Pei Zhi was standing aside watching the ceremony when Pei Yuan Ce's shout startled her.

If someone hadn't been holding Pei Yuance down, he probably would have been writhing in pain by now.

With each blow, Pei Yuance would let out a painful howl.

Pei Zhi tried to hold it in, but she really couldn't help it; the smile on her lips was impossible to suppress.

Fortunately, Pei Yuance is in excruciating pain right now, but it doesn't matter, judging from her expression.

Pei Zhi held up a handkerchief to cover her increasingly radiant smile.

"Help! It hurts so much!"

"Awooo, awooo!"

Pei Zhi laughed so hard her whole body was shaking, and her face turned red.

As Xie Qi emerged from the prison, he heard a piercing wail.

After inquiring, I learned that His Majesty was punishing the Fifth Prince.

Xie Qi was about to turn around and leave when he saw Pei Zhi standing not far away, smiling broadly.

Xie Qi immediately stopped in his tracks.

Pei Zhi used to always appear to have a deep brother-sister relationship.

As a result, Xie Qi was somewhat disappointed in Pei Zhi.

He thought that a woman who could risk her life for the people of several cities must be different.

But Pei Zhi was not moved at all after seeing Pei Yuanze's crimes.

Xie Qi even mocked his own arrogance.

Pei Yuanze was imprisoned. Pei Zhi came to warn him not to use his position for personal revenge.

This further convinced Xie Qi that the princess and the fifth prince were truly blood relatives.

After Xie Qi completely believed him, he was then shown this scene.

If you really care about your older brother, you won't be able to hold back your laughter when you see him beaten until his skin is torn and he is crying out in pain.

Xie Qi chuckled lightly, his expression somewhat ambiguous, then turned and left.

Pei Zhi was unaware that Xie Qi had seen everything she had done.

After being beaten thirty times, Pei Yuance could no longer make a sound or stand up.

Pei Zhi hurriedly called for people to carry Pei Yuance back to the mansion, and then summoned the imperial physician for a consultation and treatment. Pei Yuance wailed in pain once again.

With so many people around this time, Pei Zhi naturally had to put on a good show of brotherly and sisterly affection.

After Pei Yuance was served by servants, had his medicine applied, and changed his clothes, Pei Zhi went inside.

With tears in her eyes, Pei Zhi said, "Your Majesty was tricked this time and suffered so much. It really breaks my heart to see you like this."

Pei Yuance looked up and saw Pei Zhi with red eyes.

"Alright, I'm fine, don't cry."

"The money will fill the hole, but I reckon this job will definitely be taken over by Fourth Brother."

Pei Yuanze knew this without Pei Zhi saying it.

"My elder brother has had a terrible misfortune. His job was snatched away by my fourth brother. With this precedent, he will definitely be extra careful this time. I wonder how arrogant he will be when he comes back."

Pei Yuance listened to Pei Zhi's words and asked, "Do you think it's possible that Consort Gao was behind this incident?"

Pei Zhi's eyes widened. He looked around first, then lowered his voice and asked, "Does Your Majesty think the same way?"

"As soon as the news of the military pay being robbed came back, I went to tell my mother about it, but she scolded me, saying that I shouldn't talk nonsense without evidence."

Pei Yuance saw Pei Zhi wiping away her tears with a handkerchief and snorted, "That old hag, I thought she genuinely wanted to support me."

“If something happens to me, she would rather kick me to the curb. Why would she be willing to go and cause trouble for Consort Gao for my sake?”

"Anyway, even if she loses one of my princes, she can still adopt the other princes."

Pei Yuanze finally understood: "Even without the eleventh and thirteenth princes, she can still snatch the princes from the other concubines."

Pei Zhi asked blankly, "Your Majesty, do you mean that the Empress can save you, but she doesn't want to?"

Pei Yuance gave Pei Zhi a disappointed look. “Of course. She’s the Empress. If it were the Third Prince, do you think she would still stand idly by? In the end, even if he’s not her biological son, there’s still a barrier between them.”

"So, does Your Majesty mean that we should...?"

Pei Yuance shook his head, "I can't sever ties with her yet; I still need the title of legitimate son."

Pei Zhi then inquired about Pei Yuance's wound.

Pei Yuance drank the medicine, which contained sedative ingredients, and soon he became drowsy.

Pei Zhi didn't stay long and headed back home.

Pei Yuance's sword still needs some sharpening.

The fourth son, having escorted the military funds back this time, should naturally be promoted to the Ministry of Revenue, and his official position will not be low.

The Minister of Revenue is the fourth prince's father-in-law. Once the fourth prince enters the Ministry of Revenue, he will thrive and have a good life.

Just as Pei Zhi had predicted, the Fourth Prince successfully escorted the military supplies to the border.

Upon his return, Emperor Pei appointed the fourth prince to the Ministry of Revenue.

Meanwhile, in the imperial court, the calls to establish the fourth prince as the crown prince grew even louder.

The princes have all married, but the position of crown prince remains vacant.

Meanwhile, folk songs drifted out from outside the palace, singing that at the exact hour of Mao (5-7 AM), a celestial dragon descended to earth, majestic and imposing, unlike any mortal.

Of all the princes in the palace, only the fourth prince was born at the exact hour of Mao (5-7 AM).

Emperor Pei looked at the kneeling ministers, said only "Dismiss the court," and then got up and left.

Outside the Imperial Study, Consort Gao had been kneeling for quite some time.

When Consort Gao heard the folk song, she was so frightened that she was completely at a loss and immediately came over to apologize.

When Emperor Pei entered the study, he passed by Consort Gao as if he didn't even see her.

Consort Gao watched as Emperor Pei walked past her without even glancing at her, and she knew that His Majesty was angry.

Consort Gao knelt outside for a full hour, during which she repeatedly broke down due to exhaustion. She leaned on her maid and remained kneeling.

The sun was blazing outside, and Consort Gao's face was as white as paper. Only then did Emperor Pei have her invited in.

Even after Consort Gao entered, she remained kneeling on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please be wise. This folk song must have been written by someone to sow discord between Your Majesty and the Fourth Prince."

"Oh?" Emperor Pei asked meaningfully, "You mean, it was the Empress who did it?"

Consort Gao immediately shook her head, "I had no such intention."

Emperor Pei pressed, "So, who do you mean to do this?"

Consort Gao had no idea. If she had known, she wouldn't have come to plead guilty, and instead, she would have arrested someone and brought them here for His Majesty to punish.

"I don't know either, but someone must have ill intentions."

"Perhaps the people truly believe that the fourth prince is the one who can inherit my throne? That's why they say, what is the fourth prince? A celestial dragon descended to earth?"

“My son is still young, Your Majesty, you are the true Heavenly Dragon.”

"Alright, go back and tell the fourth prince that when he has nothing to do, he should read more books and not associate with officials everywhere. I am not dead yet."

Emperor Pei may not be unaware that the folk song incident could not have been the work of the Gao family.

But Emperor Pei took advantage of this incident to deflate the arrogance of the fourth prince.