Chapter 174 - 175: Going Home
The Empress strongly suspected that Li Cheng’s death was related to Prince Zhao.
It was very likely that Li Cheng had tried to murder Prince Zhao, only to be killed by him in return.
The case was still under investigation, so the Empress couldn’t produce any conclusive evidence to incriminate Prince Zhao yet.
But the Empress had no intention of letting Prince Zhao off so easily.
She had rushed over specifically because she heard the Emperor had sentenced Prince Zhao to twenty strokes with a military club.
A mere twenty strokes was letting Prince Zhao off far too lightly!
The Empress’s gaze swept over the Flying Dragon Cavalry. Looking at the military clubs in their hands, she said coldly.
"Those clubs are too light. I will give you a heavier one."
She lifted her right hand slightly.
A tall, sturdy eunuch immediately stepped forward, holding a heavy, black iron rod.
He presented the iron rod to one of the Flying Dragon Cavalrymen.
A cold sweat broke out on the cavalryman’s forehead.
The clubs they normally used for punishments were made of wood. If they switched to an iron rod, a single blow could shatter a man’s bones.
Although the Emperor wanted Prince Zhao punished, he hadn’t ordered him beaten to death.
’If we actually kill him, how will we answer to the Emperor?’
Neither of the two Flying Dragon Cavalrymen dared to reach out and take the iron rod.
The Empress said coldly.
"What are you afraid of? Just strike him as hard as you can. I will take full responsibility for whatever happens."
Under the Empress’s pressure, one of the Flying Dragon Cavalrymen reached out and took the heavy iron rod.
He looked at the straight-backed Prince Zhao and said awkwardly.
"Prince Zhao, my apologies."
Li Ji’s gaze toward the Empress was filled with scorn.
"If you have the guts, then just kill me outright."
The Empress’s expression darkened. She pointed at his knees and said grimly.
"Strike him right there!"
’So what if his legs have recovered?’
’I can still have him crippled all the same!’
Seeing that the situation had taken a turn for the worse, Wu Wang quietly retreated and ran toward Hanzhang Hall.
When the Empress saw the two Flying Dragon Cavalrymen hesitating, she shouted sharply.
"What are you dawdling for? Get on with it!"
Forced into a corner, the cavalryman had no choice but to raise the iron rod and swing it down at Prince Zhao’s knees.
Perhaps due to his many reservations, he didn’t use his full strength in the blow.
Even so, the faint sound of a bone popping out of place could be heard.
Li Ji could no longer stand and collapsed to his knees.
He braced himself with his hands on the ground.
A moment later, he shakily pushed himself back to his feet.
He even managed a defiant smirk at the Empress.
The Empress’s face was now as dark as still water.
She gritted her teeth. "Continue!"
The two Flying Dragon Cavalrymen hurriedly reminded her.
"The twenty strokes are finished."
But the Empress ignored them, her eyes red as she shrieked.
"I say it’s not finished, so it’s not finished! Keep hitting him! Hit him hard!"
Her mind was now consumed with thoughts of vengeance.
The son she had carried for ten months and brought into the world with all her strength. The son she had painstakingly raised to adulthood.
Was dead, just like that.
How could she possibly swallow this bitter grievance?
She had to make the murderer pay the price!
Just then, Zuo Ji came rushing out.
He bowed to the Empress.
"Empress, Your Majesty summons you."
The Empress didn’t move.
Her gaze remained locked on Prince Zhao.
Zuo Ji repeated, his tone more forceful.
"Empress, Your Majesty is waiting to see you!"
The Empress withdrew her gaze and left without another word.
Zuo Ji shot a look at the two Flying Dragon Cavalrymen, then quickly followed the Empress.
Once they were all gone, the two cavalrymen quickly dropped the iron rod and rushed forward to support Prince Zhao, apologizing profusely.
"We’re sorry, we had no choice. Please don’t blame us."
Li Ji couldn’t be bothered to waste his breath on them, saying only one word.
"Clothes."
One of them scrambled to pick up the outer robe from the ground, dusted it off, and presented it with both hands.
Gritting his teeth against the searing pain from the wounds on his back, Li Ji put on the outer robe.
This way, the injuries on his back were hidden from view.
The two men helped Prince Zhao to the palace gate.
Li Ji had arrived on horseback, but in his current state, he certainly couldn’t ride.
So, Chen Wangbei found a carriage for him and prepared to personally escort him back to the Prince Zhao Mansion.
But Li Ji said.
"First, go to the Zhong’an Bo Mansion. I need to pick someone up."
Chen Wangbei didn’t ask any questions, simply responding with an "Understood."
The carriage soon stopped at the entrance of the Zhong’an Bo Mansion.
Li Ji said to Chen Wangbei.
"Go announce our arrival. Say that I have come to take Lady Hua home."
He paused, then added.
"Don’t say anything more than that."
Chen Wangbei replied, "I understand."
’The Prince really cares for Lady Hua,’ he mused silently. ’Even severely injured, he didn’t forget to come pick her up himself.’
When Elder Zhong’an, Hua Dingzong, learned that Prince Zhao had come in person to pick her up, he immediately urged Hua Manman to pack her things and leave.
He and his two sons escorted Hua Manman to the gate of the Uncle’s Mansion.
Li Ji sat in the carriage, his face showing no sign of anything amiss.
He spoke to Hua Manman through the carriage window.
"Let’s go home."
Hua Manman needed no help. She simply lifted her skirt and nimbly climbed into the carriage.
Hua Dingzong and his two sons stepped forward to greet Prince Zhao.
Li Ji glanced at the three of them and replied languidly.
"You may go back."
Hua Manman had arrived at the Zhong’an Bo Mansion in a carriage, and that same carriage was now filled with things the He family had ordered prepared for her.
The two carriages left the Zhong’an Bo Mansion one after the other, heading back toward the Prince Zhao Mansion.
Other than looking a little paler than usual, Li Ji showed no other signs of being unwell.
Hua Manman assumed he was just tired from the long journey, which was why he looked unwell.
Seeing him leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, she didn’t dare disturb him and remained quiet for the entire ride.
When they reached the Prince Zhao Mansion, Li Ji let Hua Manman get out of the carriage first.
Without thinking much of it, Hua Manman hopped down from the carriage first.
She turned back to look at Prince Zhao, only to find him moving much more slowly than usual as he disembarked.
Just as his feet touched the ground, his body swayed, and he pitched forward!
Fortunately, Hua Manman was quick-eyed and nimble-handed. She shot out her arms and caught him.
Her hands pressed against his back, and she felt a damp warmth seeping through.
The people around them rushed over, all hands on deck to help steady Prince Zhao.
Hua Manman looked down and saw that her hands were covered in fresh blood!
She looked up, staring at Prince Zhao in shock.
By now, the others had also noticed the injuries on Prince Zhao’s back and gasped in alarm.
"The Prince is injured!"
"Quick, call the household doctor!"
What followed was a scene of utter chaos.
Hua Manman didn’t know what she could do, so she could only run along with the crowd.
When the household doctor arrived and lifted Prince Zhao’s clothing, he discovered that his back was a bloody mess.
Hua Manman’s heart pounded with terror at the sight.
But that wasn’t all.
Prince Zhao’s legs were also injured. His knee joints were severely dislocated.
Fortunately, the bones weren’t shattered, so they could still be saved.