Hot-Tempered Zhu Juxuan

"Ah, yes! I would never dare deceive Your Majesty."

Overawed by Di Yunqian's imperial authority, imposing even without anger, Du Yutao glanced instinctively at his father. Seeing that he was not looking at him, his heart sank, and he began to tremble as he recounted the so-called misunderstanding.

"This evening, I was drinking with a few friends at the Misty Rain House when I happened to see the sixth princess enjoying herself alone in the street. I dared to feel admiration for her and wanted to make her acquaintance, so I went downstairs to speak with her. I introduced myself the first time, but the princess ignored me. I approached her a second time, and the princess said I had no manners and walked away."

"But I had drunk too much and could not think clearly for a moment. I truly did not want to miss the chance to meet such a beauty, so I rushed after her, hoping to continue our conversation. I never expected the princess to take me for a scoundrel with ill intentions. After only a few words, she took her hairpin and blinded me in one eye. That enraged me, and in the heat of the moment, I tried to seize the princess and demand an explanation. In the ensuing commotion, my servants failed to hold back and drew their blades. Fortunately, Zhu Wuyang arrived in time to save the princess, and I was spared from bringing about a great calamity."

With that, Du Yutao knocked his head hard against the floor and spoke through bitter tears. "Your Majesty, I truly felt nothing but admiration for the princess. I had no ill intentions whatsoever. I only behaved so foolishly because I had been drinking. I have already put those two servants to death. I know I have hurt the princess deeply. Even a death by a thousand cuts would be too good for me. I beg Your Majesty and the princess to quell your anger."

As Di Yunqian listened, the faintly suppressed fury in his heart burned ever hotter.

Through his words, Du Yutao had turned the ill intentions and violence Zhu Wuyang described into persistent pursuit out of admiration, his own lust into devotion, and his coercion into an overreaction on Di Qingyu's part. What a way to turn black into white.

If Zhu Wuyang had not borne the pain of his injuries to tell him the whole story and its details first, he might truly have been taken in by the father and son's honeyed words and pleasing expressions.

Di Yunqian narrowed his cool, mild eyes and glanced down at Du Chengji.

"Minister Du, what do you think?" It was not hard to guess who had taught Du Yutao those words.

Du Chengji lowered his eyes and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, I failed to raise my son properly and allowed him to drink too much and cause such trouble. Although he has lost an eye and I have already had him whipped, I still believe he deserves ten thousand deaths. I am willing to leave him to Your Majesty and the princess to deal with. The sixth princess is frail; whatever medicinal ingredients she may need, I shall do everything in my power to provide them."

His words were also exceedingly subtle. They seemed to admit fault wholeheartedly, yet covertly alluded to the harm Di Qingyu had done to his son.

"..."

For the moment, Di Yunqian said nothing. He lowered his eyes to regard the two men below, his expression unreadable, turning the jade thumb ring in his hand. The hall once again fell into deathly silence.

Fortunately, the stalemate was broken the next moment.

"Hmph, Du Yutao certainly deserves ten thousand deaths!"

The doors of the hall suddenly opened, and a burly figure strode in, his voice deep, rough, and powerful.

"Wait, General, General, His Majesty is discussing affairs of state." The chief eunuch, Li Peian, followed behind the burly figure.

At the sight of the newcomer, Du Chengji instinctively frowned. This was bad. How had he come so quickly?

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, long, long live!"

The newcomer wore a full suit of armor, with stubble on his chin. He carried the brash air of a man who had fought on battlefields, yet was also steady and composed. Every step and movement bore the grand bearing of a general. Old scars were faintly visible on his face, and his presence was immensely intimidating.

Di Yunqian waved a hand and spoke to Li Peian. "It's all right. You may withdraw."

Li Peian flicked his horsetail whisk and nodded helplessly. "Yes."

Only after he had gone did Di Yunqian look at the man who had abruptly barged in, a reproachful expression on his face.

"Zhu Juxuan, you have less and less regard for the rules."

The newcomer was none other than Zhu Wuyang's father, Zhu Juxuan, the great general of Xiling.

Zhu Juxuan knelt and cupped his fist. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I shall receive my punishment of military caning later. I ask Your Majesty to understand the heart of a father. After all, the bastard who hurt someone has his father to vouch for him, while my son's life still hangs in the balance. I truly could not contain my anger!"

It went without saying whom those barbed words were aimed at.

Yet Du Chengji knew he was in the wrong and could not say much, so he merely played dumb and kept quiet.

Di Yunqian was glad that Zhu Juxuan had come to cast aside all pretense and argue with Du Chengji, but he still had to maintain an appearance of fairness.

"Very well. I shall deal with your conduct later. Get up first."

"Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Juxuan showed no concern and stood up straight. Then he looked down at Du Yutao, who was kneeling beside him. The sight of him clutching his eye, blood on his body and looking miserable, made anger flare up in him.

He narrowed his eyes, poised to act under Di Yunqian's expectant gaze. The next moment-

"Ah!" A scream rang out.

"You bastard! You even dared to covet the sixth princess and try to lay hands on her! Let alone taking one of your eyes, even cutting you to pieces would be too good for you!"

Zhu Juxuan suddenly raised his foot and kicked Du Yutao hard in the chest. Still not satisfied, he kicked him again, square in the stomach.

Zhu Juxuan was a great general who had fought on battlefields for decades. How could an ordinary person compare to him in strength or martial skill? Those two kicks sent Du Yutao sprawling on the floor, vomiting blood.

"Zhu Juxuan, what are you doing?"

Seeing his beloved son beaten so badly, Du Chengji immediately stepped forward to stop him. "This is Xuanzheng Hall! You actually resorted to violence in His Majesty's presence. What are you playing at?"

After those two kicks, Zhu Juxuan felt considerably better. He rolled up his sleeves and snorted. "Hmph, when His Majesty and I were young, sparring, fighting, and conquering the realm, who knows where you were? His Majesty hasn't said anything, so who the hell are you? Besides, I'm teaching your son a lesson for you. You can't teach him yourself, so this general will do it for you. You ought to be thanking me!"

Seeing him roll up his sleeves, Du Chengji, though he knew a little martial arts, knew he was no match for a military commander who had fought his way through the battlefield. He could only flick his sleeves and swallow his anger.

Di Yunqian also spoke up "just in time," drawing out his words.

"Zhu Juxuan, that's enough. I am still sitting right here. Don't go too far, or I shall reward you with fifty strokes of the military cane." Well kicked. As expected, this sort of rough business was best left to a rough man like Zhu Juxuan.