"I have nothing to say. I just admit it."
The old man held the family tree in his hand and said in a resounding voice: "You have brought shame to our family tradition, you are two-minded, you are an alien, you are unwilling to follow the will of our clan, you are not one of our clan!"
"In order to uphold the integrity of the Cui family and carry forward the thousand-year-old virtues of the Cui family, we are following the order of the head of the family today to expel you, a rebellious person, from the family and remove you from the Cui family tree!"
"From now on, you are not allowed to set foot in your family again while you are still alive; after you die, your body is not allowed to be buried in the Cui family mausoleum, and your tablet is not allowed to be placed in the Cui family ancestral hall!"
"From now on, you are a person without a clan, roots or origins. You will no longer have any connection with my Qinghe Cui family!"
“…”
Cui Jing stood there, listening quietly, his dark eyelashes drooping, without saying a word.
Expelling a member of a noble family was never a light thing to say. Soon, the news would spread everywhere, and the expelled person would be regarded as a traitor in the eyes of the world, with bad character, and everyone would shun and shun him. In the past, there were people who were expelled from their ancestral home by the noble family. They were tarnished and could no longer enter the official career in this life. They had a hard time taking every step. Under the eyes of the world and the torment of their livelihood, most of them could only die depressed.
Those people have always been regarded as pitiful and hateful people abandoned by their families.
It is pitiful and hateful, without roots or origins. In such a big world, it is destined to have no place to stay.
In addition, Cui Jing was now the target of expulsion from the clan. After the proposal of expulsion was agreed upon by all clan members, the person to be expelled from the clan would need to face punishment. There were also family laws and regulations for expulsion from the clan.
The severity of this family law depends on the severity of the faults committed by the person being expelled from the family. According to what they said, it is not an exaggeration to say that the faults committed by Cui Jing are unforgivable.
"...Do you have any objection to these one hundred whips?" The old man looked at the young man who remained silent under the gaze of everyone.
"No objection."
The young man took off his soft armor with one hand and threw it at his feet. Then he took off the sword from his waist and knelt down upright in front of the patriarch's order in the old man's hand.
Soon a tribesman came forward holding the family whip in both hands.
The Cui family's method of expelling members of the clan also has complicated rules. Every time a whip is applied, the faults of the person being expelled must be announced in public. It would take at least fifteen minutes to finish whipping all one hundred families.
This was a clan hall temporarily opened in Xingyang. If it was held in the Cui family ancestral hall in Beijing, or the Cui residence in Qinghe, all clan members would be invited to watch. In order to correct the family style, a hundred whips would usually last for more than an hour, and the punished people would almost certainly faint in the middle of the process because they could not bear it.
One hundred lashes was the most severe punishment. After being carried away, the punished people would mostly be left disabled, and there were also many who died.
When the whip, which was braided with copper wire and flexible, was raised, it tore through the wind in the air, making a sound of breaking through the air, and landed heavily on the young man's broad back. After only three or four whips, the fine silk dark blue robe was torn, and then the skin and flesh were torn.
A young tribesman standing at the back, in the last row "watching the execution", would turn his head to the side, close his eyes, his brows trembling with fear, and cold sweat would break out on his hands every time he heard the whip fall.
Seeing that everyone's attention was on the punished young man, the young tribesman quietly left.
"What? One hundred whips?" Yuan Xiang, who came with Cui Jing and was guarding outside the house, turned pale after hearing what the young clan member said.
"What a bunch of black-hearted guys, they really think they are something important, why don't they just chop off their heads!" Deputy General Yu couldn't help cursing and was about to rush in, but was stopped by Yuan Xiang.
"The commander-in-chief has already said that none of us are allowed to enter!" Yuan Xiang's expression was inconsistent. He was anxious but did not dare to disobey the order.
Throughout history, in Xuan Ce's army, obeying the orders of superiors has been the most important ironclad order from top to bottom. If they, as the confidants of the commander-in-chief, cannot obey, how can they rule their subordinates?
Being in Xuan Ce's army, military orders must not be disobeyed. This is engraved in your bones.
"We can't just watch the Grand Commander suffer such a severe punishment!" Deputy General Yu was so anxious that he wanted to draw his sword. He walked around anxiously and said, "If we can't go in, then someone else can? Go and ask someone who can help!"
Who can help with this?
Either they have a certain seniority and status, and can have a say, or they have someone under their command who can directly get in...
Speaking of seniority, how about the Grand Commander’s uncle Zheng?
No, not to mention that Uncle Zheng is now temporarily detained in the Zheng family, waiting for the final decision of the saint, and cannot leave without permission. Even if he can sneak him out...
Thinking about what Zheng Chao did, which was even worse than that of his own commander-in-chief, Yuan Xiang couldn't help but feel that even if Zheng Chao came, at best he would just be one more person to be beaten.
Isn't it outrageous to steal someone out and have him beaten?
"By the way, where is General Ning Yuan?" Deputy General Yu suddenly thought of this immortal who could break in directly.
"General Ningyuan left for the Bianzhou camp yesterday!" Yuan Xiang was about to cry. If Madam Chang was still alive, why would he have to consider his uncle Zheng?
"Well, it's too late to invite anyone. By the time we invite them, I'm afraid the 100 lashes will be over!" Deputy General Yu made up his mind, pulled off the Xuan Ce Army badge from his waist, and threw it to Yuan Xiang: "I'm going in!"
Afterwards, he took the matter into his own hands and followed military law. He would rather be expelled from Xuan Ce's army than watch the commander-in-chief receive these damn 100 lashes today!
The ten subordinates behind him immediately took off their badges and handed them to Yuanxiang.
Yuan Xiang was holding a pile of badges, like a tray of terracotta warriors, with a hesitant look on his face. He was reluctant to break in, partly because of military orders, but more because he knew the Grand Commander's temper best. The Grand Commander did not need them to "rescue" him. If the Grand Commander did not volunteer, how could these Cui family members have the ability to hold the Grand Commander back and punish him?
The Grand Commander volunteered, and they couldn't stop him from breaking in! Deputy General Yu and others didn't care about that much, and when they were about to rush in, they suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves.
Yuanxiang turned around with everyone else and was overjoyed to see the person coming.
The leader had his horsetail tied up and was wearing a sky-blue gauze robe embroidered with light flowing clouds. He came on horseback, followed closely by a group of people.
"Madam Chang!" Yuan Xiang walked up to her quickly: "You're back!"
The girl in the cloud boots jumped off her horse and asked, "Where is your commander-in-chief?"
She returned to the Bianzhou camp yesterday and learned on the way that some members of the Cui family had come to Xingyang. Her intuition told her that these people must be coming for Cui Jing.
Sure enough, just after she passed the gate of Xingyang, she heard people talking about this matter. They said that members of the Cui family came to Xingyang specifically to punish Cui Jing.
If it was just an ordinary admonition, there would be no need to intervene, but these clansmen came all the way here, how could it be so simple? Even if the Cui clan members would not say it explicitly, this matter was undoubtedly caused by the Zheng family's affairs, and Cui Jing's behavior was instigated by her. She should come back to take a look. If she did not pay attention, it would be too unkind.
Chang Suining did not react much when Yuanxiang mentioned the "extermination of the clan". It was not until he heard about the one hundred families being whipped that he frowned.
Is he crazy or stupid? Is he not going to kill himself? Chang Suining looked at Yuan Xiang and others with red eyes and said, "Why don't you go in and stop them?"
"The Grand Commander has said in advance that we are not allowed to go in!"
Chang Suining raised his foot: "Then I'll go in and take a look."
She wanted to see what was wrong with this man.
However, before she could even cross the gate, she was stopped by several members of the Cui clan who had come out to investigate after hearing signs of unrest among the Xuan Ce army outside the house and asked, "Who are you?"
Chang Suining introduced himself: "I am Chang Suining."
The two tribesmen exchanged glances in surprise, and one of them asked cautiously, "What can General Ning Yuan do for you?"
Chang Suining didn't have much patience, and walked forward while talking: "I came to see a good friend."
"This is the residence of our Cui family. No one can dare to trespass without our permission!" A middle-aged man in a long gown came over and looked at the girl with a sword on her waist with a cold expression: "Leave quickly and don't take another step forward!"
Chang Suining did not pause, but took one step forward, two steps, three steps, with a smile on her face. She stepped over the threshold and came in front of the tribesman.
The tribesman's cheeks trembled with anger, and he pointed a finger at the arrogant and provocative girl: "You..."
The girl walked right past him and said insincerely, "Sorry, I was invited by a good friend and I shouldn't have missed the appointment. I'm sorry for the offense."
"Someone, stop her!"
As soon as the man finished speaking and was about to shout, his mouth was suddenly covered by a rough big hand.
"Don't shout!" Adian advised, "We don't want to fight!"
The tribesmen were furious and struggled, making noises like “Mmmmm”.
But there were guards they brought with them everywhere, and soon the two sides started fighting.
However, these guards could not be compared with the soldiers who had been on the battlefield. Just the five female soldiers in She Cai's group could fight five people at once, not to mention A Dian was there.
Chang Suining never did anything herself from beginning to end. The people she brought solved all the problems. She walked straight ahead, as if she was in an empty place, and came to the place where Cui Jing was punished.
Severe pain can dull a person's hearing, but Cui Jing still noticed the panic behind him.
The tribesmen guarding on both sides looked at the girl who suddenly broke in and ordered someone to capture her.
A guard tried to stop him with a stick, but just as the stick was about to reach the opponent, it was knocked down by the unsheathed sword in the opponent's hand. Then he raised his leg and kicked, and the wooden stick immediately flew out, whizzing forward and hitting the copper whip that was raised again.
The huge impact caused the copper whip to slip out of the hands of the person holding it, and the wooden stick and the copper whip fell together on the stone steps in front of Cui Jing. A group of Cui clan members, supporting the old man holding the family tree, retreated in panic.
"Who dares to trespass into the ancestral hall of the Cui family!" the old man said angrily.
"Someone come!"
The guards rushed over, but Adian and others followed closely. Adian was still dragging the tribesman whose mouth he had covered, and shouted to Cui Jing: "Don't be afraid, Xiaojing, we are here to save you!"
In the chaos, Cui Jing, who was kneeling there, turned around and looked at the man who was walking towards him with a sword in hand.
The visitor looked at the angry Cui clan members and said, "Don't panic, I have no intention of hurting anyone. I just came to see a friend and wanted to ask him a question in person."
The old man had already guessed her identity at this time. After hearing this, he looked gloomy and temporarily asked everyone around to stop.
Chang Suining walked up to Cui Jing, glanced at his blood-stained back, then lowered his eyes to look at him.
Meeting those obviously calm eyes, Cui Jing noticed that she seemed angry.
"Do you think you don't have enough battle wounds?" she asked in a calm tone.
Cui Jing looked at her and shook his head silently. Is this the question she wanted to ask? Of course not.
What Chang Suining wanted to ask was: "Cui Jing, I have no intention of interfering too much in your private affairs. I will give you two choices at this time. Either stand up and leave here with me, or -"
"good."
Before she finished her words, the young man with blood on his lips said slowly, "I'll leave with you."
He didn't need to listen to what the second option was. Since she came to find him, as long as she opened her mouth, he would let her leave.
Meeting the young man's eyes that could almost be described as "obedient", Chang Suining was almost stunned for a moment, and then stretched out the sword in his hand to him.
Cui Jing held Yaori's scabbard with one hand, first kneeling on both knees then on one knee, and then slowly stood up.
He was tall and straight, and as he stood up, he quickly cast a shadow in front of Chang Suining, blocking the sunlight behind him. His robe was no longer neat, and the collar was loose. A strand of hair fell on the left side of his face, and blood was hanging on the edge of his thin lips. He looked a little embarrassed and a little unreasonably wild.
The cold and hard air hidden in those cold eyes and brows was completely shattered at this moment, leaving only silent obedience.
Chang Suining reached out and held one of his arms.
Under the cold robe, one can feel the strong lines of his arms, clearly he is an invincible man.
Chang Suining ignored the scolding behind him, supported Cui Jing, and left the place step by step.
Seeing the man walking away, a tribe member hurriedly said, "...Ninth Uncle!"
The old man sighed vaguely and said, "Let them go."
Cui Jing followed Chang Suining and left the house step by step. Every step he took seemed to peel off a layer of his identity as a member of the Cui family.
But he no longer cared, nor did he feel that he was left alone.
He asked, “Why did you come back?”
"I wanted to come and see the excitement." Chang Suining's tone was unremarkable, "Who knew it would be so lively."
Cui Jing didn't seem to realize she was mocking him, and said slowly and seriously, "I'm very happy that you can come."
She actually came to look for him, actually felt sorry for him, and actually wanted to take him away personally.
He never cared about anyone's concern and favor, but it was completely different to be treated like this by her.
"..." Chang Suining glanced at him with amusement, then looked at Yuan Xiang and others who were coming to meet him, and said, "I wonder if they are happy to see you injured like this."
Yuan Xiang was naturally unhappy. He rushed over, supported his own commander-in-chief, and almost burst into tears.
These people are really fighting! Yuan Xiang glared at the depths of the house with hatred, and said aggrievedly: "Grand Commander, let's go, and never come back to this damn place again!"
Cui Jing looked back for the last time.
A group of people quickly helped Cui Jing onto a temporarily prepared carriage and returned to his residence in Xingyang City, where they hurriedly invited a doctor to check on his injuries.
Then, everyone, led by Yuanxiang, knelt down beside the couch.
"Grand Commander... our subordinates have a suggestion!" Yuan Xiang said with a firm expression.
Thanks to book friend iampetty for the 10,000-yuan reward, and thank you all for your monthly tickets. I’ll beg for votes at the beginning of the month (づ￣3￣)づ╭
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