My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Zhu Cilang didn't even flinch at these arrogant and ignorant rants, as if he had only heard the barking of a dog.

He didn't even bother to look at Young Master Li, but instead turned his gaze to Luo Yangxing, who was standing beside the couch, and uttered two words in the most indifferent tone:

"Palm mouth."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable coldness.

"As ordered!"

A cold glint flashed in Luo Yangxing's eyes, and without any hesitation, he immediately stepped forward.

He had long disliked this arrogant and reckless brat, who dared to bark so arrogantly in front of the Crown Prince! Now that the Crown Prince had given the order, how could he show any mercy?
Luo Yangxing swung his right hand in a wide arc, gathering all his strength, and with a whoosh, slapped the still drunk and arrogant young master Li's fat face hard!
"Snapped!!!"

A crisp, resounding slap echoed suddenly in the private room! The force was so great that Young Master Li didn't even have time to react before his head was violently turned to one side, his cheek visibly swelling and reddening, with several clear finger marks instantly appearing.

"what--!"

Young Master Li let out a short cry of pain, his vision blurred with stars, his ears were ringing, and he tasted a strong, sweet, metallic flavor in his mouth, with a trickle of blood flowing down the corner of his lips.

That slap dispelled most of his remaining drunkenness.

However, this is not over yet.

"Pah, pah, pah—!"

Luo Yangxing showed no sign of stopping. Since the Crown Prince had said "slap him," then it couldn't be resolved with just one slap! He used both hands, his large, fan-like hands carrying a sharp gust of wind, like a sudden storm, to slap Li Gongzi's already swollen cheeks repeatedly! Each slap landed solidly on flesh, the sound loud and echoing in the quiet private room, making one's heart tremble.

In just a few breaths, Young Master Li received at least seven or eight heavy slaps.

He was beaten until he was dizzy and disoriented, his cheeks swollen high like steamed buns, blood seeping from his mouth and nostrils, looking utterly miserable. After the initial excruciating pain and humiliation, an even more violent rage and disbelief surged within him—in all his life, had he ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace? To be slapped in public like a dog?!
"I fuck you..."

He shook his groggy head violently, struggling with all his might to get up. His eyes were bloodshot, like a wounded beast, and he roared incoherently, with foul language about to burst out!

However, just as he struggled to half-raise his body, his eyes filled with resentment and madness looking forward again, ready to curse or even pounce on him without a care, his gaze finally focused clearly for the first time on the face of the assailant who had been standing by the bed, looking down at him with cold eyes.

When that familiar yet terrifying face came into view, Young Master Li felt as if he had been doused with a mixture of ice water from head to toe. All his anger and harsh words froze in his throat, and he could no longer utter a single word.

The anger, resentment, and arrogance on his face melted away quickly, like ice and snow under the scorching sun, replaced by extreme fear, bewilderment, and disbelief!

"Lord Luo...Lord Luo?"

He struggled to squeeze out a few distorted syllables from between his swollen lips, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets as he stared intently at Luo Yangxing, as if he were witnessing the most unbelievable sight in the world.

"It's you? You... how did you get here? This... this..."

He was completely stunned; his mind went blank.

Luo Yangxing! Commander-in-Chief of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard, one of the de facto leaders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

In Nanjing's official and noble circles, who doesn't know this man's name? He's a living Yama who can stop a child from crying and keep officials and nobles up at night!

Even his father, the Earl of Changning, had to be polite and courteous to Luo Yangxing.

How could someone like that be here? And... and even slap him himself?

Overwhelmed by shock and fear, he temporarily forgot the pain on his face, staring blankly at Luo Yangxing, then subconsciously and stiffly turning his neck to look again at the silent young master on the bed.

A thought that would terrify him surged forth uncontrollably.

Looking at his foolish appearance, Luo Yangxing's contempt deepened. He snorted coldly and, in a chilling voice, said, word by word:

"Are you blind, you arrogant and rebellious creature! Open your eyes and see clearly who is in front of you? This is His Highness the Crown Prince, the heir apparent! How dare you speak disrespectfully to His Highness the Crown Prince and bark incessantly?! You don't want to live anymore, does your father, the Marquis of Changning, not want to live either? Does the entire Marquis of Changning not want to live?"

"T-To-Top Prince...His Royal Highness?!!"

With a deafening roar, Young Master Li felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in his mind! Luo Yangxing's words, like the sharpest ice pick, instantly pierced through all his hopes and doubts.

He suddenly looked at Zhu Cilang again, this time with no trace of drunkenness or arrogance in his eyes, only boundless fear and despair.

Although he had never seen the Crown Prince's true face, Luo Yangxing personally confirmed that his identity was beyond doubt!
What did I just say? What did I just do?
He flirted with a commoner in front of the crown prince, yelled at him, and even threatened him...

"Pfft!"

Young Master Li could no longer hold on. His body, which he had just managed to prop up, instantly went limp and he collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud. His forehead pressed hard against the cold ground, and his whole body trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind. His upper and lower teeth chattered uncontrollably, making a "clucking" sound.

An overwhelming chill rose from his spine and instantly swept through his entire body. He even felt a warm, wet sensation in his groin and almost lost control of his bladder.

"Your Highness! Spare me! Your Highness, spare me!!"

He could no longer care about the pain and embarrassment on his face, and began to bang his head against the ground, his voice hoarse and distorted with extreme fear.

"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, I was blind and ignorant! I was drunk and incoherent, and I offended Your Majesty's divine authority! I deserve to die! I deserve to die! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy! Spare my life! Spare my entire family's life!!"

He banged his head so hard that his forehead quickly became red and swollen, even bleeding. It mingled with the handprints and bloodstains on his face, making him look miserable and pitiful, a stark contrast to his arrogant and domineering demeanor just moments before.

Zhu Cilang coldly looked at the good-for-nothing at his feet, who was kowtowing repeatedly and weeping uncontrollably. He felt no pity, only a deeper disgust.

Is this the character of the sons of the Southern nobles? Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, all bluster and no backbone! His plan to "send the eldest son north as a hostage" now seemed even more necessary.

"Just now, didn't you keep saying you wanted to make me look bad?" Zhu Cilang finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying a condescending indifference.

"Now that I am right here, how do you intend to make me 'look bad'? Tell me."

Upon hearing this, Young Master Li trembled violently, his kowtowing paused for a moment, then he kowtowed even louder and more urgently, his voice trembling with sobs:

"Your Highness, please understand! I was just talking nonsense! It's all drunken ramblings! Don't take it seriously! Even if I had ten thousand lives, I wouldn't dare to be disrespectful to Your Highness in the slightest! I was just spouting complete nonsense! Your Highness, please just treat me like a fart and let me go! I will never dare to do it again! I beg Your Highness for mercy! Please have mercy!"

Zhu Cilang's lips curled into a mocking smile:

"Judging from your practiced behavior today, this must not be the first time. With the Emperor still in Nanjing, you dare to act so lawlessly and bully the weak. If the Emperor were to return north, wouldn't Nanjing become your hunting ground for wanton behavior? Our Great Ming Dynasty has ruled for over 270 years, defending against the northern barbarians and pacifying the people in the south, spending countless sums of money and grain. Have we only nurtured parasites like you who only know how to bully men and women and live a life of debauchery?!"

These words, though not spoken in a particularly harsh tone, carried a weighty accusation and disappointment, like an invisible whip lashing at Young Master Li's heart, and also at the ears of Luo Yangxing, Zhang Shize, and others standing nearby.

Young Master Li was rendered speechless by the questioning. He could only lie on the ground, trembling, unable to even beg for mercy, filled only with endless fear.

Seeing his hopeless state, Zhu Cilang lost all interest in continuing to scold him.

It's a waste of energy to waste words on such a useless person.

He waved his hand listlessly, as if shooing away an annoying fly, his tone returning to its initial indifference, yet delivering an unalterable verdict:

"Take him away and lock him in the Imperial Prison. Keep him under strict guard. No one is allowed to visit him or release him without my written order. Also, take down those people who were drinking and making merry with him downstairs and aiding and abetting his evil deeds. Throw them into the Imperial Prison as well and let them sober up."

"Sir, obey the order!"

Luo Yangxing immediately bowed and accepted the order, his voice firm and resolute.

He knew perfectly well that the Crown Prince's actions were not merely a punishment, but also an opportunity to send a warning to the entire circle of nobles in Nanjing, especially those equally incompetent sons.

This "Young Master Li" ran right into the line of fire, and was used as a sacrifice to the flag.

Luo Yangxing turned around and gave a wink to the two Imperial Guards standing at the door.

The two understood each other and immediately stepped forward, dragging the limp and ashen-faced Young Master Li from the ground like an eagle catching a chick.

As the "Young Master Li" of the Changning Marquis's mansion was dragged out of the private room by the Imperial Guards, he seemed to struggle to turn back and look with pleading eyes at the Ming Crown Prince on the bed, whose words could decide his life or death, hoping to find a trace of pity or room for negotiation on that young face.

However, all he saw were Zhu Cilang's unfathomable, calm eyes, and a fleeting glimpse of indifference and coldness as if looking at dust and weeds.

That look terrified him more than any harsh reprimand.

All his pleas for mercy were stuck in his throat. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and he finally let out a few meaningless hoarse sounds. Then, as if all his bones had been removed, he went completely limp and let the two fierce Imperial Guards drag him out of the door like a dead dog, leaving only a faint drag mark on the carpet, reeking of alcohol and despair.

At the entrance, several noble sons who had been drinking and making merry with that young master Li and had not yet been driven away were gathered together anxiously.

Although they were quite shocked by the Imperial Guards' clearing of the area and Luo Yangxing's appearance to take away Young Master Li, they were still somewhat drunk and, relying on their family's connections, were still resentful. They felt that someone had deliberately caused trouble and embarrassed them, the "prominent young masters of Nanjing."

Seeing Young Master Li being dragged out, the group immediately surrounded him, bombarding him with questions:
"Brother Li! Brother Li, how are you? Who is inside? How dare they be so arrogant!"

"Yes, Brother Li, tell me quickly, who is this blind fool? State his name, and I'll have my father report him to His Majesty. He'll definitely be in big trouble!"

"That's right! They dare to mess with our brothers in Nanjing? They're asking for trouble!"

"Judging by his entourage, could he be from the Duke of Wei's family? Or perhaps from the Earl of Chengyi's household?"

These people still spoke with their usual arrogance, as if they could immediately use the power of their fathers to subdue someone just by knowing their name.

Upon hearing these reckless comments, the young master Li, who was being dragged along, suddenly flushed with a mixture of anger and rage on his previously ashen face.

With his last ounce of strength, he struggled to lift his head and hissed at his "good friends":

"Shut up! All of you shut up! If you don't want to die... shut up now! If you say another word, we... we're all doomed!"

His voice was hoarse, filled with extreme fear, and the despair in his eyes seemed genuine.

This sudden, stern warning startled the noble sons, who exchanged bewildered glances, their suspicions growing even stronger.

This guy is quite a figure in Nanjing's elite circles, usually so arrogant. Why is he so afraid now? Just who is that person inside?
However, before they could figure it out, or rather, even if they did, it was already too late—

Just as Young Master Li finished speaking, several disguised Imperial Guards who were originally scattered throughout the corridors and looked like ordinary tea drinkers or servants moved almost simultaneously!
They pounced like cheetahs, their movements swift as lightning, their coordination impeccable. Two at a time, they attacked the still-stunned sons of nobles.

Covering the mouth, choking, twisting the arms behind the back, pressing the knee against the lower back...

With a clean and swift set of grappling moves, in the blink of an eye, the seven or eight arrogant young men who had been shouting just moments before were subdued like chicks with their necks choked, unable to move, their cries of alarm even choked back.

"Ugh! Waaah!"

Some people struggled desperately, their eyes filled with shock, anger, and confusion, and they made muffled protests.

"Snapped!"

A dark, palm-sized metal token was displayed by one of the Imperial Guards, who appeared to be the leader, to the struggling playboy.

Under the light of the lanterns in the corridor, the token gleamed with a cold, dark light. The three large seal characters "锦衣卫" (Jinyiwei, meaning Embroidered Uniform Guard) engraved on the front were strong and sharp, exuding a chilling aura that almost pierced the eyes!

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
These three words were like three heavy hammer blows, striking the hearts of every noble son who had been subdued!
Their struggling movements froze instantly, the arrogance in their eyes like a flame extinguished by cold water, quickly replaced by boundless terror. (End of Chapter)