Chapter 65: Punishment (1) [VIP]
Suddenly lowering his brows, Qu Hanjin replied coldly, "Ninth Prince has said something, and I cannot change it."
She didn't blame her husband, but simply hated the Daning Imperial Family. She slowly clenched her fists and gnashed her teeth in anger: "One day, I will personally take the head of the Daning Emperor..."
Suddenly, footsteps were heard in the prison, coming closer and closer, shaking the entire prison corridor.
Chu Qingluo wanted to follow the master and leave, but suddenly felt it was too late.
The one who came was her current master. She recalled what her master had just said, that the Ninth Prince was ordered by the Emperor to serve as an inspector and came here to see if Sheng Youzhang was really dead.
"Who is rude here?"
With a stern and loud shout, Chu Yanshuo quickly approached along the narrow path. When he saw the man in the cell, he slowed down his pace immediately.
Eunuch Tao replied respectfully, bowing at the side: "Your Highness, it's Mr. Qu."
The cold brows suddenly became playful, and his gaze fell on the long fingers of the gentleman holding the woman's wrist. The ninth prince walked leisurely and carefully examined the pair of lovers.
"Mr. Qu, you should know that you are not allowed to come to this place of punishment without His Majesty's approval," Chu Yanshuo said meaningfully, his eyes slowly fixed, reminding him to accept the punishment. "Mr. Qu, you should understand etiquette and laws better than I do."
Qu Hanjin bowed obediently, his expression calm and composed. "I happened to be passing by. I was confused for a moment. I will accept the punishment myself."
Receive the penalty...
What kind of punishment would she receive? She hesitated and looked at the clear and detached look, and the chill in her heart seemed even colder.
"Miss Chu has returned to Lingning Palace, but Mr. Qu is still following her. I'm afraid it's not in accordance with etiquette..." His eyes naturally fell on Jiaoyan. The Ninth Prince said again with interest and a smile, just wanting to see how Mr. Qu would end up.
Qu Hanjin relaxed his grip and returned to his senses, speaking calmly and normally, "She is my student. It is only natural for me to meet her, especially since we just happened to meet in the palace."
"Sir, I was the only one who saw you break into this prison. Since you've already reluctantly given up your love and given Miss Chu to me, there's no need for you to seek punishment." Chu Yanshuo seemed to have a plan for him. His eyes suddenly brightened. He lowered his voice, pretending to whisper, and asked meaningfully, "I'll pretend I've never met you. This is my reward. What do you think of this proposal?"
This statement humiliates the gentleman both openly and covertly.
After hearing the teacher remain silent for a long time, Chu Yanshuo suddenly burst into laughter, and his laughter spread to every corner of the prison, all of which contained considerable sarcasm.
"I made a mistake, so how can I be protected by Your Highness?" Qu Hanjin replied coldly, bowing again, "I will take my leave first, so as not to disturb Your Highness's leisure."
Without even glancing at the Ninth Prince, she followed him out of the Ministry of Justice's prison. She had been granted permission to leave freely. Even if His Highness changed his mind, at least today she could leave with Mr. Bu.
The Ninth Prince seemed to let her leave the prison.
Chu Qingluo breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head and glanced at Qingying beside him, and suddenly realized that the place he was walking in was Guangcheng Hall where Emperor Xuanlong usually governed the country.
Accept the punishment from His Majesty...
Just now, everyone was listening. His Highness deliberately humiliated you. You must be punished...
She glanced sideways and saw the elegant young man walking leisurely. His thin figure was still as graceful as a jade tree, and his every move exuded elegance, as if he had anticipated the current situation.
If Mr. Sui Bu had left earlier, he wouldn't have to endure this ordeal. Feeling guilty, she whispered, "Mr....are you really going to accept the punishment?"
Chu Qingluo didn't hear any reply, and panicked for no reason. She hurriedly asked, "What kind of punishment will be suffered for trespassing into the prison?"
Although she was the princess of Long State, she had never visited the prison and did not know how the rules of Daning Palace were set. If it was an unforgivable crime, she would really be in debt.
"That depends on your majesty's wishes."
The gentleman finally replied, and then facing the solemn and quiet Guangcheng Hall, he slowly walked up the steps and then walked into the hall solemnly.
She waited silently at the foot of the stone steps, just waiting quietly, with a panic she had never felt before surging in her heart.
The gentleman knows everything about her, treats her well, and to her...he is perhaps even better than a family member.
This quarter of an hour of waiting was really unbearable, and his safety was still uncertain. I guess Emperor Xuanlong respected you and would not punish you too severely.
Chu Qingluo paced back and forth unconsciously, her eyes occasionally falling on the palace door.
She stopped abruptly only when that clear-looking man walked out solemnly. After he left the hall, she quietly followed him back to the master's side.
"What did His Majesty say?" she asked with concern, but she felt a little guilty after all. Thinking that the master would have to obey the order and accept the punishment, her mind was quietly in a mess.
Qu Hanjin was calm and composed, and replied solemnly, "Twenty strokes of the cane. You will accept the punishment yourself."
Feeling his words were a bit harsh, he spoke softly again, signaling her not to worry: "Your Majesty has trusted you for many years, so this punishment is considered light."
"Twenty strokes of the cane..." He stammered these words, and Chu Qingluo looked at him in surprise. The light in his eyes trembled, and he murmured again in a long while.
”
, returned to the prison expressionlessly, told her to wait outside, and then walked into the cell alone.
When she heard the cane hitting her hard, her heart trembled suddenly, and she felt a heavy feeling of suffocation.
It made her almost breathless.
…
The sound of the flogging was like a sharp blade cutting her heart, and every sound made her tremble with fear. She waited solemnly in a corner in front of the prison, her body seemed to be nailed to the spot, and she did not move for a long time.
She felt as if she were in a cold abyss, feeling extremely timid, and for a moment she didn't know what she was afraid of...
With her eyes lowered, Chu Qingluo was startled and a few tears suddenly fell.
She didn't count the number of beatings, she just listened blankly. Finally, when she heard the sound of the beatings stopped, she slowly raised her eyes and saw the prison door being opened from the inside.
"Mr. Qu, I'm done fighting."
Eunuch Tao stood to one side, leaning forward slightly, looking at the man stained with blood. He stood up silently, forced himself to sit up, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Seeing Jing wanting to step forward to support him, Chu Qingluo took two steps forward when he was stopped by two palace guards with raised swords.
He was alone, and with such a serious injury, it would be difficult for him to return to the Palace of Music. She looked back at the eunuch calmly and said in a calm voice, "I am his student. I will take him back to the palace."
Eunuch Tao remained indifferent. He turned his head to glance at the Ninth Prince behind him and asked meaningfully, "Young lady, why don't you ask His Majesty the Ninth Prince what he thinks?"
Yes, she is already a member of Lingning Palace, and her comings and goings are all decided by His Highness, and she has no say in the matter.
Regardless of whether her master agrees or not, she has to give it a try. Otherwise, her master's injury will probably get worse.
Chu Qingluo knelt solemnly and bowed respectfully to His Highness the Ninth Prince, who was now as powerful as the Crown Prince. She pleaded earnestly, "Sir, you are unable to move, so I will escort you home and return to Lingning Palace in the evening. I beg for your permission, Your Highness."
"Please... Your Highness, grant me permission..."
She knelt down again, lowered her eyes slightly, and spoke earnestly in a delicate tone.
As if he hadn't seen enough of this wonderful show, Chu Yanshuo narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes overflowing with indescribable interest. He raised his sleeve slightly and said with a cold smile: "If you don't come back by midnight, don't blame me for using that private punishment."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for agreeing. Thank you, Your Highness..."
Upon hearing the voice, she hurriedly bowed again, then let the master lean on her shoulder. Under the watchful eyes of Eunuch Tao and the Ninth Prince, she slowly walked out of the prison.
Today the sky is clear and cloudless, and the sunlight is so bright that I can hardly open my eyes.
I always thought that the gentleman was too thin, but now that I am carrying him, I feel that he is even weaker than I expected.
She hadn't noticed it when she was enjoying herself on the couch, but now she felt that he was as light as a breeze, and the snow on the mountains seemed to be melted by the bright sun. She walked into the carriage with a heavy step, holding the young man beside her shoulder.
"Sir, if you feel unwell, you must tell me..." Chu Qingluo was silent for a long time as the carriage left the palace gate. Then he whispered again, "Sir, nothing must happen to you."
This punishment was due to her recklessness. If the Ninth Prince hadn't caught her, the master would have returned home safely. She felt a tinge of remorse and reflected on herself, determined not to let hatred cloud her mind again. "If the master were seriously injured, I would be uneasy."
Fortunately, the gentleman was not in danger of his life. She stole a peek and saw that the gentleman was sitting solemnly, not looking like he had just been caned.
Qu Han listened for a few moments before saying coldly, "We have nothing to do with each other anymore, so why should you be worried..."
It was as if he was constantly reminding her of her current identity, reminding her not to make any more mistakes carelessly, as he would not be able to protect her once she left the Siyue Mansion.
"It's okay... I'll be fine after a few days of rest."
However, the beautiful figure beside him lowered her eyebrows slightly. He was silent for a moment and then said a few words to comfort her.
Putting aside the teasing she used to do in front of the master, Chu Qingluo pondered for a moment, frowned, and said, "I'll go back home and apply medicine for the master."
"You are already the Ninth Prince's person, you shouldn't go back to the Siyue Mansion."
The implication was that she could leave after being escorted to the front of the mansion, and should not stay for too long...
After all, the Ninth Prince was still waiting for her in the palace. Thinking of this, he suddenly clenched his fists, with a thousand unwillingness between his brows.
"Sir, you say that I have a vicious mind, but you don't know the tragic situation when the Long Kingdom was destroyed. Sir, you might as well take a look at the world today. Where is there any integrity and purity to speak of..." She suddenly ridiculed this ordinary person, sneered a few times, and answered in a cold and low voice.
"I'll just give Mr. the medicine and leave. I won't stay long."
She was full of stubbornness, but it was buried under the strands of hatred. Seeing this, he felt distressed and quietly embraced her in his arms.
Qu Hanjin hesitated, not knowing how to respond. After much thought, he finally came up with the idea of being imprisoned. "That's a place of actual punishment, not to mention that His Majesty the Ninth Prince is watching from the shadows..."
That move was her fault. She leaned in her husband's arms, as if she knew she was wrong, and murmured softly: "Well, I acted rashly this time. Please punish me, sir."
"I am punishing you now, but I am punishing your Highness's concubine. I am afraid you have brought this upon yourself."
I really don’t know when we will see each other again. After today’s disturbance, His Highness will definitely not let her leave the palace again. He sneered and laughed at himself.
Listening to what the teacher said, a sense of sadness inexplicably arose in her heart. Chu Qingluo didn't understand where this thought came from, and she felt depressed and helpless.
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