Bai Yan stood up without even bending her knees, and with one hand supporting her sister, she smiled and said, "Sister, don't worry, with Uncle Jiu here today, he will definitely give me justice."

Bai Ruifeng stammered: Ninth Uncle, the Emperor?

Was their ninth uncle the emperor? I secretly did the math in my head. The emperor was the ninth son in his family. That's right!

"You want to kill me to vent your anger?" Huo Jin looked at Liu Yunrou lying on the ground with icy eyes.

Liu Yunrou wasn't stupid; she knew who she couldn't afford to offend, and she shrank into Gu Cheng'an's arms in fear.

"Your Majesty!" Gu Cheng'an knelt on one knee: "Miss Liu has lived outside the Great Wall for many years and does not know the rules of the capital. Besides, she has never met you before!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive her this time, considering she is the widow of a meritorious official!" Gu Cheng'an knelt down.

Huo Jin lowered his lips: "The widow of a meritorious official?"

Gu Cheng'an's hand, which was gripping the ground, tightened slightly.

"Whether she's the Heavenly King or not, how dare she whip someone in front of me? Even the King of Hell couldn't save her!" Huo Jin said coldly.

Thinking of that whip strike just now, the fire in his heart was impossible to suppress.

Her delicate skin would leave a red mark for a long time if you pressed it lightly; if you were whipped, I don’t know how long it would hurt.

"Want to save face?" Huo Jin's lips curled into a chilling smile: "Fine, I'll give her face."

“Lai Fu,” Huo Jin said.

The eunuchs standing behind him had served him for a long time and naturally understood his meaning. They led their men to Liu Yunrou's side and said, "Miss Liu, now that you've entered the capital, you should learn the rules and recognize people, right? How can you just whip people randomly?"

"His Majesty ordered me to teach you manners, so I will teach you."

A hint of fear flashed in Liu Yunrou's eyes. She was quickly lifted up by two maids, and Caizhu stepped forward, giving her face from both sides.

At first, Liu Yunrou was able to hold on without crying or begging for mercy, but as time went on, blood began to drip from her cheeks.

"My lord, save me..."

"Waaaaah, Gu Cheng'an..."

Caizhu was a trained fighter; after only ten or so slaps, Liu Yunrou's cheeks were already swollen high. When the last slap landed, she suddenly spat out something that landed at Gu Cheng'an's feet—a bloody tooth.

Gu Cheng'an knelt down in front of Huo Jin with a thud: "Your Majesty, Miss Liu's crime does not warrant death. Such punishment is sufficient!"

He kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Your Majesty, please spare her life!"

Huo Jin didn't want to spare her; he wanted to kill her, even if it meant death. But as he turned his head, he saw the girl beside him slightly frowning, and Huo Jin's heart skipped a beat...

No, killing a young girl would seem cruel to her, and she might even be afraid of me.

No one knew the many thoughts that had passed through the emperor's eyes, but he raised his hand and calmly ordered, "That's enough."

The moment Liu Yunrou was put down, she collapsed into a limp mess, a far cry from the spirited look she had when she first confronted Bai Yan with a whip.

Gu Cheng'an went to help her up. Her face was swollen, and tears welled up in her eyes. She pointed at Bai Yan and said, "She..." Before she could finish speaking, Gu Cheng'an shook his head.

I can't say.

His Majesty was not angry because of her outrageous words, but because she had injured Bai Yan with her whip!

Bai Ruifeng glanced at His Majesty, then turned her gaze to the kneeling Gu Cheng'an and the disheveled Liu Yunrou...

She told Xiao Yan that she would gradually erode their power and take revenge, wanting them to lose everything.

But she suddenly discovered that having immense power and crushing them like dirt seemed even more satisfying.

Bai Chong, Qian Shi, and others were still kneeling in the courtyard, with Liu Yunrou's weeping nearby.

Madam Qian secretly looked up at His Majesty's face, and her heart was filled with horror... Why would His Majesty stand up for these two sisters?

Gu Cheng'an was also puzzled, so he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Chen Mingzhao, the heir of the Chen Marquis's mansion, was a close friend of Miss Liu. Now that he is dead, we have come to the Bai residence. Why has Your Majesty come here?"

Bai Yan gently raised her lips: "You came for me, didn't you?"

Huo Jin's heart fluttered at the smile in her eyes. "Of course."

Her heart softened and she was about to take his hand when he patted her shoulder instead. He spoke in the manner of an elder to a junior: “You have come to seek justice for your friend, and Xiao Yan calls me Ninth Uncle. Since she is my junior, I cannot stand by and watch her be wronged.”

Ninth Uncle... What Ninth Uncle? What junior?

The letter is almost three thousand miles long; why didn't he just explain the relationship between the two of them directly?

Bai Yan glanced at Huo Jin, but he didn't look at her.

"Madam Song," Huo Jin said, looking at Madam Song kneeling to one side, "I remember I already instructed Marquis Chen. Did he not convey my words to the manor?"

Madam Song's face turned ashen. Yes, His Majesty has already given the order.

But that was her son! Her flesh and blood, born after ten months of pregnancy, how could she watch him die unjustly without seeking revenge?

"Your Majesty, Bai Yan murdered my son. Whether it's a matter of justice or human sentiment, I should make her pay for my son's life!" Madam Song said fiercely. "Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that your people will find out how you are so biased and disregard the law?"

Huo Jin smiled coldly: "I return those words to Madam Song."

“His worthless life is not worthy of Xiao Yan’s atonement. However, if you continue to make trouble like this, I would be happy to send you down to join your son.”

Madam Song's face trembled slightly, and her confidante quickly supported her arm and whispered, "Madam... if you are not feeling well, we shall take our leave."

She then led Madam Song to pay her respects to Huo Jin. After Huo Jin waved his hand, she breathed a sigh of relief and left with him.

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