CHAPTER 1074: CHAPTER 592: EARL, AREN’T YOU GOING TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF?

The expression under Zhao Douan’s mask turned peculiar.

Was there something off about the voice of the arrogant and domineering Commandery Princess just now?

Misheard?

"Snap!"

The second slap landed.

Xu Xueling, sprawled awkwardly on the ground, felt a burning pain, her face turning red from her neck as if about to drip blood.

She felt her blood boiling, her whole body scorching, weak and powerless. In that moment, it was as if her martial arts cultivation had largely vanished, and an incomprehensible sound escaped from her nose.

What a surprise... didn’t mishear.

Zhao Douan clicked his tongue in amazement, laughing mockingly: "No wonder you’re so close with Yunyang, turns out you’re not a proper person either. How curious, is your Royal Family this chaotic?"

A gaggle of gigolos, and one domineering princess treating the people as mere livestock, yet still deserving a beating deep down.

Xu Xueling, humiliated, for a moment forgot how she was defeated earlier, gritting her teeth, turning her head viciously, eyes ablaze, cursing: "Despicable servant, how dare you disrespect this Commandery Princess? Someone..."

Zhao Douan’s face turned cold, he stepped forward, spread his five fingers, and pushed Xu Xueling’s head down with a "bang", sitting down to prevent her struggle, delivering "fifty lashes" with his large hands.

While hitting her, he mocked: "Hmph, a tiny mayfly glimpsing the heavens! Let me show you who is heaven."

Xu Xueling: ?

At this moment, Sun Lianying in the Imperial Palace sneezed inexplicably.

Strange indeed, despite no longer being suppressed by the Dragon Girl, Xu Xueling’s martial arts inexplicably wouldn’t exert even a third of their power. Initially she roared like a tigress, but as the lashes fell repeatedly, she grew weaker, her struggles diminished, finally lying still on the ground, just panting heavily, tears unexpectedly welling up in her eyes.

"Heh, have you conceded?" Zhao Douan sneered: "Think this is Iron Pass Road? As an adult you should know not to act brazenly on enemy territory. Today I will administer family law for the Yanshan King."

Xu Xueling was confined to the ground, unable to move, yet she still spoke sharply: "Dog servant... you want to die, you want to die... I will..."

Zhao Douan mocked: "You want to submit a report to Your Majesty? Like at Noon? Ha, do you think Your Majesty will believe you? Or... even if Your Majesty knew, would punish me for it? Clear your mind, your father has already rebelled; do you truly think you’re still of noble lineage? How senseless to send such a fool for negotiations. Or perhaps, you wish to publicly announce being spanked by me in the meditation room? Stir up a commotion? Or do you, Commandery Princess, want your personal quirks exposed to the world?"

"..." Xu Xueling choked, unable to find a retort.

Such an embarrassing affair absolutely cannot be made public.

As for any quirks, she would die before admitting them — Xu Xueling herself didn’t even understand why, but since young, she possessed an abusive disposition, initially secretly ordering maids to hit her, later noticing the maid had leaked the secret, she had the maid executed.

Yet, she unexpectedly discovered that abusing others could bring a similar experience, thus gradually escalating, becoming a domineering Commandery Princess who enjoyed whipping servants.

Nevertheless, whipping servants was merely a substitute; though extremely reluctant to admit it, being beaten by this hateful military officer brought an inexplicably peculiar thrill amidst her fury.

"What do you want?!" Xu Xueling gritted her teeth.

Zhao Douan smiled: "I heard in the Golden Throne Hall you demanded severe punishment for my subordinates? It’s simple, I’m a very lenient person, as long as Commandery Princess dispels that notion and forgets the street disturbance ever happened."

"Don’t even think about it!" Xu Xueling refused to submit.

Zhao Douan chuckled, raising his palm, hovering in mid-air: "Commandery Princess, you wouldn’t want your secret known to everyone, right?"

"..." Xu Xueling, biting her teeth hard, almost crushed them.

Her eyes were filled with strong anger and unwillingness, but ultimately she conceded in defeat, coldly saying: "No next time."

Zhao Douan laughed heartily, standing up from her back, looking down at this seemingly strong but internally weak Yanshan progeny, coldly said: "Rise, come outside with me."

He came with two purposes, one was to resolve the Commandery Princess’s pursuit of Lihua Hall’s accountability, the other was to closely probe this person.

Now the former purpose was basically resolved, and as for the latter... Zhao Douan had gained some insights.

Xu Xueling silently got up, began straightening her dress, then with a sullen face, followed Zhao Douan out of the meditation room.

...

Outside.

A group of nuns were still hiding in the distance, turning their backs, covering their ears, unwilling to get involved.

Princess Yunyang sat in a daze on the snow-covered steps.

The people from Lihua Hall had already tied up the hands of a group of fainted guards, but due to lack of ropes, their legs were not yet bound.

"Sir." Shen Juan looked at Zhao Douan walking out of the meditation room, then upon seeing the somber-faced, obediently-following Commandery Princess behind him, the expressions of the group of Jinyi became subtle.

They vaguely heard the sound of slaps inside the house, and upon witnessing this scene, couldn’t help but be amazed:

Is our sir truly this fierce? Not only did he slap the Eldest Princess, but he also subdued the arrogant and domineering Yanshan Commandery Princess in such a short time?

"This is enough. You escort the Commandery Princess back to the inn later." Zhao Douan calmly instructed.

At the same time, the fainted Royal Mansion retinue on the ground also slowly awakened, startled to find their hands tied, they couldn’t help but panic.

Xu Xueling’s expression looked as if she had eaten a dead rat, coldly swept her gaze over the group of guards: "Worthless bunch, follow this Commandery Princess back!"