In the imperial court.
The young emperor sat on the dragon throne.
Ahri and Shangguan Xiong stood side by side at the head of the left-hand generals.
Ahri glanced casually at the person sitting on the dragon throne; he looked somewhat familiar, especially the scratches on his face.
this……
Ahri raised an eyebrow slightly, as if she had discovered something extraordinary, and slowly withdrew her gaze.
Eunuch Gao stood before the emperor and shouted loudly, "If you have something to say, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
"Your Majesty, I have a report! I must accuse General Shangguan Li of daring to ride his horse recklessly in the streets of the capital last night, right under the Emperor's nose, disregarding human life and trampling on imperial authority. He should be stripped of his military power!"
The leader of the censors, holding a white jade tablet, stepped out of the queue.
The emperor pondered for a moment, "Is General Shangguan Li present?"
Ahri stepped forward, clasped her hands in greeting, and said, "Your subject is here."
"Do you agree with what Lord Li said?"
Ah Li responded loudly, "Your subject acknowledges."
The emperor pondered for a moment, as if agreeing with what Minister Li had said, "Since that's the case..."
"Your Majesty, General Shangguan's actions have a reason; I request a thorough investigation!"
On the military side, someone stepped forward.
The emperor looked at Ah Li, who was standing with her head bowed, and said, "Is that so? Then General Shangguan, please tell the truth."
Ah Li paused for a moment, then said, "I only heard some rumors and became angry, which led me to act in a biased manner. I accept the punishment."
The emperor did it on purpose.
The emperor pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Taking back General Shangguan's military power is making a mountain out of a molehill. It would be better to remove his court robes and give him thirty strokes of the cane as a warning to others."
"Your Majesty!"
Shangguan Xiong's expression changed drastically. He took off his court robes, and... everything was over.
Under the emperor's gaze, Shangguan Xiong was sweating profusely, his heart pounding like a drum. He said, "If a son is not taught properly, it is the father's fault. I have failed to discipline him properly, and I should be punished in place of my son!"
"Father, I am the one who did wrong."
"Your Majesty, I accept the punishment!"
Ah Li stopped Shangguan Xiong and even took off her military uniform.
The emperor, who was sitting at the head of the table, immediately turned his gaze towards them.
Shangguan Xiong's face turned as white as a sheet. It was all over. Everything was over.
However, when Ahri's military robes were removed.
His strong, muscular chest, his sharply defined abs, and his solid muscles were like a rock.
Shangguan Xiong was almost speechless with shock. His daughter had turned into a man?
"impossible!"
A gasp came from somewhere.
The emperor's gaze fell coldly on the back of the dragon throne, where several curtains were placed to block the prying eyes of outsiders.
Behind the curtain, there was a princess and a woman who was engaged to Shangguan Li.
The emperor's sister, the Seventh Princess, whispered, "Sister Mei, General Shangguan has such a great figure. Where did you hear that he's a woman?"
The emperor tapped on the armrest of the dragon throne.
The Seventh Princess quickly shut her mouth. She was still an unmarried princess, and it was inappropriate for her to openly look at the bodies of court officials.
Ahri walked openly to the outside of the hall and knelt down.
Thirty strokes of the cane are nothing to someone who has led troops for many years.
Shangguan Xiong held Ah Li's military robes in his hand, wiped the sweat from his forehead. Was he still half asleep today, or was he dreaming?
But then, hearing the sound of the cane striking Ahri outside, he pinched himself again. It hurt; it wasn't a dream.
Everyone around could see that Ahri was a man; it wasn't just his imagination.
Soon, the thirty strokes of the cane were finished.
The emperor descended from his high place, walked outside the palace, stood before Ah Li, looked at Ah Li who remained expressionless, and said, "General Shangguan has been punished for what happened last night. Is Lord Li satisfied?"
The ministers following behind the emperor, Lord Li responded, "The country has its laws, and there is no such thing as a subject's satisfaction."
The emperor turned around, waved his sleeve, and said in an unquestionable tone, "This matter is hereby dropped. All officials, leave the court."
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