Xichuan City was the Qing family’s territory. The decree-bearing eunuchs had arrived with great pomp. Investigating their movements was far too simple for the Qing family.
In less than half an hour, Zhu’er returned with a report.
“Reporting to Your Highness, the two envoys entered the city from the north gate one and a half hours ago.”
“They really just arrived?”
Qing Mulan frowned in surprise. “Could it truly be a coincidence?”
“Zhu’er probably has more to say.”
The Ninth Princess sneered coldly.
The clothes of the two eunuchs and their attendants were far too clean. No matter how one looked at it, they did not appear to have hurried on the road.
“Yes, although they entered the city one and a half hours ago, they actually arrived outside the city five days earlier and have been staying at Green Water Villa.” Zhu’er replied.
Qing Mulan laughed mockingly. “They certainly know how to find places to enjoy themselves.”
Green Water Villa was located in a valley outside Xichuan City. It was also a place for squandering money. Remember the website m.9biquge.com
Its class was even higher than Hanxiang Tower, because Green Water Villa only accepted high-end clients.
“Since we have found out, then do as this palace instructed!”
The Ninth Princess’s expression was icy.
Now the matter was very clear.
Someone was scheming behind the scenes.
However, the Ninth Princess did not know who the schemer was, nor what their true purpose was. She felt very passive.
She was also extremely frustrated inside.
The two eunuchs had just given her an opportunity to vent her anger.
“Yes!”
Zhu’er waved her hand, and Qin Ming immediately brought a group of guards, following Zhu’er.
To a certain extent, eunuchs bearing decrees represented the emperor himself.
No matter where they went, no matter whether the decree was good or bad, no one dared to make things difficult for them. Instead, people would eagerly stuff silver into their hands.
Yet this time, having travelled thousands of li to Xichuan to deliver the decree to the Ninth Princess, not only did she give no silver, she drove them away like dogs.
When had such exalted envoys ever suffered such humiliation?
So the two eunuchs simply blocked the main gate.
At this point, the leading eunuch still did not realise what was happening. Seeing Zhu’er come out with men, the head eunuch said arrogantly, “The holy decree states that Her Highness must, upon receiving it, immediately return to the capital with us. Where is Her Highness the Princess?”
In feudal times, eunuchs were castrated men.
“Za jia” was a military term from the Jinzhou region, meaning our side’s forces, carrying a rather masculine air.
Perhaps to achieve some psychological balance, eunuchs liked to refer to themselves as “za jia”.
Zhu’er glanced coldly at the eunuch but did not answer his question. Instead, she turned to Qin Ming. “Her Highness said to break their legs and throw them onto the street!”
“Yes!”
Qin Ming acknowledged, leading the men to surround the eunuchs and their attendants completely.
“What are you doing?”
Though somewhat panicked, the leading old eunuch still blustered, “Za jia is an envoy personally dispatched by His Majesty. Just try laying a hand on za jia!”
“Oh yes, you are envoys. Then I shall let you die knowing why!”
Zhu’er sneered coldly. “Her Highness said that for such an important decree, you actually stayed five days at Green Water Villa outside the city before delivering it. This is your punishment!”
The eunuchs, who had been forcing composure, turned ashen upon hearing “Green Water Villa”.
Before checking in, someone had repeatedly assured them that Green Water Villa would never reveal guest information. Only then had they dared to stay.
But who could have known that, less than half an hour after delivering the decree, the Ninth Princess had already found out.
Other nobles might not dare kill envoys, but the Ninth Princess was an imperial daughter.
Now that she had caught them deliberately delaying the decree, even if she beat them to death, the emperor could say nothing.
“This elder sister, this servant knows his wrong. Please, go beg Her Highness for mercy on this servant’s behalf!”
The two eunuchs, in desperation, kowtowed repeatedly and tried stuffing banknotes into Zhu’er’s hands.
The accompanying attendants were also terrified and all knelt on the ground.
“Humph, now you remember you are servants?”
Zhu’er sneered coldly. “Captain Qin, why haven’t you started?”
“Beat them!”
Qin Ming cracked his knuckles and kicked the leading eunuch over with one foot.
The other guards drew short clubs already prepared at their waists.
Just as they were about to strike, a cold shout suddenly came from inside. “Hold on a moment!”
At the Ninth Princess’s command, Qin Ming stopped the guards.
“Your Highness, this servant knows his wrong. Beg Your Highness to spare this servant’s life!”
The two eunuchs scrambled desperately towards the Ninth Princess, only to be kicked back one by one by Qin’er.
“Bring them inside!”
The Ninth Princess glanced at the eunuchs and turned back into the room.
Zhu’er grabbed one eunuch in each hand and carried them into the study.
“I give you one last chance. Tell this palace exactly what happened in the capital. Otherwise, this palace will have you tied up in the mountains and fed to the wolves!”
The Ninth Princess said coldly. “If you do not believe this palace dares kill envoys, you may try!”
“This servant believes, this servant believes!”
The two eunuchs were so frightened they kowtowed frantically.
“Very well. You two will tell this palace one by one. If your stories differ, this palace will kill you all the same!”
“This servant would never dare lie!”
The two eunuchs raised their hands and swore simultaneously.
The Ninth Princess gave a cold hum and signalled Qin’er to take one into the inner room.
Qing Mulan beckoned A Mei and followed the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao inside.
They questioned for a full half hour, then had Qin’er bring in the other one.
When the interrogation ended, the faces of the Ninth Princess, Qing Xinyao, and Qing Mulan had all become extremely grim.
“Your Highness, what should be done with these people?”
Zhu’er asked cautiously.
The two eunuchs were still kneeling in the snow outside the door.
The Ninth Princess did not reply, merely waving her hand casually.
Zhu’er understood and went out. “Captain Qin, break their legs and throw them onto the street.”
“Your Highness, everything this servant said was the truth!”
The leading eunuch shrieked.
But in the next instant, a short club smashed into his mouth.
Several of the eunuch’s front teeth flew out, cutting off his cries.
Immediately after, intense pain shot through both legs.
His chest was also kicked several times by Qin Ming.
With Qin Ming’s strength, who knew how many ribs the eunuch had left intact.
“Drag them away and dump them!”
Qin Ming summoned two guards, who grabbed the eunuchs by the arms and dragged them like dead dogs to a distance, throwing them into a puddle by the roadside.
In this weather, with such severe injuries, even if someone came to rescue them immediately, the eunuchs’ chances of survival were less than one in ten.
The other eunuch and the attendants received the same treatment. All had their legs and ribs broken and were thrown onto the distant street.
At first, the two eunuchs still hoped someone would save them, but as they nearly froze solid, no one dared pull them from the puddle.
Around them were only onlookers among the common people.
Only then did the two eunuchs finally come to their senses.
They had been used from the very beginning.
Listening to the increasingly faint wails, Qing Xinyao smiled bitterly. “Wuyang, you have publicly beaten His Majesty’s envoys to death. When you return, you will probably face another impeachment.”
“That no longer matters!” The Ninth Princess looked up at the gloomy sky, closing her eyes with a face full of bitterness. “Father Emperor, what on earth are you thinking?”
