Evil wind entering the body? Not entering early, not entering late, but entering precisely when she was supposed to receive household punishment? Shen Guiyan stepped forward to block Yushu, who was supporting Shen Guiya and preparing to leave. Her voice calm, she said: “Don’t rush to help eldest sister-in-law away. Madam, regarding evil wind entering the body, the Shen family has always had methods to treat this.”
“What methods?” Madam Gu hurriedly asked.
Shen Guiyan unhurriedly pushed Yushu around to turn her body, smiling: “The Shen family ancestral graves have deficient feng shui, so it’s inevitable there are times when one suffers from yin invasion. Whenever this happens, Mother would beat them severely, and the evil body would naturally distance itself from their person.”
“Beat?” Madam Gu glanced at Shen Guiya.
“Yes.” Shen Guiyan nodded very seriously: “It just so happens household punishment is needed. Why not tie up eldest sister-in-law and finish it? Didn’t you say last time, Madam, that the Gu family’s household punishment cannot be desecrated, much less stopped halfway?”
Yushu grew anxious: “This servant also came from the Shen residence. How is it I’ve never heard of such a method?”
“Because you’re a servant.” Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes: “Some things naturally only the masters know.”
“Nonsense!” Shen Guiya, who had been pretending to convulse, couldn’t help but say: “I’m also a master. How come I don’t know?”
Shen Guiyan smiled, raising her eyes to look at her meaningfully: “See? Eldest sister-in-law has an evil spirit entering her body and has begun speaking deliriously.”
“I’m not speaking deliriously.” Shen Guiya glared at her furiously: “You clearly just want to beat me!”
Not speaking deliriously. Shen Guiyan arched her brows: “Does eldest sister-in-law know what Madam hates most is people deceiving her?”
As soon as these words came out, Shen Guiya reacted, looking up at the main seat in alarm, hurriedly trying to continue feigning madness.
Madam Gu above had already snorted coldly: “What a fine case of evil wind entering the body. Just now you were shouting and yelling—how is it you’re now speaking so clearly sentence by sentence?”
Shen Guiya’s scalp went numb as she looked at Shen Guiyan with resentment.
Shen Guiyan gave her a Gu Chaobei-style smile, bright teeth flashing, utterly infuriating. The Shen family indeed had no such method—she was just making it up. But by saying this, whether Shen Guiya argued or didn’t argue, she wouldn’t be able to reduce the remaining strokes by even one.
However many there were, that’s how many she’d get!
“Not only shameless, violating the seven grounds for divorce, but also trying to deceive and mislead superiors, attempting to escape responsibility?” Gu Chaodong said coldly from the side: “This time, no matter what excuses you have, I won’t forgive you again. No matter how many mutual divorce agreements you hold in your hands, they’re useless. My Gu family can no longer tolerate you.”
“Gu Chaodong!” Shen Guiya’s knee pit was kicked by someone, making her kneel down again. Eyes full of viciousness, she looked at him: “If you don’t keep your word, then don’t blame me for telling everyone about your and Shen Guiyan’s scandalous affairs!”
Madam Gu was shocked. Gu Chaobei, who had almost fallen asleep beside Shen Guiyan, was also awakened by this shout, looking around in confusion.
Gu Chaodong stepped forward in alarm, wanting to stop her. Shen Guiyan’s expression was calm: “Guiyan would very much like to hear what matters between myself and eldest brother since after marriage still cannot be spoken of?”
Shen Guiya snorted coldly: “I’m afraid your husband won’t be able to bear hearing it.”
“It’s fine.” Gu Chaobei yawned: “Eldest sister-in-law’s behavior today, your husband can bear it. He and I were born from the same father.”
Shen Guiya: “…”
Choked by this sentence until her expression turned ugly, Gu Chaodong also glared at Gu Chaobei several times. That person was half-awake, half-asleep, leaning to one side, completely unconcerned.
“If you really want me to speak, then I’ll speak!” Pressed to the ground, Shen Guiya raised her head to look at Madam Gu: “If you want me to receive household punishment, then your son and this woman deserve even more to be drowned in a pig cage!”
Madam Gu slapped the table, so angry the flesh on her face trembled, along with a scar left from last time, making her look extremely fierce: “Continue the household punishment. Beat her while letting her talk to her heart’s content!”
“Yes.” The household servant complied and raised the rod again.
“Even if you beat me to death today I’ll still speak. Your son… ah! You think your son is some good thing?” Shen Guiya was furious, her eyes turning red: “He married me, yet still went to the garden to secretly meet with this little slut… ah! In ancient times, shouldn’t this warrant drowning in a pig cage? Why does she get off without any consequences?”
The rod fell again and again. Shen Guiya’s body was covered with her robe from earlier, not appearing overly scandalous, but these sentences she spoke were utterly scandalous: “Day and night he thinks about how to obtain his own younger brother’s wife. Shouldn’t he also receive household punishment!”
Perhaps seeing Madam Gu’s expression, the household servant wielding the rod struck harder with each blow, beating Shen Guiya until her later words became intermittent. But her temper had also flared up, and she insisted on finishing her words even while enduring the beating.
Gu Chaodong’s face was completely red. Shen Guiyan, however, was very calm: “Does eldest sister-in-law have evidence?”
“You…” Shen Guiya’s face flushed bright red. Enduring the pain, she said: “What evidence do you want?”
“For example, did anyone witness eldest brother and me meeting alone in private?”
“Yu… ah! Yushu!”
Called by name, Yushu hurriedly stepped forward: “This servant has seen it, right in our garden.”
Madam Gu frowned. Gu Chaobei also finally opened his eyes.
Shen Guiyan turned her head to look at Yushu: “Are you certain it was only eldest brother and me, the two of us?”
Yushu was stunned. She glanced at her own young miss, stammering: “Baoshan was also there.”
“Then that settles it.” Shen Guiyan curtsied slightly toward Madam Gu: “With a third person present, one cannot speak of a secret meeting. Since Yan’er married into the residence, she has strictly observed wifely conduct and has never been alone with eldest brother.”
“Mm.” Madam Gu nodded.
This Shen Guiya really had short-circuited her brain. Since ancient times mothers favor their sons. She actually went to complain about her son to his biological mother—who would listen to her? Although she wanted to drag Shen Guiyan down with her, she’d obviously chosen the wrong person.
It wasn’t her fault though. Guiyan usually stayed properly in the residence, so she couldn’t find anything to say about her.
“Furthermore, what eldest sister-in-law said about eldest brother’s words… is there any evidence?”
Shen Guiya was about to faint from the pain, her breath faint as a thread: “I… I have…”
“Isn’t the household punishment a bit too slow!” Madam Gu suddenly said angrily.
The household servant administering punishment was startled and hurriedly used all his strength for the next blow.
“Ah!” Shen Guiya screamed once, rolled her eyes back, and fainted from the pain. The rest of her words were never spoken.
Madam Gu pressed her hand to her chest, saying angrily: “Take this unchaste, unfilial, dishonest person and bind her in the woodshed. Tomorrow, tie her up and send her back to the Shen residence!”
“Yes.” The household servants behind hurriedly came forward to take her away. Yushu’s face had turned white with fright as she looked at her hesitantly.
If she followed her mistress to the woodshed, she might end up unable to turn things around just like her mistress. But if she didn’t go, what if her mistress found some other way to turn things around—wouldn’t she miss out on any benefits?
In this moment of hesitation, Shen Guiya had already been dragged away.
Gritting her teeth, Yushu still followed.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was somewhat heavy. Shen Guiya had been taken away, but the chaos in the room remained. Neither Madam Gu nor Gu Chaodong could save face, and yet Shen Guiyan and Gu Chaobei were still beside them having watched the entire farce, which made them even more annoyed.
Shen Guiyan was just thinking of finding some words to take her leave when Gu Chaobei beside her had already pulled her over: “Let’s go back and sleep.”
Without even taking formal leave, he walked straight out. Shen Guiyan looked back somewhat anxiously, but fortunately Madam Gu and Gu Chaodong, because of what had just happened, didn’t notice the breach of etiquette.
She didn’t know if she was being too sensitive, but why did she feel Gu Chaobei was somewhat unhappy?
“What’s wrong?” After returning to the northern courtyard and helping Gu Chaobei change clothes, Shen Guiyan asked quietly.
“Nothing.” Gu Chaobei held her, burying his head lightly on her shoulder: “It’s just that the pastry I like has been eyed by a fly, so I’m a bit unhappy.”
Shen Guiyan couldn’t help but laugh. Could it be that Shen Guiya’s words just now had gotten through to him?
“Does husband not trust this wife?”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you.” Gu Chaobei snorted lightly: “I just dislike this feeling. I’ll have to find an opportunity to teach him a lesson.”
Shen Guiyan raised her brows, her expression turning serious: “Starting tomorrow he’ll be Vice Minister of Justice, several ranks higher in office. You must be respectful.”
Huffing air through his nose, Gu Chaobei muttered: “If I weren’t letting him have it, where would he have the chance to be imposing?”
Just like a sulking child.
Shen Guiyan reached out to pinch his face, laughing softly: “My husband is the most imposing. No one can steal away that imposingness. Alright, let’s sleep first. It’s so late, and tomorrow you still have to report for duty.”
“Mm.” Gu Chaobei yawned, reaching out to carry her onto the bed, warmly curling up together.
Han Jiangxue returned drunk. Yuwen Houde had been waiting at the entrance the whole time. As soon as he saw her, he hurried over to receive her, frowning at Yuwen Changqing: “Why did she drink?”
Yuwen Changqing lazily walked past him: “Elder cousin, you’d better ask yourself that question. I’m tired. I’m also going back to rest.”
Yuwen Houde’s heart ached. Supporting Han Jiangxue back to the room, his eyes were full of regret.
How could he be so unable to resist temptation? His own wife was so good—how could he have been so muddled for a moment?
Han Jiangxue turned over, tear stains still on her face.
Yuwen Houde went out to personally fetch water, still swearing in his heart that this time was definitely the last time. He absolutely couldn’t do anything to let Xue’er down again in the future.
But just as he walked into the courtyard, he saw a servant beside him rush over anxiously, saying in a low voice: “The people from the Gu residence sent word, saying they need My Lord to save a life.”
Yuwen Houde was stunned. He glanced at the room, frowning: “Save what life? Between her and me… we have no connection anymore, right?”
That servant looked around furtively with shifty eyes, anxiously slapping his thigh: “The people from the Gu residence said that if My Lord refuses to save her and lets her die, before she dies she’ll announce to the world what happened at Youyuan Inn.”
Yuwen Houde frowned.
The sky gradually brightened. Shen Guiya and Yushu had spent the entire night in the woodshed.
Originally, Shen Guiya thought that being divorced was just being divorced. She had money and could get by anywhere. But then Yushu said tremblingly: “Our master has always been concerned about face—has Miss forgotten? If you’re truly divorced and sent back because of the seven grounds, without anyone else saying anything, the master will personally send Miss to be drowned in the lake!”