Beating was a form of punishment commonly used in the court and the army. It was mainly used for warning and supplemented by punishment, but beating to death or crippling was also common.

If the beating is sincere, twenty strokes are enough to kill the person, but if the beating is intentional, a hundred strokes will only cause flesh wounds. This depends on whether the executioner can understand the intention of the punishment, or whether the money of the person being punished can be weighed.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Feng Jianping didn't really want to do anything to Yuan Mao, so he just fought twenty battles and called it a day.

Yuan Mao's butt was broken. Although it was a minor injury, the location was critical and he would have to stay in bed for some time.

Yuan Sikong knelt in front of his bed and refused to get up, his eyes were red and swollen.

Yuan Shaoxu was so angry that he paced back and forth in the room: "Who gave you the courage? Ah? Who gave you the courage! You caused such a disaster. If it weren't for the kindness of Prince Jingyuan, not only would your life be in danger, but my father would also be implicated!"

Yuan Sikong lowered his head and said nothing.

Yuan Mao waved his hands and said, "Shao Xu, stop it. You can go out now." He looked at Yue Qingshuang and Yuan Weiling and said, "You can all go out now."

"father……"

Yuan Shaoxu was about to say something, but Yuan Mao emphasized, "Get out."

Yuan Shaoxu was so angry that he stormed out.

Yuan Sikong actually knew that Yuan Shaoxu had never liked him. Although Yuan Mao was a fifth-rank officer, his annual salary was no more than 190 shi. He was upright and honest, and had no extra "income". He had to support a family of old and young, as well as several servants. His daily expenses were not generous, and feeding one more person was a big burden.

Now he had caused trouble, not only causing Yuan Mao to be beaten, but also fined three months' salary. This meant that winter was approaching and they might not even be able to afford charcoal.

So Yuan Shaoxu was right to scold him, it was all his fault.

Yuan Mao looked at Yuan Sikong and said helplessly, "Okay, get up."

Yuan Sikong shook his head and choked up, "Dad, punish me. You can punish me with anything."

"The purpose of punishing you is to make you realize your mistakes. Haven't you already realized your mistakes?" Yuan Mao said, "Get up."

Yuan Sikong still shook his head.

Yuan Mao simply stretched out his arms, grabbed his shoulders, lifted him up, and pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed.

Yuan Sikong wiped away his tears.

"Kong'er, do you remember when I first checked your background? You passed the exam when you were nine years old, which was exactly the year we met, right?"

"Um."

"You also said that your father didn't want you to take the imperial examination for ten years."

Yuan Sikong nodded again.

"Do you know why?"

Yuan Sikong calmed himself down for a moment: "Even if my father didn't say so, I wouldn't go. My father didn't pass the exam, how can I overstep my authority?"

Yuan Mao shook his head: "Do you think your father didn't let you take the exam just to save face?"

Yuan Sikong blinked, not knowing how to answer. He had indeed always believed so.

It is true that his father is diligent and intelligent, but perhaps not diligent and intelligent enough. There are thousands of scholars in the world who all dream of "learning literary and martial arts and serving the emperor". Those who can enter the court as officials are all outstanding, and there are also many who fail in their lives. But he has always believed that one day he will stand in the Baohe Hall and face the questions of the emperor, citing classics and answering them fluently.

Yuan Mao stroked Yuan Sikong's hair and looked into his eyes quietly: "Kong'er, you are too smart, but your mind is still young. You can't fully control such a natural talent. Too much praise will ruin you. Your father is afraid that you will be arrogant, that you will confuse right and wrong, that you will not be able to understand the suffering of the ants because of your success at a young age, and that you think you understand people's hearts but are actually blinded by one leaf. Because you are still young, even if you have read thousands of books, you will not understand the world if you have not really lived. If you pass the imperial examination at a young age, you will indeed be glorious, but the officialdom will tear you to pieces. Your father is protecting you."

Yuan Sikong nodded in a daze, thinking of his father's gentle and elegant appearance. Four years have passed, but it is still so clear.

"This matter is entirely due to King Jingyuan Kuanhong, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous. You cut open a dead horse, which is no big deal, but you hit his son, the son of King Jingyuan who has 200,000 troops under his command, do you understand?"

Yuan Sikong nodded again: "Dad, I will never dare to act rashly again."

Yuan Mao sighed: "That young prince is no ordinary person, I hope he is not someone who bears grudges."

Yuan Sikong pursed his lips, hating the bastard in his heart. If he hadn't gone to the horse farm for nothing, and hadn't wandered around and caught him dissecting a horse carcass, there wouldn't have been so many bad things. He was indignant and muttered in a low voice: "Why did Prince Jingyuan take him to fight?"

"We also think it's inappropriate. We asked around and learned that the little prince was raised by wolves and can understand wolf language. Prince Jingyuan brought him along because he was afraid he would get lost."

Yuan Sikong was surprised: "Really?"

"It should be true. War is no joke. Otherwise, why would Prince Jingyuan bring a little kid to chase the enemy?"

No wonder King Jingyuan called him "Wolf Boy"...

"Okay, go and keep Yu'er company. He must be feeling bored." Yuan Mao lay back on the pillow.

"I want to be with Dad." Yuan Sikong leaned closer to Yuan Mao and whispered, "Dad, is it still painful?"

"It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious, just rest for a few days."

Yuan Sikong gently lay on Yuan Mao's broad back: "I want to be with Dad." Although he never showed it on weekdays, he actually relied on Yuan Mao very much. Four years ago, the man who held him in his arms and took him away from hunger, cold and death held up a sky above his head. When he was with Yuan Mao, he felt warm and at ease, as if the turmoil of the world could not hurt him at all.

Yuan Mao chuckled: "You usually act like a little adult, but now you act like a child."

Yuan Sikong said softly: "Dad, don't blame Kong'er. Kong'er will never make mistakes again."

"It's good that you know you're wrong. Dad won't blame you."

"When Kong'er grows up, he must become a high-ranking official so that our family can live the best life possible."

Yuan Mao hummed, but there was some worry in his eyes.

"……father."

"Um?"

"Winter is about to come, and you have been fined three months' salary..."

"That's not your concern. Go and help Xu Hu finish the job. Choose each horse carefully and don't be careless."

"I understand, child." Yuan Mao blinked, his eyes unusually bright in the dim light.

——

When Yuan Sikong came to the horse farm again, Xu Hu and Zhao Dayou's attitude towards him changed and became somewhat respectful. After all, he was the one who beat the prince's son and was personally taught how to dissect a horse's corpse.

Zhao Dayou escaped the disaster, feeling both relieved and scared. He had always believed that Yuan Sikong was a man who would achieve great things, and now he was even more convinced. As soon as he saw Yuan Sikong, he tried to get close to him: "Sikong, uncle was really worried about you. Fortunately, you turned the bad luck into good luck. If any horses die in the horse farm in the future, I will take care of them all for you."

"Thank you, uncle." Yuan Sikong said calmly, "Uncle, I have a favor to ask."

"You say it, just say it."

"You also know that my father was fined three months' salary..."

"No problem, it's a piece of cake, leave it to my uncle." Zhao Dayou said hurriedly.

"Uncle, you don't know my father's temper. Has he ever taken a penny from you in all these years?"

"So what you mean is..."

"I follow Uncle Xu to raise horses, and Uncle Shi also gives me a salary every month. I want to ask Uncle Shi for an advance so that I can get through this winter. From now on, Sikong will not charge a penny for raising horses and treating horses."

"Sikong, that's too polite. I'll give you a hundred taels first, and I'll pay your wages and medical expenses in the future... no, I'll only pay half each time. With time, you'll be able to pay it back. That way, even if your father finds out, it's reasonable, right?"

"Thank you, uncle. Sikong only took 20 taels so that I can explain to my father."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Yuan Sikong bowed again and Zhao Dayou hurriedly returned the greeting. He felt that this young man had an extraordinary mind and bearing, and that sooner or later he would soar into the sky.

——

Yuan Sikong naturally would not give the silver directly to Yuan Mao, but gave it to Yue Qingshuang. Even if Yuan Mao knew about it, he would not be willing to blame Yue Qingshuang. The twenty taels were enough to alleviate the emergency in mid-winter.

Although the incident has passed, Yuan Sikong did not dare to relax for a moment, because King Jingyuan had not left yet, and that brat Feng Ye obviously hated him and would definitely not let him go just like that. As long as they did not leave, he would not be free.

Sure enough, three days later, Yuan Sikong was choosing a horse in the stable when he heard a peculiar sound of hooves behind him.

His heart tightened.

That was not the hoofbeats of Liaodong horses. Their horseshoes were made of ordinary iron, which made crisp sounds when hitting the ground, but the hoofbeats behind them were dull and heavy, which were the movements of Shatie. Xu Hu said that there was only one army that could afford to use Shatie as iron hoofs, and that was the Feng Family Army.

Yuan Sikong turned around and crawled on the ground, with a bad feeling in his heart.

"Lift your head for me." A childish and arrogant voice came from above my head, sounding very unfriendly.

Yuan Si muttered something on an empty stomach, thinking that what was supposed to come would come, so he slowly raised his head and said respectfully and humbly, "I have met the Major General."

Feng Ye sat on a strong and tall horse. Although there were still bruises on his face, he still looked delicate and noble. However, the horse was too high for him. He looked like a child wearing adult clothes. I didn't know how he managed to ride it and whether he could get off.

Feng Ye frowned: "What do you mean by calling me Major General? Are you mocking me?"

"I dare not." Yuan Sikong just wanted to flatter him. He could see that Feng Ye admired his father very much.

"Don't call me Major General. I want to earn the title of General myself. It's not your turn to flatter me."

"I know I am guilty." Yuan Sikong lowered his head, "I didn't know that your Highness was coming, and I failed to greet you from afar."

Feng Ye snorted coldly and looked down at Yuan Sikong: "Stop talking nonsense. Didn't you say that you dissected the horse for medical treatment?"

"yes."

"My horse is feeling a little sick today and has a poor appetite. Can you cure it?"

"I, a commoner, will give it a try."

Feng Ye's eyes flashed with malice: "Very good, if you can cure it, you will be rewarded. If you can't, I will punish you severely!"