Chapter 67 Punishment Lin Zhi He Luochen narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, and the corners of her lips also...

The candles were lit by a silent servant who came in, and the female doctor spent more and more time applying medicine and bandaging in the inner room. Lin Zhi, sitting opposite Pei Lang, had become numb.

Her mind was in turmoil. She had thought that He Luochen would try to use tricks on her, but she never expected that day to come so soon.

What's more, this was after he risked his life to save her.

Lin Zhi felt a faint buzzing in her ears and couldn't figure out what this person wanted to do.

Pei Lang, ever since returning to the manor and hearing about this matter, has not uttered a word. He sat silently to the side with a gloomy face, not even showing a word of concern for her.

Lin Zhi didn't want to cry anymore. She had cried too much in the past few days and thought she had cried all her tears away, but she didn't expect that seeing Pei Lang would make her eyes and nose sting again.

The female doctor came out from the inner room, wiped the blood off her hands, frowned and bowed: "Madam is no longer in danger of death, but her arm will certainly not be as flexible as before. Please forgive my poor medical skills."

"Please also take good care of Madam, sir. If this wound is torn open again, I'm afraid her life may not be in danger."

After saying this, Lin Zhi noticed that the female doctor glanced at him with a strange expression, and his heart tightened.

Could this person be mistaking Pei Lang for someone who favors his concubine over his wife?

Lin Zhi felt angry and aggrieved, but the words stuck in her throat and she couldn't say a word.

"Thank you for informing me, Doctor. Someone will escort you out of the residence."

Pei Lang remained calm, but after seeing the doctor off, Zi Yu stopped him and made him kneel down: "I beg you, sir, to give the lady justice!"

Pei Lang looked down at her, asking, "What do you mean by that?"

Ziyu frowned and glared angrily at Lin Zhi, "Our lady is kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see the concubine, who was pregnant, being harmed. She risked her life to save her, but the concubine repaid kindness with ingratitude!"

"Not only are they ungrateful, but they've also repaid kindness with enmity, committing such a cruel act against our wife!"

Chun Tao steadily supported Lin Zhi, her eyes red with anger: "You're spouting nonsense! You deliberately sent me away; it must be Madam framing our concubine!"

Ziyu ignored her words and kowtowed to Pei Lang, saying, "Lord Pei, our lady has only been married into the Pei family for a month, but such a thing has happened."

“But our lady is not a pushover. If you cannot give her justice, then I will return to the manor and report to the master.”

"If even the master cannot give the madam justice, then let His Majesty judge!"

Looking at the maidservant before him who spoke with such conviction, Pei Lang narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you trying to blackmail me?"

Ziyu suddenly kowtowed: "This servant dares not, it's just that I feel sorry for my master."

"A day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. Only I know how much grievance and forbearance my wife has endured as the principal wife. Even if I die today, I will not let my wife be humiliated in vain!"

After saying this, Ziyu stood up as if to rush towards the threshold, but Pei Lang sternly shouted, "Guards! Hold her down!"

Xingyun appeared quickly and stopped the person, but Lin Zhi was still so frightened that her face turned pale.

She was just a hair's breadth away from taking a life.

Pei Lang tore his gaze away from Lin Zhi, pondered for a long time, but couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh: "There are many suspicious points about today's events. I will make a decision after I have investigated the matter thoroughly."

"It's getting late, Lin Zhi, you should go back first."

Lin Zhi gripped Chun Tao's hand tightly, forced herself to remain calm, bowed, and slowly left, but she could feel the angry gaze of Zi Yu piercing her back.

After returning home, Lin Zhi sat on the soft couch, propping her forehead up with her hand. She couldn't understand what He Luochen still wanted.

She has no parents and no support, the only thing she can rely on is the child in her womb... She has never thought of competing with her for the position of the main wife. Pei Lang has already accepted her, what more does she want!

They were even willing to risk their lives.

Chun Tao brought in hot water, frowned, and squatted down to soak Lin Zhi's feet while massaging them. "It's all my fault. No matter what Zi Yu says, I shouldn't have left Miss."

"Now, Miss has suffered such an undeserved calamity... But fortunately, the master still believes in Miss. Even when that little vixen threatened to kill herself, the master did not blame you without distinguishing right from wrong."

"Once the truth is revealed, we can clear your name, Miss!"

Lin Zhi felt even more troubled after hearing this. If this matter were so easy, He Luochen probably wouldn't have been so ruthless to her.

Early the next morning, a servant from the Pei residence rushed over to report that Prime Minister He had come to visit.

Lin Zhi, who was about to see Pei Lang off to court, stiffened slightly, knowing without a doubt that the visitor was up to no good. Pei Lang frowned even more, turning his head to Lin Zhi and saying, "You go back first..."

Before Lin Zhi could take two steps, someone called out loudly, "Where is the concubine going?"

Lin Zhi paused, hesitated, and turned around, only to be blocked by Pei Lang with a sidestep.

"May I ask what brings you here, Father-in-law?"

He Xiang glanced at Pei Lang with a somewhat inexplicable expression: "They say that fathers and daughters are of one heart, but I have felt uneasy about it since yesterday."

"I went to the palace to see the Imperial Concubine yesterday. Now that the Imperial Concubine is having a safe pregnancy, I have nothing to worry about. Today I had some free time to come and see my Luochen, but I didn't expect her to be so rude. She didn't even get up to see her husband off when he left."

He Xiang chuckled and scolded her twice, "It's all my fault for not teaching my daughter well and spoiling her. Today I will give her a good talking to."

Pei Lang, without a second thought, raised his hand to block his path. "Father-in-law, you flatter me. It's nothing important. You have to attend court today. Why don't we meet again after court?"

The smile on He Xiang's face gradually faded: "What do you mean by this, my dear son-in-law? Do I have to put up with other people's attitudes just to see my daughter?"

While the two were locked in a stalemate in the front yard, Lin Zhi saw Zi Yun run out, kneel on the ground, and cry pitifully, "Please, Prime Minister, do justice for Madam!"

When He Xiang saw He Luochen come out, his expression was extremely ugly. He sat silently in front of Pei Lang, not saying a word, but his fingers tapped on the table, making people uneasy.

"Pei Lang, how dare you!"

"I married my daughter to you so that you would torment and torment me like this?"

He Xiang immediately began to rebuke him, and even Pei Lang, who had always been at odds with him, did not retort. After all, He Luochen was injured in his own residence, and it was to protect Lin Zhi from an arrow.

Lin Zhi could only see his usually straight back slightly hunched, and his tone lowered, "Father-in-law, you've misunderstood. This was just an accident..."

But Prime Minister He looked at him with disdain: "You and I have been enemies in the court for many years. If you were more open and honest today, I would look at you with more respect."

"You say it was an accident, but how come my daughter had an accident as soon as she came to your house? How come you have two wives, but it was my daughter who had an accident!"

"If I hadn't come to the Pei residence today and caught you in the act, how long would you have kept it from me!"

When Prime Minister He became angry, the room fell silent except for the soft sobs of Ziyu.

Just as Prime Minister He was about to speak, He Luochen staggered out of the inner room, being helped out, and knelt weakly on the ground: "This is my own free will, I hope Father will not make things difficult for my husband!"

Seeing that He Luochen's breathing was disordered and his face was ashen with pain, Lin Zhi unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

How is she supposed to explain her grievances? Is she innocent?

No one would believe He Luochen as soon as she appeared in public.

He Xiang's face was also full of disappointment and frustration.

“I don’t want to argue with you today. My daughter is blind to have chosen you, and I don’t care. But you have to give me an explanation for this.”

He Xiang raised his eyes and stared at Lin Zhi: "Luo Chen's injury was an accident, but the wound has been torn open again. Zi Yu told me everything clearly."

"Today I only need one word from you: how do you intend to deal with this insolent concubine?"

Upon hearing that Lin Zhi was to be punished, Pei Lang frowned in displeasure: "Father-in-law, this is Pei Lang's family matter. Even you are probably not in a position to interfere, are you?"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister He scoffed lightly: "Very well, since Chief Minister Pei is unwilling to wrong your concubine, then I will report this matter to the Emperor and let the Dali Temple decide how to handle it."

If this matter escalates, Lin Zhi may suffer.

Pei Lang frowned, but ultimately stopped him: "Father-in-law, your mood is beyond my control. I can only... consider that Lin Zhi is pregnant, so I have to be a little more considerate."

Even though she knew it was just an excuse, Lin Zhi's heart still felt a slight, stinging pain.

He Xiang shook off his hand: "What's so difficult about that? If we can't hit Lin Zhi, can't we hit the servants around her?"

"If I can't hit her, shouldn't I at least confine her to her quarters? I just want to make sure she can never come near me again and hurt my daughter!"

Pei Lang suppressed the strange look in his eyes and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking with difficulty: "From today onwards, Lin Zhi will be confined to his residence... and will not be allowed to leave for a month. He will also be required to transcribe scriptures and pray for the lady in the courtyard."

The punishment of copying scriptures may not sound severe, but now that Lin Zhi is more pregnant, she feels uncomfortable sitting for long periods of time. Copying scriptures is a delicate task, and any mistake would render all her efforts futile.

He Xiang was only somewhat satisfied after hearing this, but he still waited until Lin Zhi had no choice but to accept leaving before he left.

He Luochen leaned on Ziyu's shoulder, and scolded Ziyu in front of Pei Lang: "You insolent servant, how dare you make things difficult for your husband in front of your father?"

"Is there anything you can't discuss with me privately?"

Ziyu tried to explain herself, but Pei Lang had no patience to listen any longer and waved his hand to stop her: "You're already in this state, so you should focus on recovering. Since the punishment has been given, let's leave it at that."

Seeing the dissatisfaction in He Luochen's expression, Pei Lang stepped forward and sighed softly: "Luochen, I know you are kind-hearted, but if we push Lin Zhi too far, it won't do either of us any good."

"I just want you all to get along well, even if it's just for my sake, so that you don't make things difficult for each other anymore."

Pei Lang rarely showed such a gentle attitude, and He Luochen even felt a little flattered. She readily agreed, "That's what I think too. Since Sister Lin Zhi has been punished, I will also keep the servants in check and not mention this matter again."

"I hope my husband can put his mind at ease."

Watching Pei Lang leave, Zi Yu still had some dissatisfaction on her face: "Madam, it's just a matter of being confined to your quarters to copy scriptures. You were injured and bled, how can you let that little slut off so easily?"

He Luochen narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, and the corners of her lips slowly curved up: "In front of her husband, she naturally has to play the role of a good wife. Can we let Lin Zhi go?"

"Dream on."