After seeing off the Yun family members, Chu Yi rode his horse to the palace.

After Head Eunuch Gao announced him, he followed into the Imperial Study, where several people were already present.

“You scoundrel!” The Emperor glared at him furiously. “You have eight thousand elite bandit-suppressing soldiers under your command—isn’t that enough? You still had to seize the Yun Family Army! Who gave you such audacity?”

Chu Yi knelt directly. “The Yun Family Army, trained through generations by the Yun family, maintains strict discipline wherever they go, never harming the common people, bravely repelling enemies and recapturing cities—they are Great Jin’s foremost powerful army. Now that Pillar General has lost contact, the Yun Family Army is about to become fish on a chopping block. Won’t this dishearten the thousands of soldiers still fighting on the front lines?”

These three thousand soldiers of the Yun Family Army were the Yun family’s personal troops, the core force.

Beyond this core, there were thirty thousand Yun family elite soldiers currently stationed at the Western Border, guarding Great Jin’s gates.

“Your son’s actions were intended to stabilize military morale, stabilize the people’s hearts, and maintain Great Jin’s long-term peace and stability. I beseech Father Emperor to see clearly!”

Chu Yi presented with both hands the sword he had always worn at his waist.

What could command the Yun Family Army was that token, while this precious sword of his could make his eight thousand elite bandit-suppressing soldiers obey unconditionally.

Head Eunuch Gao presented the sword with both hands.

The Emperor’s expression paused. This was the sword he had bestowed upon Third Prince when he was thirty-five and followed Pillar General to the Western Border.

Third Prince’s return of the sword served two purposes.

First, to show he had no intention of seizing power.

Second, to tell everyone that he had been on the battlefield with Yun Silin—they were brothers who had faced life and death together, so he had reasons that necessitated standing up for the Yun Family Army.

The Emperor held the sword without speaking.

Prince Gongxi, standing at the lower position, looked rather grim.

General Dingyuan could be considered his man. When Father Emperor handed the Yun Family Army to General Dingyuan without any maneuvering on his part, he had felt the pleasant surprise of a windfall.

Who would have thought that before he could even taste the pie, it would be snatched away by his dear brother Chu Yi.

General Dingyuan, a mere third-rank military officer, had actually had his prize stolen from him—what utter uselessness.

“Your Majesty, regardless of Prince Pingxi’s reasons, he should not have defied the imperial decree!” Minister Fang of the Right Censorate stepped forward and bowed. “Prince Pingxi has twice defied imperial orders. I beseech Your Majesty to punish him severely!”

Minister Fang’s youngest daughter was Fang Xinyan, the future princess consort that Imperial Concubine Yin had selected for Chu Yi.

Although only a handful of people knew about Chu Yi’s resistance to the marriage, the Fang family still felt utterly humiliated.

Even though the Emperor had given Chu Yi twenty strokes of the rod, Minister Fang still felt the punishment was too light.

Therefore, now that Chu Yi had erred again, as a censor, he was naturally the first to step forward with impeachment and criticism.

“Minister Fang’s words are too severe.” Prince Gongxi adopted the manner of a caring older brother and spoke gently. “Third Brother and Pillar General are brothers who faced life and death together. The Yun Family Army will show Third Brother some respect. Only with Third Brother managing the Yun Family Army will they refrain from causing chaos and disorder.”

Chu Yi’s lips twitched.

These words appeared to exonerate him on the surface, but were actually adding fuel to the fire.

The Emperor’s attitude had originally softened somewhat, but now he became suspicious again and said coldly, “I decreed that General Dingyuan should take over the Yun Family Army, yet you obstructed this. Calling it defiance of imperial decree is not excessive. Just like last time, twenty strokes of the rod. Do you accept this?”

“Your son willingly accepts the punishment!”

Chu Yi stood up, walked into the courtyard of the Imperial Study, lifted the hem of his robe, and laid himself familiarly across the long bench.

Just a few days ago he had received twenty heavy strokes, and now here was another round. The Imperial Guards carrying out the punishment feared he couldn’t bear it and deliberately went easy on him.

Even so, after the punishment ended, he could barely keep his balance.

“Yi’er, you really are…”

Imperial Concubine Yin rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing her son in this state, she was so angry tears nearly fell.

“By bringing the Yun Family Army under your own command, do you know how many people you’ll make wary? Even if you want that position, you shouldn’t reveal your ambition so blatantly…”

Chu Yi spoke. “It’s just a minor injury, Mother Consort needn’t worry.”

“Come to my palace, I’ll have someone apply medicine for you.”

“I still have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave first.”

Chu Yi bowed to Imperial Concubine Yin and strode out.

After the initial pain passed, he had steadied himself. After a few steps he had grown accustomed to the pain, and his gait showed no sign whatsoever that he had just received twenty strokes.

After struggling back to the prince’s manor, he saw the two children waiting at the gate.

“Uncle Chengxu said that today Father would take us to Aunt Yun’s place. Is that right?”

Chu Yi nodded. “Prepare the carriage.”

The carriage had long been prepared. The two children were carried into it by servants.

Just as Chu Yi was about to board, his steps paused.

When returning to the manor, he had ridden alone in the carriage, and whatever position he took didn’t matter.

But now…

He didn’t really want to embarrass himself in front of the children.

So he walked alongside the carriage on foot.

“Changsheng, have you noticed Father’s walking posture is a bit strange?” Chu Hongyu peeked outside and whispered. “Before, Father moved with the wind at his feet. Now he looks a bit like a crab, hahaha!”

He thought he was speaking very quietly, but in reality, for someone trained in martial arts, it wasn’t quiet at all.

Chu Yi’s face immediately darkened.

Chengxu silently raised his head to look. Was His Highness’s walking posture strange? Why hadn’t he noticed?

“Father!” Chu Hongyu poked out his little head. “Did Grandfather Emperor have you beaten with the rod again?”

Chu Yi: “…”

Was it that obvious?

Suddenly, he felt somewhat reluctant to go to Yulin Alley.

Having the woman he loved know he’d been beaten with the rod made him feel unable to hold his head up.

“It’s okay, Father.” The little fellow leaned on the carriage window. “Last time I fell and my bottom hurt terribly. Mother blew on it and it got better. Later we’ll have Mother blow on yours too, hehe!”

Chu Yi: “…”

“Why is Father’s face red?”

Chu Yi: “…”

“Oh right, Father said men and women shouldn’t have physical contact, so Mother can’t blow on it. What a shame.”

Chu Yi: “…”

He could bear it no longer. “Boy, say one more word and we’re going back!”

The little fellow immediately pulled his head back inside.

Half an hour later, the carriage arrived at Yulin Alley and slowly drove in.

Yun Chu had been anxiously waiting.

When she arrived, she heard from her eldest brother that Prince Pingxi had been beaten with the rod by the Emperor again, this time because of the Yun Family Army matter.

She had thought this man wouldn’t bring the children after all.

“Aunt Yun, I’m here!”

Chu Hongyu crashed into Yun Chu’s arms like a rocket.

Chu Changsheng followed close behind.

After holding the two children for a while, Yun Chu finally stood up and looked at Chu Yi, who was walking slowly toward them.

“Earlier at the military camp, there was something I couldn’t say conveniently. I’ll add it now.” Chu Yi looked at her and said, “Congratulations to Miss Yun on your divorce.”

“I know what divorce means!” Chu Hongyu’s little mouth babbled on. “It means you’ve separated from your former husband and can marry again, right? Aunt Yun, why don’t you marry my father? What do you think?”

Yun Chu: “…”

Did this boy’s mouth have no filter whatsoever?