Chapter 69 If you love her, why did you marry me?
Gu Nanxiao took the "System for the Appointment and Removal of Officials" and glanced at it briefly. He found that, just as he had guessed, this policy document was about 70% similar to the one that Shi Qingchen had presented to the emperor, but it was clearly more complete than the original.
He nodded without hesitation. Seeing that she had accepted it, Yunxi handed her a second item. As expected, it was "The Art of War" again, this time the fourth volume, "Military Formations," as well as nine of the "Thirty-Six Stratagems" for winning battles.
The third document Yunxi took out was a blueprint for a grain transport vehicle called the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse. She briefly explained its usage to Gu Nanxiao before turning around without saying a word and preparing to go to bed.
Looking at these things in his hands, things that once brought him immense joy, Gu Nanxiao felt a tightness in his chest. Yunxi was clearly trying to sever ties with him; every time she asked for his help, she immediately repaid him, making it seem like they were even, with no debts owed.
Gu Nanxiao rubbed his throbbing temples, stood up, walked behind Yunxi, took his small hand, and kneaded it in his large palm. Then he led him to the desk and said:
"Yunxi, could you tell me about the military strategies and tactics you've written these past two days?"
Yunxi nodded in agreement, and Gu Nanxiao finally smiled. He immediately pulled her onto his lap, opened the military treatise on his desk, and listened attentively.
Yunxi explained military strategy in great detail, and her attitude had returned to some of its usual selves. After finishing the explanation of the military strategy and tactics, Gu Nanxiao insisted on playing a game of chess with her on the sand table. Only when Yunxi showed signs of fatigue did Gu Nanxiao take her to bed.
For two consecutive days, Gu Nanxiao did not torment her, which slightly eased the suffocating feeling in Yunxi's heart.
If Gu Nanxiao insists on forcing himself on her, then she can only consider leaving and then finding other ways to take revenge.
Gu Nanxiao had obviously thought of this as well. He felt that, given Yunxi's character of preferring to break rather than bend, she absolutely could not do anything that would displease others at this time.
Although he was suffering terribly every night, Gu Nanxiao still insisted on sleeping with Yunxi, almost as if in self-torture.
The next morning court session
When Gu Nanxiao presented a thick file, the eyelids of the Shi family father and son began to twitch violently.
As expected, the emperor was even more furious after reading the contents of the dossier than the day before. Of the three groundbreaking works that the Qing minister had presented—"On Governing the Country," "On the System of Appointment and Removal of Officials," and "Regulations for Amending Laws"—two had now been overturned.
Looking at the more detailed and complete dossier before him, the emperor couldn't help but suspect that perhaps it wasn't Yunxi who improved Shi Qingchen's policy essay, but rather Shi Qingchen who plagiarized Yunxi's policy essay.
The Emperor, without mincing words, voiced his deduction. Many of the Third Prince's political enemies echoed his sentiments, all saying that this was highly likely.
The key point is that everyone can see the emperor's attitude from this incident. Facing the Shi family, who are about to completely lose the emperor's favor, some people even took the opportunity to kick them while they were down, bringing up the case of Shi Qingchen plagiarizing various prescriptions from Yunxi and forging a confession.
Although there was no evidence, almost everyone, including the Shi family and the Third Prince's faction, already had an accurate guess about the truth.
After the court session ended, the Grand Secretary did not punish Shi Qingchen according to family rules as he had the day before, because he had been so angry that he fainted and was currently receiving emergency acupuncture treatment.
Lady Wen, her eldest son, and all her concubines, illegitimate children, and other family members all stayed by her bedside until evening, when they saw the Prime Minister wake up, and only then did they gradually leave.
After returning to his bedroom, Shi Qingchen locked the door immediately. Upon hearing the click of the bolt, Liu Shi began to tremble uncontrollably.
She had considered telling her parents what had happened, but the location of her injuries and the methods Shi Qingchen had used on her made it impossible for Liu Shi to talk to anyone, not even her own parents.
Now, even if she regretted it, it was too late to help. Liu could only silently pray that Shi Qingchen's career would be successful, so that she could have some good days.
As usual, Shi Qingchen tied Liu to the bed, took out a specially made multi-headed embroidery needle from the box, dipped it in cinnabar, and pierced Liu's collarbone with it one by one.
Unlike before, Shi Qingchen did not silently commit violence this time. Instead, while tattooing words on Liu's body, he told her about his past interactions with Yunxi.
Liu wailed in agony for an hour before Shi Qingchen finally stopped. Then, he took out a small glass mirror and handed it to Liu.
When Liu saw the words "slut" smeared red and swollen on her fair skin below her collarbone, she broke down and struggled violently.
But her arms were bound very tightly. She couldn't break free at all. Finally, she mustered all her strength to push the handkerchief stuffed in her mouth out, and then screamed, crying out:
"Since you love her so much, why did you give her up and marry me instead? Isn't it because you've got your eye on the Liu family and can bring you more benefits!"
Now you're putting on this act of deep remorse. You still want to pin all the blame on me? If it weren't for the Liu family, there would be the Li family, the Zhao family—you'd abandon Yunxi without hesitation for anyone who could offer you the corresponding benefits!
Liu's words undoubtedly struck a nerve with Shi Qingchen, hitting a nerve that he had been numbing himself to, a problem he refused to confront.
With trembling hands, he viciously gagged Liu Shi, then turned her over, tied her up again, took out the branding iron with the word "slave" on it, heated it red-hot in the charcoal brazier, and branded it harshly onto Liu Shi's back.
The smell of burning flesh filled the entire bedroom, but Shi Qingchen did not stop at all. He continued to brand many slave characters on Liu's buttocks and legs.
Liu's body convulsed and trembled uncontrollably from the intense pain. She eventually fainted from the pain, but Shi Qingchen still did not stop.
Before long, Liu was jolted awake by the intense pain, and Shi Qingchen tortured her mercilessly for half an hour.
Only when Liu's back was completely branded with countless densely packed "slave" characters did Shi Qingchen wearily toss the branding iron aside, slump against the headboard, and slide to the floor, still muttering repeatedly as if possessed:
"Yunxi, don't listen to her nonsense. I was forced to marry Liu. I will not abandon you for personal gain. I love you, and no one loves you more than me..."
Yongwang Mansion
As usual, Yunxi handed Gu Nanxiao three things after dinner. The first one was naturally the "Law Amendment Regulations" related to Shi Qingchen. Needless to say, it should be presented to the Emperor in court tomorrow morning.
The second item was, as expected, another copy of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, this time the fifth chapter, "Military Strategy." Since "The Thirty-Six Stratagems" was finished, Yunxi had also written a book called "Six Secret Teachings" by Jiang Ziya, which he also handed over to Gu Nanxiao.
The third item is a drawing by Yunxi based on the siege engines of the Qin Dynasty. If the stones thrown by the siege engines were replaced with explosives, it would be the most lethal weapon of the time.
Before Gu Nanxiao could speak, Yunxi took the initiative to explain military strategy and the use of the Flowing Fire Chariot. Just like the previous two days, the two of them conducted several rounds of simulations on the sand table until late at night, when Gu Nanxiao finally and tenderly embraced her.
He simply held her gently, not daring to make any unnecessary movements, for fear of angering Yunxi and breaking the existing peace. He believed that as long as he was more patient, he could eventually coax Yunxi to calm down.
The next morning court session
After the ministers finished reporting on their political affairs, they all turned their attention to Gu Nanxiao. As expected, he did not disappoint them and presented another document to the emperor in front of everyone.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com