Feng Xun nudged Chaoge and whispered, “Obey His Majesty. Don’t make His Majesty hate Xiao Wu.”
What?
Hearing that, Chaoge immediately dropped to her knees.
Pointing at Chaoge, Emperor Wu was so angry that he didn’t know what to say.
He pointed at Chaoge with a trembling finger and gritted his teeth. “In all my years, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a girl fight like that in front of me, and the person you hit was a princess!”
Chaoge wouldn’t have it. She tilted her head and stared at Emperor Wu. “That’s because she deserved it!”
That attitude…
Emperor Wu almost fainted.
“You unruly girl! You’ve defied your emperor and assaulted a princess of the grassland! That’s punishable by death!” Emperor Wu was furious.
Everyone else was astonished.
Was the emperor still holding a grudge toward Unflower for killing his guard back then, and wanted to kill her disciple now? Miss Duan was a genius now!
“Your Majesty, have mercy!”
“Your Majesty, please don’t!”
The senior officials implored him.
Master Dugu said, “Your Majesty, the girl is a stubborn one. Please let me take her away. I’ll refine this crude stone into a piece of jade!”
Master Zuo glared at him.
Why should the Dugu family have this genius girl?
“Your Majesty, I’ve just lost two children. Please give the girl to the Zuo family.”
Seeing this, Lord Mu decided to join in the competition as well.
He said, “Your Majesty, as you know, Yaoyao has left the imperial capital, and I have no children living with me now. I’d like to have this girl as my goddaughter, and I’d like Your Majesty’s permission!”
And they weren’t the only ones who wanted to recruit Chaoge. The heads of the other forces tried to claim her as well.
Duan Chaoge was dumbfounded. She looked around her and mumbled, “Why am I so popular now?”
Feng Xun said grumpily, “Hey, be content! Don’t be smug!”
Duan Chaoge said, “I… I’m not!”
Feng Xun said, “You’re the only disciple of Unflower. All those men wanted to infiltrate the mysterious Hua clan, but failed. You, on the other hand, succeeded without knowing it. You may inherit the Hua clan one day. Of course these men want to take advantage of your status.”
Emperor Wu smirked.
“Since so many people have pleaded for you, I don’t think I should kill you now, but you still need to be punished. You’ll be flogged 80 times!”
Duan Chaoge said, “What? Why? Hey!”
At Emperor Wu’s command, two guards charged toward her.
They were so strong and powerful that they picked her up like eagles catching a chicken.
Meanwhile, someone had set up the bench.
The two guards pressed Chaoge onto the bench and tied her hands and feet. She couldn’t move at all.
Chaoge panicked.
Didn’t those people call her a genius?
Wasn’t she the only disciple of Unflower?
Wasn’t she going to inherit the Hua clan?
Why was she being punished?
Getting flogged meant that her trousers would be removed in public, and that was the worst humiliation for a girl.
Feng Xun pleaded on her behalf. “Your Majesty —”
