Chapter 12 A Good Beating
Before the imperial edict was delivered by Attendant Cao [8], he could go forward to greet her, he saw He Zhaojun being thrown from the carriage to the ground, and several He family members fell to their knees.
Attendant Cao was startled. "Oh my god! What the hell?! You scared me! General Xiaoqi, your meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion has been rewarded handsomely by His Majesty. Why don't you come and receive the imperial decree?"
He Yong stepped forward and saluted, "Master Cao, we are guilty, how dare we accept the reward! Lady Zhao, please tell me, what is your fault?"
He Zhaojun was so stunned by the fall that she had no idea her father could act so convincingly. She quickly knelt and kowtowed, "I...I have secretly imitated your handwriting and dispatched 5,000 of my men to accompany me to Fengyi County."
The crowd was shocked.
Everyone in the court and the country thought that He Yong had discovered the evidence of Prince Yong's rebellion in advance, so they took extra precautions. Unexpectedly, this was just a coincidence because of a little girl's willful behavior.
Wen Ziduan also got out of the carriage. He Zhaojun insisted on riding in the same carriage with her sister Duanduan so that they wouldn't be bored on the road. When Attendant Cao saw the Third Prince dressed like a woman, with a veil on his face, she felt dizzy.
Wen Ziduan made a gesture and did not let Cao Changshi reveal his identity.
You young people are all playing big. Cao Cheng was holding his breath, unable to move forward or backward.
Cao Changshi changed his mind and thought that imitating He Yong's handwriting and privately mobilizing troops was a sign that the little girl did not understand military affairs and lacked discipline. On a more serious note, it was a sign of treason.
He Yong bowed again and said, "Master Cao, I originally intended to punish my daughter in Fengyi County, but there were too many wounded in the camp and a shortage of medical officers. I didn't want to cause further trouble. Now that we're in the capital, I won't allow her to escape."
"Someone, come and beat He Zhaojun with twenty or twenty military sticks!" He Yong gritted his teeth, because that was his own daughter.
As soon as he finished speaking, the five brothers blamed themselves: "It is our fault that we failed to persuade him effectively and failed to supervise him. Please punish us together, father." As they spoke, they took off their armor and knelt in a row.
He Zhaojun was placed on a bench, biting a handkerchief in her mouth, looking like she accepted the beating and punishment.
The injured female relatives behind him also knelt down in a group. He Zhaojun had done a lot for them in the military camp. Moreover, this matter was very dangerous, and many of He's personal soldiers were still frightened.
"General He, please show mercy!"
"The young lady should not be punished so severely."
"Yes, the young lady is weak, how can she bear it?"
He Yong stole a glance at Attendant Cao, feeling the time was almost right. He waved his hand and the maidservants stepped forward, "Alright, then, ten military sticks each! Beat them hard, and show no favoritism!"
The general exchanged glances with the maidservants behind him, and the maidservants were told to hold back and not to hurt the young lady. The young lady had already anticipated this and had specifically told them to hit him as they should, otherwise it would be impossible to hide it from others.
They raised their sticks and hit He Zhaojun on the back.
"Ugh..." He Zhaojun bit the handkerchief in her mouth tightly. When the first stick came down, she broke out in a cold sweat and trembled all over. The clothes on her back were soaked with blood.
The brothers were tough and the person who beat them up was a colleague they grew up with. They knew that General He was educating his children, so they naturally would not use any harsh force.
By the time He Yong realized something was wrong, the beatings with the ten military sticks had already ended. He Zhaojun was only breathing her last breath, with blood dripping from her back and down her sleeves.
Changshi Cao covered her face with her hands, not daring to look. Such a beautiful girl was almost beaten to death by General He.
Wen Ziduan raised his hand and patted He Zhaojun's cheek. Seeing that she was completely unconscious, he pulled off the veil on her face. The generals of the He family saw the true face of "Sister Duanduan" for the first time and felt a chill all over their bodies.
Isn’t this Concubine Yue’s most beloved son, the third prince Wen Ziduan?
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