Chapter 57: Caught in a Secret Meeting – Severe Punishment or Mercy?
"Yuchi Lianping".
"Your subordinate is here."
Emperor Wusu asked coldly, "How should we deal with brawls in the army?"
Yuchi Lianping immediately replied, "It will be dealt with according to military law, ranging from fifty to one hundred lashes depending on the severity of the offense."
The punishment of being flogged in the palace was nothing compared to the punishment of being beaten with military rods.
Each blow from the military baton was delivered with even greater ferocity; tearing the skin and flesh was considered mild, and many with poor physical condition died instantly.
Princess Huachang stood to the side, her face pale. She seemed to have been frightened by something, and only came to her senses when she heard the words "military beating."
She stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, isn't this military punishment too harsh? Lord Ji isn't a member of the military; I'm afraid he won't be able to withstand the beatings."
Upon hearing Princess Huachang speak, Yuchi Lianping assumed she was pleading for him.
But as soon as she finished speaking, he clenched his fists, veins bulged on his forehead, and glared fiercely at Ji Changlin.
"This humble general can bear it, please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Princess Huachang glared at him.
Why is this brute interrupting? If Ji Changlin is punished less, he'll get away with getting hit less too.
He beat her up so badly, her face was all bruised, and she was coughing and gasping for breath while clutching her ribs. How could she possibly plead for him?
Emperor Wusu glanced at Yuchi Lianping, who was still indignant, and said calmly, "Can you withstand it? Then beat him until he can't."
His tone was indifferent, but his eyes were already icy cold.
Ji Qingwu just stood aside and watched, feeling a kind of suffocating sensation.
Even though General Yuchi was a trusted confidant who helped the emperor pacify the country, he was dealt with without any leniency when he made a mistake.
Just now, Yuchi Lianping was acting out of spite, but after being swept away by the emperor's cold, sharp gaze, he calmed down completely.
He knew in his heart that the cold-hearted Emperor Wusu was not joking, but would really do such a thing.
Yuchi Lianping kowtowed and said piously, "This humble general knows his crime and begs Your Majesty for mercy."
Princess Huachang was familiar with the emperor's expression and, seeing that he was about to get angry, she knelt down between the two of them.
He pleaded, "Your Majesty, please forgive my husband."
Upon hearing this, Yuchi Lianping, the "clumsy husband," finally felt relieved.
But when he saw that Princess Huachang was kneeling even closer to Ji Changlin, his eyebrows furrowed again. What was she doing, getting so close? Did she think he was dead?
But in front of Emperor Wusu, Yuchi Lianping dared not make another mistake.
"Ji Changlin, do you have anything to say?"
"Your Majesty, it is all my fault. General Yuchi will soon be going to the northern army. I implore Your Majesty to be lenient in your punishment."
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, but the mere mention of his impending departure for the northern border made Yuchi Lianping seethe with hatred, but no matter how unwilling he was, he could only swallow it down for now.
Everyone else knelt down, leaving only Ji Qingwu standing. Feeling it wasn't appropriate, she quietly moved to her elder brother's side and slowly knelt down.
She thought no one would notice, and just as her knees touched the bricks on the ground, a sharp sound came from above her head.
Why are you kneeling?
Caught off guard by being called out, Ji Qingwu looked up and met the emperor's icy gaze. He said somewhat nervously, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty."
I didn't plead for anyone; I just told him to calm down.
But it was surprisingly enjoyable.
Emperor Wusu nodded slightly, looking at her blinking eyes, his expression softened considerably, not wanting to frighten her any further.
He said to Yuchi Lianping, "Considering your many years of military service and numerous meritorious achievements, I will deduct half a year's salary and demote you by one rank. The entire amount of the deducted salary will be given to Ji Changlin as payment for medical treatment."
Yu Chi Lianping frowned deeply; Ji Changlin had indeed been punched by him.
He reluctantly knelt on the ground with both hands and said, "This humble general obeys your command."
Princess Huachang breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that she had been spared the beating.
Fortunately, the girl from the Ji family was present, and Emperor Wusu's imposing manner had subsided considerably. Demoting her and reducing her salary was already a mercy, and he did not actually punish her.
Then the emperor said, "Ji Changlin has been promoted to Grand Secretary of the Hall of Imperial Sacrifices. After recovering from his injuries, he will be sent as an envoy to Southern Chu with an imperial edict and will reside in the foreign quarter."
Princess Huachang turned her head to look at the person kneeling to her right and saw the hem of his robe embroidered with bamboo leaves. In her memory, he had always been a gentleman as pure and gentle as bamboo and breeze.
Ji Changlin said bitterly, "Your humble servant... thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."
The demotion and promotion in official positions, seemingly a show of favoritism towards Ji Changlin, actually meant that Ji Changlin intended to stay abroad permanently after being sent to the Southern Chu Foreign Envoy's Office.
Princess Huachang turned her gaze to Emperor Wusu's departing figure.
The Emperor, being a man of deep thought, must have known the reason behind it all, so he did not ask the two of them why they were arguing, thus giving her face in front of everyone.
Transferring Ji Changlin away from Lin'an City put Yuchi Lianping's mind at ease.
On the carriage on the way back.
Princess Huachang sat gracefully on the magnificent brocade cushion, still maintaining her aloof and unapproachable demeanor.
Yu Chi Lianping crossed his arms, his face stern, and waited for a long time, but she did not speak up to explain.
Unable to contain himself, he asked, "The princess must be heartbroken."
What are you trying to say?
Unable to hide his thoughts, Yuchi Lianping sneered, "Is Your Highness so impatient? Today is a palace banquet, and you're already going to meet your old flame in secret. Why don't you wait until I've broken camp and gone to the northern army camp before meeting him? Why be so sneaky?"
The reason they fought was because Yuchi Lianping caught Princess Huachang and Ji Changlin having a secret rendezvous at the Lotus Pavilion.
"We just bumped into each other by chance."
He pressed on, saying, "With the doors and windows tightly shut, a man and a woman alone in a room—what else could it be but a secret rendezvous?!"
Princess Huachang rubbed her temples, also feeling quite a headache.
She was led to the pavilion of the Lotus Pavilion, where she heard that the emperor had recently found several genuine works by Yan Zhenqing and hung them in the pavilion.
The banquet was boring, and she admired Yan Gong's literary talent, so she wanted to come and see him.
Little did anyone know, Ji Changlin was taking a nap here to avoid drinking.
Before the two could exchange more than a few words, the door was kicked open by Yuchi Lianping.
Before she could explain, he rushed over and started fighting with Ji Changlin.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Yu Chi Lianping assumed she was agreeing and said with a dark face, "No matter what kind of relationship you had before, once you marry me, you can only be mine."
“If I find out you two are involved again, I will—” he glared and said fiercely, “break Ji Changlin’s legs!”
Even though he was saying harsh words, he never intended to hurt her.
Princess Huachang couldn't understand why he insisted on labeling her as having an affair, making her and Ji Changlin sound like adulterers.
She didn't want to argue with him, and said with a clear conscience, "Think what you want."
Yuchi Lianping was provoked by Princess Huachang's indifferent attitude. He grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her in front of him.
She snapped, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"
He looked down at that angelic face.
"I won't let you go! I know you don't want to marry me. It was the Empress Dowager's scheme that forced you and Ji Changlin, two lovers, to separate."
As he cried out in pain, his subordinate couldn't help but increase the force of his blows.
“But you are increasingly disregarding me. Is it because I’ve been too good to the princess that she thinks she can trample me under her feet?”
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