Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 458: Beaten to Death with Random Sticks

Si Yun’s eyes gradually turned cold; he certainly knew who Zhan Xincheng was.

If Mu Yan hadn’t arranged a position for Zhan Xincheng, would that sickly man be able to enter the court and become an official!

Though he couldn’t handle Mu Yan, could he not handle Zhan Xincheng?

However, he still feared Mu Yan, so he said coldly, "Zhan Xincheng’s failure in discipline deserves forty lashes as a warning to others!"

Wang Wanning panicked; she hadn’t thought that Zhan Lan was setting her up.

She assumed Zhan Lan would plead for her on behalf of the Wang family and Zhan Xincheng’s respect.

Wang Wanning quickly realized that perhaps Zhan Lan’s kindness to her aunt was fake, or she had other motives.

She trembled as she looked at Zhan Lan, whose eyes were cold as if harboring deep hatred towards her.

Scared pale, she only heard Emperor Qingwu shout harshly, "Are you all deaf? Drag her out and beat her to death with sticks!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Imperial Army gagged Wang Wanning and dragged her away.

Wang Wanning’s words to remind her aunt and Zhan Xincheng were stuck in her throat.

Zhan Lan felt a sense of relief seeing Wang Wanning’s hopeless expression; for someone like Wang Wanning, a quick end was the best solution.

She had many things to do and no time for cat-and-mouse games.

Si Yun glanced at Zhan Lan, "Imperial Aunt, do not spread today’s matter outward."

Zhan Lan curled her lips, "This matter disgraces the nation, and it’s a major issue, this Princess understands."

"Hmm." Si Yun took his leave with his people.

Mu Yan emerged from the shadows, walked to Zhan Lan, and said by her side, "I never expected this woman to target me."

Zhan Lan examined Mu Yan, "Maybe she’s attracted to you!"

Zhan Lan’s waist tightened as Mu Yan’s arm wrapped around it, and Mu Yan whispered in her ear, "I don’t care; I only hope Lan’er is attracted to me."

Zhan Lan pushed him away, "You, next time something like this happens, I won’t help you sort it out."

Mu Yan held his forehead with one hand, helplessly saying, "Then I’ll just wear a mask when I go out."

Zhan Lan replied seriously, "That’s not a bad idea."

Mu Yan’s lips curved as he followed behind her, shaking his head.

...

The palace banquet was ongoing, and the Wang family specifically went to Zhan Xincheng’s residence to await news.

Today, Wang Wanning went to the palace to dance, eagerly hoping for good news, as many royals and nobles were present; even if Mu Yan didn’t fancy Wang Wanning, there were others.

If Wang Wanning caught the eye of a royal family member or the emperor himself because of it,

They wouldn’t need to rely on Zhan Lan in the future.

But she waited and waited, and Wang Wanning didn’t return; even her right eyelid began twitching uncontrollably.

"Mother, stop pacing, it’s unsettling." Zhan Xincheng said while sipping tea.

"You! I do it all for your sake!" Wang said coldly.

"Alright, alright, I won’t say anymore." Zhan Xincheng closed the tea bowl and prepared for sleep.

Suddenly, a steady rhythm of footsteps echoed from outside; the Protector couldn’t stop them as dozens of Imperial Army members entered the house.

The Imperial Army had never come to Zhan Xincheng’s home before; he wondered: did the emperor take a liking to Wang Wanning, hence the late-night decree?

The Wang family also looked expectantly at the two rows of Imperial Army soldiers.

Suddenly, a broken corpse was thrown in, and the handmaidens screamed in fright.

The Wang family saw Wang Wanning on the ground, disheveled and bloodied.

She hurried over, placed her fingers in front of Wang Wanning’s nose, and found she was no longer breathing.

Wang Wanning had been beaten to death, and by the Imperial Army no less!

The Wang family collapsed to the ground, Zhan Xincheng shivering in fear.

One of the Imperial Army stated coldly, "Announcing the emperor’s decree to punish Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Zhan Xincheng with forty lashes!"

"Why?" The Wang family grabbed Zhan Xincheng.

"Why ask? Wang Wanning you sent to the palace engaged in scandalous acts with the Western Rong’s Eldest Prince, enraging the emperor, who ordered her beaten to death!" fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"What!" The Wang family’s scalp tingled, never imagining Wang Wanning would consort with the Western Rong’s Eldest Prince.

"What’s it got to do with me!" Zhan Xincheng couldn’t understand how Wang Wanning’s actions implicated him.

"The emperor is furious; Miss Wang lived in Mr. Zhan’s residence. Mr. Zhan’s lack of oversight naturally warrants punishment!"

The Imperial Army’s voice intensified, "Do you dare defy the emperor’s decree, Mr. Zhan?"

Zhan Xincheng closed his eyes desperately; he had just established himself in the Ministry of Revenue, hoping to leave a good impression on Emperor Qingwu.

Yet, he was implicated by the foolish Wang Wanning!

Zhan Xincheng was dragged to the courtyard, his cries of anguish resounded throughout, while Second Madam Zhang watched from afar, too scared to intervene.

The Wang family pleaded for mercy, "Please, my son can’t withstand this!"

"My granddaughter’s husband is Regent King Mu Yan, and my granddaughter is Princess Zhenbei Zhan Lan; I beg you, don’t hit!"

The Wang family knew Zhan Xinzhang was righteous and didn’t dare mention his name.

"Old Madam, please forgive us. We dare not disobey the emperor’s decree, hit!"

Zhan Xincheng’s continual screams caused the Wang family heartache, his back was beaten raw.

He clenched the bench, cold sweat pouring from pain, shivering all over, eventually losing consciousness.

The leading Imperial Army saw he was nearly beaten to death, fearing real fatalities, and left.

The Wang family yelled at Zhang and the steward not far away, "Quick, fetch a doctor!"

The steward snapped out of it, panicked, rolling and crawling to get a doctor.

The servants carried Zhan Xincheng inside.

The Wang family looked at Zhan Xincheng on the bed, his back bloodied, feeling hopeless.

The Wang family wiped away tears, sighing: Her son was truly unfortunate, why was he always on the brink of death!

She never imagined Wang Wanning so bold as to seduce a foreign prince.

The emperor was angered; who could stop that!

The Wang family suddenly recalled she had asked Zhan Lan to arrange for Wang Wanning to enter the palace and dance. Was Wang Wanning’s daringness and seduction of the foreign prince Zhan Lan’s doing?

But, Zhan Lan always helped her second uncle, leaving the Wang family confused, wavering between belief and disbelief.

Zhang served by the bedside, observing the Wang family’s expression.

The Wang family scolded, "You! Serve Xincheng properly, stop plotting daily against concubines, you’re not fit as a Madam!"

"Yes, Mother." Zhang lowered her head, not daring to retort.

...

The day for the Four Nations competition arrived quickly.

In Ding’an City’s largest Martial Arts Arena, anticipation filled everyone.

Whether nobles or commoners, all came to watch.

For them, today’s competition wasn’t just between generals but a test of the four nations’ strength.

Nobles and dignitaries understood some of the competition’s inner workings, whispering among themselves.