CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 85: PUNISHMENT (PART 1)

The scolding was thorough and satisfying.

Chen Zhuo felt extremely relieved. Nonetheless, he was a bit worried about how to wrap things up today.

Song Yuan hadn’t considered this problem. He silently calculated the distance between himself and Zuo Zhen; in a breath, his long knife could reach Zuo Zhen’s chest.

Zuo Zhen’s face was ugly from the scolding, his eyes flickered continuously, yet his right hand never let go of the sword hilt.

Jiang Shaohua’s glance swept across, sharp as a blade: "Drop your weapons immediately, kneel and plead guilty, and I will spare you this time."

Zuo Zhen finally couldn’t hold back, sneering: "I won’t drop it, what will the Commandery Princess do about it?"

Clang!

Zuo Zhen drew his sword.

The next moment, the gleaming blade was at Zuo Zhen’s chest.

Nobody saw when Song Yuan moved. Zuo Zhen, though not skillful, had quite the guts, his face turning even more hideous: "Song Yuan, do you really dare to kill me?"

Chen Zhuo started with fright, instinctively shouted: "Commander Song, don’t be impulsive!"

What started as a war of words escalated into swords and guns. If someone was really killed, even if there were reasons, it would become unreasonable. Besides, being in the military camp, Zuo Zhen was still a main general. If the thousands of soldiers there mutiny, with the Commandery Princess only bringing eight hundred people into the camp, what would the outcome be?

In his furious rage, Song Yuan didn’t lose his reason, the tip of the blade rested against Zuo Zhen’s chest but didn’t press with force: "Zuo Zhen, kneel and admit your crime immediately!"

Zuo Zhen didn’t back down or show any weakness at all, retorting with a sneer: "Song Yuan, if you have the ability, make your move today! But there’s absolutely no way I’ll kneel and admit guilt!"

Zuo Zhen’s personal soldiers couldn’t suppress themselves any longer and rushed over to save their master.

Qin Hu and the other trusted aides were already on high alert, drew their swords at once, protecting the Commandery Princess and Chief Historian Chen and others in the middle.

Though spacious, the tent couldn’t accommodate that many people fighting. Sword clashes rang continuously.

Militarists huddled in the corners, each face showed panic.

"What to do? Lao Yu, speak up!" A military general with a pale face urged anxiously.

Yu Chong didn’t know what to do; he gritted his teeth and said: "Let’s wait and see."

Chen Zhuo, being a civil servant, had never experienced such a shocking situation. The elderly Chief Clerk Wen was so frightened his legs and hands went weak, trembling uncontrollably.

Yet the youthful Commandery Princess remained calm, not panicking in the slightest, even leisurely looking around.

Zuo Zhen’s confidants were indeed masters. Fortunately, her trusted aides weren’t idle either.

Just the space was too small, hindering their display. Additionally, everyone was concerned about their master’s safety, so although it seemed fierce, there was restraint, no bloodshed.

"Commandery Princess!" Chen Zhuo’s urgent voice reached her ears: "This is a military camp; it’s inappropriate to fight. Please, Commandery Princess, issue the order for them to stop!"

Jiang Shaohua still managed to smile: "Chief Historian Chen, don’t worry, they know their limits, no one’s aiming to kill."

Chen Zhuo broke into a cold sweat at his back, wanted to speak further, but seeing Jiang Shaohua’s composed and confident demeanor, he swallowed his words back.

Zuo Zhen, with the long blade at his chest, felt less arrogant yet not admitting defeat, spat at Song Yuan: "If you don’t dare to act, then get lost early!"

Song Yuan’s eyes burned with fire, yet his hand remained still.

He knew well that it was fine for the personal soldiers to fight a bit, as long as no severe injury occurred. If he injured Zuo Zhen, then things would not end well.

Zuo Zhen saw Song Yuan unmoved, sneered again, his arrogance resurfaced: "Cowardly fool, all that skill for what? Spent all day cozied up at the Prince Mansion, doing the job of a Personal Guard Commander, dancing around a ten-year-old Commandery Princess. If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to call myself from a military family..."

"Commander Song, step back!"

Jiang Shaohua’s voice suddenly rang out.

Song Yuan reflexively took two steps back, sheathing his long knife.

Zuo Zhen was right about to laugh wildly, just opened his mouth, and was slapped hard across the face.

Slap!

A stinging pain on his left cheek!

Zuo Zhen staggered a step from the slap, almost fell down. Luckily, Shan Wu was quick-eyed, supported his master: "General! General! Are you alright!"

Zuo Zhen’s left cheek swelled rapidly, hurting so much he couldn’t open his mouth.

The previously clashing trusted aides all were stunned, each stopping actions, dumbfoundedly looking at the Commandery Princess who personally took action.

Jiang Shaohua, under all eyes, took action again.

Though Zuo Zhen yelled fiercely, in truth, the idea of respecting hierarchy was deeply ingrained in him. Who would dare raise a hand against the Nanyang County Princess? Even the loyal Shan Wu dared not, rushing to stand in front of Zuo Zhen to block the strike for his master.

But somehow, the Commandery Princess’s delicate, fair hand with a flick and a twist caught and tossed him aside involuntarily.

Slap!

Zuo Zhen’s right face took another slap.

Spit! Zuo Zhen spat blood, and within it a tooth.

Zuo Zhen was in pain, also enraged. In hot blood, he drew his long knife towards the Commandery Princess. The knife hadn’t reached halfway when it was kicked away.

A tremendous force transmitted from the blade to his hand.

Zuo Zhen’s hand trembled, with no power to resist, the long knife clattered to the ground.

The Commandery Princess, swift as lightning, kicked, striking Zuo Zhen’s waist and abdomen. With a miserable cry, his body flew several feet, landing heavily on the ground.

All happened in a flash. To everyone, it took just two blinks, and Zuo Zhen was kicked away.

Only then did Zuo Zhen’s personal soldiers react, unable to restrain themselves any longer, angrily shouting, ready to act.

"Zuo Zhen disrespected and insulted me, the Commandery Princess. I have handed a minor punishment."

The Commandery Princess’s icy voice stunned all the personal soldiers ready to risk it all: "What are you trying to do? Are you planning a rebellion?"

Indeed! Laying hands on the Nanyang County Princess in Nanyang County, what else if not rebellion?

No, nowhere should anyone lay hands on the Commandery Princess!

The personal soldiers were in a dilemma, looking towards the groaning Zuo Zhen lying on the ground.

Zuo Zhen felt as if his internal organs had shifted positions; the pain on his face suddenly seemed trivial. Tears and snot had flowed out unknowingly, he curled his body, lacking strength even to open his eyes, let alone speak.

Shan Wu struggled to get up, wanting to support Zuo Zhen.

Jiang Shaohua gave a light glance: "Left General has suffered internal injuries, better not move him now. Qin Hu, go invite Doctor Sun over to treat Left General’s injuries."

Qin Hu accepted the order and withdrew immediately.

Upon hearing the words ’internal injury’, Shan Wu was alarmed again, dared not act further.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over, stating coldly: "Everyone drop your weapons and step back six feet."

Zuo Zhen’s personal soldiers each shivered inside.

Though their master’s skills weren’t much, being kicked away with a long knife in one encounter, they confessed they couldn’t manage that. Seeing their master in such pain he couldn’t speak highlighted the force of that kick.

This young Nanyang County Princess was truly no ordinary person.

Someone, unknown who, was the first to drop the long knife.