Cheng Yuanzhi and the others had no objections to Bai Qingyan’s punishment. They knelt and kowtowed in gratitude, receiving their military rod beatings right there at Wude Gate.

After receiving his punishment, Cheng Yuanzhi, dragging his bloodied body, shouted requests to see Bai Qingyan to apologize for his crimes. But no matter how he kowtowed, Bai Qingyan refused to see him.

The group remained deadlocked at Wude Gate for a long time… only when Weizhong stepped forward did Cheng Yuanzhi and the others properly kowtow before being carried back to their residences to recover from their injuries.

When Lu Yuanpeng’s mother saw her son return with his flesh torn open, she nearly fainted from crying. She wanted to hit Lu Yuanpeng, but couldn’t bear to. Only after her son was carried back to his quarters and the physician had applied medicine did she, with red eyes, forcefully poke Lu Yuanpeng’s forehead: “You! Tell me, what were you thinking following that General Cheng in such foolishness! A perfectly good reward… a perfectly good general’s position, all gone! What did you gain from this?”

Before Lu Yuanpeng’s mother could finish scolding him, Grand Commandant Lu also stormed angrily into Lu Yuanpeng’s courtyard, pointing at Lu Yuanpeng and cursing him for quite a while. Only when he saw the injuries on Lu Yuanpeng’s body did he say, “You’d better heal your wounds properly. Once you’re healed… go kneel in the ancestral hall!”

After speaking, Grand Commandant Lu left with a flourish of his sleeves.

Lu Yuanpeng’s father, having been trained by his father, stood to the side, not daring to speak. Seeing Grand Commandant Lu about to leave, he quickly bowed deeply to see him off.

“Father…” Lu Yuanpeng looked pitifully at his father. “Father, you must save your son! I knelt all night at the imperial palace last night and nearly broke my legs! I don’t want to kneel in the ancestral hall anymore!”

“You little beast! You still have the nerve to complain!” Lu Yuanpeng’s father was quite angry. “You could have stayed home when you returned, or at least stayed properly in the military camp! What business did you have, causing trouble with Cheng Yuanzhi? A perfectly good reward, a perfectly good official position, all gone now! You might as well kneel to death in the ancestral hall!”

“How can you say such heartless words!” Lu Yuanpeng’s mother, feeling sorry for her son, didn’t dare get angry at her father-in-law, so she vented all her fury on her husband. “Your son is injured like this, and you don’t feel any pity at all. You even want him to kneel to death in the ancestral hall! You might as well take my life along with his!”

“A doting mother ruins her son! A doting mother ruins her son! This Yuanpeng has been spoiled by you!” Lu Yuanpeng’s father was extremely annoyed. Looking at his wife and son, he felt utterly exhausted. “If Lu Yuanpeng’s actions only affected him, that would be one thing! Yuanqing is about to return soon. If this worthless beast’s troublemaking affects Yuanqing’s future… you’ll cry without tears then!”

Early this morning, Lu Yuanpeng’s father had been summoned by his eldest brother, Lu Jinxian. Lu Jinxian had explained the severity of this incident to his third brother…

Lu Jinxian frankly told his third brother that the three brothers’ abilities were all inferior to their father’s. In this lifetime, they definitely couldn’t reach their father’s position and glory. Now their father was focusing on promoting Lu Jin, and perhaps the Grand Commandant position would be Lu Jin’s in the future. Lu Jin would certainly repay kindness with kindness in the future. Looking at their Lu family, the most capable person was Lu Yuanqing.

Although Lu Fenglang was also formidable, he had entered official service late and didn’t have Lu Yuanqing’s current achievements. Lu Yuanqing, young as he was, had achieved remarkable results implementing new laws in Hancheng. His prospects were limitless, and there was even a chance for the Lu family to have the beautiful tale of grandfather and grandson both serving as Grand Commandant. But the premise for all this was that the Lu family must always be His Majesty’s people, never angering His Majesty or opposing him.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng’s father immediately broke out in cold sweat. Lu Yuanqing was the most promising child in their Lu family. He had always been proud of Lu Yuanqing, sometimes wondering how someone like him, who was inferior to his eldest brother in every way, could have fathered such a capable son.

So Lu Yuanpeng’s father was very invested in Lu Yuanqing.

Hearing that Lu Yuanpeng’s impulsive troublemaking might affect Lu Yuanqing’s career, Lu Yuanpeng’s father was both angry and afraid. Now, hearing this brat Lu Yuanpeng showing no remorse and only thinking about having people intercede for him, he immediately flew into a rage.

Lu Yuanpeng’s mother was stunned upon hearing this, her tears seeming to freeze in her eyes, her tone somewhat uncertain: “This… this can’t be! Yuanpeng is Yuanpeng, Yuanqing is Yuanqing…”

“Go tell His Majesty that!” Lu Yuanpeng’s father swept his sleeves and turned to leave Lu Yuanpeng’s room.

“Mother… don’t listen to Father trying to scare you. Sister Bai isn’t the type to randomly take out anger on others!” Seeing his mother’s pale face, Lu Yuanpeng feared losing his last source of support. “Besides, Sister Bai already said… the reason she dares to gamble with Yan is because she has generals like General Cheng and me. So even if she’s wrong, it doesn’t matter. At worst, we’ll just defeat Yan. Sister Bai likes me so much… stripping my position and rewards is only temporary!”

Hearing her son constantly calling her “Sister Bai,” Lu Yuanpeng’s mother seemed to suddenly think of something. She turned to look at Lu Yuanpeng with a thoughtful expression.

Seeing his mother looking at him, Lu Yuanpeng quickly began wailing “ow, ow” again, trying to make his mother feel sorry for him.

“Mother… why are you looking at me like that? Your son is dying of pain… ow! Oh… it hurts so much!” Lu Yuanpeng lay on his pillow, rather dramatically wailing.

Lu Yuanpeng’s mother pretended to be angry and pinched Lu Yuanpeng’s ear. Lu Yuanpeng covered his ear and looked at his mother with tearful eyes: “I’m already beaten up like this, and Mother, you can still be so harsh! I was punished by Sister Bai to kneel all night, then beaten with fifty military rods. Now my knees hurt… my bottom hurts! And Mother, you’re still pinching my ears.”

“You little rascal, tell Mother the truth… with you constantly calling her Sister Bai, are you…” Lu Yuanpeng’s mother paused, turned to glance toward the door, then lowered her voice to ask Lu Yuanpeng, “Are you perhaps smitten by His Majesty’s unparalleled beauty and have developed feelings of adoration for the current Emperor?”

Hearing his mother’s words, Lu Yuanpeng’s eyes widened: “Mother, what nonsense are you talking about! How could I possibly develop feelings of adoration for Sister Bai? What I have for Sister Bai is only respect and admiration. Sister Bai is like my own sister! Who could develop romantic feelings for their sister? Mother, have you gone crazy thinking about a daughter-in-law?”

“You dead child!” Lu Yuanpeng’s mother pretended to pinch Lu Yuanpeng’s arm. “How can you talk about your mother like that?”

“Mother, if you want a daughter-in-law, you should plan properly for my elder brother. I’m still young! Besides… I’ll probably have to return to the military camp once my injuries heal. Then I’ll go wherever the transfer orders assign me. Why burden some young lady unnecessarily!”