Gu Chaobei glanced at Prime Minister Gu, snorted lightly, and followed without resistance. Shen Guiyan quickly lifted her skirt to follow. Jiang Shi beside her kept asking, “What exactly happened? Why would the master suddenly beat people?”
It was her fault. Shen Guiyan’s heart was truly complicated. She hadn’t imagined that when she mentioned “beating” officials to Gu Chaobei, this person would so directly take action. He wasn’t such a foolish person—why would he cause such a major disaster?
She had thought that using Sixi as a witness, gathering some evidence of corruption by capital officials, with the Prime Minister’s residence backing them, sending those people to prison shouldn’t be difficult. She hadn’t expected things would turn out like this.
Having already alarmed the Emperor, Prime Minister Gu wanting to beat him was actually protecting him. But watching Gu Chaobei lying prone on the bench, Shen Guiyan couldn’t hold back and still went up to shield him.
“Guiyan, what are you doing?” Prime Minister Gu said with a stern face. “This old master must use family law.”
“Today’s matter is truly Guiyan’s fault. My husband merely misunderstood Guiyan’s words.” Shen Guiyan looked at him. “Prime Minister, why not listen to Guiyan first? After hearing me out, it’s not too late to strike.”
Prime Minister Gu waved his hand. “You needn’t protect him. No matter what, he deserves this beating. He’ll have to face the Emperor in the palace shortly. I won’t give him many—ten strokes won’t hurt him much.”
“Then let me administer them.” Shen Guiyan took the family punishment rod from the servant’s hands with both hands. “May I?”
Prime Minister Gu frowned. How could a woman’s strength be enough? If the beating wasn’t severe enough and someone demanded heavy punishment for Bei’er, wouldn’t he have no way to save face?
Just as he was hesitating whether to agree, Shen Guiyan had already walked to Gu Chaobei’s side, gave him a look, then struck down hard with the rod.
“Ah!” Gu Chaobei very cooperatively screamed miserably. It didn’t hurt at all, yet he cried out as if piercing the clouds with his misery.
The Imperial Guard commander at the door hadn’t followed inside, but hearing this commotion, he was also startled.
Shen Guiyan appeared to use all her strength, but the rod falling on Gu Chaobei had no real force. This couple cooperated extremely well. After ten strokes, Gu Chaobei seemed on the verge of death, crying out “ow, ow.”
Jiang Shi couldn’t help laughing, but was fiercely glared at by Prime Minister Gu. She immediately lowered her head, pretending to know nothing. The Imperial Guard commander ordered people to come in and carry him. Gu Chaobei was half-dead as he was dragged out, preparing to board the carriage.
“You should come to the palace with this old master.” Prime Minister Gu looked at Shen Guiyan. “Perhaps you can help Bei’er escape this calamity.”
Shen Guiyan’s gaze toward him softened considerably. Previously, she always felt Prime Minister Gu was harsh toward Gu Chaobei. Now it seemed he was actually quite good.
She nodded in agreement and followed Prime Minister Gu into the palace. When boarding the carriage, Shen Guiyan instructed Baoshan to bring a small half-bowl of chicken blood. Sitting in the carriage, she began smearing it on Gu Chaobei’s mouth corners.
“What’s this for?” Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow.
Shen Guiyan’s expression was serious. “Husband, the more pitiful you look now, the better. Don’t ask anymore.”
Prime Minister Gu sat in the middle, eyes looking straight ahead, acting as if he saw nothing, letting Shen Guiyan paint Gu Chaobei to look utterly wretched—blood at the mouth corners, bloodstains on his clothes.
With the palace token, they went to Taihe Hall. Both the Emperor and Empress were present. Shen Guiyan followed Prime Minister Gu inside, while Gu Chaobei was dragged in by two Imperial Guards.
Upon seeing Gu Chaobei, the Emperor was startled. “What happened?”
Gu Chaobei lay prostrate in the hall, crying out twice, barely managing to bow. “This official pays respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Rise. We merely sent someone to bring you to the palace. We didn’t say to use torture, did We?” The Emperor frowned slightly and glanced at the Imperial Guard commander behind.
The Imperial Guard commander looked very innocent. “Your Majesty, upon hearing Inspector Gu had committed an offense, the Prime Minister first used family law.”
The Emperor frowned. “Merit and fault have not yet been determined. How can it be called an offense? Prime Minister Gu was too impulsive.”
Prime Minister Gu came forward and knelt. “This subject failed to teach his son properly. I could only punish him with family law, hoping it might offset one portion of his offense.”
The Emperor was about to nod when the Empress beside him chuckled softly. “Family law can offset crimes? This is the first time I’ve heard such a thing. Why did the Prime Minister punish Inspector Gu first? His Majesty will naturally judge the wrong he committed.”
Prime Minister Gu smiled bitterly and withdrew to the side.
“Your Highness Gu Chaobei wantonly injured court officials—not just one offense, but over ten consecutive offenses. His behavior is deplorable. I believe he should receive fifty heavy strokes as a warning to others.” The Empress looked at Gu Chaobei and said coldly.
Shen Guiyan frowned and glanced at the Empress. Though her makeup was heavy, she didn’t look as spirited as during the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. The loss of her son must have dealt her a severe blow.
“Empress,” the Emperor spoke. “Inspector Gu wouldn’t beat people without reason. Before asking clearly about the cause, how can you determine his guilt?”
Empress Wen said coldly, “This subject knows His Majesty is benevolent, but although Gu Chaobei is the son of the Prime Minister, he has never understood propriety and acts recklessly. Didn’t Your Majesty say all people are equal? Then if this person commits an offense, he should also be severely punished.”
The Emperor was silent for a moment, then looked toward Gu Chaobei. “Inspector Gu, why don’t you first explain the reason? What made you so angry that you injured people?”
Gu Chaobei lay on the ground groaning, lifting his face to look above. “This official did it to please my wife, so I took action.”
The Emperor’s face darkened. The Empress chuckled softly, but seemed interested. “So your wife told you to go beat officials?”
Cold sweat ran down Shen Guiyan’s back. She knew he would definitely use her as a shield. Good thing she followed into the palace.
She immediately came forward and knelt. Both the Empress and Emperor’s gazes swept over. “Shen Shi has also come? Do you have anything to say?”
Shen Guiyan kowtowed and didn’t lift her head. “Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress, please investigate clearly. This commoner woman did tell my husband he could beat them, but my husband misunderstood, which led to today’s incident.”
“Oh?” The Emperor sat up straight. “You actually told your own husband he could beat people?”
“This commoner woman did not say that.” Shen Guiyan said. “Your Majesty’s newly issued decree states that corrupt officials can be beaten by anyone. This subject merely received the people’s sentiments and wanted my husband to expose the tax collectors’ corruption. However, my husband hasn’t read many books and is full of reckless energy, so he actually went and beat people directly.”
The Emperor listened in astonishment. The Empress also raised an eyebrow. “You’re a woman of the inner chambers—why meddle in so much? You even incited your own husband. This simply violates womanly virtue!”
“Your Majesty the Empress, please investigate.” Shen Guiyan said respectfully. “Womanly virtue, womanly appearance, womanly work—this commoner woman lacks none of these. How can it be said I violate womanly virtue? My husband serves as an official. Naturally this commoner woman should tell him what I know, hoping my husband can contribute his own strength. I believe there is no fault in this.”
“You say Inspector Gu beat corrupt officials?” The Emperor listened, his eyes brightening. His body leaned slightly forward. “Do you have evidence?”
“In response to Your Majesty, the common people’s testimonies are the best evidence.” Shen Guiyan said. “Setting aside other places, the farmers in the capital all live in dire straits, unable to fill their stomachs. At the Emperor’s feet, tax collectors privately increase levies and line their own pockets, yet not a single person dares speak out. This commoner woman is fortunate to have married a good husband who dares to speak and act. Though he acted in error, he beat them to the common people’s great acclaim.”
On the road into the palace, she had heard common people discussing it. For the first time, so many people praised Gu Chaobei. She found it novel too—with this beating, he actually made quite a name for himself.
The Emperor’s eyes brightened. The Empress, however, was disdainful. “After beating people, saying they’re corrupt officials means he can be absolved of guilt? There are so many people observing public sentiment in the capital—why has no one reported to you about such misery? I’m afraid you’re fabricating this to escape punishment?”
“Where those who observe public sentiment go, officials clear the way. The common people cannot speak—how can one observe true public sentiment?” Shen Guiyan said. “This commoner woman is willing to wager her life. If Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress leave the palace now without informing anyone, traveling incognito, you will certainly see what this commoner woman described—not a word of difference.”
The Empress sneered. “Wager with your life?”
Gu Chaobei was startled and turned his head to look at her.
Shen Guiyan knelt properly, not the least bit afraid. “Yes.”
“Ha, your life isn’t worth much.” The Empress said. “But I would like to make a wager with His Majesty. If this Shen Guiyan has lied and there is no such misery among the people, then Your Majesty must grant this subject one condition. How about it?”
The Emperor frowned. “Then what if the people’s situation is indeed as Shen Shi described?”
The Empress smiled. “Then this subject will follow Your Majesty’s wishes and elevate Consort Nian to Imperial Noble Consort.”
Consort Nian of the harem had enjoyed exclusive favor for a long time. If not for her miscarriage leaving her without pregnancy since, the Empress would certainly eliminate her. This concession to elevate her rank was quite a substantial wager. With this Imperial Noble Consort position, the Nian family would certainly prosper even more in the future.
The Emperor hesitated, glanced at Shen Guiyan, then nodded in agreement. “Good.”
The Empress turned to instruct someone, but the Emperor pulled her over with one hand. “Then let’s leave now. The wager between the Empress and Us is set, plus Shen Shi’s life—enough for Us and the Empress to leave the palace once.”
“Without protection?” The Empress frowned. “Shouldn’t we be thorough and careful?”
“Aren’t there Imperial Guards? Take ten people and act as if patrolling the city.” The Emperor waved his hand, signaling Shen Guiyan to help Gu Chaobei up. “Let’s go. Come along out of the palace to see.”
Prime Minister Gu frowned. Guiyan was truly too impulsive. Fortunately, the Emperor was in a good mood today. Otherwise, on a normal day, how could they have gotten their way?
Gu Chaobei leaned on Shen Guiyan and said in a muffled voice, “What are you doing?”
Shen Guiyan froze and said quietly, “Saving you.”
“Saving me? By throwing yourself in instead?” Gu Chaobei said through gritted teeth. “Since you married me, your life is mine. How can you take it out to wager with others? The Emperor today may not necessarily fail to persuade the Empress. In the end, I would mostly be fine anyway. You doing this…”
“Sixi has been waiting at the residence for several days.” Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. “I couldn’t very well keep her waiting indefinitely. When entering the palace today, I already instructed Baoshan. My life is secure—it still belongs to my husband and won’t be lost.”
Gu Chaobei was speechless with anger. He didn’t know how this woman was made—full of righteousness, too meddlesome in others’ affairs. If she kept not valuing her own life, one day she would lose it!