Live-in Son-in-law-Chapter 1076: Holding Back Frustration

Qin Yi looked at the token in Jin Die's hand, made of pure gold, engraved with the totem of the divine bird, the Phoenix.

The Third Princess?

Not only were several young men scared stiff, but even Li Feng forgot to scream, staring at the token in Jin Die's hand, petrified on the spot.

"Subordinate... subordinate, pays respects to the Third Princess."

Li Feng struggled to get up and knelt on the ground. He had no doubt about the authenticity of the token or Yun Susu's identity because no one would dare to impersonate the Palace Master or forge such a token.

Seeing Li Feng kneel, the youths following him were so terrified that they dropped to their knees with a thud, their faces pale, not daring to breathe heavily.

The surrounding commoners also all knelt down.

"I am a fool with eyes but no sight who offended the Third Princess. I beseech the Third Princess's forgiveness."

Cold sweat was streaming down Li Feng's forehead. Although the Third Princess might not have much power now, she was still someone he could not afford to offend. To offend a member of the Royal Family was a capital crime.

"Have Li Shuangcheng come to see me," Yun Susu said softly but with an unmistakable royal authority.

Li Feng hurriedly nodded and quickly ordered a youth to report to his father.

"Everyone, get up."

"Thank you, Princess."

The surrounding commoners hastily thanked her and stood up, trembling.

"Kneel down; who told you to stand up?" When Li Feng also stood up, Jin Die shouted angrily, frightening Li Feng so much that he knelt down with a thud, his head touching the ground, his whole body trembling slightly.

"Being a princess turns out to be quite intimidating," Yun Mengyao muttered.

Qin Yi chuckled and said, "Aren't you also a Holy Daughter? Are you much inferior to a Princess?"

Yun Mengyao replied, "In our Xuanhuang Domain, royal customs are not prevalent. Influence is widespread, and whoever has the most power makes the rules. Though I am a Holy Daughter, those below just need to bow slightly when they see me."

"That's nice."

"Hmm?" Yun Mengyao was puzzled.

"If someone kneels for too long, they won't be able to stand up. A man's knees are as valuable as gold, meant to kneel only to Heaven, Earth, and parents. The Royal Family's insistence that commoners kneel is a form of domination, crushing their spirit from the core."

Yun Mengyao nodded, then said, "There's no way around it; with royal power supreme, kneeling is to distinguish between the Royal Family and the commoners."

"It's just arrogance," Qin Yi said with a disdainful smile.

As someone from Earth, he was deeply repulsed by this form of royal rule. In all of history, past dynasties have been similar to the Yunyue Empire, with the supremacy of royal power. As a result, even now, some people have knelt for so long they haven't stood up.

After about ten minutes, a group of people hurried over.

At the forefront was a middle-aged man in brocade attire, tall and imposing, exuding an aura of authority. Following him were warriors in armor, and an old man.

The middle-aged man hurried forward, leading his group to kneel, loudly proclaiming, "Subordinate Li Shuangcheng, pays respects to the Third Princess."

Yun Susu said indifferently, "War General Li, please rise."

"Subordinate dares not, subordinate failed to teach my son properly, offending the Third Princess. Please, Princess, punish us," Li Shuangcheng said, still kneeling.

"This War General Li seems to be a reasonable person," Yun Mengyao remarked.

Qin Yi let out a cold laugh.

"What's wrong?" Yun Mengyao asked curiously.

Qin Yi squinted slightly, "We'll see whether he's reasonable or not. As a City Lord, I don't believe he wouldn't know about his son's doings."

Yun Mengyao said solemnly, "War General Li, naturally, I will punish you. You've indulged your son to commit violence and injure people on the street. Do you acknowledge your guilt?"

"Subordinate acknowledges guilt. Please, Princess, punish us."

Yun Susu said indifferently, "Good, it's good that you acknowledge your guilt. Men, give the Lis a hundred strokes with the military cane each."

However, Yun Susu's order went unheeded, as the soldiers didn't move an inch.

Yun Susu's face turned extremely unsightly.

Li Chengshuang shouted angrily, "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear the Princess's order? Carry out the punishment."

"Yes."

The soldiers responded in unison.

Qin Yi started to laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" Yun Mengyao asked.

"Did you notice anything?"

"What?" Yun Mengyao didn't understand.

Qin Yi said, "This Third Princess's authority is far weaker than War General Li's. It's obvious those soldiers only listen to Li Shuangcheng."

"So what? They still have to face the punishment, right?"

"Do you think that's possible? As a City Lord, would Li Shuangcheng let himself and his son be humiliated in public?"

"Would he dare to defy the Princess's order? The Third Princess still represents the Royal Family."

"A fallen Palace Master might not necessarily represent the Royal Family."

At this moment, the old man kneeling beside Li Shuangcheng shouted, "Palace Master, please quell your anger. Recently, War General Li fought against people from the Tianyue Empire and got seriously injured while protecting the public. A hundred strokes with the military cane could kill him. Princess, recently, the Tianyue Empire has been frequently mobilizing troops, with a hundred thousand soldiers stationed at the border. If anything happens to War General Li, who will fend them off? Who will protect the people? For the innocent commoners' sake, please, Princess, show mercy."

Yun Susu's pretty face turned icy. She didn't know whether what the old man said was true, but she understood that if she punished War General Li now, how would the public view her? How would they view the Royal Family?

"See, I said the Third Princess couldn't do anything to Li Shuangcheng, didn't I?" Qin Yi laughed.

Yun Mengyao asked curiously, "Who is this old man?"

"He should be a custodian or a military adviser type."

"Everyone shut up. This unfilial son offended the Princess because I, Li Shuangcheng, didn't teach him properly. It's right for me to be punished. No one is allowed to plead, or they'll be dealt with according to military law." Li Shuangcheng finished speaking and looked at Yun Susu, "Please, Princess, punish me."

Yun Susu's delicate fists clenched tightly within her sleeves. She was eighty percent sure that the old man was lying, intending to force her not to punish Li Shuangcheng.

Yun Susu admitted to herself that she had lost this time. If she punished Li Shuangcheng now, she'd undoubtedly be blamed for disregarding the people's welfare.

Angrily biting her lip, she stepped forward and helped Li Chengshuang up personally, "General Li has labored tirelessly for the nation and the people. Although Li Feng was at fault, considering the injuries General Li suffered while protecting the populace, I shall overlook his transgressions."

"Thank you, Princess." Li Shuangcheng stood up with the momentum, showing none of the appearance of being injured.

Then, Li Shuangcheng suddenly kicked Li Feng, sending him rolling a few times, shouting angrily, "Unfilial son, as my child, how could you commit such a foolish act? The Princess has graciously forgiven you, but while you may avoid the death penalty, you can't escape punishment. Take this unfilial son back to the residence and lock him up. No food without my order, so he may properly reflect."

Two soldiers stepped forward, lifted Li Feng, and quickly left.

Yun Susu felt frustrated, being a Palace Master, yet time and again being outmaneuvered by a mere War General. Her gaze turned to the few young men who were with Li Feng, "Who are these people?"

Li Chengshuang promptly replied, "Reporting to the Princess, these are the idle sons of affluent families in the city, idly whiling away their days, truly detestable."