Chapter 2 — I Am Your Royal Highness, Not Your Puppet

I emphasized each word, my voice cold as ice.

“According to the rules, how should we handle it?”

The head soldier replied with an expressionless face:

"Return to the Princess, slap twenty times on the mouth to deter others."

“Then let's do it.”

“You dare!” Tieu Canh Diem immediately pulled Lieu Nhu Nguyet behind her to protect her and glared at me angrily. “Let's see who dares to touch her!”

Looking at his protective posture, the last bit of remaining heat in my heart completely disappeared. I slowly stood up, step by step walking towards him.

“Tieu Canh Diem, look clearly.”

"I am the main concubine of the Royal Palace, ordained by the Emperor himself, and the patriarch whose name is recorded in the royal jade butterfly."

“And she…” I raised my hand and pointed towards Lieu Nhu Nguyet standing behind him. “It's just a young lady living in the Royal Palace for free.”

"If I deal with a lowly person who dares to touch me, do I still need to see your face?"

I turned to the two soldiers, my tone not allowing for doubt.

“Pull down.”

The two soldiers looked at each other and finally no longer hesitated. Tieu Canh Diem's identity is the royal family. But their master is General Tran Quoc. It was Tham Sach, who just stomped his foot enough to make the entire northern border shake. Two people passed Tieu Canh Diem, each held one side, and directly lifted Lieu Nhu Nguyet who was screaming loudly.

"Big brother save me! Big brother!"

"Tham Thanh Ninh! You are crazy!"

Tieu Canh Diem tried to rush in to stop her, but was stopped by the maid I brought with her. I looked at his angry, distorted face and softly said something that made him immediately stiffen on the spot.

"I actually want to take a look, in front of my father at the General's Palace."

“What can a little Prince like him do to me?”

The sound of mouth slapping echoed crisply, mixed with Lieu Nhu Nguyet's screams, constantly echoing throughout Noan Vien. One more. All the guests were as silent as cicadas in winter, no one dared to say a word. As for me, I just slowly took off the dirty robe on my body and conveniently threw it to the maid next to me.

“Bring it to burn.”

“Dirty thing, I feel bad luck when I see it.”

The air of Noan Vien was filled with the scent of makeup, flowers and Lieu Nhu Nguyet's suppressed sobs. Twenty slaps on the mouth. Not a single thing is missing. The executors were all my father's soldiers, so they acted with extreme restraint. Just enough to cause her unbearable pain. But it doesn't really hurt the tendons. When Lieu Nhu Nguyet was pulled back, her cheeks were red and swollen. The corner of the mouth leaked small drops of blood, eyes full of resentment stared at me, no longer showing any weakness or weakness as usual. Tieu Canh Diem rushed forward and hugged her tightly with one hand. When he saw the wounds on her face, the anger in his eyes almost wanted to burn her into ashes.

“Tham Thanh Ninh, are you satisfied?”

His voice tried to suppress the rage, each word seemed to be forced out from between his teeth. I lifted the teacup on the table, gently blew the tea foam on my face, without looking at him from beginning to end.

"If the rules are disordered, they must be corrected. Otherwise, in the future, there won't even be cats and dogs in the Royal Palace Can you climb on top of me?"

"Bear brother..." Lieu Nhu Nguyet weakly pulled Tieu Canh Diem's sleeve, tears kept rolling down.

“Don't get angry with me because of me... it's all my fault... I shouldn't have soiled my big sister's cloak...”

This appearance of her retreating and advancing has been repeated over and over for the past two years. Before, I just felt annoyed. Now I just feel nauseous.

“Shut up.”

I put down the tea cup, making a very soft sound.

“Does this place give you a voice?”

Lieu Nhu Nguyet was so scared that I immediately snuggled into Tieu Canh Diem's arms, her shoulders constantly shaking. Tieu Canh Diem heartbrokenly patted her back, her eyes looking towards me were filled with disappointment.

“Thanh Ninh, I really didn't expect you to be such a cruel, jealous person.”

I almost wanted to laugh out loud.