At this moment, Princess Zhaoning spoke, "If it weren't for your old age, I would have had you beheaded."
"However, while the death penalty can be waived, the punishment for the crime cannot be escaped."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei frowned. In his past life, he had heard a saying: "Exterminate evil thoroughly, hesitate to act and you will be troubled later." Leaving this old man behind would surely become a future disaster.
With this thought, he quickly bowed, "Your Highness, if the law cannot be strictly enforced, I fear it will be difficult to win the people's trust."
Princess Zhaoning naturally understood Chen Xiaobei's meaning.
But she was a princess, and she had already promised to spare his life. She had initially intended to have him beaten with boards and let it go. Princess Zhaoning immediately changed her mind and said, "The death penalty can be waived, but the punishment for the crime cannot be escaped. The entire He family, from He Yi downwards, will be sent to the border."
Upon hearing this, He Yi's body instantly collapsed to the ground.
Hu Fan, however, bowed respectfully, "Your Highness is wise. Hu Fan will strictly abide by your decree."
Princess Zhaoning nodded and stood up, surveying the courtyard. She couldn't help but sigh, "This courtyard is truly lovely. Miss Xiaoyue, I will be visiting your home often from now on."
Hu Fan knew exactly what Princess Zhaoning meant. She was implying that the courtyard would be given to Feng Xiaoyue.
Of course, since the He family was being sent to the border, their assets would naturally be confiscated. But after confiscation, who received the courtyard was entirely up to Hu Fan.
Hu Fan clearly understood his leader's intentions. He cupped his fists towards Princess Zhaoning and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. After all the He family's assets are seized, I will compile a list and hand it over to Miss Xiaoyue."
Princess Zhaoning nodded. "Alright, go make the arrangements. Oh, and in this Xiaojia Town, find a new place to build a courtyard. When I have time, I'd like to stay here for a few days."
"Also, how much silver do you need? Just tell me."
Upon hearing this, Hu Fan repeatedly waved his hands. "Your Highness, building a courtyard for you is my duty. How can I accept your silver?"
Princess Zhaoning shook her head. "One thing is one thing. If I say I will give it, then I will. Go and make the arrangements."
After Princess Zhaoning finished speaking, Hu Fan let out a long sigh of relief and was about to leave after bowing. At this moment, Feng Xiaoyue, who was standing nearby, spoke up.
"Your Highness, Xiaoyue still has one matter for which I seek your justice."
Princess Zhaoning looked at Feng Xiaoyue and smiled, nodding. "Of course. Tell me what else you need, and I will certainly help you."
Feng Xiaoyue pulled Fang Jun over, her face filled with distress as she pointed to his face. Fang Jun's face was still red from the slap he had received from He Dali earlier.
"Your Highness, for striking my husband without reason, what do you say this should be?"
Upon hearing this, Hu Fan, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks. He Dali, who was following him, panicked even more. He rushed to Princess Zhaoning and knelt down with a thud.
"Your Highness, spare me. I didn't know. I am guilty. I..."
Princess Zhaoning looked at He Dali, then at Fang Jun and Feng Xiaoyue, and said calmly, "This matter is also very simple. He struck Fang Jun, so let Fang Jun strike him ten times. Is that unreasonable?"
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei almost burst out laughing. This princess, if nothing else, was certainly a master of entanglement.
But to be honest, for He Dali, only being slapped ten times was still a great bargain.
He Dali was not foolish either. With a fawning smile, he nodded repeatedly. "It's not unreasonable, not unreasonable at all. Your Highness, you are right. Ten slaps, twenty slaps, it's all fine."
Princess Zhaoning looked at Fang Jun, then at Feng Xiaoyue. "Alright, then let's make it twenty."
Fang Jun and Feng Xiaoyue exchanged glances, appearing hesitant. They hadn't expected the princess to pose such a question.
At this moment, the young girl standing beside them stepped forward. "Your Highness, my brother is a scholar. As for hitting people, please grant me permission to act on his behalf, as his sister."
Seeing this, Chen Xiaobei suddenly felt a pang of apprehension. The young girl was a martial artist, and her strength was considerable.
Princess Zhaoning paid no mind to this and nodded slightly. "Alright, then you shall act on his behalf. Remember, twenty slaps. No more, no less."
He Dali initially felt a bit pleased when he saw that his opponent was just a young girl.
He stood facing the young girl and extended his face, calmly awaiting the slap.
The young girl showed him no mercy. With all her might, she swung her right hand and delivered a blow.
"Slap." As the slap landed,
He Dali felt as if a heavy iron hammer had struck his cheek. His ears buzzed, and his mouth filled with a腥咸 taste.
With just this one slap, He Dali began to regret his earlier boast. This young girl's strength was too great. He shouldn't have said he was willing to take twenty slaps.
But it was too late to regret now. The beating had begun.
The young girl gave him no chance to catch his breath. She then swung her left arm and delivered another slap.
This slap was so powerful that He Dali could barely stand. He involuntarily took a step back.
But he had to return and stand obediently, awaiting further punishment.
Seeing He Dali's state, Fang Jun, standing nearby, felt a twinge of pity and was about to speak when Feng Xiaoyue stopped him.
Chen Xiaobei saw this and also stepped forward, gently tugging Fang Jun's arm and pulling him a little further away so as not to hinder the young girl's work.
After the young girl had delivered about seven or eight slaps, He Dali couldn't take it anymore. Several of his teeth had fallen out, his face was swollen like a pig's head, his ears were buzzing, and he saw stars.
Hu Fan, standing nearby, also found it difficult to watch. After just seven or eight slaps, if he were to receive twenty, He Dali would be crippled, if not dead.
With this thought, Hu Fan quickly stepped forward and bowed to Princess Zhaoning.
"Your Highness, I see that He Dali is already struggling. May we postpone the remaining punishment and have him receive it after his recovery?"
He Dali secretly lamented his fate. Another round of such punishment would be worse than death. But he also understood that if he continued to be beaten like this, he might actually die. He knelt before Princess Zhaoning and said in a muffled voice, "Your Highness, I truly cannot endure any more."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei also felt a surge of sympathy. He knew that He Dali had been excessive towards Fang Jun at the time. However, He Dali was, after all, a member of the He family, and it was natural for him to side with He Yi. He believed that these slaps from the young girl should have taught him a lesson.
With this thought, Chen Xiaobei also spoke, "Your Highness, I believe we should stop here for now. Let He Dali recover, and then he can receive the remaining punishment."
In reality, this was just finding an excuse. If He Dali truly recovered, one wouldn't have to be so vindictive as to continue with the remaining slaps.