Pei Zhi made a promise: "Now that I'm back, I won't disappear without a word again."

"That's good, that's good." Xiao Chengci breathed a sigh of relief.

Pei Zhi was also quite surprised. It seemed that Shang Huai and Xiao Chengci had become completely different people since she came back this time.

She thought that Xiao Chengci knew she had deceived him.

Xiao Chengci would get extremely angry and then resort to forced love or something.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Chengci has become... so understanding?

Shang Huai, on the other hand, seemed rather gloomy.

Shang Huai brought the General of the North back, and the General of the North was furious and used military law on Shang Huai.

Shang Huai took off his shirt and was beaten with fifty strokes of the military rod in front of Xiao Chengci.

They beat Shang Huai until he vomited blood. Judging from the extent of his injuries, it will take him at least a year and a half to recover.

Pei Minxue couldn't stand watching anymore after reading half of it and slipped away halfway through.

Pei Minxue sighed, "I never imagined that the General of the North could be so ruthless towards his only son."

Pei Zhi said, "The General is making a show of force to Emperor Xiao. Shang Huai is, after all, a traitor. Even if Xiao Chengci pleads for him, he still has to put on a show of respect."

Not only that, after the battle, the General of the Northern Garrison approached Xiao Chengci and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

"General, why have you come to this? Please rise. I have already said that this is a misunderstanding."

The General of the Northern Garrison pulled out a token from his robes. "This is an imperial pardon bestowed by the late emperor. My Shang family has no face to keep it."

The General of the Northern Garrison presented the token with both hands, saying, "Your Highness, please help me return it to His Majesty."

"Please inform Your Majesty that my parents are old and not used to life in the north. They wish to return to the capital to retire."

Xiao Chengci accepted the token and said in a gentle tone, "The climate in the capital is suitable, which will surely allow the old man to live out his remaining years in peace."