Of course the hint of happiness on Zhenzhen's face did not escape Emperor Junzhan's eyes, he quickly pulled everyone's attention back onto the issue at hand.

"Good! Very good! General Xue has indeed taught his daughter well...Whether your sister stepping in is a blessing or a curse, we will know when we compare the bloods. Come guards, send that wench to the Isolated Palace. Without my permission no one is allowed to visit or let her leave. This king is willing to see... If that child is indeed of royal blood, he will be spared but if he isn't...3 generations of your family will follow you to the grave!"

A deafening silence followed suit. Having gone half mad, tears flowing down Zhenzhen's face as she bowed her head and accepted almost without thought.

"Y-yes.."

Without even consulting her family, Zhenzhen had place 3 generations on the execution stand together with her. General Xue felt his blood run. His body trembling with both rage and fear. What has he done to deserve this stupid daughter?!

A gentle and melodious chuckle resounded in the hall,

"Sister? I think Emperor has not heard, but I am no longer a part of the Xue family. I have renounce the name 'Xue'. I am merely my husband's wife and those of the Xue blood are strangers to me. Check the family registry and you would not find my name there. "

Raising an eyebrow, Emperor Junzhan was genuinely surprised, he had not heard that Feiyun had renounced her family name. With this the punishment would not affect her in the slightest as she was not a part of the family. Then why was she extending out a hand to help in this matter? No matter how he thought about it, he felt that something wasn't right but he could not figure it out.

General Xue stood to the side, his fist clenched so tight that his knuckles were white. This little wench was openly shaming him as a father and now slapped him in front of the entire court! His other daughter in such a state while his legitimate daughter had reveal her severed relationship. Where was he to put his face?!

Feiyun simply smiled watching everything that had transpired, just as she planned. But that was not all, the last icing on the cake...her eyes fell on the bloodied figure that had remained quiet the entire time.

"Ah! Isn't that Yuan Chilu?! "

One of the younger boys suddenly called out. That one shout, everyone turned their attention to the young boy, following his finger and stared upon the bloodied mess.

Yuan Chide instantly stood up. He thought that the figure looked familiar and to think it was really his son! How could he not worry. Everyone watched as he scrambled forward pulling his beloved son into his arms.

" Your majesty please! This loyal subject had failed to train my son, I begged your majesty to punish me instead!"

However unknown to Yuan Chide, just as he had pulled his son into his arms, something fell from the pockets of Yuan Chilu's body. That one item was enough to seal the fate of the bloodied man in the arms of his father.

It tinkled as it fell on the cold hard marble stained with blood. Everyone including Crown Prince RuoFeng stared upon that half bloodied jade pendant.

It's body a rare red mixed together with the blood on the floor, even then, the red jade shone brighter than blood, redder than scarlet.

Everyone wondered what that jade pendant was but one thing for sure was that the Yuan family no matter if you sold their entire family's fortune would not be able to buy such a rare jade.

Both the Empress and Emperor knew what that jade pendant was with a single glance. aside from them, there was only a handful of ministers who knew.

Empress Mu frowned, she knew that it belonged to her son, she had specifically ordered for the red jade to be crafted and gifted it to him. Sacrificing how many thousands of people just to venture the deep and dangerous cave in search for such a gem. Yet how did it end up on Yuan Chilu's body?

Empress Mu couldn't allow this to escalate, whatever the reason she knew and felt it wasn't a good one - a tugging feeling etched on her chest.

This one jade pendant could be used to harm her son in so many ways. She would not allow that. If the ministers used this to drag her son off the throne hiding behind conspiracy then she would have to deal with such a troublesome matter!

"My beloved Emperor-"

However just as she was about to continue, Emperor JunZhan had turned to her with a extremely cold face. The one that used to dote on her with gentleness and warmth no longer reflected in his eyes.

Instead it was pure fury, those eyes alone had stopped her from continuing.

"General, bring that to me!"

Quickly scurrying forward, the general handed the red jade pendant to Emperor JunZhan. who merely gave it a glance before placing it into his sleeve.

Without even responding to the pleas for mercy of Yuan Chide, with a swipe of his sleeve, Emperor JunZhan stood up wanting to leave this blood boiling place. Today that was supposed to be filled with joy had turned into a complete rollercoaster!

Each incident dragging his face into the mud and slapping him so many times in the face that the blood boiling at the back of his throat was about to shoot 10 meters in front of him.

However, just as he had stood up, a gentle, spring like voice sounded. The voice held a trace of arrogance and royal bearing.

"My Emperor, don't you still have something to announce? This princess did not arrive here just to watch this farce."

"Princess?"

"Not princess consort?"

"What's happening, doesn't that little lass know better than to continue to provoke the dragon?"

Emperor JunZhan face grew dark, a ball of blood at the back of his mouth ready to explode at any moment.

Pressing his thin lips together, his fist curled into a ball as he turned to one of the many Eunuch following by his side. In his hands, laying quietly on top of a red velvet cushion, a golden edict with a dragons jade hanging from both sides.

One look and one would know that the scroll held an important announcement.

With a loud snort, Emperor JunZhan sat back down, flipping his sleeve to allow the eunuch to read the golden edict in his hand.

"By edict of the Son of Heaven. Princess Consort Feiyun, legal wife of 4th Prince Xing Tianhuo, has served the Empire well. Defeating the ravages Bu Lords that has threatened the South for the last 10 years and earning the respect of the VERMILION ARMY. By the benevolence of the Emperor, hereby bestow upon Princess Consort Feiyun title ofFirst Princess of the Nation and Commanding General of the South Vermilion army! Receive!"

The corner of Feiyun eyes curled up as she stood up. This Emperor was too easy. In front of her, he became as scared as a mouse. Unwilling to make a single move that could be used against him. Instantly handing over such a title just because of a little threat she made when she first arrived.

A slight disappointment in her eyes could be seen briefly. Tianhuo having caught that only chuckled silent in his heart, his face still expressionless and cold.

'People of this standard were not able to stand on par with his quick minded and foxy princess.'

However no one knew these where the thought running through both Feiyun and Tianhuo's minds. If they did, how much blood would be spat out?

The title of First Princess of the Nation alone was enough to send people cowering. The First Princess was someone of even higher standing than that of a legitimate princess born with royal blood. Even the Empress had to show small curtsy to the First Princess of the Nation.

Although by right, the status of Empress was still higher than First Princess of the Nation, but one must know that in the many years, there is always an Empress but the Title of First Princess was much harder to obtain. Only 1 other person had been granted the title of First Princess, and that lady was the very mother of Tianhuo, Mei Han Yu.

But her legacy was short lived as after merely 3 months, after the death of the 8th Prince TianZheng, she was immediately taken in as the side wife of the newly conferred Crown Prince JunZhan.( Current Emperor)

The crowd knew this well and mummers began reverberating through the crowd. It was now clear why this news had been dragged until the end of the event. It was too grand a news compared to some puny crown princess.

Upon hearing the legendary title, Empress Mu bit on her lower lip, her eyes ablaze with jealousy. Even while she sat as Empress, the title First Princess of the Nation seemed more grand and rare than a mere Princess or Empress.

She had always wanted that title but lost it to the wench Mei HanYu and now lost it to the daughter-in-law. Was this the heavens telling her that no matter what she would not get her hands on that title?

With the scroll just in front of her, the red lips of Feiyun curled ever so slightly. Simply reaching forward to receive the edict without kneeling, like how it should have been done. Everyone stood dumbfounded as they watch her overbearing attitude.

Beat them to death and they will still tell you that they had never witness such arrogance!

"Don't get to arrogant! You should still kneel before the Son of Heaven!"

RuoFeng spat out. This entire evening he had been ruffled and annoyed. Everything pulling him in somehow.

"Oh? Did you not know?"

With a flick of her sleeve, Feiyun threw out what seemed to be a white scroll with gold edges and 2 jade bells hanging from the side. Having left it on the floor right at the foot of the Dragon throne.

Her cold and dangerous eyes flashing towards Emperor JunZhan as though asking him to open it.

That scroll that rolled towards his feet was very familiar to him. The Eunuch quickly went forward to pick up the scroll, looking to Emperor JunZhan for permission. Upon seeing the nod from his emperor, he quickly unfurled it, and his eyes bulged out from its socket.

Turning around in hesitance , only to see Emperor JunZhan getting impatient, his brows furled together.

"What? not going to read the blank edict? "

With her hands folded in front of her, Feiyun simply questioned her tone light with a hint of coldness and danger. Upon hearing the 2 words, blank edict, everyone gasped. Just what was written on that scroll?

"R-read..This servant will read. By edict of the Son of Heaven. Princess Consort Feiyun, legal wife of 4th Prince Xing Tianhuo hereby is given permission for- the entire family line of Prince Xing TianHuo to be granted freedom to forego the need to pay respects to the anyone. indefinitely!"

Loud gasps filled the hall once again. Such a simple request? Although it meant that the generations onward would not need to submit themselves to anyone, that also meant the royal family. Even if it was the Emperor himself they would not need to bow or greet.

But that blank edict could be used in many more meaningful ways ah! Gaining all the riches in the empire, gaining land, power anything. Such was the use of the blank edict that it was so rarely given out.

But now, it was being use to avoid having to pay respects to people including the royal family? Did they hate having to kneel or greet people so much?!

Emperor Junzhan clearly understood the meaning behind that scroll. They were refusing to bow to him. In a way it is simply the same as saying that he was not in their eyes. His fist clenched together tightly as he watched with his eyes full of hatred.

"Well, this Princess is done with her business here, bid you all to have a good time."

With a swish of her waist, Feiyun turned and let out a soft whistle. The white majestic beast quickly pricked up its ears and walked slowly towards her. Tianhuo too stood up, and simply lifted Feiyun unto the white horse before hoping on himself.

Every movement so smooth and simple as though Feiyun was like a feather, the way he mounted was suave and charismatic the maidens all over swooning in their hearts but didn't dare to let out a sound.

With a light tap, the white stallion, BaiFeng walked out, carrying the two as though it was the proudest beast to ever live. Its arrogance really matching that of its masters. Its pace neither hurried not slow, just steadfast and strong with each stride.

Emperor Junzhan's hateful glare never leaving Feiyun until the figure disappeared through the door into the distance. No one knew what was going through the mind of Junzhan.

But, how could Emperor Junzhan not feel stepped upon. As the highest and mightiest person on this land how could there be an ant not willing to show him respect.

Today, they had thoroughly stepped on his face time and time over again. Emperor JunZhan could only hold back and swear that if he did not destroy these two then he would not be called Jun Zhan!

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- Aerus