Yi Ye Bao Fu

Chapter 113 Trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice

Almost at Emperor Xiaochang’s furious roar, Jin Qianyu was dragged out of the imperial study by guards and severely beaten with twenty planks.

Marquis Xuanping watched his son, whose backside was a bloody mess, in agony but utterly helpless. He could only watch as the planks fell, one after another, onto Jin Qianyu’s hindquarters, his ears ringing from Jin Qianyu’s wails.

Half an hour later, Marquis Xuanping had Jin Qianyu, who was barely alive, carried out of the palace.

Chen Gang, sitting in his carriage, personally watched Marquis Xuanping’s carriage drive out of the palace gates before his own carriage arrived at the rear entrance of the Ji family’s residence to deliver the news to the master.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Qingzhu brought the news to Ji Zizhao.

“The Emperor severely punished him with twenty planks. Steward Chen said firsthand that when Marquis Xuanping’s heir was carried onto the carriage, he was barely alive.”

Ji Zizhao was not surprised by this.

Every emperor throughout history desired lasting fame, and Emperor Xiaochang especially wished to be praised by all.

Therefore, when Chen Gang and the others went to the palace to complain, they were essentially handing the Emperor the responsibility to punish, leaving him no choice but to mete out a penalty.

Twenty planks were enough to tear the skin from the flesh of someone unskilled in martial arts.

It was considered a lesson learned for Jin Qianyu.

Qingzhu looked out the window, and seeing that the main courtyard was still brightly lit, she couldn’t help but worry, “Marquis Xuanping’s heir was beaten, and Lianju, following your instructions, intercepted the person sent to the Yang family. If Great Aunt doesn’t receive news from Marquis Xuanping’s mansion anytime soon, she might become suspicious.”

Ji Zizhao’s expression was calm. “My aunt’s position in Marquis Xuanping’s mansion is not as secure as one might think.”

Ji Ruyun had been spoiled by her grandmother since childhood and was used to having her own way. The Ji family had to tolerate her, but the entire imperial city was not controlled by the Ji family.

Ji Ruyun’s temperament was already unlikable, with her intelligence and emotional quotient lagging behind. Now, with the Ji family in decline, Ji Ruyun’s life in Marquis Xuanping’s mansion must be even more miserable.

It was precisely because she was not happy in Marquis Xuanping’s mansion that she was now desperately trying to save Jin Qianyu.

For an annoying person, perhaps no one would remember them when good things happened, but when bad things occurred, everyone would surely remember them.

As the saying goes, one must fulfill their responsibilities in their position.

Now that Jin Qianyu was beaten to an unrecognizable state, who else would serve him if not his wife, Ji Ruyun?

Ji Zizhao’s thoughts proved correct. Not long after, the gate of the Ji family was knocked open by a servant from Marquis Xuanping’s mansion.

Ji Ruyun, who was still frowning in the main courtyard, was overjoyed to hear that someone from Marquis Xuanping’s mansion had arrived, her mouth splitting into a wide smile. The Old Madam, however, frowned slightly.

From the imperial city to Bianjing, it took at least a day and a night by horse. How could the servants from their family have only been gone for a few hours, yet Marquis Xuanping’s mansion already had news?

The Old Madam frowned. “Perhaps it would be safer to send someone to inquire first.”

Ji Ruyun, however, could not sit still. “Marquis Xuanping’s mansion has already sent someone to fetch me, so what is Mother still worried about? Perhaps the Old Master of the Yang family, not waiting for our servants to deliver the message, proactively sent someone to the imperial city to plead for mercy. Or perhaps they sought help from other officials to speak well of us to the Emperor. It’s always been like this, hasn't it?”

Jin Xueyan, hearing this, showed a smug smile. “Indeed, that Yang family is nothing compared to our Ji family.”

Although the Old Madam felt comforted by her daughter and granddaughter’s words, she was still uneasy. She specifically asked Madam Xu to inquire at the gate from the servant of Marquis Xuanping’s mansion. Only after hearing the servant say that Marquis Xuanping’s heir had indeed returned to the mansion did she finally relax completely.

“When you return, remember to appease those there well. The Ji family is no longer what it used to be; I fear I will have little power to support you in the future.”

Ji Ruyun was in high spirits, so her words were naturally pleasant to hear. “What are you saying, Mother? Not only is Mother’s prestige respected throughout Sheng Huangcheng, but if such a day truly comes, I will support Mother instead.”

The Old Madam had been waiting for these words and immediately beamed with joy.

Ji Ruyun was accustomed to returning from the Ji family with plenty. Seeing her mother in good spirits, she immediately had people carry away two valuable antique vases from the main hall.

An incense stick later, Ji Ruyun and her mother boarded the carriage back to Marquis Xuanping’s mansion.

Ji Ruyun, who was solely focused on being showered with gratitude upon her return to Marquis Xuanping’s mansion, had no idea that Marquis Xuanping’s mansion was already in complete chaos.

Jin Qianyu, who had never been beaten by anyone before, was jolted awake by the effects of the medicine. Although the doctor said his life was not in danger, the tearing pain that wracked his skin nearly cost him half his life.

Deep in the night, the darkness was heavy, and the entire Marquis Xuanping’s mansion could hear Jin Qianyu’s heart-wrenching screams.

When Ji Ruyun returned with Jin Xueyan, she was met with an indescribable scene.

Looking at Jin Qianyu lying on the bed, Ji Ruyun was stunned. “H-how could this happen?”

In his extreme pain, Jin Qianyu grabbed Ji Ruyun’s hair and violently slammed her head against the bed frame. “Bitch! You still have the nerve to ask me? You’ve gotten brave, haven't you? You thought I was done for, so you decided to run back to your mother’s family?”

Ji Ruyun’s head spun from the impact. “No, I, I went back to have my mother find someone to plead for you.”

Jin Qianyu gritted his teeth and glared at Ji Ruyun. “The Emperor was originally going to spare me. It’s all the fault of the Four Great Medical Halls for collectively filing a complaint. But do you know why the people from the Four Great Medical Halls thought of complaining? It’s because they happened to see someone from the Ji family leaving the city in the middle of the night and even told the soldiers at the city gate that they were going to Bianjing to ask the Yang family for mercy on my behalf!”

So, if not for Ji Ruyun’s meddling, why would he have been beaten?

Of course, Jin Qianyu had heard this from his father.

As for how Marquis Xuanping knew…

It was naturally because Sun Zhiting, who had been waiting by the palace gates after the complaint was filed, had ‘accidentally’ let it slip when people brought the news.

Ji Ruyun stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

Jin Xueyan, who had been smug moments ago, was now kneeling on the ground, not daring to even lift her head.

Ji Ruyun and her mother, who had been smiling so brightly at the Ji family’s residence, never dreamed that the more brilliant their smiles were just now, the more they wished they were dead now!

However, Jin Qianyu did not lay hands on Ji Ruyun again.

After all, Ji Ruyun was the only woman by his side now. If he truly injured her, who would serve him personally?

It was only at this moment that Ji Ruyun realized that Marquis Xuanping’s mansion had been so eager to bring her back simply for her to serve the injured Jin Qianyu like a beast of burden!

But what if she knew?

Since she had botched the matter, let alone her inability to hold her head up in Marquis Xuanping’s mansion, even if people from the Ji family came to inquire, she could only lie and boast, swallowing her tears.

Otherwise, if the entire Ji family knew that she had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice, she would truly have no face to see anyone!