The mess from the banquet finally ended.

Feng Ning was really only watching as Princess Lin Mei Ni was being punished by being grounded while Prince Feng Hao Shui would be monitored heavily. He had to make sure that he no longer relied on those drugs.

The people would never want an Emperor who couldn't do anything but to waste himself.

In fact, the court was already having unfavorable impression of Prince Feng Hao Shui. If not because he was the only prince who could inherit the throne, there was a high chance that they would already asked to revoke his title.

The other two princes: Prince Lin Zi Xuan and Prince Lin Hu Xi were unable to inherit the throne since their father only become the prince because of his military achievement. This was written in the Imperial Edict from the previous Emperor, which was why the current emperor didn't bother with them.

No matter what, the two of them couldn't inherit the throne.

He didn't have to worry that much.

However, the perquisite was for him to ensure that his own lineage was strong and had the capability to lead the kingdom. For him to be able to be the leader, he had worked hard and eliminated everyone who could pose a threat to him.

"Lin Mei Ni."

"Imperial Father." Princess Lin Mei Ni curtsied when she saw her father. She could sense that he was looking at her with great disappointment.

"For you to cause harm to your Imperial Cousin, do you know how big this crime is?"

Hearing the strict tone from her father, Princess Lin Mei Ni involuntary trembled. She didn't know why, but she felt that she had crossed her father's line. Her fingers clenched into a fist.

She didn't want to give the throne to anyone.

Why did her cousin had to be the prince while she could only be the princess, who was only useful to become a piece that will be thrown out when she no longer had any use. She didn't want to accept this.

"Imperial Father, I..."

"This is your last chance."

Princess Lin Mei Ni's body froze when she heard her father's cold tone. He was utterly serious when she said this, but she felt that this was also something that she didn't want to hear the most.

"After your confinement period had ended, you'll get married. Your partner has been decided."

"...Yes, Imperial Father."

The Emperor looked at his daughter once more before leaving.

Princess Lin Mei Ni's eyes turned red. The so called partner was also the person whom her father wanted to hand over the throne over in the future. She was just a piece that he used to be able to make sure his lineage continued.

She hated him so much.

...

Princess Xing's Residence.

Feng Ning looked at her husband, who was fidgeting in front of her room, with confusion. The two of them were not getting involved in the matter of Imperial Princess's problem back then. In fact, they were simply watching from the side.

Why did he seem a bit nervous?

"Your Highness, His Highness is waiting for you," Xiao Yu reminded.

Feng Ning nodded and looked at Lin Zi Xuan, who finally walked towards her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back into the room.

The three servants looked at each other before tactfully walked away.

"Ning'er."

Hearing his endearment, Feng Ning trembled a bit. It sounded a bit weird for someone like him to call her so intimately like that. It was especially so because she knew that he didn't mean it well.

Her hand moved to Lin Zi Xuan's palm, writing on top of it. "Is there anything wrong?"

"There's an Imperial Order for me and my younger brother to settle the bandits." Lin Zi Xuan looked a bit helpless. He originally thought that he would be able to stay in the Capital City for a longer period of time.

Unfortunately, the Emperor found them to be displeasing to the eyes and decided to send them on a mission right away.

Younger brother?

Feng Ning immediately recalled Lin Hu Xi, who had turned 20 years old this year. He was still unmarried because their father somehow still hoped for him to be able to be associated with Princess Lin Mei Ni.

It seemed that the Emperor was already pissed off with his effort too.

"Take care of yourself."

Lin Zi Xuan smiled bitterly when he sensed what his wife write. It seemed that this was already the best reaction he could ask from his little wife.

Well, he couldn't ask for more.

...

For the next few weeks, Feng Ning was idle in her residence. She didn't have much interest to establish her position among the servants as they already followed her words. Besides, it was much more interesting to be idle.

Not completely idle, though.

Imperial Doctor Wu still paid a visit to her from time to time for their lesson. And Feng Ning herself liked it.

At the same time, she heard various pieces of news about her husband at the areas outside the Capital City. It was said that he had to cooperate with his younger brother to suppress the bandits.

Would someone who didn't have any military background be able to handle this?

Feng Ning doubted it.

And soon, there was a disturbing pieces of news spreading in the Capital City.

...

Lin Zi Xuan looked at the report and felt that his younger brother was really useless. He looked at his servant.

"What did he do to be captured by the bandits so easily?"

The servant was at lost.

It was not their fault that Prince Lin Hu Xi was caught by the bandits, right? They were only trying to do their job properly by delivering this piece of news back to Prince Lin Zi Xuan in hope that he could settle this matter.

"How annoying. General Wei, I'll need your help in this matter." Prince Lin Zi Xuan looked at the side.

The two princes were not the only one who was taking care of this bandits' problem. There was a general and several high ranking commanders who were following them and listened to their words.

At this point, it was clear that Lin Zi Xuan was tired with his brother's foolishness.

"Don't worry, we'll figure out a way to save him." General Wei also felt his head throbbed. Even though Prince Lin Hu Xi was highly favored by Prince Lin Han Xing, he was truly a useless piece of *****.

If not because it was the Imperial Order, General Wei was sure that Prince Lin Hu Xi would never pick up this mission. That prince was someone who just liked to play with his concubines at home and barely do any work.

It was unsettling that a person like this could be the prince.

"Many thanks for your help, General Wei." Prince Lin Zi Xuan cupped his fist.

"It's nothing. Do you have any plan?"

"Yes, actually...."

The two of them discussed and it was set that Prince Lin Zi Xuan would go to save his younger brother while General Wei would focus on the attack. In any case, they had to make sure that they eliminated these bandits to ensure Lin Tang Kingdom's safety.

It was really not easy.

Once General Wei had left, Prince Lin Zi Xuan wiped all of the emotion on his face. He looked at his subordinate with chilling expression. "My useless younger brother is really stupid. But he's not allowed to die yet in this mission. Send more scout to find his whereabouts."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lin Zi Xuan sat down and tapped the chair. He had plan to settle his younger brother, but if Prince Lin Hu Xi were to die in this mission, he could easily get blamed for that.

He didn't want to make things difficult for himself.

In that case...

He could only try to use that card.