The reborn daughter of the Marquis Mansion takes over the world

Huo Yunjue had just been dragged away by the palace guards to be beaten with a stick, and Emperor Yao immediately appointed Huo Yunhong to supervise the process.

Cao Huan and other ministers wanted to plead for Huo Yunjue, but Emperor Yao suddenly stood up and announced: "Dismiss the court!"

The ministers had no choice but to bow respectfully and leave the hall.

Although Emperor Yao had punished Huo Yunjue, Duke Qi was still dissatisfied and could not accept such a result. Listening to the consolation words of the officials around him, he coldly rebuked: "Go away!"

The ministers kept silent tactfully.

The place where Huo Yunjue was punished was right in front of the palace. He had angered Emperor Yao, so he had to be punished with fifty sticks in public.

Huo Yunhong put his hands in his sleeves and stood in front of Huo Yunjue with an expressionless face, commanding the imperial guards to carry out the execution: "Execute!"

After receiving the order, the two guards quickly raised their wooden sticks and hit Huo Yunjue, who was lying on the bench, mercilessly.

Huo Yunjue gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and said nothing. After being hit by more than ten sticks, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his hands holding the bench turned white from excessive force.

Huo Yunhong looked at his miserable appearance and said with a sneer, "Fourth brother, if it hurts, just scream out loudly. It will make you feel better."

Huo Yunjue frowned and forced a smile: "Thank you for your concern, second brother. I can bear this little pain."

Huo Yunhong sneered, leaned close to Huo Yunjue's ear, and whispered in a low voice: "Fourth brother, why are you so impulsive this time? Just for a woman, you angered our father and offended the Duke of Qi. Tell me, how are you going to fight me in the future?"

Huo Yunjue remained calm and composed: "Second brother, the outcome is still unknown, don't speak nonsense!"

Huo Yunhong curled the corner of his mouth and mocked him.

"You and that idiot Jiarou are really the same. You both fell for love. I want to see what will happen to you and Ning Ziqing in the end!"

Huo Yunjue glanced at him proudly and said, "Second brother, you should take care of yourself first. You don't need to worry about my affairs."

Huo Yunhong's eyes instantly turned sinister. He glared at Huo Yunjue fiercely, straightened his body, and reminded the imperial guards: "Your Majesty has ordered that we punish him more severely. We must make sure that the Fourth Prince will remember this lesson."

As he finished his words, the stick hit Huo Yunjue even harder.

After being hit with fifty sticks, Huo Yunjue's face had turned as pale as paper. He lay weakly on a bench, gasping for breath, and the clothes on his back had already been soaked with blood.

Gu Liaohe and General Zhonglang, who had been watching from a distance, rushed over to check on Huo Yunjue's injuries while Huo Yunhong was reporting to Emperor Yao.

"Fourth Prince, are you okay? Do you want to ask the imperial physician to come and see you?"

Gu Liaohe was worried when he saw Huo Yunjue's miserable condition.

Huo Yunjue shook his head slightly.

"Don't... don't call the imperial physician. I'm afraid it will alarm my mother... Please ask Gu Shaoqing to help me call Wei Feng and Wei Yu to carry me out of the palace."

Gu Liaohe nodded in agreement, and heard Huo Yunjue instructing him again.

"Gu Shaoqing, after we leave the palace, I'll have to ask you to run to Ning Hou Mansion for me and tell Ning Shizi not to tell Third Miss about my caning, so as not to worry her."

Gu Liaohe was suspicious and couldn't help asking, "Fourth Prince, you knew His Majesty would be angry, so why did you admit it in public? Why not let them mistakenly think that Princess Azhao issued an order to punish Princess Jiarou and the others. After all, Princess Azhao has the Black Feather Order, and His Majesty must give Prince Qian some face."

Huo Yunjue spoke frankly.

"If I don't admit this, Duke Qi and the others will continue to throw dirty water on the Third Miss. Besides... I love her, I'm afraid my father has already noticed it..."

Gu Liaohe was shocked when he heard this: "Then... Your Majesty had been patient with Duke Qi before, was it intentional to let you quarrel in the court?"

Huo Yunjue slowly closed his eyes and his voice gradually became lower.

"Jiarou has been targeting the Third Miss for a long time. How could the emperor be easily deceived by the one-sided words of the Duke of Qi? Moreover, the memorial submitted by the Ning Marquis's Mansion last night has already detailed the truth of Jiarou's past frame-ups against the Third Miss, as well as the relevant solid evidence."

"But my father didn't hint to Duke Qi to stop until the very end... I'm afraid he had already become suspicious of me. That's why he deliberately tried to test my attitude towards the Third Miss in the court. Rather than waiting to be held accountable later, I'd better use this incident to calm my father down."

Gu Liaohe's face was full of worry, and he sighed helplessly: "Fourth Prince, now that His Majesty has known about this, I'm afraid it won't be so easy for you and Third Miss to be together."

Huo Yunjue knew it very well, but he didn't want to give up. It was just that his wound was hurting so much at the moment, his consciousness was dizzy, and he no longer had the strength to speak.

Gu Liaohe was so scared that he quickly went to find someone to carry him.

At this moment, Eunuch Wu, accompanied by four young eunuchs, hurried over, carrying a soft couch covered with thick cushions, to convey the imperial edict.

"Fourth Prince, His Majesty has ordered me to take you to Mingde Palace to apply medicine."

Huo Yunjue endured the pain in his body and replied hoarsely, "Thank you, father, for your grace. Thank you, Eunuch Wu."

Eunuch Wu responded politely and went forward to support him.

Upon learning that Emperor Yao had arranged for an imperial physician to treat Huo Yunjue, Gu Liaohe left the palace with peace of mind.

During lunch, when the palace servants were feeding soup to Huo Yunjue who had just taken medicine, Emperor Yao suddenly arrived.

Huo Yunjue lay on the couch and moved his body to get up and salute. Emperor Yao held him down with his hand: "Alright, that's all. No need to salute."

Huo Yunjue pursed his pale lips and nodded, saying, "Thank you, Father."

Emperor Yao snorted coldly: "It's too early to thank you now. If you don't confess the truth later, I will punish you."

He waved his hand to dismiss all the palace servants in the room, signaled Eunuch Wu to bring a chair, and sat in front of Huo Yunjue.

Huo Yunjue knew the Emperor Yao's intention and said frankly, "Father, what else do you want to know? I dare not hide it from you."

Emperor Yao was slightly stunned. He didn't expect Huo Yunjue to give in so quickly.

"Old Four, your move of retreating in order to advance is really smart."

He stared into Huo Yunjue's eyes, his gaze was deep and meaningful.

"But I still want you to tell me in person, do you really have a secret relationship with Ning Ziqing?"

Huo Yunjue lowered his eyes guiltily, and said in a nervous voice: "I... have indeed... admired her for a long time."

After hearing this, Emperor Yao did not show much reaction on his face.

After a moment's silence, he questioned Huo Yunjue.

"Fourth Brother, you should remember that I have warned you several times. Why are you still unwilling to restrain yourself? There are so many famous ladies in Kyoto. Why do you insist on Ning Ziqing?"

Huo Yunjue said with a resolute expression: "Father, there is only one person in my son's heart, and I will marry no one else in this life. Please allow me to..."

Before he could finish his words, Emperor Yao slapped him in the face.

"Rebellious son!" Emperor Yao shouted angrily, "You were born in an imperial family, but you still want to be a lovesick person!"

"You disloyal and unfilial bastard, the late emperor once told us to treat the Su family well. How dare you be so rebellious as to snatch your cousin's fiancée? How can I face the late emperor's spirit in heaven, and how can I face the Su family? I really want to beat you to death right now to prevent future troubles!"

Emperor Yao was furious and extremely disappointed with Huo Yunjue.

Eunuch Wu's expression tensed up, fearing that Emperor Yao would get angry and hurt his body, so he quickly stepped forward to comfort him: "Your Majesty, calm down. The Fourth Prince has already realized his mistake. Don't be angry with him anymore. It's more important to take care of your body."

As Eunuch Wu spoke, he secretly winked at Huo Yunjue.

Huo Yunjue also understood that he could not continue to anger Emperor Yao, so he took the initiative to bow his head and admit his mistake: "Father, please calm down. I know I was wrong. Please take care of your health. I am guilty. No matter how you punish me, I am willing to bear it."

Emperor Yao's face was gloomy. He took several deep breaths before slowly calming down and said, "I will give you two choices now: either sever your relationship with Ning Ziqing completely, or go to Jinzhou and return to the capital without an imperial decree. You should think carefully about this!"

Huo Yunjue's eyes trembled, and he hurriedly grabbed Emperor Yao's sleeve and begged.

"Father, please don't...I can't live without her."

Emperor Yao angrily shook off his hand, his face turning blue with anger.

"Fourth Brother, you are blinded by lust. You want me to help you because Ning Ziqing has committed such a mistake. Where do you want to put the reputation of the entire royal family?"

Emperor Yao was so angry that his lungs were about to explode. He stood up angrily and prepared to leave.

"Go back and reflect on yourself. Think carefully for me. Which is more important, your future or that insignificant woman?"

"You want to marry Ning Ziqing, but I will never agree. I do this not only for the Su family, but also for the future of Nanyao Country. Ning Ziqing's current status is not worthy of marrying into the royal family."

Emperor Yao was resolute and sternly warned Huo Yunjue.

"Don't think I don't know that you and the second brother have been fighting over her. I can't stand by and watch the country being ruined by such a beauty!"

"If you do it again, don't blame me for not caring about the relationship between father and son!"

After saying this, he turned around and walked out, and at the same time instructed Eunuch Wu: "Pass on my oral order: During the period when the Fourth Prince is under house arrest, no one is allowed to visit him without my permission."

"Tell Qin Kuo to send the Imperial Guards to strictly guard the Fourth Prince's residence. If he dares to leave the residence without permission, he will be thrown into the Sky Prison without mercy!"

Eunuch Wu agreed and carefully helped Emperor Yao away.

Behind him, Huo Yunjue struggled to get up in panic and went to chase Emperor Yao to beg for mercy.

"Father, I beg you, please don't force me and the Third Miss to separate."

Huo Yunjue was almost in despair, and he explained in a crying voice: "There is no love between the Seventh Young Master and the Third Young Miss. He has already agreed to break off the engagement with the Ning Marquis' Mansion. I can marry the Third Young Miss openly... Father... I beg you..."

Emperor Yao turned a deaf ear and quickened his pace as he walked out of Mingde Hall.

Eunuch Wu turned his head and saw Huo Yunjue fell on the threshold, and quickly waved his hand to let the palace servants help him up.

After leaving Mingde Hall, Emperor Yao was still furious. He thought for a moment, called an eunuch and ordered, "Summon Ning Ziqing and Su Yanqi to the palace to see the emperor immediately. I cannot allow these two to continue making trouble!"