Liang Yunshan was stunned for a moment, not knowing why he suddenly thought of a woman’s cheerful, bright smile.

Then he heard Liang Zhe say: “Today, I received this slap from you, and I harbor no resentment toward anyone—after all, you gave birth to me. If you want me to accept family discipline, fine. After I receive it, all past grievances will be wiped clean. I will no longer be Liang Yunshan’s son, and Liang Yunshan will no longer be my father!”

Liang Zhe’s tone was very calm, as if he were saying something like “the weather is nice today.”

Liang Zhe’s final sentence completely enraged Liang Yunshan: “Someone come! Tie him up! Let’s see whether your mouth is harder or my whip is harder!”

“Ziyu!” Qin Shuying gripped Liang Zhe’s hand tightly, her face showing anxious concern.

Liang Zhe smiled faintly: “Shuying, if I weren’t Liang Yunshan’s son, would you be afraid?”

Qin Shuying shook her head: “Ziyu, no matter who you are, I will always stand by your side.”

Liang Zhe smiled brilliantly: “Having you say that makes everything good.”

He extended his hands, allowing the servants to bind him.

Then, with Liang Yunshan leading, the group marched mightily toward the ancestral hall.

Liang Zhe walked slowly, wanting Qin Shuying to keep up with his pace.

The Pingxi Marquis’s Mansion was extremely large. By the time they reached the ancestral hall, a full incense stick’s worth of time had passed.

The ancestral hall had servants specifically in charge of punishment. Steward Liang had already sent word ahead, and everything was arranged and ready.

The ancestral hall’s main doors stood wide open, with a black lacquered punishment bench standing quietly in the center of the courtyard.

On the table beside it lay a short whip.

Two lean but very agile servants stood by the table with solemn expressions, appearing meticulous and serious.

The servants escorted Liang Zhe to beside the punishment bench, and someone removed the jade pendant from around Liang Zhe’s neck.

Qin Shuying remained silent throughout, neither crying out nor making a fuss, appearing very quiet.

Liang Qiong glanced at her viciously—what an act!

Even at this point, she could still pretend to be so composed!

Old Madam Liang said nothing, but sensed something was amiss.

However, she calculated that regardless of whatever plans Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying might have, as long as Liang Zhe received fifty lashes, even if he didn’t die, he would certainly be severely injured.

At that time, even if they had a hundred schemes, what could they do?

Liang Zhe stood firm and looked at Liang Yunshan: “Marquis, Shuying and I need to enter the palace. After you beat me, how will you explain to His Majesty? Please think of your response now—this is my final reminder as Liang Yunshan’s son.”

Liang Yunshan sneered coldly, thinking he was still trying to deceive him into being lenient. He raised his voice: “Administer the family discipline!”

Liang Zhe looked at Qin Shuying in the distance and smiled slightly.

Then he sat on the punishment bench and lay down face-first.

The servant administering the family discipline raised the short whip high and brought it down on Liang Zhe’s back with a loud “crack!”

The sound was extremely loud!

Qin Shuying didn’t blink an eye, as if she wanted to see everything before her with perfect clarity and engrave it in her mind.

Ziyu, some suffering must be endured.

Then let this suffering become more meaningful.

The servant administering the discipline had whipped Liang Zhe more than ten times. The clothes and pants on Liang Zhe’s back had been torn to shreds, revealing his snow-white undergarments, which were now clearly soaked with blood.

Both Old Madam Liang and Liang Qiong slightly curved their lips upward.

Liang Yunshan, while still furious, appeared somewhat distracted and agitated.

Was he… was he really going to put Liang Zhe to death?

How could he, how could he…

“Marquis, Marquis…” At this moment, Mingcha came running over urgently: “Marquis, Eunuch Zhao has arrived!”

Liang Yunshan was startled: “Who?”

“Eunuch Zhao! Eunuch Zhao says His Majesty summoned the young master, but why hasn’t the young master appeared!”

Liang Yunshan’s head rang with a thunderous sound: “Eunuch Zhao? His Majesty wants to see, to see…”

Qin Shuying said coolly: “Marquis, didn’t Ziyu already say so? His Majesty summoned him, and the Empress summoned me. He said it twice—have you forgotten so quickly? The Marquis disregards His Majesty’s decree and treats His Majesty’s words as child’s play. The Marquis’s rules are truly grand!”

Stars danced before Liang Yunshan’s eyes as he staggered back two steps.

Zhao Quansheng was already within a hundred paces. Liang Yunshan hurried to meet him, while the servant administering discipline continued beating Liang Zhe.

Mingcha was so anxious his head seemed ready to spout fountains: “Are you all dead? Quick, quick, stop!”

Only then did the servant administering discipline stop.

Zhao Quansheng walked over with an expressionless face: “Oh, so Marquis Pingxi is dissatisfied with His Majesty’s bestowed marriage and is taking it out on his son, preventing Guard Liang from entering the palace so this servant cannot complete his duties.”

Liang Yunshan broke out in cold sweats: “It’s all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! Eunuch Zhao, please come to the front hall for tea.”

Zhao Quansheng glanced at him sideways with a flat tone: “Marquis Pingxi, this misunderstanding of yours is rather significant! His Majesty said Guard Liang should enter the palace by the end of the si hour. Look what time it is now? It seems you haven’t taken His Majesty’s words to heart at all.”

Liang Yunshan smiled bitterly: “Eunuch, this marquis truly didn’t know beforehand.”

Qin Shuying said coolly from the side: “The Marquis is lying! Ziyu said it twice—His Majesty summoned him, the Empress summoned me. The Marquis didn’t listen, and everyone present can testify to this.”

Liang Yunshan now felt like a mute eating bitter herbs—he had suffering he couldn’t express.

Zhao Quansheng asked blandly: “Is that so?”

The maids, old women, and servants all froze, everyone quickly lowering their heads, not daring to say yes or no.

Zhao Quansheng simply nodded: “Mm, understood.”

No one dared ask what those three words meant.

Steward Liang had already had someone untie the ropes binding Liang Zhe and helped him up.

Liang Zhe’s face was pale. Zhao Quansheng made a gesture, and the four eunuchs following behind him went forward to support Liang Zhe.

Zhao Quansheng said coldly: “Marquis Pingxi, this servant will take Guard Liang and Lady Liang away now.”

“Ah…”

Liang Yunshan discovered that at this moment, he couldn’t say a single word.

He turned back to look at Old Madam Liang, hoping his mother could give him some guidance, but Old Madam Liang merely kept her head lowered, unhurriedly fingering her prayer beads, not looking at him at all.

Liang Yunshan stamped his foot and followed Zhao Quansheng.

Steward Liang was very perceptive and quickly had someone prepare a hard sedan chair, placing Liang Zhe on it face-down, then having servants carry it outside.

The entire group walked silently to outside the mansion. Since Liang Zhe couldn’t sit in a carriage, he had to be carried into the palace in this sedan chair.

Qin Shuying got into another carriage.

After everyone had left, Old Madam Liang slowly walked back.

Having hunted hawks all her life, she never expected to have her eye pecked by a hawk!

However, everything was done by Liang Yunshan himself. Let him bear the consequences—what did it have to do with her?

After entering the palace, Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe separated.

Qin Shuying once again came to Fenglai Palace.

This time, Empress Wen was still behind the screen. She should have been sitting there early: “Lady Liang, did something happen today? Why are you so late?”

She was merely asking questions, with no intent to blame.

Qin Shuying answered truthfully: “Your Majesty, some unpleasant matters did indeed occur at the mansion. This subject’s wife arrived late—please forgive me, Your Majesty.”