Royal Gold Magistrate

After a moment, Li Yuanzhao cautiously arrived at the Imperial Garden, with Liu Jin panting heavily behind him.

Emperor Jing slowly raised his eyes and saw that Li Yuanzhao had gained weight, looking entirely innocent.

This unfilial son! Usually so bold and lawless, but as soon as he hears about punishment, he puts on this pitiful look, as if he’s been grievously wronged.

In the past, the Emperor’s indulgence of the Crown Prince always managed to get him through.

But this time… it was different! The Crown Prince even dared to behave like this while acting as the regent in the Emperor’s absence! If this continued, wouldn’t chaos ensue!?

Liu Jin was even more embarrassed, his legs trembling uncontrollably, tears welling up in his eyes as if they were about to overflow at any moment.

Emperor Jing remained silent, his gaze coldly fixed on the two of them.

Li Yuanzhao awkwardly smiled, swallowing hard before hanging his head low.

Liu Jin also knelt down, burying his head deep into the ground, as if wishing to find a crack to hide in.

After a long while, with no one speaking, Li Yuanzhao cautiously lifted his head, only to meet Emperor Jing’s gaze still filled with killing intent.

Li Yuanzhao knelt with a thud, trembling as he spoke, “Son… deserves… to die….”

The Imperial Garden fell into a dreadful silence, even the birdsong vanished at this moment.

Only Liu Jin’s heavy breathing continued to echo.

Li Yuanzhao cursed inwardly, “Why is this dog panting so heavily! It’s scaring me to death!”

After a while, Emperor Jing finally spoke, but instead of the expected fury, there was a calmness in his voice, “The Crown Prince wants to be a general? Thinks I stole your military glory? Then let’s have a contest right now!”

With that, he threw a sturdy stick directly in front of Li Yuanzhao.

As it hit the ground, it bounced a few times.

Li Yuanzhao felt a chill run down his spine, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped down.

Then, trembling, he said, “How… how can this son match Imperial Father? This son is still young… still growing!”

Emperor Jing was taken aback, not expecting his son to not only be audacious but also shameless!

His expression darkened, and he said coldly, “It seems the Crown Prince is indeed unwell. Wearing so many clothes on such a hot day.”

Li Yuanzhao quickly said, “Yes! Yes… today, I caught a cold, feeling a bit chilly….”

Emperor Jing immediately cracked the whip, making a loud crack in the air, and angrily shouted, “Guards! Strip this beast’s clothes off and let’s see!”

The guards hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to strip Li Yuanzhao’s clothes.

Li Yuanzhao seemed reluctant, but under Emperor Jing’s gaze, he began to cooperate with the guards.

As the outer layer of clothes was removed, there was a thick coat underneath, and under that, there was another one.

It took three or four layers of stripping before the white undershirt was revealed.

At the final layer, a piece of metal fell to the ground with a clatter.

Emperor Jing was stunned to see this, while Li Yuanzhao felt ashamed and lowered his head.

“There are still pants! Take them off too!”

Li Yuanzhao reluctantly began to take off his pants, revealing two layers. The first layer revealed iron buttocks protection, then knee guards, leg guards…

Seeing the equipment scattered all over the ground, Emperor Jing was furious!

“You beast! Wicked animal! Sneaky and dishonest, ignorant and incompetent! Are you trying to anger me to death?”

“Since birth, you’ve had the finest things! I worked so hard to unite the land, to spare you from war! I don’t expect an outstanding emperor, just a decent ruler would satisfy me.”

“You’re my only son, my sole hope! And now what? Where are your studies? Have you forgotten it all? I see clearly now – you’re not even fit to be a county magistrate, let alone a mediocre ruler!”

“Guards! String him up! Today I’ll teach him to be human again!”

Initially, Li Yuanzhao was terrified, but as he heard Emperor Jing’s tirade, an unfilial spirit surged within him, and he shouted angrily, “Wait!”

“Imperial Father! This son may be a poor student, but in war and governance, how can I be judged inferior without a chance to prove myself?”

“If only I was born earlier! Conquering Qian might not have been your achievement alone. How can you compare this son to a mere county magistrate? This son has the talent of a general!”

Emperor Jing was enraged, “You presumptuous beast! Continue hanging him!”

The guards immediately rushed forward, tied Li Yuanzhao securely, and then hung him in a corner of the Imperial Garden pavilion.

Li Yuanzhao felt deeply humiliated hanging there, his face flushed red, never having experienced such shame in his life!

Still, he stubbornly protested, “I’m just born in the wrong era! I’m just born in the wrong era! I’m wronged! Wronged to death!”

Emperor Jing’s temples bulged, and he swung the whip forcefully, making a loud crack as it landed on Li Yuanzhao’s buttocks.

The unfilialness of adolescence was instantly dispersed.

Li Yuanzhao begged frantically, “Imperial Father! I’m still a child!”

Emperor Jing angrily retorted, “A child? What a fine child! At your age, I was charging into battle. I have no son like you!”

“I can too!”

“Silence!”

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Emperor Jing clearly had a knack for using the whip, each strike accurately hitting the buttocks.

Li Yuanzhao howled in pain, but inwardly felt a sense of relief.

“Sure enough, Father still sticks to the old methods! Apart from hitting the buttocks, he won’t hit anywhere else!”

He had put on two layers of buttock protection, and the one that fell off just now was the one meant to cover up.

Although the whip made a loud sound when it struck him, it only caused a slight stinging sensation!

“Ah!! Ah!!” Li Yuanzhao pretended to cry out in agony, afraid of being seen through by Emperor Jing.

After a dozen lashes, Emperor Jing was somewhat out of breath, but he felt much calmer inside.

Seeing the Crown Prince spinning around, hoarse and still howling, his heart softened.

He threw the whip aside and ordered the guards, “Watch him closely! Don’t let him down before noon tomorrow!”

He turned to leave, but suddenly Li Yuanzhao spun around, his buttocks facing the Emperor. Emperor Jing’s eyes widened.

The undergarment had torn, revealing a glint of metal.

Emperor Jing’s anger reignited. “Li Yuanzhao!! Very good!!”

“Strip him naked! Today I’ll whip him to death!”

Li Yuanzhao, lost in his act, heard Emperor Jing’s outburst and perked up. Realizing he was exposed, he panicked and begged.

“Imperial Father! You’ve beaten me, this son knows his wrongs… I won’t dare again! Spare me this once! I was wrong!!”

“You were wrong? No, it was I who was wrong! To have birthed you!”

Emperor Jing snatched up the whip, ready to unleash his full strength.

At that moment, Guo Tianyang hurried in.

Glancing at the Crown Prince, he quickly said to Emperor Jing, “Your Majesty! The investigation into Fang Zheng’s background has been completed.”

With the mention of Fang Zheng, Emperor Jing’s attention was diverted, and he dropped the whip again.

“Put this beast’s clothes back on! Hang him up to wait for punishment!”

With that, he turned and left the Imperial Garden with Guo Tianyang.

Li Yuanzhao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lucky to have survived.

Not far away, Liu Jin, who had been kneeling, suddenly collapsed to the ground… leaving a puddle…