Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Only Now Did You Regret It?

Duke Qi coldly brushed Madam Cui aside: “If you want to blame someone, blame the disaster you spoiled into existence!” If Madam Cui had not been so short-sighted and agreed to gamble with Sheng Zhi Wan, things would not have reached this point.

Madam Cui glared at Sheng Zhi Wan like she wanted to tear Sheng Zhi Wan to pieces: “Sheng Zhi Wan! Are you satisfied now?”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled a little: “As long as Mother is satisfied.” [This was only the beginning. If Sheng Zhi Wan truly wanted to be satisfied, Sheng Zhi Wan would have to at least break both of Qi Shu Lang’s hands. But if Sheng Zhi Wan did that, Madam Cui would probably go mad, and Duke Qi would not agree either. Sheng Zhi Wan did not want to leave Duke Qi Manor so soon. There was plenty of time. Sheng Zhi Wan would settle the accounts one by one.]

Since Duke Qi said they would handle it by family rules, they did it by family rules. Duke Qi immediately ordered people to go to the academy and bring Qi Shu Lang back.

A long bench and wooden rods were set up in the ancestral hall. Every master of the Qi Family was present except Qi Fei Rui, who had gone to Qing He to visit relatives. Duke Qi, Madam Cui, Qi Shu Xian, Sheng Zhi Wan, and even Qi Fei Yan, who had already married out, were arranged outside the ancestral hall courtyard to watch the punishment.

The solemn courtyard stayed silent until two servants dragged Qi Shu Lang inside.

Before Qi Shu Lang even stepped through the doorway, Qi Shu Lang cursed with filthy language: “Bitch! I only took a few of her things. Young Master would have turned it around anyway, and it wasn’t like Young Master wouldn’t return them. What right did she have to hit Young Master? She was the one who insisted on rushing over to be my sister-in-law-”

Qi Shu Lang spat again: “If I weren’t looking at the fact that she’s a Princess with so much dowry, I wouldn’t even bother calling her sister-in-law. And she even dared to report it to the authorities. She really is the kind of cheap trash who throws herself at people!”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes turned cold.

Duke Qi barked in anger: “Stuff his mouth and beat him!” Two servants immediately forced down Qi Shu Lang’s trousers and pressed Qi Shu Lang onto the bench while Qi Shu Lang struggled. The wooden rod was raised high.

Before the rod fell, Madam Cui could not help stepping forward.

Duke Qi frowned at Madam Cui: “Stop. If you dare take one more step, the punishment doubles!”

In the past, the younger son always acted obedient and sensible in front of Duke Qi. Duke Qi never expected Qi Shu Lang to be this shameless and unruly. [No wonder the previous tutor had been driven away in anger.] With the younger son turning out like this, Duke Qi naturally blamed Madam Cui, and the way Duke Qi looked at Madam Cui carried resentment.

Only then did Madam Cui force herself to hold back, but her eyes still reddened.

When the first blow finally landed, Madam Cui suddenly turned her head and glared at Sheng Zhi Wan with venom.

Sheng Zhi Wan met Madam Cui’s eyes and only felt ridicule. People always said a kind mother often ruined her son.

Madam Cui really did favor Qi Shu Lang at times. Even now, even though Madam Cui clearly knew Qi Shu Lang had stolen imperial-bestowed items and sold them, Madam Cui still treated it like a small mistake. A light punishment was enough to make Madam Cui’s heart ache.

But on the other hand, with Qi Shu Xian, that “Triple First Laureate,” shining like a pearl in front, Madam Cui was also so strict with Qi Shu Lang that it turned cruel. When Qi Shu Lang was five and could not recite poems, and when Qi Shu Lang was seven and could not recite the Three Character Classic, Madam Cui made Qi Shu Lang stand in the snow for hours.

Qi Shu Lang becoming what Qi Shu Lang was today was mostly Madam Cui’s doing.

But that was not a reason for Qi Shu Lang to do evil.

Qi Shu Lang twisted around even while being beaten, glaring at Sheng Zhi Wan with a dark, vicious look. Sheng Zhi Wan curled her lips into a smile. [Even the most poisonous snake was nothing to fear if you pulled its fangs before it grew up. Besides, Qi Shu Lang was not even worth calling a poisonous snake.]

Sheng Zhi Wan watched as the wooden rod struck Qi Shu Lang’s backside again and again. Qi Shu Lang went from stubborn defiance to sobbing so hard that tears and snot ran together. The cloth that had been stuffed into Qi Shu Lang’s mouth fell out. Qi Shu Lang no longer had the strength to curse Sheng Zhi Wan, only screaming for his parents and begging for mercy, crying that he knew he was wrong.

The sound was even more miserable than the pigs slaughtered for the New Year.

Sheng Zhi Wan found it wonderfully pleasant. [In Sheng Zhi Wan’s last life, the little girls who had been beaten to death by Qi Shu Lang – if they heard this, would they feel even the smallest bit of comfort?] Thinking of that, a faint smile rose in Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes.

Qi Shu Xian could not bear to watch Qi Shu Lang’s misery and looked away, only to catch Sheng Zhi Wan’s small smile. Anger flared in Qi Shu Xian’s chest.

Soon, the thirty blows ended. Madam Cui clutched her chest and collapsed into Qi Fei Yan’s arms, crying.

Duke Qi stayed hard-hearted. After ordering someone to treat Qi Shu Lang’s wounds, Duke Qi still made Qi Shu Lang remain in the ancestral hall to reflect on his sins.

Sheng Zhi Wan finished watching the show and felt tired from the day.

Sheng Zhi Wan was about to go back, eat something good, and rest, but halfway there, a hand suddenly grabbed Sheng Zhi Wan hard.

Ting Lan cried out in surprise.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at the person in front of her, yanked her hand back, and asked calmly: “What is it?”

Her gaze was cold and steady. The slight frown was tiny and vanished in an instant, but Qi Shu Xian still caught it.

Qi Shu Xian suddenly realized Sheng Zhi Wan was not like before. Sheng Zhi Wan no longer liked clinging to Qi Shu Xian. Sheng Zhi Wan even seemed to resist Qi Shu Xian’s touch.

That thought made the anger Qi Shu Xian had been forcing down surge up. Qi Shu Xian stepped closer: “Was what happened today something you planned?”

Sheng Zhi Wan acted like she did not understand: “What is Heir Apparent talking about?”

Qi Shu Xian stood so close that Qi Shu Xian could smell the fragrance on Sheng Zhi Wan. Qi Shu Xian’s voice tightened: “From the moment I learned you donated silver and went looking for you, to Mother getting the news and agreeing to the bet because of your private property. Even those people you brought in-”

Qi Shu Xian had not finished when Sheng Zhi Wan stepped around Qi Shu Xian: “Heir Apparent is thinking too much. I did not have that kind of foreknowledge.”

Qi Shu Xian’s low voice came from behind: “Sheng Zhi Wan!”

Qi Shu Xian said, voice dark and heavy: “How long are you going to keep making a scene? Do you have to wait until I truly do something with Meng Yang before you finally regret it?”