Ning Chen came out with Xiao Yanxi, completely at a loss for words.

"You're all famous generals of the Great Xuan, and you're climbing walls?"

The men jumped, turned and saw it was Ning Chen, and instantly looked mortified.

"Greetings, my lord prince!"

Feng Qizheng suddenly pointed at Yuan Long. "It's all Yuan Long's fault. It was his idea. We didn't want to, but he insisted on dragging us up the wall with him.

Yuan Long, you've gone too far!"

Yuan Long was stunned. He never expected Feng Qizheng to turn around and stab him in the back.

"My lord prince, it wasn't me... It was Feng Qizheng. It was his idea. He even said my lord prince got carried away with lust and tried to force himself on Miss Xiao and got thrown out, and that my lord prince was sitting in the courtyard to beg Miss Xiao's forgiveness."

The others all nodded along!

Feng Qizheng's face froze. Then, in an instant, the born actor took over. He pointed at them. "You... you've gone too far. I treated you like brothers, and you're making me take the blame.

Fine. I'll take the blame. For my brothers, I'd take a knife between the ribs. You may be heartless, but I can't be disloyal. (TL Note: 兩肋插刀, "to take a knife in both sides," to do anything, however painful, for a friend.)

My lord prince, this officer will go take ten strokes of the rod right now!"

Ning Chen narrowed his eyes. That blockhead Feng Qizheng never admitted he was wrong about anything, and now he was volunteering to take the fall for everyone? Something was off. Something was definitely up.

But Pan Yucheng stopped him with a big smile. "Pay up first, then go take your strokes!"

Yuan Long and the others caught on at once.

Feng Qizheng wasn't going to take a beating. He'd lost the bet and was trying to slip away.

They surrounded him and held out their hands in unison.

Feng Qizheng looked heartbroken. "You're inhuman. I took the blame for you, and you still want…