Chapter 628: Administering Punishment
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Within the not-so-spacious courtyard, a battle was unfolding. Almost everyone from the Lu residence was present, as per the request of Minister Lu, including those who were not on duty. It was a sight to behold.
With a piece of wood clasped between his mouth, Lu Yu’s forehead bulged with veins, sweat dripping down and soaking his back. His buttocks were a deep red, a distressing sight.
At that moment, two robust household servants were administering corporal punishment, one in front and one behind. Each strike of the stick landed on flesh.
With every blow, the faces of those around twitched in unison. The timid closed their eyes long ago, while others, overwhelmed with sorrow, had tears streaming down their faces, their sobs barely audible.
“Old Master, Old Master, that’s enough! If this continues, I’m afraid Young Master might not survive!” A loyal old servant couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He fell to his knees, repeatedly banging his head on the ground. “Even if he made a grave mistake, isn’t this punishment sufficient?”
Lu Yu’s wet nurse cried out tragically, “Master! It’s all my fault! It’s my mistake. If Young Master has done anything wrong, you can take my life. I won’t complain! But Young Master has just achieved success in the imperial examinations. He has a promising future ahead. If you ruin him like this, how will he be able to carry on?”
In her anguish, she collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
However, due to Minister Lu’s authority and despite the pain in her heart, she didn’t dare intervene to protect Lu Yu.
She was the one who shouted the fiercest just now. The others present, including Lu Yu’s mother, were also secretly wiping their tears at the side, not daring to utter a single word.
Everyone in the Lu Manor knew that their master was a fair person. He never abused the law, but he never let go of anyone who made a mistake. Now that Young Master was beaten up so badly, he must have made a huge mistake.
“If you continue, Young Master might not survive.” The wet nurse wept in extreme despair, crawling towards Lord Lu, her tears flowing incessantly. “Master, please, have mercy! Have mercy!”
“Nanny!” Lu Yu’s mother finally stepped forward. She didn’t say anything else, but had someone immediately escort the wet nurse away.
Those who didn’t know better would think that they were stepmothers, and this wet nurse was his birth mother.
It was only at that moment that Lu Yu’s mother realized that her seemingly well-behaved son might have gone astray in some way.
She hadn’t personally taken much care in teaching Lu Yu; it was all left to the wet nurse and the household servants who attended to his daily needs. The Lu family had strict rules, but they were not devoid of compassion.
Minister Lu also often personally guided the younger generation of the family, which had put her at ease.
But from the looks of it, it shouldn’t have been this way.
After the wet nurse was taken away, no one dared to say a word. They waited until the two household servants finished administering the punishment before addressing Minister Lu, saying, “Master, the twenty strokes have been completed.”
Minister Lu nodded and looked at Lu Yu, who was already on the verge of death. “Lu Shouzheng, do you know your mistake?”
Lu Yu was originally about to faint from the beating. When he heard this, he forced himself to regain clarity and replied in a hoarse voice, “Grandson understands the mistake.”
The more intense the pain, the more he reflected on the situation.
His grandfather valued talent above all, and he had almost caused Great Chang to miss out on an exceptional talent. He truly understood the anger and disappointment his grandfather must feel.
But what about himself?
If not for the fact that the other party had mentioned the word “top scholar” back then which reminded him of the hardships his grandfather endured to achieve that title as a scholar from a humble background, he wouldn’t have sarcastically remarked without any concern.
However, it wasn’t an excuse for his wrongdoing.
Just as everyone was eager to hear what had happened, the sound of wheels rolling across the ground reached their ears.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw King Xiaoyao sitting in a wheelchair guarded by more than ten soldiers standing like an iron wall behind him.
King Xiaoyao smiled. “What a lively scene..”