The magpie could only pout and reluctantly agree: "Oh, alright, son-in-law, I promise to spare her life."

Everyone was stunned: This bandit girl actually dared to say such arrogant things in public, which shows how much the Ninth Prince has spoiled her!

If even a maid is like this, then imagine what the bandit princess must be like!

Princess Zhaoping burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably: "Brother Xiye, you...you actually...want to hit me?"

"Ninth Prince, the Princess is of noble birth; this is unacceptable!"

Seeing that Shang Xiye was about to hit the princess at the slightest disagreement, Granny Zheng disregarded her own safety and rushed forward to try to stop him.

At this moment, two guards brought over a long bench and a screen.

Xi Que didn't care how pitiful Princess Zhaoping was crying, or whether anyone was trying to stop her.

She grabbed Princess Zhaoping's arm and dragged her behind the screen like a chick. She then used the silk ribbons brought by two guards to bind Princess Zhaoping's hands and feet. Without saying a word, she took the cane and began to beat her.

Although the magpie only used three-tenths of its strength, the force was equivalent to seven-tenths of an average strong man's strength, which was quite heavy.

"Ah—!" Princess Zhaoping cried out in pain and shame.

Shang Xiye slowly raised his eyes and stared intently into Zheng Mama's familiar yet unfamiliar eyes: "Aunt Zheng is new here and it is understandable that she is unaware of my repeated orders; however, Princess Zhaoping knows that I have repeatedly emphasized that Princess Chonghe is in charge of the Ninth Prince's Mansion and that all matters, large and small, are decided by Princess Chonghe. Yet she did not remind Aunt Zheng and allowed Aunt Zheng to lead a group of eunuchs who do not belong to the Ninth Prince's Mansion to openly attack Princess Chonghe. She is disrespectful to me and to the mistress of my Ninth Prince's Mansion, and is even suspected of plotting to harm the mistress!"

"Ninth Prince!" Granny Zheng thought she was hallucinating. "How could you, a prince, say such biased things! Princess Zhaoping entered the manor as a concubine, and she is also the mistress of the manor; what you are doing is favoring a concubine over the wife!"

Shang Xiye was certain that Zheng Mama was now firmly on the Empress Dowager's side. The last vestige of warmth and illusion in his heart shattered, and his eyes grew increasingly cold: "A country cannot have two rulers, a household cannot have two masters, and even concubines have their order of arrival; this is my residence, and Princess Chonghe entered first and took control of the household seal first. Therefore, if I say she is the sole mistress, then she is the sole mistress. Furthermore, Princess Chonghe is the officially appointed Princess Consort, bestowed by the Emperor himself. How can this be considered favoring a concubine over the wife?"

"Nine Emperors..."

“Granny Zheng!” Ji Fengyao poked her fluffy little head out from Shang Xiye’s arms, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth with a giggle, interrupting her and reminding her, “My lord is now a renowned war god, the Prince of Da Zhao. You should call him Ninth Prince or Prince. Calling him Prince is a great disrespect to the Emperor.”

Granny Zheng: "!!!"

What a nuisance! Do I really need a bandit like you to teach me manners?!

Before the thought was even out of my mind, something even worse happened.

Shang Xiye's voice was calm and indifferent, and he gave his orders in a businesslike tone: "Granny Zheng is new to the manor and does not know the rules, but as a servant, she is disrespectful and intended to harm the mistress, which is also a serious crime. Considering that this is her first offense, she will be given forty strokes of the cane as a warning to observe her future behavior. As for the others who entered the manor without the consent of the king and the queen to aid and abet evil, they will all be punished as trespassing in the manor and attempting to assassinate the mistress, and they will all be beaten to death on the spot!"

What?! They were all beaten to death on the spot?!

Everyone, including Consort Xiao, gasped in shock.

Oh dear, this is going to be a big problem!