Lin Xihe withdrew her gaze, straightened her back, and firmly replied without hesitation, "Yes, Your Majesty."
After saying that, she looked straight at Xiao Yugan, her eyes revealing undisguised stubbornness and determination, showing no fear in the face of the emperor's majesty.
Xiao Yugan's expression instantly turned serious, his face cold and stern, as if covered with a layer of frost.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming tense, Ji Zhuo arrived as swiftly as a gust of wind.
He strode forward, immediately clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and was about to speak when he said, "Greetings..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yugan shouted angrily, "You scoundrel, how dare you trespass into the Imperial Garden!"
The voice boomed like a great bell, carrying immense authority and fury, making everyone's eardrums ache.
"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Ji Zhuo clasped his hands in a fist salute, his posture upright. Although he bowed his head to apologize, he still took the opportunity to quickly glance at Lin Xihe, who was kneeling on the ground.
That glance was filled with concern, as if nothing in the world was as important as her safety at that moment.
"Can you bear the punishment? You're becoming increasingly out of control. Have you forgotten everything I told you last year?"
Xiao Yugan was clearly angry. He had only intended to talk to Lin Xihe, but he did not expect Ji Zhuo to be so reckless and impatient, openly trespassing into the Imperial Garden.
He had nurtured Ji Zhuo for many years and valued him highly. Yet Ji Zhuo was willing to disregard everything for Lin Xihe; how could he not be angry?
"Do you think I would eat people?!"
Recalling the days when Lin Xihe disappeared, Ji Zhuo was extremely anxious. He sent a large number of people to search everywhere, and his actions were very high-profile, causing panic among the people.
Having finally found Lin Xihe's whereabouts, he took leave every month, and many decisions that needed his attention in the court had to be put on hold until he returned.
He disappeared for six or seven days, completely neglecting court affairs.
At that time, the Censorate was impeaching him every day, and Xiao Yugan repeatedly advised him not to lose his composure.
After finally settling down for half a year and not running around anymore, he has relapsed into his old ways today, which is really infuriating.
"I know I was wrong."
Ji Zhuo kept his head down, admitting his mistakes repeatedly. Only when he saw Lin Xihe kneeling there unharmed did his heart finally settle down. He didn't care about being punished at all.
"You two, one refused my bestowed marriage, and the other trespassed into the Imperial Garden. You two are truly a pair of rule-breakers."
Xiao Yugan's face turned red with anger. He reached for the tea on the table, which had already gone cold, and took a big gulp, trying to calm his anger.
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhuo's eyes lit up instantly, like stars twinkling in the night sky. His dark eyes were fixed on Lin Xihe, unable to look away for even a moment.
Overwhelmed with surprise and emotion, she was so brave to openly refuse the emperor's arranged marriage for her own sake.
Looking at Ji Zhuo's gloating and pathetic expression, Xiao Yugan could only sigh silently and shake his head helplessly.
"After all these years, I have raised such a good-for-nothing as you."
Although his tone contained disdain, it was more of a helpless frustration at his son's lack of progress.
Unlike his attitude towards Gu Qinghuai, Xiao Yugan sometimes treated Ji Zhuo like a family member, showing both care and tolerance.
Then, Xiao Yugan turned his gaze to Lin Xihe on the ground, his expression turning cold again.
“Since I have already bestowed this marriage upon you, I cannot take it back just because you are unwilling. Since you are unwilling, then you shall be punished with fifty strokes of the cane. Qinghuai must personally report this to me, otherwise it is absolutely impossible.”
Fifty strokes of the cane?
Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe's eyes widened like saucers, her face filled with disbelief.
Let alone fifty strokes, even five strokes would have made her feel like she was going to die.
this……
Is it too late to change your tune now?
She suddenly regretted it; she should have discussed it with Gu Qinghuai or Ji Zhuo first, and then politely declined...
Upon hearing that Lin Xihe was to be flogged, Ji Zhuo spoke anxiously before she could even respond, saying, "Your Majesty, the refusal to marry was all my fault. I am willing to take the punishment in Xihe's place."
Let alone caning, he would never bear to let Lin Xihe suffer even a fraction of the punishment; he was willing to take it all on her behalf.
"You trespassed into the Imperial Garden and deserve to be punished!" Xiao Yugan's face was gloomy, and the anger in his heart had not yet completely subsided.
"I beg Your Majesty to punish me; I am willing to accept double the punishment."
Ultimately, Xiao Yugan issued an edict punishing Ji Zhuo with eighty strokes of the cane, while Lin Xihe was required to watch the execution from the sidelines.
The executioner quickly brought over the bench, and two eunuchs holding canes had been waiting for a long time. They looked a little nervous, after all, the person to be beaten was no ordinary person.
Despite the punishment he was about to face, Ji Zhuo gently comforted Lin Xihe.
"Don't be afraid. It's just eighty strokes of the cane. You've forgotten that when you met me, my injuries were far more severe than this, not even a fraction of what I suffered back then."
As Ji Zhuo spoke softly, he reached out and gently wiped away the tears that Lin Xihe had shed because she felt sorry for him. His heart was filled with sweetness; she had actually refused the emperor's bestowed marriage for him, and even if he were to be beaten eight hundred times, he would gladly accept it.
Looking at the thick, heavy cane, Lin Xihe felt deep regret, blaming herself for being too impulsive.
In this era of absolute imperial power, why can't I be more cautious and consider things more thoroughly before making a decision?
Now Ji Zhuo is suffering because of me.
"Don't cry. I acted impulsively today, trespassing into the Imperial Garden. Even if I were executed, it would be normal. His Majesty's punishment is already very lenient." Ji Zhuo tried to comfort Lin Xihe, not wanting her to blame herself too much because of him.
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