Chapter 010: Peculiar Punishments

The gentle breeze turned back to look at the emerald pool, having searched all around without finding anyone, exclaimed: "Your Highness, she is missing. Could it be that she has sunk down?"

Every stitch and thread intricately entwines with Yan Nanzheng's heart. He cannot help but reach out to caress the embroidery that slightly emerges from the satin, his gaze gentle as water, markedly different from his usual demeanor

This girl is doomed

Lan Qingxiao gasped in surprise. Did he expect her to swim in the emerald pool for several hours? Even if she was a good swimmer, she would not be able to endure such a long duration. Moreover, having only fallen asleep at the fourth watch, her stamina was not what it usually was, and she would certainly not last long.

Your Highness, she has swum over there

Lan Qingxiao took a deep breath, swiftly removed her outer garment, and with a splash, leaped into the azure pool

"No." Yan Nanzheng pressed on her chest, and his internal energy quickly permeated her organs

She knows that both of these choices are bound to be terrifying and repulsive punishments

She did not respond, could it be that she has already..." Liu Feng speculated

She stepped out of the water pavilion, standing by the shore, gazing at the Yan Wang—Yan Nanzheng, who picked up a nearby book to read. That exquisite, stern face was beautifully crafted, evoking both admiration and resentment, yet it was far removed from the mundane world, like the snow atop a towering mountain, pure and white, shimmering with a cold light, capable of wounding, even killing invisibly.

Just now! Liu Feng is eager to avenge Your Highness.

Liu Feng sighed once more; His Highness has secretly sent people to search for the old Yan Empress for over ten years, yet to no avail. This has become a source of great concern for His Highness

This is a tremendous offense

Liu Feng shot her a furious glance and quickly followed his master

"Call a few more guards to rescue him." Yan Nanzheng fixed his gaze on the emerald pool, his eyes flickering slightly

Lan Qingxiao opened her eyes and, in a daze, asked: "What happened?"

Your Highness, her speed is decreasing more and more

What is this rhythm

It definitely won't be as disgusting as last time, so hurry up and choose

Although the servant's robe she wears has narrow sleeves, the hem will weigh her down after entering the water

At the turn of spring and summer, the water in the azure pool remains icy cold, leaving her body frozen and stiff. She feels an increasing heaviness in her chest, and her limbs grow increasingly unresponsive, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds

Lan Qingxiao felt indignant and quickly fell to the ground to plead for mercy: "This servant knows her crime, Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant is willing to do everything in her power to make amends"

There is also a third option; I shall hand you over to the Needlework Bureau for handling according to palace regulations. Yan Nanzheng's purple wide sleeves flowed down quietly, resembling a lofty and noble purple cloud, overlooking all living beings

Such a method of punishment actually exists in the world

This is a great humiliation! It is a desecration!

Your Highness does not dislike the phoenix tail flower; rather, it is the favorite. However, since Miss Qingqing has embroidered the phoenix tail flower that only the late Queen Mother Yan could embroider, how could Your Highness not be angered

Suddenly, she sprang up with her eyes closed and spat out two large mouthfuls of water

As the four guards rushed over, just as they were about to enter the water, Yan Nanzheng had already dragged Lan Qingxiao onto the shore and placed her on the grass by the bank

Lan Qingxiao was swimming with all her might, and at the moment she surfaced to take a breath, she glanced towards the water pavilion. It seemed that His Highness was examining the robe she had mended, his expression peculiar.

Now she is under someone else's roof, and she has no choice but to lower her head

His Highness's mother favored the phoenix tail flower the most, and the embroidery she loved best was also of the phoenix tail flower. The first robe she embroidered for His Highness was likewise adorned with the phoenix tail flower. Therefore, when His Highness saw Miss Qingqing embroidering the phoenix tail flower on that old robe, it must have stirred his emotions and reminded him of some past events

Liu Feng received the cold and piercing gaze cast by His Highness and understood his master's intention, saying: "Your Highness is most averse to the Phoenix Tail Flower; you have offended His Highness and must be punished"

His Highness actually went into the water himself to rescue that young lady

"This servant has offended Your Highness? When did this happen?" she asked innocently

Lan Qingxiao was soaked all over, her small face pale, while Yan Nanzheng was also dripping with water, squatting beside her and patting her cheek

Liu Feng stood in front of the beautiful woman, taking great interest in admiring her graceful swimming posture, "Your Highness, I did not expect her swimming skills to be so excellent"

Yan Nanzheng's body stiffened in the cold, his face blank as he was splashed all over. His slightly curled long eyelashes were adorned with tiny, glistening droplets, and his peach blossom eyes were enveloped in a chilling aura.

Yan Nanzheng's cool peach blossom eyes seemed to slowly diffuse a hint of murderous intent, "This azure pool is approximately 1 mile long from east to west. You will swim from the east to the west, going back and forth without rest. Only when this king's anger has subsided can you come ashore"

She watched him walk further away, and the anger in her heart subsided somewhat

Liu Feng, in a state of agitation, exclaimed: "How could you possibly offend His Highness?"

The wind was so strong that it almost made one jump in place. He instructed the guards: "Go summon the physician from the residence, and tell the kitchen to prepare ginger soup. Why are you not hurrying?"

In half a moment, her tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed, "The servant chooses ... water ..."

Could Your Highness briefly explain what the punishments of "rolling" and "water" entail

She bears a deep-seated grudge and the blood debt of over twenty lives from the Lan family, and she cannot die, cannot be maimed; she must live well, waiting for the day when she can reveal the truth behind the tragedy of the Lan family

Dizzy, she can hardly hold on any longer

Lan Qingxiao secretly gritted her teeth, her anger surging to the top of her head

Suddenly, her right leg became immobile, cramping up. She thought to herself that it was bad and swam even harder, but her right leg was completely powerless. She gradually began to sink and even swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of water

Lan Qingxiao could not understand why the lofty Prince Yan would personally come down to save her, but she felt that the murderous aura emanating from His Highness at this moment sent chills down her spine

Your Highness, she has already swum five laps

Liu Feng shouted: "Aren't you going down yet?"

The phoenix tail flower embroidered with silver thread is vividly lifelike, resembling a rare blossom nurtured in the serene purple waters, exquisite and beautiful

The water from the pool she sprayed just happened to splash onto His Highness's face

Here we go again

Your Highness, she swims very quickly

Yan Nanzheng saw that the ripples in the emerald pool had disappeared. For some reason, a surge of impulse welled up within him, and he rose to leap into the pool.

The flowing wind turned back to see His Highness's expression, realizing that His Highness had seen the phoenix tail flower, and recalled the long-lost Queen Yan who had been missing for eighteen years, cough...

However, it was he who punished her; he saved her life, at most balancing the scales.

Dizziness and vertigo, the dark tide submerging...

"If it were not for His Highness saving you, you would be doomed. How could you dare to offend His Highness?" he reproached with deep sorrow and indignation

The risk of flowing made my eyes bulge out, unable to believe what I was witnessing.

He chattered incessantly in his report, while his master had already set aside the book and was gazing at the robe placed beside the desk

"Come here, come here..." Liu Feng shouted as he rushed out of the waterside pavilion

She gritted her teeth, and although she hated the petty and vindictive Prince Yan in her heart, she knew that opposing him was like striking a stone with an egg

Any servant assigned to the palace from the royal family or the princely residence will be dealt with severely; they will either be executed or beaten to death. Liu Feng continued, raising his chin with great satisfaction, "You should choose one quickly."

Liu Feng heard the sound of water and saw His Highness entering the pool to save someone, and was shocked to cover his mouth

Your Highness, she is like a carp, graceful and pleasing in her movements

Your Highness, I do not know what just happened

Yan Nanzheng stood up stiffly, removed his outer robe, and strode away without paying her any attention

Yan Nanzheng raised his cup, leisurely enjoying his tea, "This king offers you two choices: leave, or water"