In the side room, Yan Sanhe had heard every word of the conversation between the two men in the courtyard.

She picked at her ear and cursed inwardly: How vulgar!

Li Buyan nudged her with her elbow. “Ji Lingchuan is being exiled—the Ji family can’t rise again, can they?”

“Who says?”

Yan Sanhe tilted her chin toward the window. “How old is Ji Lingchuan?”

“A full fifty.”

“At that age in official circles, he probably doesn’t have many years left to thrive anyway. What’s important is that his children and grandchildren haven’t been harmed. In the future when the Emperor dies and the Crown Prince takes the throne, when the Crown Prince dies and the Crown Prince’s Grandson takes the throne…”

Yan Sanhe raised her eyebrows slightly. “Are you still worried the Ji family won’t rise again?”

“Then tell me, will Hu Third Sister enter Ji Lingchuan’s dreams?”

“Whether she will or not, I don’t know. What I do know is that at his age, enduring eighty strokes of the rod without dying won’t be easy either.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes shifted as her already hoarse voice dropped even lower. “Exiling him to Nanning Prefecture—this matter…”

Li Buyan’s heart jumped. “You think it’s suspicious?”

“I can only say that in the unseen world, there is heavenly will!”

Yan Sanhe: “By the way, why did Xie Zhifei have you pass along those words?”

“You were crying in your dream, and he suddenly barged in. I made up an excuse saying you were grieving for Old Lady Ji.”

Li Buyan smiled. “Sanhe, don’t you think Third Master Xie is quite attentive to you?”

“Is that so?”

Yan Sanhe frowned, sounding somewhat unconvincing. “Why do I feel like his intentions aren’t good?”

The Third Master with questionable intentions lifted the curtain and entered. “Yan Sanhe, pack up your things. We’re leaving.”

“Leaving for where?”

“Don’t ask. Just follow me.”

Having gotten the matter resolved, Xie Zhifei’s dimples showed deeper when he smiled. “Are you hungry?”

Yan Sanhe was truly hungry—the kind where her chest touched her back. So she nodded.

“Bear with it for now!”

Xie Zhifei raised his eyebrows, lowering his voice. “The dead eunuch’s food isn’t good. Let’s go eat outside.”

One moment you’re arm in arm with someone, the next you’re disdainful…

Yan Sanhe said awkwardly: “Ji Lingchuan won’t survive eighty strokes of the rod, will he?”

“I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry.”

Xie Zhifei tilted his chin toward the window, calm and composed. “The money’s been delivered. He’ll definitely handle things properly for us. The dead eunuch is extremely reliable on this point.”

Yan Sanhe: “…”

The dead eunuch would want to beat you to death if he heard this!

…

Ministry of Justice office.

“My lord, my lord…”

Xu Lai had been startled at the Northern Bureau and hadn’t slept well all night. He was sprawled on his desk catching up on sleep when this life-threatening shouting woke him, causing his heart to pound frantically.

He wiped his face and asked, “What is it?”

His trusted aide came forward. “My lord, His Majesty just issued an edict sentencing the Ji family.”

So fast?

Xu Lai shot to his feet. “Is it execution after autumn?”

His aide glanced at his master and hesitated before saying: “Ji Lingchuan receives eighty strokes of the rod and is exiled to Nanning Prefecture. Everyone else is released without charges!”

“What?”

Like five thunderbolts striking his head, Xu Lai absolutely couldn’t believe his ears. “You… what did you say?”

The aide: “My lord, His Majesty has lifted it high but set it down gently!”

How is this possible?

This doesn’t make sense!

Xu Lai collapsed back into his chair, completely dumbfounded. After a long moment, he jumped up again.

“Quick, go to the Northern Bureau and find out—no, go to the Prince’s residence, go to the Prince’s residence and find out. There must be something going on here.”

“Yes!”

After his aide left, Xu Lai slumped down completely, feeling tightness in his chest.

It had been a sure thing—how could it turn upside down after just one night?

“My lord!”

“Why are you back again…”

Xu Lai’s words stopped halfway when he saw someone following behind his aide. He quickly rose to greet them.

That person respectfully bowed to Xu Lai and pulled out an invitation from his robe.

“Vice Minister Xu, His Highness is hosting a banquet at the residence this evening and requests Vice Minister Xu to come for a simple meal.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll definitely be there!”

Xu Lai accepted the invitation, his heart uneasy. He hadn’t accomplished the task for His Highness or succeeded in implicating the Zhang family. This banquet was probably…

Not a good banquet!

“His Highness has one more message for this servant to pass to Vice Minister Xu.”

“Please speak, please speak!”

“Eighty strokes of the rod—one could die, be crippled, or be injured…”

Xu Lai’s heart jumped. “What does His Highness mean?”

That person coldly replied with one word:

“Die!”

…

Northern Bureau.

Main hall.

Seated at the head were two people: the old Censor Lu Shi and Grand Eunuch Yan Ruxian.

Seated below were Ministry of Justice Vice Minister Xu Lai and Northern Bureau Chief Cai Si.

In the center of the main hall stood a torture device, with two men standing on either side—both were powerfully built and imposing in stature.

After waiting quietly for a moment, Ji Lingchuan was brought in supported by others.

Lu Shi and Yan Ruxian exchanged glances, then Lu Shi spoke solemnly: “Ji Lingchuan, do you have anything to say before the punishment?”

Ji Lingchuan’s face was deathly pale, his head hanging low, looking as if his soul had left his body.

Lu Shi slapped the gavel. “Ji Lingchuan, after eighty strokes you may live or die as Heaven wills. Won’t you leave a few words now?”

Ji Lingchuan raised his head, glanced at Lu Shi, then gently shook his head and closed his eyes again.

Lu Shi’s face remained unruffled, but his heart was greatly shaken. This man’s face showed no expression at all—he seemed resolved to die!

Yan Ruxian coughed. “Censor Lu, the time is about right!”

“Mm!”

Lu Shi’s gaze darkened. “Someone come—carry out the punishment!”

“Yes!”

The two men raised their rods and began striking.

For a time, heavy thuds of the rod echoed.

In just over a dozen strikes, the gray clothes on Ji Lingchuan’s body were already soaked with blood. His features twisted, yet he clenched his teeth tightly, not making a sound.

Cai Si watched with great alarm. His sharp gaze swept over the two men carrying out the punishment, then swept over Xu Lai beside him. His expression gradually darkened.

Punishment with the rod was very particular:

One type was loud thunder but small raindrops—it sounded like crack, crack, crack, but actually the force was all held back.

Another type was loud thunder and large raindrops—every stroke was real and solid, with no water mixed in.

He had already promised Third Master Xie that no matter what, he would preserve Ji Lingchuan’s life. Therefore, he had specifically instructed his men to strike with count but not force. Yet unexpectedly…

Everyone’s hands reach quite far!

At this moment, Xu Lai was observing his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, inwardly pleased.

Power and silver were truly wonderful things—the former could make people submit, the latter could make people work hard.

Cai Si, oh Cai Si, you wanted to preserve Ji Lingchuan’s wretched life under everyone’s watchful eyes, but you must first see if His Highness agrees!

Ji Lingchuan must die today without fail!

“Thirty, thirty-one…”

“Crack!”

Everyone present was shocked.

This was the sound of Ji Lingchuan’s shinbone breaking.

Breaking the shinbone in thirty strikes—Lu Shi and Yan Ruxian exchanged glances.

Lu Shi thought: Could it be that His Majesty still wants Ji Lingchuan to die?

Yan Ruxian thought: This Ji fellow hasn’t even grunted once. He really is a tough bone—no wonder he shouldered everything by himself.