Chapter 15 How should I punish you?

Discussing marriage in broad daylight is truly indecent.

He frowned and looked, and when he saw the familiar figure beside the carriage, his pupils couldn't help but shrink.

It turned out to be Jiang Zhi.

So, did she specifically ask for leave today to come here and meet her fiancé?

The Earl of Loyalty and Diligence is indeed a good match for the young lady. Moreover, that man is willing to remain chaste for her, so he must be a devoted lover.

He looked down at what he was holding in his hand.

This was the "Lingfei Sutra" that he had bought with most of his savings, intending to give it to Jiang Zhi to thank her for her meticulous care over the past few days. Now that he thought about it, she probably wouldn't even want it.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, tucked the calligraphy copybook into his sleeve without alerting anyone, and his tall, slender figure quickly disappeared into the street.

Shen Ci'an didn't know that Yan Wenkang would be fooled by his words, but Jiang Zhi, having lived a second life, would not believe his sweet talk at all.

What about dismissing concubines? What about her being the only one?

That's utterly audacious and disgusting.

Seeing that Yan Wenkang was blocking her from getting into the carriage, Jiang Zhi simply shoved him hard, abandoned everyone, and turned to leave.

Yan Wenkang immediately followed behind, saying, "Miss Jiang, stop pretending. While I'm still speaking to you politely, agree to my request. Otherwise, once the bridal sedan chair is carried away, you'll become my possession. Don't be crying and begging for mercy in bed then."

Jiang Zhi gripped the handkerchief tightly in her palm, ignoring his foul language and quickening her pace. Just before Yan Wenkang was about to grab her clothes, she turned and entered a small alley.

When Yan Wenkang chased after her into the alley, he found that Jiang Zhi had vanished into thin air, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Don't hide, I won't do anything to you," Yan Wenkang laughed. "I just want to catch up with Miss Jiang and strengthen our relationship. So many women have begged me to take them in, Miss Jiang should feel honored."

There was only silence in response.

This was an empty alley, with high walls on both sides, dark and cramped. He didn't believe Jiang Zhi could possibly grow wings and fly away.

Just as he was about to search little by little, several burly men with masked faces suddenly jumped out from the intersection and blocked his way.

"Since this young master is so free, why don't you get to know us better?" the leader said, squinting his eyes.

Yan Wenkang glared at them warily. "Who are you? How dare you speak to me like that? Do you know who I am?"

"Who the hell cares who you are? Brothers, let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Wenkang felt a darkness before his eyes, as if a sack had been put over his head, and then fists the size of sandbags began to fall one after another.

"Ah—you dare hit me? Don't you value your lives? I am from the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion. My sister is the Third Prince's consort, and my elder brother is a prince's study companion. Who sent you? I will find you and skin you alive!! Ah—stop!!"

Unfortunately, no matter how much he shouted, those people seemed not to hear him and just kept punching him.

Yan Wenkang was a playboy who had spent years in the company of women and had long since exhausted himself. After only a few shouts, all that was left were weak wails and pleas for mercy.

"You want money, don't you? I have plenty of money! You, you just need to let me go, I'll give you any amount of money! Ah—help!"

"Pah, who wants your stinking money? I can't stand good-for-nothings like you," the man sneered. "But if you're willing to call me grandpa and crawl between my legs, I might consider letting you go."

"How could this be? A scholar can be killed but not humiliated! I would rather die than—ah, I shout, I shout!!" Yan Wenkang was punched hard in the stomach again, spitting out blood, and hurriedly changed his words with a miserable scream.

The fists on his body finally stopped.

"Go ahead and shout," a mocking voice came from outside.

Yan Wenkang was already dizzy from the beating. He gritted his teeth and squeezed out two words, "Grandpa."

"Speak louder, I didn't hear you."

"Grandpa!" Yan Wenkang's whole body was trembling.

However, this is not enough.

"Haha, hurry up, I'll consider letting you go once you crawl through!"

The people around them joined in the commotion.

Yan Wenkang had never suffered such beatings and humiliation since birth. He didn't know who sent these people, but they dared to do such a cruel thing to him.

If he finds out who they are, he'll definitely kill them!

Yan Wenkang, with a burlap sack over his head and everything pitch black, was pushed and shoved to his feet, slowly crawling between a person's legs.

"Now you can let me go, right?" he asked through gritted teeth.

However, this only elicited laughter from the other party. "I only said I would consider it, but I never promised to let you go. I don't want to take a bastard like you home, hahahaha!"

Yan Wenkang was so angry he almost fainted.

Damn it, how dare they play tricks on him!!

The man's laughter had barely faded when a barrage of punches and kicks rained down upon him.

Yan Wenkang was beaten until he was like a tattered sack, collapsing to the ground, his body covered in blood and tears. In the end, he was on the verge of death and could no longer even scream.

Seeing that he had already passed out, those people finally stopped, clapped their hands, kicked him a few more times, and then left laughing.

Jiang Zhi, who was hiding in a dark alley not far away, watched helplessly, and felt that the resentment that had accumulated in her heart for so many years finally dissipated a little.

If the timing weren't so bad, she would have really wanted to take Yan Wenkang's life right away.

Unfortunately, his identity is extraordinary, so he cannot be too reckless or impulsive, otherwise he will only end up in the same situation as in his previous life. For now, he can just collect some interest.

She would slowly repay Yan Wenkang for all the suffering she had endured in the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion in her previous life.

Seeing that everyone had left, Jiang Zhi estimated that it was about time to leave. Just as she was about to leave, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Before she could react, she was slammed against the wall by a strong force.

"Miss Jiang, you've hired someone to commit assault," a deep, menacing voice echoed from the darkness, as if from the underworld. "How should I, this official, punish you?"

Jiang Zhi felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. The man's icy gaze was so intense that it made her scalp tingle.

It was Lu Yuan! What was he doing here?