Neither Ning Chen nor the Ninth Princess had expected the Xuan Emperor to come.

The two of them sprang apart as though a current had gone through them.

"Your subject presents himself to Your Majesty."

"Paying respects to Father Emperor. Ten thousand blessings and golden peace to Father Emperor."

The Xuan Emperor kept his face stiff.

"Ning Chen, you forget yourself!"

Not married yet and carrying on like this. What did they think this was?

Ning Chen knelt down meekly. "Your subject knows he was wrong. Your Majesty, forgive the offense."

"You dare lay hands on a princess. Quan Sheng, drag him out and give him thirty strokes of the heavy rod."

Eunuch Quan looked thoroughly put on the spot. For a moment he could not tell whether the Xuan Emperor was speaking in anger or in earnest.

Ning Chen was startled. "Your Majesty, there is nothing in the law of the Great Xuan that says a man takes thirty strokes of the rod for kissing his own wife, is there?"

The Xuan Emperor kept his face stiff. "You are not married yet. What do you think this is?"

Ning Chen muttered under his breath, "There are only three days left, aren't there?"

"And you dare answer back?"

"Your subject would not dare."

The Xuan Emperor looked around the room. "Quan Sheng, fetch this emperor that feather duster over there."

Quan Sheng went over quickly and brought the feather duster.

The Xuan Emperor took the feather duster and pointed it at Ning Chen. "Beyond all law and heaven. If this emperor doesn't deal with you today, you'll be climbing into the sky next."

"It is not your subject's fault. If there is blame, the blame is Your Majesty's."

"This emperor's?"

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, and so handsome it is beyond all law and heaven... whose doing is it that you fathered a daughter as beautiful as this? The Ninth Princess is as lovely as a flower and could topple a kingdom with her beauty. Who could look at her and keep his head?"

Eunuch Quan: →_→

Good God.…