Ji Huo's lips curved up proudly.
Just at this moment, as the timing was ripe, Cui Yun finally made his next move.
"With the Emperor and everyone present, Mr. Yan should sober up as well. It would be good to clear things up. As for what the Princely Heir just mentioned, why not set it aside for now and discuss it later?"
Rarely being clever, Ji Huo understood this and, without needing Ji Ge's intervention, he quickly approached Yan An.
"There's nothing difficult about that."
He squatted down and fiercely pinched Yan An's philtrum.
Yan An woke up in pain.
He jumped up from the ground and after facing the majestic presence of the Emperor, he took a deep breath, rolled his eyes, and was about to faint again.
"Unfilial son! Do not be disrespectful in front of the Emperor!"
Commander Yan sternly scolded, frightening Yan An into kneeling on the ground, his body trembling.
Cui Yun's gaze lightly landed on Commander Yan.
"Lord Commander, why are you kneeling as well? You needn't do so. Since the matter has not yet concluded and it was the Heir of Prince Gong who acted first, let's wait for the Emperor to make a decision. If it indeed turns out to be the fault of Mr. Yan, and a father's mistake for not teaching his son, your plea for punishment can still be delayed."
Commander Yan wiped the large sweat beads from his forehead. The excuses he had prepared on the way could only be suppressed in his heart.
He was terrified as if being slowly tortured.
What else is there to investigate? Just a few words from Yan An could doom the Governor Mansion!
Apart from greeting respectfully, Ji Teng stood quietly and restrained in one place, his head slightly lowered, appearing somewhat timid.
Emperor He didn't bother to spare him a glance.
Both of them are almost the same age, yet why is Cui Yun so outstanding, while Ji Teng doesn't even have the courage to face him directly?
A disgraceful spectacle.
On this side, Cui Yun dispassionately narrated the day's events truthfully. After articulating the final word, he coolly glanced towards Yan An on the ground.
"Mr. Yan."
Yan An trembled.
"Is there any falsehood in what this Marquis has said?"
Yan An continued to tremble.
Ji Huo yelled fiercely, "I'm asking you a question!"
"…No."
Cui Yun: "You slander in front of the Imperial descendants, tarnishing the daughter of the Minister of Ministry of Industry and the purity of my cousin from the Marquis Yangling Mansion. Do you admit or not?"
Yan An had difficulty breathing.
Ji Huo, with a fierce and intimidating aura, urged, "Speak!"
Yan An timidly looked towards Commander Yan.
Commander Yan: "What are you looking at me for! Right is right, wrong is wrong."
This matter has already reached a point of no return. Lying and pretending in front of the Emperor is punishable by death.
"…I admit."
By now, his previous arrogance was nowhere to be seen.
"Was it the Heir of Prince Gong who hit you first, or did you insult others first?"
Yan An found it hard to speak clearly.
Cui Yun did not make it difficult for him.
A child spoiled rotten by the Yan family is merely a tyrant in his own home.
He looked at the servants of the Yan family: "You speak."
"It was… the young master first."
The situation has been initially clarified.
Cui Yun nodded his head, then turned to salute Emperor He sitting on the high throne in the hall.
"The girls are timid, I could only decide to have them wait outside the palace. If the Emperor summons, they can appear immediately."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Ge appropriately added, "The two girls only went to the Governor Mansion to see Lady Yan and happened to encounter this incident. Being timid, when they heard they had to face the Emperor directly, Shuangshuang's face turned deathly pale. Although they were present and are eyewitnesses, the servants of the Yan family were there, and Yan An has admitted it."
There's no need to go further and call others in for questioning.
Emperor He's gaze was deep.
Clearly, there was no need for Cui Yun to make further effort as he calmly retired to the side.
Ji Ge: "Father, your son is at fault for not stopping Ji Huo."
Ji Huo: "Uncle, I too am at fault for when I heard Yan An's outrageous disrespect, I couldn't help but act."
Prince Gong: "What faults do you guys have?"
He seldom stood up forcefully like this.
"Brother, you can't blame Ji Huo for this, he was impulsive but the Yan family's son deserved to be hit! In fact, he got off lightly."
Emperor He simply watched, and before he spoke frivolously, no one knew what he was thinking.
Commander Yan wished he didn't have this son. He was utterly despondent and terrified, with the cold from the ground nothing compared to that within him.
Having dealt with matters in front of Emperor He for many years, he could still discern a few points about Emperor He's temper.
"It is the fault of your servant for inadequately teaching my child."
Emperor He scoffed coldly.
"You truly did inadequately teach your child!"
————
The atmosphere inside the hall was heavy, which Shen Hua knew nothing about.
She sat in the carriage, drowsy and half asleep.
Unlike the bustling streets, this place had only solemn guards by the palace gates and no ordinary passersby.
Even though it was very quiet, Shen Hua, in her hazy consciousness, heard someone talking beside her ear.
—Your cat has been buried.
—Cui Yun, your father and brother have sacrificed themselves, only you can support the Marquis Yangling Mansion now.
With death, the former glory also entered the soil. If no one stands out from the Marquis Yangling Mansion, it will only be scattered and lost.
The speaker sounded very weak. However, whatever he said Cui Yun couldn't respond, the pair of black eyes that used to be, were now lifeless and hollow.
Ji Ge spoke with difficulty.
—Take good care of yourself, at least for the child in your sister-in-law's womb.
The voice became blurred, quickly replaced by another familiar voice.
"Shen Hua."
Cui Yun looked at the girl sleeping restlessly and called out gently, bending over.
"There's no charcoal fire prepared inside the carriage, sleep later, wake up first so you don't catch a cold."
Shen Hua opened her eyes, tiredly.
The man's eyes and brows carried an indescribable expression. Noble and cold as the moon in the sky.
Looking back at the carriage compartment, Wei Yingying was nowhere to be seen.
"She left with the Third Prince," Cui Yun knew who she was looking for.
Shen Hua's response was a slow "Oh," maybe because she was sleepy, her voice was soft and tender.
Meanwhile, Ji Qing was riding a horse towards the Xuan Residence.
"How was Yan An dealt with?"
Cui Yun indeed responded.
"He was flogged 30 times, his skin split and flesh burst open. His father's official salary was suspended for three years."
Shen Hua pursed her lips, said discontentedly: "That's really light."
She originally thought that, at the very least, Yan An should have been imprisoned for ten days or several months.
Cui Yun's eyes flickered.
Light, is it?
This might not necessarily be the case.
At least half of Yan An's life is gone.
Ultimately, Emperor He couldn't dismiss Commander Yan from his position.
Given this position of Commander, there currently are no suitable candidates; if it were vacated, inevitably those with intentions would push their people into this position.
Better to maintain the status quo than change.
In the ever-changing officialdom, Commander Yan will likely face hardships in the future.
These things, Cui Yun would not tell Shen Hua.
Shen Hua's hands were cold, but her forehead was sweaty; she gently wiped it off with a handkerchief.
Cui Yun noticed something was off about the girl: "Are you feeling unwell?"
Shen Hua with a weak expression: "I had a nightmare."
The girl clutched at the handkerchief, glancing at Cui Yun.
"I had a very unpleasant dream."
Cui Yun's eyes deepened, following her words: "What did you dream about?"
I dreamed of you!
Shen Hua certainly would not share this with him.
The girl agonized for a moment.
Coldly, she spoke, "I dreamed that you scolded me."
Cui Yun: "…"
Shen Hua blinked her eyes, lowered her head: "Cousin, why aren't you speaking?"
Cui Yun looked at her quietly, then slowly closed his eyes.
"You should just continue sleeping."
The girl insisted: "You scolded me, but I! don't blame you, I really am so kind."