Xie Qianyun stood obediently in front of Xiao Luming, waiting to be punished.

In fact, she didn’t even know what she had done to make her father so angry.

The last time she was chased around the courtyard like this was when she heard that some old official had reported her.

"Do you know what mistake you made?" Xiao Luming was already seated on the chair.

His serious demeanor was intimidating at any time and place.

"I don’t know." Xie Qianyun replied honestly.

Xiao Luming glanced at Xie Qianyun.

He was both amused and annoyed at the same time.

Annoyed because Xie Qianyun hadn’t learned her lesson after being in the Imperial Palace for so long, and amused because Prime Minister Song was fuming with anger while his daughter still didn’t know what she had done wrong.

Xiao Luming cleared his throat and said sternly, "Today, the ministers have submitted a joint letter accusing you of bullying the concubines and forcing them to practice boxing with you."

"I was just helping the concubines get some exercise. They’re so frail, a breeze could knock them over! I was doing it for His Majesty, since he doesn’t have any heirs yet. If the concubines are not in good health, how can they bear children for His Majesty?" Xie Qianyun reasoned eloquently.

Xiao Luming pressed his lips together lightly.

He thought Xie Qianyun’s argument made some sense at the moment.

"But you are the Empress, how can you wield a sword and spear all the time and become a laughing stock, dragging the concubines to do the same? It’s inappropriate! The health of the concubines is to be attended by the Imperial Physician, not the Empress."

"The Minister of Rites told me that besides managing the harem, the Empress’s most important responsibility is to ensure the concubines bear sons for the Emperor. I was just following the Minister’s teachings to help the royal family flourish!" Xie Qianyun declared righteously.

"Flourishing the royal family doesn’t mean making them wield swords and spears with you," Xiao Luming’s face darkened slightly.

"Then how can I do it?"

Xiao Luming turned a shade of green from Xie Qianyun’s question.

"I don’t want to discuss this with you. I’m clearly warning you, don’t force the concubines to practice boxing anymore, or there will be severe punishment!"

"But..."

Xiao Luming gave her a look.

Xie Qianyun pressed her lips together, not daring to speak.

He looked like a frail scholar, but his gaze was incredibly fierce.

"Since the Empress is in such good spirits, luckily, I also have a habit of practicing martial arts. From now on, once I’m done with the morning court, you may accompany me for some boxing practice," Xiao Luming suddenly ordered.

Xie Qianyun was slightly surprised.

Has the young Emperor changed his ways?

He actually asked her to practice boxing with him.

"Prepare the carriage!" Xiao Luming commanded.

The attendant beside him quickly reacted, shouting, "Prepare the carriage for Qiankun Hall!"

Xiao Luming got up and left.

Xie Qianyun just watched Xiao Luming’s departing figure, striding away.

She was quite astonished, even more so because the young Emperor seemed to forget to punish her?!

Could it be that she escaped this time?!

After lunch.

All the concubines came to Jingren Palace.

Once they arrived, everyone knelt down and the entire hall was filled with the sound of crying, "Your Majesty, I didn’t expect my father to report you to the Emperor, it’s my fault. Please punish me."

"Your Majesty, it’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have written home saying I twisted my ankle while practicing boxing in the palace. Please punish me."

"Your Majesty..."

At first, Xie Qianyun was a bit angry.

But seeing a room full of crying concubines kneeling so sorrowfully, her anger subsided.

Besides, apart from the fact that her father nearly scared her to death, the Emperor didn’t punish her.

She suddenly wondered if this was her father’s clever tactic.

Fearing the Emperor might punish her, he took action first, knowing at least he wouldn’t really harm her. What if the Emperor got mad and chopped her head off?!

No wonder her father was so favored by two emperors over the years in court, he’s indeed wiser than most.

"Your Majesty..." The hall was still filled with the sound of crying.

"Alright, alright, I’m not blaming you," Xie Qianyun said impatiently, "We won’t practice boxing anymore. You can leave, I am going to rest now."

After a nap, she still had to practice writing.

This endless routine, it’s really not for living people.

The next day.

Just after Xie Qianyun finished breakfast, the emperor’s palace attendant hurried over, "Your Majesty, didn’t the Emperor ask you to accompany him for boxing practice yesterday? The Emperor is in the martial arts training room now, why haven’t you gone?!"

"..." She thought he was just joking.

"Your Majesty, please change and follow me, don’t make the Emperor angry."