"Your Majesty, the princess and the fourth prince are here.”The brightly lit Rising Dragon Hall was filled with a solemn atmosphere in the pitch-black night.
When Jiu Ranling and Jiu Ranyou knelt in front of the Emperor, the Emperor was sitting on the throne. His face was completely black, and his expression was a horror Jiu Ranling had never seen before.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were on the left and right respectively. The empress dowager's face was filled with anxiety. The empress looked at them with a pained expression, but if one looked carefully, one could clearly see the corners of her mouth rising. This time, Concubine Li did not have the leisure to add insult to injury to Jiuranling. She could only silently say," God bless me " in her heart.
The group of princes stood at the side, and one could see the helplessness on their faces. Jiu Ranxi pursed her lips tightly, and even Jiu Ranqing frowned.
Jiu Ranling was thinking about her words when Jiu Ranyou spoke first,""Imperial Father, letting Tenth Brother and Miss Xu out of the city without permission is all my fault. It has nothing to do with Ling-er.”
Jiu Ranling immediately raised her head and wanted to say " no ", but the Emperor seemed to be angered by Jiu Ranyou's words. Without saying anything, he picked up the jade town beside him and threw it at them!
"Be careful!" Someone's voice rang in her ears, but Jiuran Ling seemed to be unable to move at the moment. She could only watch the jade town fly towards her.
His body was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace, followed by a muffled groan.
"You 'er!" Concubine Li was the first to scream. She threw everything aside and pounced over." You 'er, are you stupid?!" Why did he do that? Did it hurt? Are you alright?"
What entered Jiu Ran Ling's eyes were Concubine Li's frightened eyes and the bloodstained Jade Town not far away. Jiu Ranyou's pale face was right in front of him, drenched in cold sweat. She stretched out her hand and touched a patch of blood.
Blood…Fourth Brother's blood. Realizing this, Jiu Ran Ling, who was already used to seeing blood, suddenly felt dizzy.
" Ling-er," Jiuranyou called out to her." Are you alright?"”
Jiu Ranling's heart felt like it was being squeezed. She could only shake her head heavily in Jiu Ranyou's arms.
The other princes finally knelt down and said in unison,"Imperial Father, please show mercy!"
"Don't plead for mercy!" The Emperor was furious." All of you are really my good children. Do you think I really don't dare to punish you?!"”
" Father." Jiu Ranyou let go of Jiu Ranling and faced the Emperor." Everything is my fault. If Father wants to punish me, please do it to me."”
"You 'er, are you crazy?!" Concubine Li pulled him back." You're really possessed!”
"Good, very good!" The Emperor was so angry that he laughed." Fourth Brother, do you really think that I won't dare to do anything to you? Do you think the meeting hall will collapse without you?!”
"Your son does not dare." Jiu Ranyou lowered his head.
"Zhen trusted you so much, and you repaid Zhen's trust like this!”The Emperor clenched his fists." It's fine if that girl is used to fooling around, but even you, who have always been calm, are fooling around with her. Tell me, how can you not make me disappointed!”
"It's your son's fault. Your son has let Imperial Father down. Imperial Father, please punish me.”Jiu Ranyou closed his eyes, looking like he was willing to accept his punishment.
"Good! "Since you've said so," the Emperor raised his voice."Men, drag the Fourth Prince out and cut him down!”
Jiu Ran Ling was stunned, and her mind went blank. She saw Concubine Li crying and crawling to the Emperor's feet to beg for his forgiveness. She saw the Empress Dowager pulling the Emperor and asking him to think twice. She saw the guards dragging Jiu Ranyou up beside her, but he did not even tremble. He even said softly to himself,""Don't be afraid."
"Wait a minute!" Jiu Ranling finally stood up and looked into the Emperor's eyes that were burning with anger." Father, I have something to say."”
"Girl, tell me!" The one who spoke was the impatient Empress Dowager.
" Father," Jiu Ran Ling took a deep breath," Tenth Brother eloping with Miss Xu is indeed a disgrace to the royal family. As the king, you should be furious." However, as a father, you should be happy that your son has obtained happiness. Fourth Brother is the Imperial Residence. You killed him because of this. It's a small matter to rectify the dignity of the Imperial Family, but it's a big matter to shake the entire discussion hall and even the foundation of the country!”
Jiu Ran Ling quickly said everything she could think of incoherently, but her entire body was still trembling uncontrollably.
The Emperor's eyes were still deep. Just when Jiu Ranling thought that her words were completely useless, an elegant voice interrupted,""Emperor, please listen to ChenQie."
Jiuranling turned around. It was Lady Mirror.
Lady Mirror bowed." Your Highness is the pillar of the country. There are many praises for you among the people. If you cut him down like this, it will indeed shake the foundation of the country. Your Highness Ling is right. What's more, Your Majesty's reputation as a benevolent ruler among the people will also be destroyed. This concubine thinks that Your Majesty will definitely not do such a thing that will harm the country.”
Jiu Ran Ling didn't expect Lady Mirror to break her rules and speak up for them. The Empress Dowager saw that the Emperor was wavering and immediately gave him a way out.""Your Majesty, I know you're angry at the two children for their mistakes, but what the girl and Lady Mirror said is right. A severe punishment is enough. This way, the girl and You 'er will remember this lesson.”
The Emperor was silent for a long time. During this long time, everyone seemed to be on guard. In the end, the Emperor restrained his anger and said,""Since so many people are pleading for you, Fourth Brother, I will spare your life. However, he could avoid death, but he could not escape punishment! Men, give me a hundred and fifty lashes!”
From the beginning to the end, the emperor had never punished Jiu Ranling. She could only watch as Jiu Ranyou was suppressed. The executioner raised the board expressionlessly, mercilessly raising it, swinging it down, and raising it again...
The Emperor gave the order and turned around to leave, giving this matter an ending. The Empress Dowager couldn't bear to see this scene and also drove back to the palace. Jiu Ranling knelt beside Jiu Ranyou and held his hand tightly. Concubine Li's heart-wrenching cries could be heard.
Jiu Ranyou bit his lip tightly. There were bloody holes on his lips. The previous wound was still bleeding, and his face was covered in cold sweat.
" Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother…" Jiu Ran Ling called out in a low voice. She used one hand to wipe the sweat off Jiu Ran You's face.
One hundred and fifty strokes of the stick had passed. It was clearly not on Jiuran Ling's body, but she felt as if she had walked through hell. From the beginning to the end, Jiu Ranyou did not cry out in pain. Instead, he forced a smile at the bewildered Jiu Ranling.
Concubine Li ordered the servants to carefully carry away the heavily injured Jiu Ranyou. Jiu Ran Ling was about to follow, but Concubine Li pushed her away,""Huo Shui! You are the source of trouble! Stay away from You 'er!"
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Jiu Ranqing went forward to help her up.”He asked, although he knew the answer in his heart.
"This is what I owe Fourth Brother." Jiu Ran Ling suppressed the sadness on her face and tried hard to force a smile.
" Don't be like this," Jiu Ranqing finally could not help but say with heartache," Ling-er, cry if you want to."”
"I won't." Jiu Ranling stubbornly pulled the corner of her lips and lowered her head in defeat." Brother Qing, you know." I didn't tell any of you about this plan because I didn't want to see this ending. I still have value. Imperial Father won't bear to do anything to me.”
" You always rely on this." Jiu Ranqing sighed helplessly." But you should know that Father won't indulge you every time." This time, it was Ling who saved you. Otherwise, I don't know what would have happened to you.”
"I know. I was indeed a little rash this time. It was purely an impulse that made me do these things. " But Brother Qing, I know that you understand me, and you also understand…" Jiu Ranling turned around and looked at Jiu Ranqing. Her usually bright eyes were slightly misty." The person I don't want to owe the most is Fourth Brother."”
"Silly girl, how can I not understand?”Jiu Ranqing held her hand.
His hands were cold.
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