperor leave, she had no choice but to turn and follow. The other concubines trailed silently behind her.

"Xiang’er, you’re so silly," Ye Qianning said, walking over.

"This isn’t being silly, it’s called being loyal! It’s only three strikes. I’m not scared." Nanxiang was still cheerful.

Ye Qianning was very touched. "It’s true that you’re loyal, but you need to understand what a tactical retreat is."

"What retreat?"

"It’s... never mind, I’ll explain it to you later." Ye Qianning started to explain, but a group of guards arrived.

Guards arrived carrying instruments of punishment, and they placed benches in front of them.

"Alright then."

Nanxiang nodded, and seeing the bench set in place, she obediently lay down on it.

"..."

’Little sis, must you be so eager to get beaten?’