Inside the Dengwen Drum Courtyard, four yamen runners were already ready.

There was a bench placed in front of the drum, and a yamen runner was carefully checking the bench. There was a yamen runner on each side holding a thick board, and the yamen runner who just opened the door was responsible for counting the boards.

"Tan Juzi, let me ask you one last time, do you regret it?"

Without saying a word, Tan Hanchi took off his outer robe, leaned down on the bench resolutely, and held the stool legs with both hands.

"Let's get started."

Seeing how calm and fearless Tan Hanchi was, everyone couldn't help but admire and fear him.

Being beaten with thirty boards could be fatal!

The yamen runner shook his head, leaned over and felt around Tan Hanchi's body, and after confirming that there was nothing blocking his view, he raised his hand and said:

"Now, there is a candidate from Zhuozhou named Tan Hanchi who wants to beat the drum to ask for information. According to the laws of the Yong Dynasty, anyone who beats the drum will be punished with thirty strokes of the cane, and his life or death will be at the mercy of fate!"

"Hold the staff, rise—fall!"

Bang!

An extremely dull slapping sound was heard, shocking everyone's heart.

Everyone's face was filled with fear, but they saw that Tan Hanchi was biting a piece of white cloth tightly, and didn't make a sound.

Qiao Jiaojiao's whole body jumped and she suddenly felt pity in her heart.

[It's so tragic. Tan Hanchi is so tragic. 】

Snap, snap, snap——

After several consecutive blows, blood appeared on Tan Hanchi's buttocks, and the blood was spread all over his snow-white pants, which was a shocking sight.

Qiao Diyi clenched his hands tightly, really worried that Tan Hanchi would not be able to make it.

After beating him with the stick fifteen times in a row, the bailiffs stopped.

At this time, Tan Hanchi's face was pale and he was sweating profusely.

The yamen runner who was counting the boards squatted down, approached Tan Hanchi, who was breathing rapidly, and asked with a look of pity:

"Tan Juzi, this is your last chance. If you call a halt, then it's over."

"The last fifteen strokes won't be as pleasant as the first ones."

This bailiff is really kind.

After all, to pass the imperial examination, one must have studied hard for ten years.

If you wait a little longer, maybe you can become a Jinshi or even an official in the next spring examination.

Tan Hanchi was grateful, but his will was firm and would not be shaken.

"Go on..."

Tan Hanchi bit the white cloth and spoke vaguely.

The bailiff sighed softly and was about to wave his hand when two people suddenly ran out from the back hall.

"Brother Mu, let's change people! Their hands are sore after hitting them with fifteen boards."

It turned out that the yamen runner who was counting the boards was named Mu.

He frowned slightly, "Aren't you two taking turns to rest today?"

These two are usually sneaky and cunning, but they are never so active.

The two looked at each other and said, "We heard someone was going to beat the drum to report the incident, so we hurried over here!"

"Change people, change people. We haven't been able to wait for one in the past seven or eight years. Let us give it a try."

As he said that, he couldn't wait to grab the board.

When Qiao Jiaojiao saw this, her heart suddenly skipped a beat!

[These two people were definitely bribed by Duke Qing, and they are here to put Tan Hanchi to death! ]

She looked around anxiously and suddenly saw Sheng Mingcheng who was squeezed to the front.

He had his hands clenched tightly in front of him, his face was ferocious and fierce, and he was staring at Tan Hanchi.

[Sheng Mingcheng is here too! This brat looks like he has bad intentions! ]

Qiao Diyi patted Qiao Jiaojiao soothingly, gestured to the crowd, and soon a fierce voice rang out.

"Why do you need to change people after being beaten with a stick?"

"What's the matter? A grown man can't even swing thirty boards?"

"After all, I am a public servant. If you don't have the ability, you should give up your position as soon as possible! I have plenty of strength, and I can swing a hundred sticks without any problem!"

"That's right! Can't you see that the scholar is in unbearable pain? He is still stalling for time here. Are you trying to delay him to death?"

"He has been wronged, and he was forced into a corner, so he thought of beating the drum to file a complaint. Now the drum hasn't even been beaten yet, and you're already trying to torture him to death!"

"That's right! Then this drum for hearing the news is useless!"

Several people started to cheer together, and the crowd, which already sympathized with the weak, instantly became excited.

"Don't change people, just keep going!"

"Redressing grievances, redressing grievances, we ordinary people cannot be left with nowhere to redress them!"

"It's too much. The scholar can hardly bear it!"

Seeing that public opinion was boiling, Mu Yayi's expression suddenly changed.

"You two, stop making trouble and arouse public anger. Can you bear the responsibility?"

"Hurry, keep going!"

The wooden yamen runner acted decisively, and the two men holding the boards also reached out to push the man.

"Get out of the way! Who said we don't have the strength? If we continue to make trouble, we will lose our jobs!"

The two people who suddenly intervened were embarrassed by what they said. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, they did not dare to do it too obviously and could only retreat to the side with unwilling looks on their faces.

When Sheng Mingcheng saw this, he pounded his hands hard and cursed inwardly, "What a waste!"

There was cold sweat on his forehead, but he was still secretly comforting himself:

It doesn’t matter. If I miss this step, I’ll have plenty of opportunities to kill him when I lead people into the palace later!

Seeing the board continue to fall, Qiao Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief.

It was the second brother who came up with this idea of ​​arousing public indignation. He has a simple mind and can see the essence of things clearly.

The common people sympathize with the weak. No matter what schemes they use, they are nothing but rubbish in the eyes of the people. Even the emperor cannot ignore public opinion!

After several hits with the boards, the sound became sticky, like pounding meat.

The white cloth in Tan Hanchi's mouth was soaked with blood, which showed that he had suffered internal injuries.

Qiao Jiaojiao's scalp tingled as she watched the blood drip onto the stool.

[Tan Hanchi, hold on a little longer. I still have 60 merits left. I will definitely save your life! ]

Qiao Jiaojiao summoned her Merit Mall without hesitation, swiped around, and clicked on it——

[Recovery Talisman, can heal all injuries, and the person hit by the talisman will instantly become full of life and energy. Required Merit Points: 120. ]

Qiao Jiaojiao's expression was distorted.

[Damn, it's so expensive... Never mind, just scroll up and see. ]

[Hmm... this one is OK, a healing talisman for injured tendons and bones, specially for treating injuries from falls, jumping off cliffs, and being hit by a stick. The person who is hit by the talisman will have no problems with his tendons and bones, and the required merit points are 60.]

[It’s done, this is it! ]

Qiao Jiaojiao was not stingy. Although her merit points were reset to zero, she was able to get a great talent like Tan Hanchi in return, and was able to overthrow Duke Qing. It was a win!

Qiao Diyi pricked up his ears and listened carefully. When he heard something about "healing talisman for broken bones", his eyes lit up.

On the other side, after finally taking the thirty boards, Tan Hanchi had already spit out the white cloth in his mouth, and there was a pool of bright blood on the ground, which was shocking to look at.

He slumped on the bench, looking almost dead.

Seeing this, the wooden yamen runner shook his head helplessly, squatted down and said, "Mr. Tan, the thirty strokes are over."

After these thirty blows, the scholar might not even have the strength to swing the drumstick.

Tan Hanchi responded softly and raised his head with difficulty. This small movement was so painful that he felt as if his whole body was torn apart.

Tan Hanchi raised his mouth bitterly, and what he was thinking at this time was:

General Qiao is right, my body is indeed too useless.

At this moment, the wooden servant shouted, "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Tan Hanchi raised his head with difficulty and saw a young man wearing a veiled hat walking towards him. He was holding a baby in his arms, who was also hidden in the wide hat.

"Master, we are Mr. Tan's brothers and sisters. Let us go up and see him. He has already received thirty strokes of the cane. Can't I feed him some water?"

When Tan Hanchi heard this, his eyes felt a little sore and he almost shed tears.

It’s Qiao Jilang who is here.

"Yes.....These are my brothers and sisters, let them come over..."