In the Prince's manor, there were guards every five steps and pavilions every ten steps. The main gate of the central courtyard and the east and west side gates were all guarded by elite soldiers. The entire residence was sealed tight, and Qi Xiao was not allowed to go out without being summoned. He simply spent his days in the inner study, tasting tea and admiring flowers.

Outside the ceremonial gate, Princess Dunsu, leaning on her maidservant, got off the carriage. She coldly looked at the layers of guards in front of her and said in an icy voice, "I don't know what grave mistake I have made recently to anger the Emperor. I'm not allowed to go anywhere, and wherever I go, you guard me and block me. Could it be that the Emperor detests me and deliberately wants to embarrass me?"

The commander of the guards was at his wit's end. In the whole world, only this Princess Dunsu dared to confront the Emperor like this. Last time, when he blocked Princess Dunsu at the side gate of the Qianqing Palace, in order to save face for Princess Dunsu, the Emperor scolded him fiercely while appeasing the Princess afterwards.

He knew the Emperor deliberately used him as a scapegoat for Princess Dunsu to see. He didn't take it to heart, but who knew that after just half a month, he encountered this matter again.

The commander stepped forward, bowed, squeezed out a smile and said, "Princess, please quell your anger. This subordinate is merely following orders. The Emperor said it himself - without his decree, no one is allowed to enter the Prince's manor. This is not directed at you, Princess. If others come, it would be the same. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't even dare to let anyone through the main gate. Being able to enter this ceremonial gate, this subordinate has already broken the rules."

Princess Dunsu sneered, "So you're saying I should thank you? Hmph, no need to say these nice words to fob me off! Rest assured, I am not a secret agent from Lingnan, nor a spy from the Western barbarians! I'm just here to see if my nephew, who doesn't abide by laws and discipline, is so ashamed that he committed suicide out of guilt!"

The commander was at his wit's end. He quickly knelt down and pleaded, "Princess, please quell your anger. Although the Emperor has placed the Prince under house arrest, it is also to protect the Prince's safety. Now, not even a fly can enter this residence. The Prince will certainly not come to the slightest harm."

Princess Dunsu looked at the commander and said coldly, "Are you really not letting me in?"

The commander dared not reply. Princess Dunsu laughed coldly again and again, "Very well, I knew it. Now I have become a detested person. The Emperor is annoyed with me in his heart and won't let me go anywhere. The Crown Prince is also fed up with me and won't listen to my teachings. He deliberately tore a hole in the sky, stirring up this catastrophe, so he can hide and no longer see me. Good! I understand it myself!"

The commander had no choice but to smile apologetically, "Princess, what are you saying? Who doesn't know..."

"No need to say these empty words!" Princess Dunsu turned to look at the court lady following her and said loudly, "Bring the items!"

The court lady behind her presented a brocade box. Princess Dunsu opened the box, revealing a layer of bright yellow silk inside. On the silk lay a crimson whip. Princess Dunsu touched the whip and slowly shook her head, "This morning, I went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and personally requested this family punishment from the ancestors. The Emperor is merciful and has only placed that wicked son under house arrest. But I cannot sit idly by and let that wicked son run amok!"

Princess Dunsu turned to look at the commander and said solemnly, "This is our Qi family's domestic matter, unrelated to you all. Commander... this is the ancestral family punishment. Do you also want to stop it?"

The commander was rendered speechless by Princess Dunsu, dumbfounded, he said, "This subordinate, this subordinate... naturally wouldn't dare. It's just... may I ask, Princess, does... does the Emperor know about this?"

Princess Dunsu entered the ceremonial gate with her entourage of court ladies. After walking up the stone steps, she turned around and looked down from on high, "He doesn't know. That's why I still need to trouble you, Commander, to go report to the Emperor immediately. Tell him that the Prince made a grave mistake this time by acting before reporting, angering the Emperor. It was disloyal and unfilial. Today, I am going to beat him to death! Tell the Emperor he need not interfere! In any case, the Emperor doesn't only have this one prince. There are plenty who can inherit the throne in the future!"

After saying that, Princess Dunsu turned and left. The commander was extremely alarmed and quickly sent someone into the palace.

In the inner study, upon hearing the commotion outside, Qi Xiao quickly put down his book and came out. Just as he exited the inner courtyard, he saw Princess Dunsu and her entourage. Qi Xiao smiled, "Aunt, why have you come?"

Princess Dunsu laughed coldly again and again, "Well, well, what a Prince! What a valiant General! You've grown quite capable now. Who do you think you are? Wenyu privately communicating with the Western barbarian king, how big of a deal is this! You had the audacity to make a decision on your own!"

Qi Xiao frowned slightly, then smiled with relief, "When a general is in the field, there are times when military orders cannot be obeyed."

Princess Dunsu was furious, "Good! Well said! This is exactly what I was waiting for you to say! Someone come! Remove his nine-dragon gold crown for me, take off his coiled-dragon robe! Today, I will also disobey military orders for once. After I beat this wicked son to death, I will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple myself to apologize to the ancestors!"

Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Princess Dunsu shouted, "Are you all dumb? You won't even listen to me now?!"

The people had no choice but to step forward and remove Qi Xiao's robe. Qi Xiao let them do as they pleased. In no time, his attire and crown were removed, leaving only a pair of dark satin trousers. The people were tongue-tied and looked at Princess Dunsu. Princess Dunsu said sternly, "What are you waiting for?! Tie his hands! Hang him on this tree! Whip him for me!"

The people had no choice but to follow orders. Among them, Jiang Deqing had personally brewed tea to deliver to Princess Dunsu. When he arrived at the inner courtyard and saw the situation, he dropped the tea cup with a clatter. He staggered over and knelt down, pleading, "Princess, please quell your anger! The Crown Prince is still young and easily confused. You are his elder, just teach and guide him. Why resort to family punishment?!"

Princess Dunsu waved her hand, "He's young?! He's already twenty this year! What principle does he not understand? He clearly understands everything, yet he deliberately committed this grave mistake. Isn't it on purpose?! The Emperor is generous, kindly letting him reflect behind closed doors in his manor. And him? Have you seen a shred of remorse in him? Today, I will teach him a lesson, let him understand how high the sky is and how thick the earth is!"

Jiang Deqing wept uncontrollably, kowtowing incessantly, pleading miserably, "Princess! This old servant has served the Crown Prince for twenty years! Any faults the Crown Prince has are due to this old servant's inadequate service. Now that you insist on punishing him, punish this old servant instead! It's all this old servant's fault, all because this old servant didn't serve the Crown Prince well..."

Princess Dunsu said stubbornly, "When the master makes a mistake, the servant is punished. This is the rule of the palace. But in my place, if you make a mistake, you have to take the whip yourself to learn your lesson! Eunuch, don't overstep. Not everyone can bear the family law set by the ancestors!"

Jiang Deqing kowtowed repeatedly, "This old servant knows, this old servant knows. The princess doesn't consider the twenty years of meticulous service this old servant has provided, only consider, only consider..."

There was no one else in the courtyard, so Jiang Deqing no longer avoided it and choked out, "Only consider the face of his early-departed imperial father and mother! Spare the crown prince this once!"

At these words, tears instantly rolled down Princess Dunsu's face. Looking at Qi Xiao again, his eyes were also red. Princess Dunsu turned her head away.

Seeing that Princess Dunsu had softened, Jiang Deqing hurriedly cried, "Princess... How many years have passed? Others have forgotten those two, has the princess also forgotten?! How can the princess be so cruel-hearted to do it?"

Princess Dunsu suppressed the great pain in her heart with all her might. After a long while, she choked out, "I haven't forgotten! I remember it all... Before Empress Xiaoxian passed away, she held my hand... and told me to treat Xiao'er as my own child. She said... she didn't expect him to become a prosperous and wise monarch like his imperial father in the future, nor to conquer the four seas and defend the land like his imperial father. She only hoped for him to be safe and happy..."

"Empress Xiaoxian's words are still ringing in my ears. If there is the slightest shortcoming, where can I settle myself?!" Princess Dunsu turned to look at Jiang Deqing and said hoarsely, "But look at him! He's going to stir up a huge mess! Now he's still so carefree. How can I not punish him?! No need to say more. Even if the Emperor comes today, I won't listen!"

Princess Dunsu hardened her heart and sternly said to the subordinate holding the whip, "What are you waiting for? Beat him to death for me!"

The subordinate had no choice but to take action. With a flick of the wrist, a crisp sound rang out, and a bright red mark instantly appeared on Qi Xiao's strong and lean chest!

Jiang Deqing jumped up like a mother hen whose chick had been snatched by an eagle. He threw himself on Qi Xiao to shield him. Jiang Deqing repeatedly pleaded for mercy, crying, "This old servant's life is worthless! Princess, please beat this old servant instead!"

Qi Xiao's eyes were bright red. He lowered his head and softly comforted, "Eunuch, please step aside. I'm not in pain..."

Jiang Deqing shook his head, turned to kneel down, and kowtowed incessantly, "Princess, please spare the crown prince... You see him acting like nothing happened, but who can know the bitterness in his heart? The princess doesn't know, but ever since the crown prince returned, he hasn't entered the bedchamber and only stays in the inner study.

"He can't sleep all night, just staring blankly lost in thought. Others don't understand, but this old servant does! How things have changed... The crown prince is suffering in his heart. He didn't want to let the heir go either..."

Qi Xiao took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Eunuch Jiang is old and can't handle great joy or sorrow. Someone... escort Eunuch back to his room." The subordinates didn't dare disobey and hurriedly pulled away the endlessly pleading Jiang Deqing.

Princess Dunsu wiped her tears and hardened her heart, saying, "Continue beating him for me! Beat him hard!"