Chapter 44: The couple is separated and sick
Zhao Yuan, the confidant of Duke Zhao, took the whip from the ancestral hall and walked into the study with steady steps.
"Third Master, I'm sorry."
Zhao Yuan clasped his fists and then whipped Zhao Jue on the back.
With a "pop", a hole was torn in Zhao Jue's clothes, and his skin and flesh were instantly exposed.
Zhao Jue straightened his back, tightened his cheeks, and did not cry out in pain.
But this whip shattered his dignity.
As far as he could remember, no one in the mansion had ever been punished by family discipline.
At this moment, the humiliation and pain were nothing compared to the fear in his heart. He was afraid that this whip would not only break his pride, but also his status in the mansion and the resources poured into him.
After a few lashes, Zhao Jue couldn't help but groan, and the veins on the back of his hands were distorted because of the endurance.
He hated Shen Mingzhu to the core. If it weren't for this idiot, he wouldn't have made such a fool of himself, let alone been punished here.
After the dowry incident, the second wife's status in Duke Zhao's heart had already declined sharply.
He knew very well that no matter what backing the children and grandchildren in the mansion had, whether they could inherit the title depended on the attitude of Duke Zhao.
Therefore, the second branch of their family was afraid of being rejected by Duke Zhao.
If it weren't for the Shen family's power and status, he would definitely divorce Shen Mingzhu!
Zhao Yuan was a martial artist with real skills. He showed no mercy and every whip he used drew blood.
Blood stained Zhao Jue's clothes red, and his back was a bloody mess.
Zhao Jue's face turned pale and cold sweat was pouring down. He endured twenty lashes and took a deep breath.
He loosened his clenched fist and scratched his palm.
"grandfather……"
When Zhao Jue opened his mouth, his voice was hoarse.
"My grandson has accepted the punishment and will never do it again."
Duke Zhao saw that he stubbornly straightened his back without the slightest bend, as if only in this way could he maintain his pride.
He said in a deep voice, "You are injured. You should rest and recuperate at home for the next two months."
Zhao Jue's worst fears came true. His face changed drastically. "Grandfather, these minor injuries on my body are nothing compared to the injuries I suffered on the battlefield. I was able to go to the battlefield with injuries, let alone work in the government office. I don't need to recuperate at home and avoid delaying my official duties."
"Your eldest brother's term of office has expired, and he will be returning to the capital soon," Duke Zhao said without hesitation, "Your duties will be handed over to him."
Zhao Jue was confused. Not only was their intention to take away his power, but their intention was also to have his half-brother take over his job.
Anyone can take over his position except his half-brother.
Zhao Jue was insulted and felt extremely embarrassed.
His throat was dry and painful, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Grandfather, I..."
"Okay, go back and treat your wound." Duke Zhao waved his hand and didn't want to say more.
Zhao Jue tightened his cheeks, stood up and left without saying a word.
If he cannot restore his position in the heart of Duke Zhao, his official rank may be demoted, and he may even lose his seventh rank and be abandoned by the family.
Duke Zhao paid attention to his half-brother. One possibility was that he wanted to warn him, and another possibility was that he intended to cultivate his half-brother, who might inherit the title of marquis in the future.
With a gloomy face, he strode towards the bridal chamber.
——
At this moment, the second room.
Shen Mingzhu sat on the kang with a haggard look, looking resentfully at Qiu Chan who was kneeling at her feet.
"Bitch, you actually dared to stab me in the back and alienate the relationship between me and the Third Master." Shen Mingzhu grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it hard on Qiu Chan's head, gritting her teeth and saying, "Don't think that just by clinging to Shen Qingtan's thigh and climbing onto the Third Master's bed, you can enjoy the good life of being the master!"
Qiu Chan screamed in pain, the tea splashing all over her head and face. Her mouth trembled constantly: "Third Grandma, you forced me to do this. I... I don't want to be sold..."
Shen Mingzhu saw her trembling like a fragile little white flower, looking so wronged and pitiful.
But it was such a slutty maid who slept with her man.
"If you didn't want to be sold, you shouldn't have betrayed me." Shen Mingzhu said viciously, "Do you think that if the Third Master gives you a legitimate status, you can really be his woman? I have already offended the Third Master, and this one thing doesn't matter. He won't divorce me for you anyway."
Fear filled Qiu Chan's eyes and his whole body trembled even more violently.
"Wan Dong, take her indenture and find a matchmaker to sell her." Shen Mingzhu sneered and emphasized, "She likes to have sex, so sell her to a brothel and let her serve men to her heart's content."
Wandong hated Qiuchan in his heart. If she hadn't betrayed her master, he wouldn't have been punished with a beating.
"Yes, I will arrange it right away."
"I want to see who dares to sell her out." Zhao Jue stepped into the house with anger and saw that Qiu Chan's fair face was burned red.
He looked at Shen Mingzhu with cold eyes and said angrily, "The Marquis' Mansion has truly raised a good daughter. Even if I divorce you, a jealous woman, today, the Marquis' Mansion will not dare to blame me."
Shen Mingzhu's expression changed: "Third Master..."
Zhao Jue said coldly, "Give me Qiu Chan's indenture."
Shen Mingzhu clenched her cuffs tightly with her fingers, not wanting to give up her indentures. She even hated to see Qiu Chan.
Zhao Jue's patience ran out. "I'll give you two choices. Either you let Qiu Chan do whatever you want with her, and you take the divorce letter and go back to the Marquis' Mansion. Or you can keep Qiu Chan and continue to be your Third Mistress."
Shen Mingzhu was stunned and looked at Zhao Jue in disbelief: "You actually want to divorce me for this bitch?"
"I'm just following your wishes. Isn't this the result you want?" Zhao Jue said sinisterly, "What? You want me to choose for you?"
Shen Mingzhu stiffened her neck, swallowed her anger, and asked Wandong to get Qiuchan's indenture contract.
Wan Dong took back the indenture contract and handed it to Zhao Jue tremblingly.
Zhao Jue took the indenture and confirmed it was correct. He glanced at Qiu Chan and said, "Serve tea to Third Grandma."
Qiu Chan's watery almond eyes were filled with tears as she timidly glanced at Shen Mingzhu, then stood up to pour a cup of tea. She then knelt at Shen Mingzhu's feet and respectfully offered her the tea.
"Third...sister, please have some tea."
Shen Mingzhu's chest heaved violently, her hands at her sides trembled, and she wished she could slap Qiu Chan in the face.
Her eyes were red with anger, but she had to suppress her anger. She took the tea with a tense face, touched the cup with her lips, and then placed it on the kang table.
Zhao Jue extended his hand to Qiu Chan: "Come with me."
Qiu Chan's pale face flushed, and she shyly placed her hand on Zhao Jue's palm. Then she discovered the wound and her expression changed: "Third Master, your hand..."
"It's just a minor injury." Zhao Jue held Qiu Chan's hand and walked out while ordering his followers: "Drag Wan Dong out and give him thirty lashes."
When Shen Mingzhu saw Zhao Jue's bloody back, she turned pale with fright and quickly chased after him, wanting to say a few words of concern.
When he heard that Zhao Jue was going to cane Wan Dong, his face turned even bleaker: "Third Master, thirty strokes of the cane would be fatal. How about ten strokes?"
Zhao Jue left without looking back.
Two followers entered the house, dragged Wandong to the yard, and tied him to a bench.
Wan Dong cried out in fear, "Third Madam, please save this slave, please save this slave...ah..."
The sticks hit Wandong with a bang, mixed with Wandong's miserable cries.
Every sound stimulated Shen Mingzhu. She stared blankly at Wan Dong's clothes stained with blood. It seemed that her tears had dried up last night and she could not shed a single tear.
——
Shen Qingtan stayed in Longhua Temple for three days. He personally lit a lotus lantern for Zhao Yi, then offered the copied scriptures in the temple, and went down the mountain with the old lady back home.
Back at Lanxue Garden, Tingxue vividly recounted to Shen Qingtan everything that had happened in the Second House: "I heard that the Third Master has been staying in Qiuchan Courtyard these past few days and hasn't even set foot in Third Madam's courtyard."
A smile flashed across Shen Qingtan's eyes. He took a few sips of tea from his cup when he saw Madam Liu hurried in and said, "Second Madam, Third Madam is ill. The wife of the Marquis of Cheng'en is here to visit her and specially asked you to go to the second room."
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