Chapter 688

Listening to the conversation between Xu Zaijing and the others, Liang Han bowed and walked out of the private room.

Qi Heng said with some hesitation, "Jingge, Bianjing is the most virtuous place in the world. There are many police inspectors on the streets, and this place is not far from the palace city, so there shouldn't be any danger, right?"

"The Young Duke is right, very right! I'm afraid someone here is being an alarmist to frighten His Highness." Gao Jing looked at Xu Zaijing and echoed in an unfriendly tone.

"Besides, my Gao family is also a founding military family. If nothing else, our family guards are quite capable of protecting people. If anything happens, we can just order the soldiers from the police station to guard us!"

Xu Zaijing frowned and said, "Order the soldiers from the police station to guard us? Do you know all the soldiers in the police station, Brother Gao? If there are villains mixed in among them, would you be able to identify them?"

Gao Jing: "I—"

Xu Zaijing turned to look at Qi Heng and said in a deep voice, "Yuanruo, it is true that Bianjing is the most virtuous place, but do you still remember what happened to my eldest sister before?"

Hearing this, Qi Heng's face also became somewhat ugly.

Many years ago, when Pingmei and Gu Tingyu were engaged, on the day of the Lantern Festival, there were villains who wanted to take advantage of the crowds to plot something untoward.

If Xu Zaijing hadn't been by Pingmei's side at the time, no one knows what would have happened.

Zhao Fang looked at Xu Zaijing and smiled, saying, "Jingge, just now I didn't think much of it, but after what you said, I suddenly feel that crises are lurking all around us."

As he spoke, Zhao Fang even looked around the private room.

Xu Zaijing comforted him: "Your Highness, you don't need to worry too much! The Gao mansion is only a quarter of an hour away from here; as long as word is sent, the imperial guards will arrive soon."

While they were talking, Liang Han returned to the private room with a serious face.

Looking around,

Xu Zaijing walked quickly toward the open windows around the private room.

"Yuanruo, Sixth Young Master, come and help close all the windows," Xu Zaijing said.

"Oh, oh!"

Qi Heng and Liang Han hurriedly agreed, stood up, and walked around to help Xu Zaijing close the window shutters, and Buwei, who was standing by, also followed.

"Your Highness, please sit still! Do not show yourself by the window," Xu Zaijing added.

"Oh, oh! Good!" Zhao Fang, who had lifted his bottom from the seat, sat back down compliantly.

Gao Jing curled his lips and whispered, "Playing the ghost!"

Suddenly,

Gao Jing noticed the gaze of Zhao Fang beside him, and in a flash of thought, he bowed and said, "Your Highness, I will go help too."

As he spoke, Gao Jing stood up and walked toward the window.

Arriving at the window, Gao Jing held the window shutters with both hands and took the opportunity to scan outside.

Sai Sai Fanlou consists of five wide and luxurious wooden buildings, one in the east, west, south, north, and center, connected by corridors.

The wooden building where everyone was located was the one on the west side, which had sunlight from noon until evening.

Moreover, the location of the Gao family's private room was quite good, and it could be seen from the central and northern wooden buildings.

Gao Jing originally felt nothing, thinking Xu Zaijing was just being an alarmist.

But after Gao Jing scanned outside a few times, whether it was the suggestion of Xu Zaijing's words or if it was truly the case, Gao Jing noticed that several people on the third and second floors of the two nearby wooden buildings were looking toward this side.

This discovery made Gao Jing's heart skip a beat, and a feeling of extreme insecurity radiated from the soles of his feet and his heart.

While feeling insecure, as if to prove he was not wrong, Gao Jing used a probing gaze to look at those people.

The people seen by Gao Jing,

Some were puzzled by being watched, shook their heads, and closed their windows;

Some seemed to know how hard it was to grab the Gao family's private room location today and bowed from afar;

Others looked at Gao Jing expressionlessly and then turned their heads to look elsewhere.

Just as Gao Jing wanted to continue looking to confirm the situation, Xu Zaijing had already walked over.

Gao Jing's eyes were vacant, and he hesitated to speak: "Fifth Young Master Xu..."

Xu Zaijing stood beside Gao Jing, scanned outside a few times, and said, "Let go."

"Oh, oh!"

"Click."

The two window shutters were closed, leaving only a thin slit.

Through the slit, Xu Zaijing looked outside a few times, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Fifth Young Master, it should be fine, right?" Gao Jing asked, changing to a more intimate form of address.

Seeing the look Xu Zaijing cast over, Gao Jing lowered his head sheepishly.

"Tap, tap."

There was a knock at the door, and Buwei, who was beside Qi Heng, hurried over.

After opening the door, Buwei said, "Brother Qingyun, what's the matter?"

Zhao Fang withdrew his gaze from Xu Zaijing, who was still looking outside, and said, "Let Jingge's personal attendant come in and speak."

"Yes."

After Buwei agreed, Qingyun walked in.

Seeing Zhao Fang in the main seat, Qingyun suppressed his surprise and hurriedly bowed and cupped his hands: "I have seen Your Highness."

"No need for formalities, is there something wrong?" Zhao Fang said.

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was still looking outside by the window, Qingyun cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, the mansion captain Xun Shu just came to the second floor to tell me that he saw several men with unkind expressions on the way to the Gao mansion."

"He and Captain Alan both felt something was wrong in their hearts, and after discussing it, Xun Shu hurried back to give a warning..."

"They accompanied Jingge to the Northwest, right?" Zhao Fang asked.

"Your Highness is wise," Qingyun bowed and said.

Xu Zaijing, who was looking outside by the window, closed the window tightly and turned his head: "Your Highness, please move and sit near the door of the private room."

Zhao Fang stood up and nodded: "Good! I will listen to Jingge."

Qingyun bowed: "Your Highness, I will take my leave."

"Yes, go."

Qingyun looked at Xu Zaijing's eyes, nodded heavily, and turned to leave the private room.

After the door opened and closed, the private room became quiet again, with only the sound of Xu Zaijing's footsteps pacing by the window.

Liang Han looked at Zhao Fang, walked to Xu Zaijing's side, and said, "Jingge, what are you looking at?"

As he spoke, Liang Han also leaned his eyes into the window slit and looked out, saying, "Is it those rooms with the windows open?"

Xu Zaijing didn't turn his head and said, "It's better for those with windows open; it's mainly those that aren't. Sixth Young Master, stay further away."

"Oh, oh."

In another Sai Sai Fanlou wooden building,

On the third floor,

In a room where the Gao family's private room could be seen, someone was looking out in the same posture as Xu Zaijing.

Looking at the tightly closed windows of the Gao family's private room, the person by the window said bitterly: "It's this scoundrel Xu Zaijing again!"

The door opened and closed,

Someone entered the room and cupped his hands: "Heir, our people have arrived nearby, and the skilled hands have also followed the ox cart carrying the goods to the downstairs."

The person by the window just wanted to speak when he saw one of the windows of the Gao family's private room suddenly open, and Xu Zaijing's substantial gaze swept toward this side.

The person by the window hurriedly turned sideways to give up the window slit and hid to the side.

After waiting for a while, the person by the window looked out again.

"Heir, can our people go upstairs?"

The person by the window clenched his fists, as if restraining his impulses.

After pondering for a moment, the person looked at the Gao family's private room with great reluctance and muttered to himself, "Such a perfect heaven-sent opportunity..."

Afterward, the person by the window said again: "Xu Zaijing, you scoundrel really are at odds with me!"

"Heir?"

Reluctantly looking at the tightly closed windows of the Gao family's private room, the person by the window took a deep breath, released his fists, and said: "Let our people disperse, we'll talk about it later!"

"Yes!"

The person stood by the window for a while longer, sighed, and walked out.

After a burst of door opening and closing, the room fell into silence.

I don't know how much time passed,

"Clang!"

The room door was kicked open with force,

Soldiers wearing the armor of the palace guards rushed in.

The leading officer scanned the room vigilantly, and seeing that there was nothing unusual, he walked to the window.

"Creak."

The window shutter was pushed open by the officer.

Looking at his comrade waving at him from the Gao family's private room not far away, the officer gestured, and then shook his head with lingering fear.

After leaving the room, the officer stood at the door, not allowing anyone else to enter.

After waiting for a while longer,

A group of capable Imperial City Guard officials also arrived at the room for another inspection.

Inner city,

Anyuan Gate,

The imperial guards guarding the city seemed to have received some order and were checking the horse-drawn and ox-drawn carts leaving the city one by one.

An imperial guard squad leader scrutinized the middle-aged man in front of him, looked at the man's cowering demeanor, and then looked at the ox cart loaded with mugwort behind him, frowning: "What are you doing entering the city?"

"I, I came to the city to deliver mugwort, but when I arrived, they didn't want it anymore," the middle-aged man said.

"Which family in the city?"

"A wealthy family on Jingming Street."

"Hmm!"

Nodding, the squad leader walked toward the ox cart.

Drawing an exquisite hand knife from his waist, the squad leader poked at the mugwort in the ox cart.

"Click."

The blade hit something hard.

Afterward, the sharp blade stirred inside, revealing a smooth wooden stick under the mugwort.

Looking at the straw man made of mugwort in the cart, the squad leader knew without asking that this was a wooden pole used to support the 'mugwort person'.

After looking at the ox cart again and finding nothing unusual, the squad leader put the knife back into its sheath, waved his hand, and said: "Go."

"Sigh, thank you for your trouble."

As he spoke, the middle-aged man nodded and bowed as he walked toward the outer city.

Noon,

Under the scorching sun,

In front of the palace,

More than a dozen long benches were arranged in two rows,

The imperial guards, eunuchs, and female officials being punished were lying on them.

"Slap, slap!"

"Slap, slap!"

The sound of the punishment staves hitting flesh and skin was endless.

"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!"

Although the people being punished were biting on wooden sticks or cloth balls to endure the pain, the executioners were clearly skilled, and the people being punished were still in unbearable pain.

Directly in front of these people, Zhao Fang was also lying on a long bench.

Beside Zhao Fang, the Empress was standing with one hand on her waist, her chest heaving as she breathed heavily.

Grasping the thick long bamboo board she held in her hand, the Empress raised it high and then swung it down hatefully.

"Slap!"

"Ouch! Mother, your son was wrong!"

"Slap!"

"Ouch! It hurts!"

"Slap!"

"Mother, it hurts! Your son was wrong!"

"Slap!" After the Empress finished hitting, she put her hands on her waist to rest, looked back at Princess Yue'er, who had a fearful look in her eyes in the Emperor's arms, and said: "Yue'er, if you ever dare to be like your Imperial Brother, I will hit you just the same!"

"Mother, your daughter understands," Princess Yue'er nodded and said tremblingly.

"Someone!" the Empress said again.

Hearing this, Zhao Fang, who was lying down, breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the punishment should be over.

The Empress's personal female official approached, looked at Zhao Fang with heartache, and said: "Your Majesty?"

The Empress said: "Go, find a piece of good cloth and stuff his mouth for me; I find the sound annoying!"

Zhao Fang, lying on the bench, was stunned and hadn't even reacted yet.

"Slap!" The long bamboo board in the Empress's hand swung down again.

"Awoo!"

At the palace gate,

A female official walked quickly toward this side, bowed to the Emperor and Empress, and said: "Your Majesty, Empress, Miss Taotao from the Gao family is here."

"Let her come over."

"Yes."

After finishing, the Empress looked at the red marks on Zhao Fang's bottom with some heartache.

Zhao Fang turned his head to look at the palace gate, then looked up and smiled at the Empress: "Mother, you are tired..."

"Slap!"

The Empress gave Zhao Fang another hateful strike, hitting back the rest of his words.

After panting with her hands on her waist for a while, the Empress looked back at the Emperor and said: "Your Majesty, I am a bit tired from hitting; why don't you do it?"

"Ah?" Zhao Fang on the bench raised his head in disbelief, looking at his own mother beside him.

The Emperor waved his hand: "My strength is great; if I hurt Fang'er, I, the Empress, and Yue'er will all feel heartache."

As the Emperor and Empress were talking,

Miss Taotao from the Gao family walked over with her female attendants.

The sound of the punishment staves in front of the hall was still endless.

Arriving nearby, Miss Taotao from the Gao family knelt directly on the ground, kowtowed, and said: "This young woman has seen Your Majesty, Empress."

The Empress took a deep breath, a smile appeared on her face, and she said: "Taotao, get up."

Miss Taotao from the Gao family said without raising her head: "Your Majesty, Empress, this young woman's two elder brothers have committed a grave error, and I implore Your Majesty and the Empress to punish them."

"Get up first," the Empress said.

"Yes."

Miss Taotao from the Gao family stood up, not caring about the dust on her skirt at her knees, and stood to the side with her head lowered.

The Emperor looked at Zhao Fang and said in a deep voice: "Taotao, since that Gao Jing of your family likes to go out and play, let him go to the northern military fortress to play."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Gao Lin, go guard the city gate for me for three months; no one is allowed to show favoritism or take shifts for you!"

"Yes, this young woman thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness on behalf of my two elder brothers."

As she spoke, Miss Taotao from the Gao family knelt and kowtowed again.

"Hmm."

The Emperor nodded.

Zhao Fang raised his head, looked at the Gao family girl with some heartache, then looked back at the people still being punished, and said: "Father, Mother, nothing happened, so I implore you to spare them."

As he spoke, Zhao Fang looked confusedly at Gao Taotao, who was winking at him.

"Fang'er, you say nothing happened?" the Emperor said in a deep voice.

Zhao Fang, who was tired from raising his head, looked down at his mother's shadow beside him and nodded a few times.

Watching the movement of the Empress's shadow on the ground, Zhao Fang's eyes widened, knowing that the Empress had raised the bamboo board again, and he hurriedly said: "My son, my son and Jingge and the others returned to the palace, and it was calm and peaceful all the way; nothing happened."

Watching the movement of the shadow on the ground, Zhao Fang closed his eyes in advance.

After a moment...

"Slap."

Zhao Fang's bottom suffered again.

"Fang'er, when the Imperial City Guard sent people to Sai Sai Fanlou, the officials around Meifeng discovered a monk."

Zhao Fang, in pain, was stunned and looked up at the Emperor: "Ah? Father, what monk?"

The Emperor frowned: "A monk who was discovered to be unusual, chased into an alley, and committed suicide when he saw there was no hope of escape."

Zhao Fang, lying on the bench, looked down at his shadow in the sunlight and whispered: "Father, was it a dead soldier?"

The Emperor nodded, and after discovering that his son was looking down and couldn't see, he said: "Hmm! That's right."

The Empress scolded Zhao Fang: "You wicked child, when have I ever refused you when you wanted to leave the palace before? Today, you have gone to such lengths just to go to Sai Sai Fanlou to play! It seems I have spoiled you too much!"

After catching her breath, the Empress continued: "Fortunately, you still knew to have the Gao family send an invitation and have the Xu family's Fifth Young Master go! Otherwise, if today had really gone on for another hour or two, and their plot had succeeded, do you know what would have happened?"

"If something happened to you, how could I live? Tell me?!"

The Empress asked with a crying tone.

Afterward, the Empress, who became angrier the more she thought about it, whipped Zhao Fang's bottom again hatefully.

This time, Zhao Fang just tightened his body but didn't wail as he had just now; he just gritted his teeth and endured it.

Zhao Fang raised his head, looked at the Empress and the Emperor, and said solemnly: "Father, Mother, your son was wrong."

"Clatter."

The bamboo board was thrown directly onto the ground by the Empress.

(End of chapter)