Xi Que was indeed very measured in her strikes, ensuring that each lash hit Qing Zhu's skin and flesh without damaging her bones. This strength was honed through years of punishing evil and upholding justice.
Yingzhu was beaten by the magpie so badly that she cried out for her parents and rolled around on the ground, but she always just barely managed to faint.
The ground was stained with large patches of blood, and Ying Zhu was quickly beaten until she was covered in blood.
Looking at Yingzhu's miserable state, Rongju thought of Lü'er, Tinglan, and Qingsang, and finally understood that the bandit princess had indeed shown mercy when punishing them; otherwise, those three sisters wouldn't have fared much better than Yingzhu.
Consort Jia, Chanyu Heye, Xi Ningshang, Mi Jiang'er, and Yu Ying all secretly clenched the handkerchiefs in their hands.
When faced with Ji Fengyao, they finally felt genuine fear.
They weren't afraid of her bandit identity, nor were they afraid of her having a fierce maid like Xique by her side; rather, it was because Shang Xiye deliberately favored them.
He had the magpies attack Yingzhu to tell them that the princess was a sword in his hand.
This sword itself has no scabbard.
On the contrary, she also had the double protection of being "the Empress Dowager's savior" and "personally bestowed a marriage and the title of princess by the Emperor himself." She could kill whomever she wanted!
Shang Xiye had almost finished twisting Ji Fengyao's jet-black hair, then asked Lin Shuang to comb it smooth.
He had someone remove the half-damp handkerchief, then turned around, coldly looking at Yingzhu, who lay on the ground panting and covered in blood, and asked in a low voice, "Do you know why I hit her?"
"Your Majesty, I do not know," the two concubines and three maids replied hastily, bowing their heads.
The other ladies were also terrified, their faces pale, and they all fell silent.
Shang Xiye's aura suddenly filled the air, a chilling aura that had endured countless bloody battles and was so intense that it made the two concubines and three maids standing nearby tremble in the bright sunshine of early summer.
Ji Fengyao also sensed the murderous aura emanating from him and was secretly alarmed. How many mountains of corpses and seas of blood must he have endured to cultivate such a murderous aura?
The most noble prince of the Great Zhao Dynasty was actually someone who crawled out of hell. How could he have lived a happy life?
"Open your dog eyes and watch closely," Shang Xiye sneered, then said in a deep voice, "Come out, all of you!"
At a command.
A dozen or so bodyguards dressed in light-colored close-fitting clothes suddenly jumped into the courtyard. They were all agile young men.
"These are the men you've been looking for, the men in the Princess's courtyard. I've summoned them all. What are you going to do with them?" Shang Xiye's icy gaze swept across the faces of the two concubines and three mistresses, his expression sinister.
Even Consort Jia's expression changed this time.
Judging by their skills, these people are clearly well-trained bodyguards, each one a top-notch expert. With these men around, not even a winged mosquito could get in, let alone a drunken man!
"Your Majesty, I dare not!"
The two concubines and three maids became even more cautious and answered in hushed tones.
"The inner palace is in such a mess, it's clear that even Consort Jia is not up to the task. Now that I have a principal wife and the palace has a mistress, the princess will take charge of the inner palace from now on."
After Shang Xi finished speaking, Wuhen took the tray from the servant behind him and carried the golden seal of the mansion to Ji Fengyao.
Last time at Fengma Post Station, he mentioned giving her control of the household, but Ji Fengyao thought he was just saying it casually. Now, however, with Wuhen presenting the golden seal to her, her heart was suddenly in turmoil.
Having the power to govern a prefecture with a golden seal and not having the power to govern a prefecture are two different things.
Without the golden seal, just like the former Consort Jia, she had to report to him or his people for everything she did, and her power was not even comparable to that of the steward of the mansion.
With the golden seal, it's different. Even if she sold his palace, all she needed to do was stamp it with the golden seal; he wouldn't need to give his consent.
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