Clearly he had been restraining himself, but upon seeing the person, Ye Ji felt that all his previous restraint had turned to smoke.
He sat at the top, gazing deeply at the person below, his face as cold as the icy moon.
Jiang Changtong caught a glimpse unintentionally, mistaking the behavior of the arrogant Heir of Prince Ning for angering this young Emperor. Thinking that the Prince Ning Mansion would soon be no more, he felt particularly excited.
Jiang Changtong had no idea that Ye Ji was merely frustrated that a person he had barely met a few times could affect his emotions so much, wanting to see what was truly going on with this person.
But the more he watched, the more he couldn't control his insane desire to bind this person to his side.
Not only had Prince Ning gone mad, but he feared he was nearly there too.
He averted his gaze, as if dismissing all else from view, yet in reality, he no longer dared to look at the person below, afraid of losing composure.
Ah Chen lifted her eyes, meeting his gaze for a moment, not missing his reflexive action of moving his eyes away, as if restraining something. Just like before, nothing had changed.
She lowered her head, her eyes curving into crescents.
"In response to Your Majesty, this humble servant struck the third son of the Marquis Mansion only because he had first attacked my dear sister. When I visited my second sister earlier, she had been bedridden for two months, reduced to skin and bones. The mansion's female doctor found that two of her ribs were broken. Had I arrived any later, I fear the news of her passing would have reached me soon. With such torment inflicted on my sister, how could I find peace without doing something?"
Ye Ji cast a glance at the furious Jiang Changtong, only to deem this old dog shameless. See, he knew it was the Marquis Mansion who had caused the trouble first.
With Ning Zhen's uproar, any possibility of alliance with the An Guihou Mansion was effectively cut off.
Could it be that this person truly had no intention of rebellion behind the scenes?
Yet Jiang Changtong would not relent, immediately saying aloud, "Your Majesty, that was merely a matter between my third son and his wife. Isn't it normal for couples to squabble? Since ancient times, there has been a saying about couples quarreling at the bedside but making up by the end of it. It's some people who meddle too much, I beseech Your Majesty to arbitrate for me."
Ye Ji tapped his fingers on the armrest, a hint of malicious delight flashing through his eyes, saying, "Come to think of it, you all are indeed a family. Your third son hit his wife, and the Princely Heir can hardly stand by seeing that and decided to stand up for his dear sister, which is understandable. It's normal for a family to have some strife, yet, blood still binds them."
If the person above wasn't the Emperor, Jiang Changtong would likely have jumped up; who wants to claim kinship with that brat?
His third son had nearly lost his life, who would want to be kin with Ning Zhen!
If he could, he'd love nothing more than to cripple the other person too, making sure they remain bed-ridden for life.
"Your Majesty, the Princely Heir went too far, the physician says my third son needs to remain bedridden for at least three to five months, I beseech Your Majesty to help make the decision."
Ah Chen earnestly said, "Marquis An, my second sister also needs to lie abed for many months." She clasped her hands in respect after speaking, "I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."
Ye Ji's eyes darkened, working hard to steady the frantic beating of his heart.
This person has already asked him to resolve the matter, how could he sit back and do nothing?
He pressed his lips together tightly, why was this his thought process?
As Emperor, facing someone who affects his emotions in every conceivable way was something he had never tolerated. Even if he didn't have them killed, he would at least ensure they had no influence or send them as far away as possible. But no one other than Ning Zhen has ever made him feel this way.
His logic told him he should find a way to eliminate this hidden danger.
Yet he didn't even dare to entertain the thought. Even just the idea of this vibrant person suddenly losing their life or no longer being around made breathing hard to manage, especially as his heart suddenly ached and contracted, making him feel suffocated.
Ye Ji lowered his gaze, his voice, as cold as a spring, echoed: "Do you two truly wish for me to decide this?"
Upon hearing both answer affirmatively, Ye Ji no longer looked deliberately at this person affecting his emotions, indiscriminately resting against the dragon throne, gazing forward, "Very well."
"Marquis An said that the Princely Heir broke the ribs of the third son of the Marquis Mansion, and the Princely Heir admitted to this, is that correct?"
Ah Chen replied, "Yes."
Jiang Changtong was a mix of nervousness and excitement, unable to discern the attitude of the young Emperor above, but he believed this to be a family matter. Even if his third son had hit someone, it was still his own wife.
The unreasonable person should be that brat from the Ning Family.
Even if he couldn't do anything to him this time, the opponent was in the wrong, so he must obediently hand Ning Yumei over to go back and offer some compensation to the Marquis Mansion, or else this matter won't be over. The brat from the Ning Family cared deeply for Ning Yumei, with Ning Yumei in hand, he wasn't afraid of being unable to control the brat.
Even though the brat from the Ning Family was somewhat capable, ultimately he wasn't Prince Ning. Prince Ning had now gone insane, and the Prince Ning Mansion was not what it once was.
Once he returned, he had his ways to teach the brat a lesson.
"Marquis An, the Princely Heir says your third son hit his wife Ning Yumei, is that correct?" Ye Ji asked.
Jiang Changtong didn't want to admit it but had to, "Yes, though they were merely petty couple quarrels, life continues as usual, they commonly get along quite well. Life is a lifelong affair, how can they not have some quarrels. My third son has a bold and straightforward character, acts rather clumsily, and couldn't hold back in the heat of the moment..."
"Your Majesty, Jiang Weiming didn't hit my second sister just once, he's been hitting her since they got married, the old injuries never healed before new ones were added." Ah Chen interrupted Jiang Changtong, eyes fixed on him, "Marquis An, lying against your conscience leads to bad luck."
She had only struck Jiang Weiming once so far, but wouldn't let it end just like this. For now, she simply needed to bring Ning Yumei home, to give her a stable environment.
As for Jiang Weiming, once he's mostly recovered, she'd take action again.
For every beating he gave Ning Yumei, leaving such injuries, she'd return double to him, ensuring the Commissioner is satisfied with it.
If he's impolite about it, then it'd be threefold.
If still impolite, tenfold!
Until the debt was paid, he couldn't even wish for death.
"Princely Heir, speaking empty words isn't any good." Jiang Weiming often beating his wife was something Jiang Changtong naturally wouldn't admit.
Admitting would expose the matter publicly, which wouldn't be beneficial to the Marquis Mansion.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant has evidence." Ah Chen awaited this; she anticipated given Jiang Changtong's nature, he'd come to court whining, meanwhile, she had all the evidence and witnesses arranged beforehand.
Perhaps due to the times, Jiang Changtong didn't perceive a husband beating his wife as anything significant, even being beaten to death might not fuss many, those evidences and witnesses were easy to find.
Sensing his gaze on her, Ah Chen lifted her eyes; he was actually distracted again.
Being distracted in the presence of an Emperor, is this alright?
"Your Majesty." she called.
Ye Ji returned to his senses, repressing the discomfort within his eyes, without anyone noticing that he had just been so captivated by her poised demeanor that he forgot everything around him?
As Emperor, surely no one dares to scrutinize his face for analysis.
Ye Ji steadied his mind, speaking in a calm tone, "Where are the Princely Heir's evidence and witnesses?"