Chapter 16: Scheming Within Scheming

Yun Zui imitated Yun Xi and Yun Mo, addressing Chi Nie as “Prince Nie.”

Having spoken, Yun Zui turned her gaze upon Dou Saiqi and the others, who were completely stupefied, and said, “You have repeatedly shown disrespect toward this Princess Dowager, and have even offended the late Emperor. Such crimes are grave indeed. However, as this is your first offense, I will show some leniency—all of you are to receive thirty strokes of the cane as a warning to others.”

The reason Yun Zui only ordered thirty strokes was because she intended to play with them slowly; executing them at once would be far too dull.

At these words, Dou Saiqi immediately protested, “On what grounds? Do you really think you’re the Princess Dowager? Who would believe that? You must have survived your supposed execution years ago and now returned to deceive us. Do you take us all for fools?”

Yun Zui arched an eyebrow; this Dou Saiqi was truly unwilling to back down.

“So, you mean to say that I am deceiving my superiors and committing treason? By the rules, then, isn’t it true that our entire Prime Minister’s household should be arrested, and perhaps even implicated unto nine generations, all executed by beheading?”

Yun Zui spoke with an air of feigned innocence. She had watched enough dramas set in ancient times to know that there were plenty of rules she could use to her advantage.

“You…” Dou Saiqi was at a loss for words. If she continued to accuse Yun Zui of treason, then indeed the entire Prime Minister’s residence could be implicated and executed, and thirty strokes now seemed almost merciful by comparison.

“Nothing more to say? So you admit your guilt? Very well.” With that, Yun Zui addressed Chi Nie: “At present, I have no one at my disposal. You are fortunate to have caught my eye. Here is your chance to render meritorious service: issue orders throughout the Prime Minister’s residence. All who have shown disrespect to the Princess Dowager are to be caned thirty times; as for the Prime Minister’s wife, who has repeatedly proven both clever and defiant, her punishment will be increased by ten strokes, making it forty in total.”

To think that with just a few words, Yun Zui had shifted all responsibility onto Chi Nie. Chi Nie looked at her with admiration—what a cunning woman.

Chi Nie remained silent for some time, his phoenix eyes fixed on Yun Zui. If Yun Zui truly was a reincarnated soul of Su Rantong, as rumored, then if that soul ever returned to Su Rantong’s body, would she too be this exceptional, this cunning, and perhaps even a little scheming?

“Third Brother, do you really intend to obey Yun Zui?” Chi Yuan, the most impatient of them all, pressed in close the moment Chi Nie remained silent and asked him.

At this, Yun Zui shot Chi Yuan a sharp look. “As a junior, do you think you may so casually utter the name of the Princess Dowager? Or do you wish to taste the cane yourself?”

Chastened by her rebuke, Chi Yuan fell silent at once.

Chi Nie now spoke: “That little girl earlier said that not only the Prime Minister’s wife, but also her eldest and second sisters called you a wretch. Should they not be punished as well?”

As he spoke, Chi Nie curved his lips in another wickedly charming smile—such a bewitching sight.

Yun Zui narrowed her eyes. Chi Nie was just as calculating as she was. Had he not reminded her, she might have forgotten about her eldest and second sisters altogether.

“Do as you see fit. The guilty must not be spared,” Yun Zui replied. She was unsure of the extent of Chi Nie’s authority, though she could see he had the power to deal with Dou Saiqi and the others. As for her sisters—Yun Shang, now a general’s wife, and Yun Yao, a consort of the Emperor—Yun Zui did not know whether Chi Nie could punish them as well. So she refrained from giving orders, leaving the decision to him, while also emphasizing that the guilty must not go unpunished, thus shifting the burden onto Chi Nie.

“I understand,” Chi Nie replied with a faint, serene smile.

Dou Saiqi, Yun Xi, and Yun Mo turned pale. With Chi Nie involved, nothing was impossible; even their eldest and second sisters would likely not escape punishment.