Princess Xinnan decided that no matter what, she was going to talk to her elder brother, the Crown Prince, about her and Sheng Chuling today. She wanted him to help her speak up in front of Imperial Father and Imperial Mother. When she reached the Eastern Palace, Sun Lingshu told her that the Crown Prince and Grand Prince Liang were at the military drill ground. She then asked to carry Xiang’er to find the Crown Prince together. Sun Lingshu knew that she loved children and did not stop her.
When Xinnan reached the military drill ground, she did not see the Crown Prince but saw Sheng Chuling tied to a pole. He was currently being lashed at. The Crown Prince was feeling depressed. Fu Shui influenced him to find Grand Prince Liang. Grand Prince Liang then suggested that their guards formed two separate teams and fought on horsebacks like what the foreigners did. Sheng Chuling had no choice but to participate. However, because Grand Prince Liang’s guards were barbaric, his fellow guards were severely injured and some were in critical condition. Therefore, he rebelled. At that time, the Crown Prince was recovering from his drinks. Grand Prince Liang heard Fu Shui say that this lad was Sheng Chumu’s younger brother and took the chance.
“Stop it!” Xinnan did not know that this was a deliberate attempt to get back at the Duke Lu Residence as she rushed in front of Sheng Chuling.
Grand Prince Liang instructed for the people carrying out the punishment to stop. He stepped forward and smiled. “Xinnan, why have you come?”
Xinnan was fuming. “Why are you hitting him?”
“This brat was disrespectful to me…” Grand Prince Liang found it strange. “Eh, what has me hitting him got to do with you?”
Xinnan shouted, “You are too much! Let him down now!”
Grand Prince Liang’s face fell. “Xinnan, is that how you talk to your uncle? No respect.”
Xinnan snorted, “You are a drunkard and lecherous. How dare you act like an uncle in front of me? I haven’t sorted it out with you for hitting him like this!” She glared angrily at the guards on both sides. “Aren’t you going to let him down quickly?”
“Who dares to?” Grand Prince Liang blew up. “Sheng Chuling did not listen to orders and disobeyed me. It is only proper that I punish him. Men, continue hitting him. Hit him until he begs for mercy.”
“Who dares?” Xinnan spread her hands out like a mother hen protecting her chick.
The Crown Prince returned and frowned when he saw what was happening. “What is going on?”
Xinnan thought her saviour had arrived. “Brother Crown Prince! Grand Prince Liang is hitting people for no reason. Brother Crown Prince, hurry and help me!”
Grand Prince Liang spoke, “Crown Prince, you are the one that said I could use these guards. Sheng Chuling did not listen to me and rebelled in front of me. Tell me, should I punish him?”
The Crown Prince and Grand Prince Liang were close. Moreover, he wanted to set an example and use Sheng Chuling to punish Duke Lu Residence to hurt Prince Han.
He naturally said, “Of course you cannot let such an arrogant and rude brat go so easily.”
Xinnan shouted, “Brother Crown Prince!”
The Crown Prince was strict. “Xinnan, he is just a guard that should be punished. Why are you protecting him? Let’s hand him over to Grand Prince Liang to handle.”
“Since the Crown Prince is letting me deal with this, then I won’t stand on courtesy.” Grand Prince Liang gestured to his guards. “Continue hitting him.”
Xinnan was fuming. She pushed and hit the guards that lifted the whip. The guards did not dare to resist.
“Let me do it!” Grand Prince Liang snatched the whip over and lashed out fiercely at Sheng Chuling.
Xinnan pounced over and hugged Sheng Chuling. “You are going to hit him? Hit him if you dare! Grand Emperor is dead. If you dare to hit me, let’s see how Imperial Father deals with you!”
Grand Prince Liang was fuming. “Very good! Other people look down on me. Now even you, a junior is looking down on me? I am your uncle. Do you think I do not dare to hit you?” He swung the whip and hit them both together.
As the Crown Prince saw Xinnan get hit, he wanted to ask Grand Prince Liang to stop. Fu Shui muttered beside him, “The sword that you borrowed has just been lifted. If Your Highness speaks up now, this sword will have to be placed down once again and all your efforts will be wasted.”
The Crown Prince did not make a sound.
Sun Lingshu noticed that Xinnan did not return and came over to take a look. She saw that Grand Prince Liang was hitting Xinnan and Sheng Chuling. She was extremely shocked. She quickly walked up to the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, this…”
The Crown Prince was cold. “It is none of our business.”
Chapter 69.2: Miserable Wall
Sheng Chuling saw that Grand Prince Liang was showing no mercy and hitting Xinnan hard. He was anxious for her to let go. However, she hugged on to him tightly, not wanting to let go.
“I think I see it now. So you are an illicit couple.” Grand Prince Liang was laughing. “Xinnan, don’t blame me for not showing mercy if you hug another man without a care for your reputation!”
Sheng Chuling had wanted to just take the punishment, but now Xinnan was implicated. Grand Prince Liang was not holding back as he hit them. All of a sudden, the rope that was binding him tore. Sheng Chuling kicked Grand Prince Liang and snatched a sword from the guard beside him. He pulled Xinnan behind him. Sheng Chuling shouted, “Don’t come over! If not I will really kill!”
Fu Shui suddenly hollered, “Sheng Chuling is kidnapping Princess Xinnan!”
The Crown Prince immediately realised this and instructed, “Sheng Chuling is kidnapping the Princess. His behaviour is inappropriate. Everyone, punish him!”
Grand Prince Liang grew excited. “Kill him! Let’s go!”
The guards surrounded them. Sheng Chuling pushed Xinnan away. “They want to kill me. Stay away from me.”
Xinnan did not budge. “Do you still remember the peace knot you made for me? Let’s stay safe together or die together!”
Sheng Chuling wanted to push Xinnan out but as he saw the various swords pointed at them, he quickly pulled Xinnan towards him as he used his back to block a sword.
“Stop right there!” Empress Zhangsun’s furious voice sounded. Xinnan stumbled as she hugged Empress Zhangsun’s leg. “Imperial Mother! Save me!”
Empress Zhangsun saw the bloody scars all over Xinnan and shouted, “What is going on?”
The Crown Prince remained expressionless. “Sheng Chuling kidnapped Xinnan. I was afraid Xinnan would get injured so I instructed the guards to surround Sheng Chuling.”
Xinnan argued angrily, “The Crown Prince is lying! Imperial Mother, they were hitting Sheng Chuling. I thought that it was unreasonable and wanted to stop them but Grand Prince Liang hit me as well. Sheng Chuling rebelled in order to protect me.”
Zhangsun’s gaze landed on Grand Prince Liang. “Grand Prince Liang, what do you have to say?”
Grand Prince Liang was unperturbed. “Sister-in-law, how would I have known that Xinnan has an illicit affair with a guard? She saw that Sheng Chuling was getting hit and turned into a crazy woman. She scolded me and the Crown Prince. Everyone here saw it. She did not care about honour. Everyone here can be witnesses, she was the one that jumped on Sheng Chuling and took the hits for him. As an uncle, I was furious and hit her twice to teach her a lesson.”
Xinnan was speechless. “Grand Prince Liang, you!”
“Did I wrong you?” Grand Prince Liang pursed his lips. “Do you dare to swear to your ancestors that you don’t have anything to do with Sheng Chuling? If you can, I will take off my clothes and let you hit me back for just now.”