"KNEEL DOWN!" General Lian Zaeil ordered, his voice stern. Madam Qinan sat on the chair, shaking her head at Lian Evelyn's behavior.
Lian Evelyn made an upset face, but reluctantly knelt down along with Xiao Yun. Her mind thinking why her dad back without telling her. "I've told you not to leave the house when I'm not in the capital. Why did you sneak out? AND CLIMB A WALL! What if people saw you? Your behavior is not befitting of a noblewoman!" General Lian Zaeil scolded, his voice sharp.
"So what?" Lian Evelyn replied defiantly. "Why should I care about what people think? I can't change who I am just to meet their expectations."
"You're talking back now? Is this how you speak to your elders?" General Lian Zaeil snapped, his disappointment evident.
"Aishh, Daddy, why are you so mad? It's not that big of a deal." she responded, trying to lighten the mood.
"Not a big deal?! What if something bad had happened to you? Do you ever think about how sad your mother and I would have been?" General Lian Zaeil's voice softened with concern.
Lian Evelyn pouted and turned away, unwilling to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.
"You! Kneel here for two hours," General Lian Zaeil ordered, his tone final.
"What?! Two hours? I can't hold it that long! Aaaa, Daddy, pleaseeee!" Lian Evelyn begged, putting on her best pouty face.
"No," General Lian Zaeil 's voice remained firm.
"Mommy, help me! I can't kneel for that long!" she pleaded, turning to Madam Qinan.
Her mother opened her mouth to speak on Lian Evelyn's behalf, but General Lian cut her off.
"No, don't beg for her. She needs to learn from her mistakes," he insisted, his voice unwavering.
"But two hours is too long! Her knees will hurt," Madam Qinan protested.
"Yes, Daddy! You can't let your precious daughter suffer!" Lian Evelyn added, flashing her most pitiful puppy eyes.
General Lian Zaeil hesitated for a moment, torn between his love for his daughter and his desire to teach her discipline.
"It's all your fault for spoiling her," he muttered, glaring at Madam Qinan.
"Huh, you're the one who spoils her the most," Madam Qinan retorted, crossing her arms.
"Aaaa, Daddy!" Lian Evelyn begged again, pushing the limits of her charm.
"Fine, fine. Get up now, don't let your knees hurt," General Lian Zaeil relented, unable to bear seeing his daughter in pain.
Lian Evelyn immediately jumped to her feet, grinning brightly. "I knew you wouldn't actually punish me," she said with a triumphant smile.
"Spoiled child," General Lian Zaeil grumbled. "You know, I punish your brother for more than two hours and he doesn't say a word."
"It's different, I'm a girl. You can't punish me that way," Lian Evelyn shot back with a playful smirk.
"Fine, fine, go to your room now, and don't repeat this mistake," General Lian Zaeil sighed in exasperation.
Lian Evelyn nodded eagerly and, with Xiao Yun, made her way back to her bedroom, feeling victorious despite her earlier punishment.
Princess Dyyana's Chamber
"Your Highness, Prince Zhan Damien wants to meet you. He is waiting outside," said Princess Dyyana's maid.
"Okay, tell him to come in," she replied.
The maid nodded and went to inform Prince Zhan Damien.
Prince Zhan Damien entered Princess Dyyana's chamber and sat on a chair.
"My good sister. How are you?" he asked.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking," she replied coldly.
Princess Dyyana actually didn't really like Prince Zhan Damien because she knew he was only pretending to love her. It was all because she was just a princess born from a low-ranking concubine. Prince Zhan Damien, on the other hand, was born of an Imperial Concubine , a big difference. Because of her background, Prince Zhan Damien didn't accept her as his sister. Only Prince Zhan Nathenial truly treated her kindly. Even though he was born from the Queen, he treated Princess Dyyana not like a half-sister, but like his real sister.
But since the Emperor loved Princess Dyyana dearly, Prince Zhan Damien had no choice but to pretend to love her too.
"What are you doing here?" asked Princess Dyyana to Prince Zhan Damien.
"Why? Can't I come here? I just wanted to see how you're doing," he answered.
Princess Dyyana made an annoyed face.
"No need to pretend. Just tell me what you want," she said, irritated.
Prince Zhan Damien smirked.
"Haishh, you're so sassy. Ohhh, I just remembered. No wonder you behave this way , it's all because your mother was a low-ranking concubine," he said mockingly.
Princess Dyyana grew furious and threw her teacup at him.
"INSOLENT WRETCH! HOW DARE YOU MOCK MY MOTHER!"
The cup hit Prince Zhan Damien, making him furious.
"YOUUU…." He was about to hit her, but suddenly a voice interrupted.
"HOW DARE YOU!" scolded the Emperor, who had suddenly entered the chamber with the Imperial Concubine.
Princess Dyyana and Prince Zhan Damien immediately bowed and greeted them. But the Emperor kicked Prince Zhan Damien, causing him to fall to the ground. The Imperial Concubine quickly rushed to help her son up.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing? How could you bring yourself to hit your own child?" the Imperial Concubine protested.
"Huh, are you blind? Didn't you see him trying to hit Dyyana?" the Emperor snapped.
"There must be a reason. How could Damien suddenly want to hit Dyyana? That girl must have done something to anger him," she defended her son again.
"Yes, Father. Dyyana threw a cup at me. I just wanted to teach her a lesson," said Prince Zhan Damien, trying to defend himself.
"HUH! Just because she threw a cup at you, you wanted to hit your own sister? ARE YOU EVEN A MAN?" the Emperor roared.
"And I'm sure Dyyana had her reasons. Dyyana, explain to me why you did that. Don't worry , if you're not at fault, I'll definitely protect you and punish this ungrateful child. Just tell me the truth."
Princess Dyyana nodded and told the whole story.
The Emperor was furious and called for punishment.
"GUARDS! COME AND TAKE THIS UNGRATEFUL CHILD. GIVE HIM FIFTEEN STROKES. DO NOT REDUCE EVEN ONE!" he commanded.
The guards came to seize Prince Zhan Damien, but the Imperial Concubine hugged him tightly.
"Please, Your Majesty. Fifteen is too much. Please forgive him. He is your own child after all," she begged.
"He is my child? Then what about Dyyana? She is my child too. MY ONLY PRINCESS!" the Emperor yelled.
"What are you still waiting for? Take him and give him fifteen strokes!" he repeated.
The guards forcibly took Prince Zhan Damien and began the punishment.
"NOOO! I DON'T WANT THIS! MOTHER, PLEASE HELP ME!" screamed Prince Zhan Damien.
Seeing her son being beaten, the Imperial Concubine fell to her knees and continued to beg.
"I'll never forgive him. And as for you, since you failed to teach your son proper manners and allowed him to insult Dyyana's mother, your punishment is to remain in your chamber for a week," declared the Emperor.
The Imperial Concubine went weak at the knees upon hearing her punishment.
"No, Your Majesty, please! I promise to discipline him!" she cried.
But the Emperor ignored her and ordered the servants to take her back to her chamber.
The Emperor then sat down on a chair. Princess Dyyana stepped forward.
"Father, I think the punishment for the Imperial Concubine is too much," she said softly.
"What? You want to plead for her too? Her son was about to hit you just now. You're lucky I arrived in time. Otherwise, your face might've been ruined," said the Emperor sternly.
"Awww, Father, that's not what I meant. I'm just worried she might be angry with me. I'm scared…" she said, pouting sadly.
The Emperor took her hand and patted it.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. If she dares to do anything, I'll punish her even more harshly. She won't dare trouble you again, okay? So don't be scared or sad. It hurts me to see my baby upset," he said gently.
Princess Dyyana finally smiled again.
"I'm okay now, Father. I'm not sad anymore," she said, smiling.
The Emperor smiled too.
"Good to hear. Now get some rest. I have important matters to attend to. I'll have dinner with you tonight, okay?" he said and gently patted her head before leaving the chamber.
Elsewhere, In the Imperial Concubine's Chamber
"PRRANGGGGG!"
The sound of a plate shattering echoed through the Imperial Concubine's chamber.
"Your Highness, please calm down," her maid tried to soothe her.
"CALM DOWN?!! HOW CAN I?! Because of that bi#ch, I'm banned from leaving my chamber for a week! And Damien is punished too! All because of her!" the Imperial Concubine raged.
Her maid could only stand quietly beside her.
"I will take revenge. I can't let that bi#ch step all over me," said the Imperial Concubine through gritted teeth.
"But Your Highness, the Emperor really loves Princess Dyyana. If anything bad happens to her, you'll be in deep trouble," her maid reminded gently.
The Imperial Concubine smirked.
"Then… don't let anyone find out," smirk her.