Imperial Husband Chapter 117

Chapter 117

The flogging mentioned by the guard was no casual strike to be taken lightly; it was a flogging with strict requirements. Each stroke had to be controlled precisely, otherwise it would be repeated until executed correctly. Furthermore, after receiving the flogging, applying medicine was prohibited. One could only drag their battered and bruised body to the ancestral hall.

From this, it was clear; Wei Rong intended for Li Jin to die under the family punishment. After all, in her understanding, Li Jin's health was poor to begin with, and one round of family punishment would be more than he could withstand.

Truth be told, the offenses Li Jin committed were not major; a few words of reprimand would have sufficed. However, because of the incident with the old momo, Wei Rong's reason had long since flown away. Her only desire was to use the family punishment to put Li Jin to death.

The corners of Li Jin's lips curled in a faint, ambiguous smile. "Grandmother is quite right. As the concubine-born son and daughter of the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion, they not only fail to pay proper respects upon seeing me but also speak with disrespect. Truly reprehensible. Let it be handled according to family discipline. Bestow upon Li Yanchen and Li Ruoyan ten lashes each, then send them to the ancestral hall for serious reflection."

"As you command, Your Highness."

Having received Li Jin's definitive order, the guards moved into action once more.

One stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Li Yanchen and Li Ruoyan were instantly dumbstruck, seemingly not expecting Li Jin to be this unyielding.

"Li Jin! With this old woman here, you dare not act recklessly!" Wei Rong suddenly stood up, blocking the path in front of Li Yanchen and the other, clearly forbidding Li Jin from having them seized. "All of you, stop right there for this old woman! I am the Dowager Lady of the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion! How dare you defy your superiors?!"

Hearing that Li Jin intended to punish even Li Yanchen, Wei Shiwan's expression instantly turned cold. "Jin'er, mother merely spoke rash words in a moment of anger. Why must you be so calculative and damage family harmony?"

If only Li Ruoyan were being punished, Wei Shiwan wouldn't have bothered. But since this matter involved Li Yanchen, she had no choice but to intervene.

Instead of answering, Li Jin countered, "Consort Wei, I recall you are no longer the Princess Consort. To address Grandmother as 'mother' like this is improper, is it not?"

"Uh..."

Caught off guard by Li Jin's counter, Wei Shiwan was left speechless.

Wei Shiwan had always been unwilling to admit that the Princess Consort position she had schemed so hard to obtain was now gone. Moreover, she still held the authority to manage the household. Over time, she had forgotten her place.

Who would have thought Li Jin would seize upon this point to attack her.

Wei Rong came to her defense, "This old woman permitted it. It has nothing to do with you."

Li Jin smiled. "Grandmother, haven't you always said that members of the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion should abide by propriety? If your current words were to spread outside, what would people think of the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion?"

"You..."

"Grandmother still hasn't grasped one point," Li Jin interrupted, meeting Wei Rong's gaze. "Without rules, there is no order. I am first the Heir to the Prince of Dingbei, then your grandson, Li Jin. Grandmother may have her own biases, but I cannot. My every move is watched by those in the capital. Furthermore, setting aside their disrespectful speech, the mere fact that they, as concubine-born children, dared to sit and share the morning meal at the same table with you, Grandmother, is a grave offense."

All that Li Jin stated was explicitly stipulated in the laws of Da Xia.

He hadn't mentioned it before because he couldn't be bothered. But now that they had repeatedly pushed their luck, if Li Jin didn't retaliate, he would be seen as an easy target.

Wei Rong pointed at Li Jin's forehead, saying sharply, "I am the Dowager Lady of the Prince of Dingbei's Mansion! Everything is decided by me! Li Jin, you are unfilial! You are unworthy of being the Heir!"

Li Jin closed his eyes. "Grandmother is unwell. Take her down to rest, and go invite the imperial physician to examine her."

"As you command, Your Highness."

"What are you doing?! This old woman is not ill! Release me at once!" Wei Rong, never imagining Li Jin would treat her this way, erupted in fury. "Li Jin! You dare to plot against me! When the Prince finds out, he will certainly not spare you!"

In her desperation, Wei Rong even brought up Li Shiyun, believing Li Jin wouldn't dare defy him.

Li Jin, seemingly having anticipated this, replied again, "Regarding that, Grandmother need not worry. After the matter concludes, I will write to Father and clearly explain the entire sequence of events. I will certainly not wrong anyone."

Li Jin gave Wei Rong and the others no more opportunity to delay, immediately ordering action.

How could this be happening?

Wei Shiwan had always held the upper hand and had never witnessed such an unyielding side of Li Jin. She was momentarily stunned. At the same time, it dawned on her that she had fundamentally underestimated him.

This was, after all, someone who—despite his frail health—had won the personal regard of the Emperor and Empress and secured the Heir’s position over his own father. A person like that could never have been simple to contend with.

Li Jin turned and looked at Wei Shiwan. "Consort Wei, in consideration of your years of service to Father, I will not pursue this matter for now. But remember this: there is a distinction between noble and base."

Li Jin knew that Wei Shiwan was most sensitive about status distinctions, so he deliberately spoke these words to provoke her.

Sure enough, Wei Shiwan fell for it, her expression instantly turning ferocious.

"Consort Wei, to prevent you from repeating the same mistake, please accompany me to witness them receive the family punishment." Having said this, Li Jin paid no further attention to Wei Shiwan and directly followed behind the guards escorting Li Yanchen and the other.

This was only the beginning, Wei Shiwan. I will let you 'live' a long, long life.

Wei Shiwan, from the bottom of her heart, did not want to follow and watch. However, she was now like a startled bird, and before she could even react, her feet subconsciously followed Li Jin.

Not long after, Li Yanchen and Li Ruoyan were forced to kneel under the blazing sun.

It was the time of day when the sun was most intense. The ground was scalding. Kneeling on it, both Li Yanchen and Li Ruoyan's faces instantly turned unpleasant.

Looking at the person standing behind her holding the whip, Li Ruoyan broke out in a cold sweat. "Li Jin! I belong to the Prince An's household! If you beat me, His Highness will not let you off!"

"Li Ruoyan, I heard you are no longer a secondary concubine of the Prince An, but a mere serving maid. Are you certain you wish to address me using the status of a Prince An's maid?"

"You..."

Li Ruoyan hadn't completely lost her senses and quickly realized the implication in Li Jin's words. She immediately dared not say more.

Unlike the status of a prince's secondary consort, a serving maid could be bought and sold at will, like a commodity. If she truly defied Li Jin using the status of the Prince of An's maid, it would undoubtedly be seeking her own death.

Clap.

Li Jin clapped his hands once, signaling the guards to begin.

Li Jin, enjoy your triumph for a few more days. Your position as Heir will eventually be mine.

Having learned from the previous lesson, Li Yanchen simply shut his mouth, gritted his teeth, and endured the sharp pain of the whip lashing his body, saying nothing.

"Ah... No... Don't hit me... I admit it... I admit it, is that not enough?!" Li Ruoyan was different. After just a few lashes, she couldn't bear it and admitted to her insolence.

However... Once the family punishment began, it would not stop unless completed.

Li Ruoyan had been pampered since childhood. Although she had suffered hardship in the Prince An's Mansion, because she still held the status of the Prince of Dingbei's illegitimate daughter, Ying Ziheng didn't dare go too far. Thus, she had never truly been punished, at most confined. Therefore, facing this relentless whipping, Li Ruoyan was the first to break, continuously begging for mercy.

But Li Ruoyan's pleas were destined to be useless. Li Jin would not be soft-hearted. No matter the pain, Li Ruoyan could only endure it.

Standing beside Li Jin watching all this, Wei Shiwan didn't dare even breathe loudly.

"Chen'er... Chen'er... Quickly release Chen'er..."

Zhou Xiaoru, who had rushed over upon hearing, saw her son being whipped until covered in blood. She went mad, trying to stop it, but the guards acted faster. Just as Zhou Xiaoru tried to approach, they intercepted her.

Seeing she couldn't get close to Li Yanchen, Zhou Xiaoru had no choice but to turn and beg Li Jin for mercy, hoping he would spare Li Yanchen.

Little did she know that it was precisely her humiliating display of pleading that stoked Li Yanchen's deepest shame and resentment.

In Li Yanchen's view, Zhou Xiaoru's actions undoubtedly humiliated him, lowering him even more in Li Jin’s presence. A dark thought even crossed his mind: if Zhou Xiaoru were gone, perhaps he wouldn't be looked down upon because of her existence.

Li Jin said coldly, "Concubine Zhou, if anyone who broke the rules could escape punishment just because someone knelt and begged for them, then what would be the point of having family discipline or imperial law?"

"Your Highness, I beg you, show mercy. Spare this humble concubine's son. This humble concubine will kowtow to you right now. Please forgive him!"

Zhou Xiaoru didn't listen at all. Instead, she began kowtowing to Li Jin.

Li Jin said impassively, "I will not change my mind."

Zhou Xiaoru still wanted to plead for Li Yanchen. "Your Highness..."

Li Jin was tired of listening to Zhou Xiaoru's pleas and interrupted, "Someone, escort Concubine Zhou back."

"No! This humble concubine will not leave!" Zhou Xiaoru, seeing the guards suddenly approaching to take her away, struggled frantically. "Your Highness, I know you have always resented this humble concubine. But this matter has nothing to do with my son. If you must vent your anger, direct it at this humble concubine. Do not harm my son!"

Useless woman! If you cannot be of help, then do not come here to shame me!

While being punished, Li Yanchen couldn't help but curse Zhou Xiaoru, who was being taken away, repeatedly in his heart.

That night, having just been delivered to the ancestral hall, Li Yanchen and Li Ruoyan, unable to bear the pain without medicine, directly admitted their disrespect towards Li Jin.

Li Jin didn't comment on this. Seeing their admission, he straightforwardly released them.

"Chen'er..."

Zhou Xiaoru, on the verge of tears, kept softly calling Li Yanchen's name.

Because Li Yanchen had long been registered under Wei Shiwan's name years ago, Zhou Xiaoru had no right to visit. She could only stay in her own courtyard, worrying about whether Li Yanchen's injuries were severe.

"Li Jin, just you wait. I will not let Chen'er be beaten by you for nothing. I will make you atone with your death!" At this moment, Zhou Xiaoru hated Li Jin to the core. Her original plan to act after some time completely collapsed upon seeing Li Jin order the guards to whip Li Yanchen without restraint. Her mind was now solely occupied by the thought of making Li Jin die quickly, a thought that lingered, unable to dissipate.

Simultaneously Zhou Xiaoru also hated Wei Shiwan for standing by and watching her son suffer without helping. It was utterly unforgivable.