He slowly bent his straight back and kowtowed to the cold ground, saying, "Please punish me, Grandmother."
Chi Yan thought to himself, Shen Tangning must be feeling very disappointed right now.
As a man, isn't he too spineless?
He blinked slowly, his eyes stinging. His tongue tasted slightly bitter, but there was nothing he could do; he simply couldn't bring himself to be tough.
His one and only act of recklessness came at the cost of almost losing his closest relatives.
So what if my bones are soft? At least I'm still alive, right?
"You all heard that, he said it himself!" The old lady coldly curled her lips. "Without rules, there can be no order. Guards, bring the family discipline! Today I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget!"
Everyone was astonished, never expecting the old lady to make such a fuss.
Shen Xiwei sat leisurely watching the commotion, but frowned upon hearing this: "I wonder if such a bloody scene will affect the child in my womb?"
Madam Chi was startled and immediately knelt down to plead, "Madam! Why go to such lengths? Ayan has already realized his mistake, please forgive him this time!"
In the Chi family, invoking family discipline is a very serious matter.
The rattan cane used for discipline was as thick as two fingers. One lash would tear the skin and flesh, while family discipline would require at least ten lashes, which would injure muscles and bones and leave one lying in bed for ten days to half a month!
Shen Tangning stepped forward with a cold brow: "Grandmother, isn't this going too far?"
The old lady looked at her coldly: "Yan'er's daughter, are you questioning my decision? Even if you come from a distinguished family and have Her Majesty the Empress backing you up, don't forget that you are the junior and I am the senior. Is this how the Shen family teaches you manners?"
That's just how the world is; propriety and law are paramount.
Even if the old lady is being unreasonable, she is an elder, so there is no reason for the younger generation to criticize her.
Shen Tangning said gently without changing her expression, "Granddaughter-in-law is not questioning Grandmother's decision, but my husband will be participating in the autumn examination in less than a month. If he has health problems at this time and misses the autumn examination, or if it affects his performance, it will be no small matter."
Madam Chi, like a drowning person clinging to a piece of driftwood, echoed repeatedly, "Yes, Madam, Ayan has worked so hard to prepare for this autumn examination, we can't let all our efforts go to waste!"
Lady Hou lowered her brows slightly and said casually, "In that case, if we insist on giving a high evaluation, it would make Mother seem heartless."
The old lady's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and she scoffed disdainfully, "Your son has taken the exam so many times and still hasn't passed. How can you be so sure he'll pass this time?"
Madam Chi choked, speechless.
That being said, what if?
"Even if he's punished by his family, he'll be able to get back to work in ten days or so. If this really affects his performance on the exam, then it just proves that this is his fate!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Tangning felt a chill run down her spine.
Even though she wasn't her biological grandmother, it's rare to see someone so heartless.
She felt heartbroken; one can only imagine how Chi Yan must have felt.
She glanced at the sun and pondered:
At this hour, the court should be over.
The old lady's face turned cold, and she remained adamant, "What are you all standing there for? My words don't carry any weight now?"
The newly appointed steward had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, saying to Chi Yan, "Second Young Master, please forgive me."
Chi Yan calmly knelt up, and the black discipline whip was presented, gleaming with a cold, sharp light.
Madam Chi's face turned deathly pale, and her heart sank to the bottom.
The steward raised the discipline whip, and the Lady Hou's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.
Just then, a shrill voice rang out: "Imperial edict has arrived!"
Everyone was startled and knelt down to greet them.
Shen Tangning knelt down with the others, her brows relaxed, thankful that they had arrived just in time.
Lady Hou was filled with unease. Why would an imperial edict suddenly arrive?
As soon as Eunuch Fu stepped inside, he was taken aback by the scene before him, raising his eyebrows in surprise: "Oh, how lively! What's going on here?"
The old lady's face was full of wrinkles: "It's just some household chores. It's all because of my good-for-nothing son. I'm sorry you had to see this! But why did Eunuch Fu suddenly grace us with his presence?"
Eunuch Fu glanced at the listless Chi Yan and immediately understood what was going on. His tone was rather ambiguous: "It's quite a coincidence, our family is here precisely for Young Master Chi!"
For the sake of the banquet?
Everyone looked bewildered: "..."
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