"Master Pei looks quite distinctive in his official robe."
"You... you're shameless!" The old lady, Xiao Lao, was the first to realize it. She pointed at Lu Xi and cursed her.
She genuinely hadn't expected Lu Xi to speak so in public, almost blurting out such a curse.
Pei Yan's brow furrowed slightly, for it was the first time he had heard such a thing. Though his expression remained unchanged, an odd sensation stirred within him.
Lu Xi raised her eyebrows and looked at Xiao Lao with a smile that was neither fully smiling nor fully frowning, asking Pei Yan in a teasing manner, "Master Pei, may I ask a question? Is it because in recent years Lingjiang has changed the laws to allow subordinates to defy superiors, or is it because after ten years of being anointed as a concubine and returning, you people don't even consider us as human beings?"
Pei Yan's voice was mild but carried a hint of firmness: "The laws haven't changed, and you remain the Princess of Lingjiang."
Pei Yan truly respects and admires Lu Xi for her ten years of going to the enemy country as a concubine to ease the war situation.
However, he also dislikes Lu Xi's ways of using the royal power to oppress others and abusing her powers.
"So it is." Lu Xi looked at Xiao Lao with a playful expression on her face: "Since the laws haven't changed and the princess is still the princess of Lingjiang, why is everyone below defying them, insulting the princess? Is it because Mrs. Xiao thinks that General's Mansion is already greater than the royal family?"
The old lady Xiao now realized what had happened and, "thud," fell to her knees before Lu Xi. "I spoke out of line, Your Highness. I humbly beg your pardon."
Lu Xi saw this and a cold smile flashed across her eyes. She could bend and flex, the old lady Xiao from the Xiao family was truly quite an individual.
A pity she was born too early; otherwise, she might have been able to serve her.
Lu Xi ignored Mrs. Xiao and turned to Pei Yan with a teasing smile, "For defying one's superiors and slandering the royal family, Master Pei, do you think there should be a punishment, and what kind of punishment would be appropriate?"
Pei Yan looked at Mrs. Xiao and pondered for a moment before saying, "For defying one's superiors and slandering the royal family, as stipulated by the law, it should be punished with 50 lashes."
Seeing the pale face of Mrs. Xiao, Lu Xi's lips curved into a beautiful arc: "In that case, Master Pei, please proceed."
Seeing that Lu Xi would not give in, Mrs. Xiao turned to Pei Yan: "Master Pei, old woman I spoke out of line just momentarily, with no intention of defying my superiors."
Pei Yan remained silent for a moment before saying: "Considering Mrs. Xiao's words were an accidental mistake, and she is now old, let's change the punishment to......"
"Master Pei." Lu Xi interrupted him with a cold laugh: "This Princess heard that Master Pei is upright and fair, and why would he break the law today? Is it possible that the Xiao family bribed you in advance?"
Pei Yan's usually mild expression grew cold due to her last remark: "The humble servant has never accepted..."
"Well then, Master Pei, please proceed." Lu Xi grew tired of his words and interrupted again: "We'd better finish this quickly so that we can continue with the interrogation."
Pei Yan did not intend to favor the Xiao family, but Mrs. Xiao was quite old, and she probably could not endure ten lashes, let alone fifty.
For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma.
Lu Xi completely lost her patience. She pulled a strand of her hair and twirled it between her fingers, curling her lips in a cold sneer: "Since Master Pei can't make up his mind, then this princess will do it herself. Xiangxiang, proceed."
"Yes." Lvxiang's face cold, led a group of guards towards Mrs. Xiao.
"Mrs. Xiao, I apologize." Lvxiang finished, together with another guard, they dragged Mrs. Xiao to the ground. Several guards carrying boards stood behind her.
Mrs. Xiao's face turned completely white: "Master Pei, save…"
Her words were cut off before she could finish, as Lvxiang stuffed one of her shoes into her mouth, effectively silencing her.
The sound of the boards hitting the flesh made a "click-click" sound. At that moment, Pei Yan finally realized what was happening and roared, "Stop! Everyone, stop!"
Lvxiang and the others didn't even bat an eyelash at his words.
Lu Xi looked at him with a puzzled expression: "Master Pei, you can't do it, so I will on your behalf. Why are you so angry?"
This was the first time someone had used private punishment in front of him, Pei Yan, at the Dali Temple. He was so angry that his veins on his neck stood out.
"Long Princess, this is the Dali Temple, not the princess mansion where you can use private punishment. Order your people to stop immediately."
"She has defied her superiors and insulted the princess. I am using the penalty according to the law as Master Pei has said. How can that be considered private punishment?" Lu Xi looked at him puzzledly.
"You!" Pei Yan was so angry that his hand was trembling. He struggled to calm down and said: "Mrs. Xiao indeed made a mistake, but the crime is not worthy of death. Why did you order her to be punished with 50 lashes, which could almost kill her?"
"I haven't asked for her life. I'm just following the law." Lu Xi's smile was so innocent and harmless.
Just as Pei Yan opened his mouth to say something, Lvxiang spoke before him, "Your Highness, Mrs. Xiao has fainted."
Lu Xi made a sound of disgust, asking, "How many are left?"
"Your Highness, there are forty-three left." Lvxiang replied honestly.
"I hear that Mrs. Xiao once accompanied General Xiao to the battlefield. Now, after only seven lashes, she has fainted." Lu Xi had a seemingly innocent smile on her face.
"Yes, indeed. One must not underestimate the old. Send someone to take Mrs. Xiao back to the general's mansion and bring the princess's token with her. The old lady is getting older, so she might catch a disease if not properly treated."
"Yes." Several guards approached and dragged Mrs. Xiao out as if she were a dead dog.
Pei Yan was so angry that the veins on his wrist stood out. He had seen many wastrel scions who used their power to oppress others.
However, this kind of behavior of laughing as one beats someone almost to death and then sending them back to be treated by the imperial physicians is something he had never seen before.
It was her justified excuse.
Seeing him so angry that his shoulders were shaking, Lu Xi laughed and patted his shoulder. "Master Pei, being angry is harmful to your health."
Pei Yan stepped back a few steps and kept some distance from her, his tone filled with alienation: "It's not necessary for the princess to be concerned."
Lu Xi didn't mind, after all, it was the first time she had seen someone like Pei Yan. If she scared him away at the beginning, how boring would life be from now on?
"How could I not worry? Master, you are the first person in a hundred years to be reborn as Bao Qingtian."
Listening to the sarcasm in her tone, Pei Yan's face didn't show much change, as he had heard similar words many times before.
After calming down, he returned his usual gentle smile: "Your Highness, is it time for you to explain why you want to use private punishment on the Xiao family?"
"If I say the reason is the same as before, what will Master Pei do?" Lu Xi pushed back her hair with her hand and smiled at him.
Pei Yan's brow furrowed slightly and said: "Although it is true that the princess should not use private punishment, she should have consulted with me first."
"Yes, I know." Lu Xi moved closer to him, her smile unrestrained: "But I just did that, and you didn't say anything, did you?"
Pei Yan opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, someone walked in quickly.
Lu Xi and Pei Yan instinctively turned their gazes towards the newcomer. Both their eyes lit up with a hint of surprise when they saw who it was.
