Although the Emperor doesn't dislike Luo Zhiwan, he can take this opportunity to teach her a lesson so that she doesn't mistakenly believe that she can act recklessly just because she has the Crown Prince's favor.
Let the Empress do this job that might offend people.
Thinking of this, he turned his head to look at the Empress.
"Let the Empress decide this matter!"
Empress Qi's lips curled slightly, and she spoke with a smug expression.
“It’s not impossible for you to take the beating for her, but you’ll have to take double the beating.”
"Mother, twenty strokes of the cane are enough to kill a person. How can Zhiruo endure forty strokes?"
“Chen’er, you’ve misunderstood your mother. What your mother means is that she will take twice the beating for Luo Zhiruo, plus her twenty strokes, for a total of... sixty strokes.”
Hearing this, Leng Chuchen became even angrier.
"Mother, you're trying to kill her!"
Empress Qi, however, helplessly waved the handkerchief in her hand.
"If you can't take it, don't force yourself to stay here. Let whoever is at fault take responsibility!"
It was clear that Empress Qi wanted to force her to accept the punishment.
Everyone present, except for Leng Chuchen, was there with a "let's watch the show" mentality.
Qi Xian'er, who had just arrived with Empress Qi, had a slight smile on her face, her eyebrows curving upwards and her lips curving into a smile that was not easily noticed by others.
How many people would be willing to give a concubine a second glance, even if she was favored but of lowly status?
Even the Emperor Wei, sitting next to the Emperor, watched all this with a blank expression. This matter was none of his concern, and he did not comment on who was right or wrong, but simply watched with great interest.
After pondering for a while, Luo Zhiwan nodded solemnly.
"Fine, I'm willing to accept double the beating..."
"Zhiwan, no."
Leng Chuchen came to her side and knelt down directly before the Emperor.
"Father, Zhiwan is weak and cannot withstand sixty strokes of the rod. I beg you to have mercy."
The Emperor looked at the Empress with a rather helpless expression.
"She has disrespected the Empress's decree. If I were to grant her an apology, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the Empress?"
Leng Chuchen then looked at Empress Qi.
"Mother, I beg you, spare Zhiwan. I know you have always disliked her and thought she was of lowly status, but I love her and I cannot live without her. If you are going to hit someone, hit me too!"
Unexpectedly, Empress Qi showed him no respect whatsoever, simply letting out a cold snort.
"Very well, since His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to stage a touching love story with this woman here, I will grant your wish. Guards, bring the instruments of torture..."
Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiwan quickly shook her head to stop her.
“One person does the deed and bears the consequences. This matter has nothing to do with the Crown Prince, and there is no need for the Crown Prince to be punished along with me.”
“Zhiwan…”
He turned to look at her.
"I told you before, no matter what, we will be together."
She looked at him and shook her head vigorously.
"If I'm the only one injured, you can take care of me. If we're both injured, you'll have someone to take care of you, but what about me?"
Her words were heartbreaking, and Leng Chuchen shook her head in sympathy.
"But I said I would protect you for the rest of my life."
She looked at him and smiled calmly.
"Don't worry, even if I get six hundred lashes, let alone sixty, I still won't die."
No sooner had she finished speaking than two guards carrying long benches and long sticks appeared behind her. The sound of the benches hitting the ground was terrifying.
Empress Qi raised her chin slightly and reminded them in a loud voice.
“Leng Chuchen, if you’re willing to share this blame with her, then lie there and wait. Otherwise, get out of the way.”
Clearly, she had no intention of making any exceptions for this son.
Luo Zhiwan quickly shook her head at him.
"Leng Chuchen, move aside."
After leaving those words, she casually lay down on the stool, while Luo Zhiruo stood there anxiously, but helpless.
Yiming rushed over and clung to her, crying and pleading.
"Grandmother, please don't hit my mother, please don't hit her, hit me instead!"
Empress Qi gave Zhen Mama a wink, and Zhen Mama stepped forward and took Yiming away. Yiming tried to break free, but it was no use.
"Mother, Mother, let go of my mother, let her go..."
"Execute them!"
Empress Qi's voice was unusually serious, and everyone present felt a chill for Luo Zhiwan.
"Smack!"
As the first note fell, Luo Zhiwan let out a sob, her lips pressed tightly together, and she remained silent.
"Smack!"
As the second board landed, she felt pain...
"Smack!"
When the third board landed, she felt like her buttocks were going to burst open and her spine was going to split open.
"Slap...slap...slap..."
Next, one board after another, with each board landing, Leng Chuchen felt his heart clench.
He watched this scene with red eyes, but he was powerless to change anything.
Finally, after the twentieth stroke, Luo Zhiwan fainted. Her hands fell limply to her sides, and the purple jade pendant with a dragon design around her neck slipped out of her clothes...
Emperor Wei had no interest in watching a woman being tortured. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he noticed the jade pendant that had slipped out of her clothes.
His pupils dilated instantly, and he rushed over like a madman, kicking the guard who was beating her away...
This scene stunned everyone present.
He raised his hand, pinched the jade pendant, examined it carefully, and then suddenly shouted.
"Someone, summon the imperial physician, quickly..."
Empress Qi, who was feeling quite pleased with herself, expressed her displeasure. She took two steps forward and questioned him with displeasure.
"Emperor Wei, this is a matter for our Celestial Empire. You'd better not interfere."
The Emperor Wei raised his stern eyes to look at her, and spoke in a cold voice.
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