Chapter 55: Getting Beaten

  In the main hall of Xia Yuan, Zhao Yi held up a "family law" made of unknown materials with both hands, kneeling in front of the portraits of the Emperor and Empress with his head bowed, not daring to move. Beside him stood Huang Jingchen with a bitter smile and a palace female official as cold as ice.

  "Your Highness, you have broken the rules again today. I will punish you on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress. Do you know your mistake?" The palace maid asked sternly.

  "I don't know what's wrong?" Zhao Chu thought for a moment, he didn't do anything excessive today, just wanted to go out and see the ceremony of the river embankment, visit his new winery and teach them how to make wine, but as soon as he walked to the second gate, she had him brought back, kneeling here for a while, he raised his head and said to this 'inspector' sent by his mother.

  "Huh?! Your Highness, you're thinking of sneaking out again, are you?!" 'Jiucha' pointed out his mistake, glaring at him.

  "It's really like that!" Zhao Xiao thought to herself, forcing her eyes wide open and staring back. "Isn't it wrong? This king's mansion is mine, the front door and the second door can't stop me from leaving? How can I be said to be stealing?" Zhao Xiao shifted her sore knees and replied, having been caught red-handed, she couldn't deny it anymore, so she could only change the concept.

  It turned out to be for this matter, he let out a sigh. 'Beauty', you say this female monitor has high hair buns, a melon-seed face, phoenix eyes, and a small cherry mouth; although she's slightly older, she's still a standard Chinese classical beauty, and with just one smile, she can make several old men fall head over heels in love. But why does she have to be so strict every day, glaring at everyone, scolding this person and hitting that one, making the people in the inner courtyard miserable? Her own butt has already been punished by 'family law' several times.

  "The king has come and still doesn't know what's wrong. I've already told the king about the rules of the palace, no one is allowed to leave the palace privately!"

  "This is the mansion, not the palace, where did so many rules come from? If you want to scold someone, just speak up!" Zhao Chu was somewhat annoyed. This woman treated her small Wang Fu as if it were a grand imperial palace, always making such a fuss, who could tolerate it? He stood up and threw the 'family law' at the front hall master. In his heart, he was even more resentful of his own mother. You say your son has just been in charge for a few days, and you've already sent him another "master", don't you know that your son bears the heavy responsibility of saving the Song Dynasty? Wait until I go to the Five Nations City to fetch you, why can't you be sensible?

  "There's a rumor in the palace that you're being disobedient, I won't tolerate it! Today, I must strictly discipline you on behalf of Her Majesty!" The eunuch immediately spoke with righteous indignation.

  "What are you staring at? Bring out the bench! If Grandfather finds out, we'll be in for another beating today. Don't you have any eyes to see?" Zhao Yi ignored her and spoke to the two little yellow gates standing by the side.

  "Alright, I'll personally carry out the family law today!" Zhao Che's attitude clearly irritated Qian Dian Zheng. Gnashing her teeth, she said, "In the past, although I was only a deputy in the palace, I was in charge of meting out punishment. Which prince or princess didn't behave themselves when they saw me? But this Second Prince is truly hopeless, first lecturing and then carrying out family law, without any change in attitude. Clearly, he doesn't take my position as the Empress's envoy seriously. That look in his eyes is clearly flirting with me."

  "Yu Zhu, the young lady, the king's body is weak. If something goes wrong, we won't be able to explain it to the queen. I'd better spare him from punishment today?" Huang Jingchen, seeing that the king was about to be beaten, hastily stepped forward to advise.

  "Your Excellency, the princess sent me here to teach the prince discipline, etiquette and reason. You don't need to interfere, I will report back to the princess myself." Yu Zhu gave a sideways glance at Huang Jingchen and said slowly, feeling unhappy in her heart, blaming this old thing, if you hadn't spoiled the prince, the princess wouldn't have sent me to this godforsaken place to be his governess. Now that you're not helping, you still want to trip me up!

  "You, since you're so stubborn, don't blame me for not warning you!" Huang Jingchen didn't expect to hit a snag. He was her old superior after all, and this made him lose face. He thought that with the king's protection, even if he died, he could be brought back to life, let alone being beaten by a few slaps. He gave Zhao an "take care" glance and turned away.

  "The princess is so ungrateful, she said she wanted to work together for a great cause, but now that I'm in trouble, she doesn't care at all!" Zhao Yi gave Huang Jingchen a white eye, thinking angrily, but didn't expect that the story he made up would backfire. But since he had already acted tough today, he couldn't back down halfway, so he puffed out his chest and said: "Hurry up and hit me, I still want to go fly a kite after this!"

  "Good!" The little yellow gates around the 'guanci' couldn't help but praise, of course, in their hearts. They were also afraid of this evil woman to death and could only give the king a encouraging look, showing spiritual support.

  "Please, Your Highness, stand up and put out your hand!" The front hall master was not a vegetarian either. Since the king's buttocks were much thicker today, she knew there was something underneath. However, she was still an unmarried old maid and couldn't possibly strip a man's pants in public. Moreover, doing so would humiliate the king, and the queen wouldn't let her off easy either. She changed her mind after a quick turn of her eyes.

  "What, no spanking today? I've been preparing for nothing, and now I'm in trouble!" Zhao Yi was shocked. The "family law" given by the empress dowager was made of some unknown material that hurt incredibly when hit on the body. The previous two times when the small eunuchs from the palace carried out the punishment, even though they had let up a bit, he still couldn't sit for several days due to the pain. Today, as soon as he saw himself being caught, he knew there was no good outcome, so he took advantage of the opportunity to urinate and quickly put on his armor on his buttocks, but it still didn't help him escape this calamity.

  "Hmph, come on!" Zhao now had no choice but to ride the tiger to the end. Losing was one thing, but losing face was unacceptable. Today would be a good opportunity for some combat training anyway. With an air of nonchalance, he stretched out his left hand.

  Yu Zhu ordered two of her subordinates to grab Zhao Che's arm, and with the "family law" in hand, she raised it high and swung it down fiercely. She knew that the family law was made from the best rattan soaked in oil, then added with leather strips and golden threads woven together, and when hit on the body, it would be a pain that pierced to the bone marrow.

  "Slap!" Yu Zhu was furious at Zhao Che's disrespect and wanted to assert her authority in front of everyone. This first slap was a real, solid hit, and she felt the king's body tremble, but didn't hear any cries of pain. "Could it be that I haven't used my hands in so many days, I've become too light?" Yu Zhu wondered in her heart. Normally, this one slap would make anyone, whether child or adult, cry out in pain without stopping. But the king's small hand had swollen up like a balloon, showing that she hadn't held back at all!

  "Alright!" Just as Yu Zhu was puzzled, she heard the king's counting voice. She lowered her head and glanced at Zhao Che, who although had a frown on his face and his mouth twitching, still had a smile hanging on his lips, clearly not conceding.

  "Two down, three down, four down"... Every time Zhao Kun counted down, Yu Zhu's strength increased a little. She pulled six times in a row, but King Wang, although sweating profusely at this moment, had an even brighter smile on his face.

  Yu Zhu felt she had suffered the greatest insult of her life, rampaging through the palace, and the female Rakshasa who made the men and women in the palace tremble with fear couldn't even handle a child. If this got out, how could she show her face again? For a moment, her mind was clouded by rage, and she forgot that the one in front of her was a prince. The thorny rod came down heavily once more.

  "Mercy, General! Spare the prince's life!" A small yellow gate guard suddenly rushed up, knelt down and grabbed her hand, shouting.

  "Spare Lord Wang!" The little yellow gates in the courtyard all knelt down and cried out.

  "Let go, it's not your turn to speak here!" The people who came to the government office begged Zhao Di for mercy, but she became even more enraged.

  "Meet joy, let go of your hands and stand up!" Zhao Shu shouted loudly, but in his heart, it was warm.

  "Your Highness, I won't let you! Your hand will be crippled!" Xiang Xi still held onto Yu Zhu's hand and shouted, "Dian Zheng, I'm willing to take the punishment for His Highness. Hit me instead!" Xiang Xi was also from the palace and knew more about this demonic woman's methods. Upon hearing her footsteps, his heart trembled with fear. However, thinking back to when he almost died on the execution ground during the manhunt for assassins in the mansion, but was saved by His Highness, he mustered up the courage to stand forward despite the possible punishment that awaited him.

  "We are willing to take punishment on behalf of the king!" The little yellow gates shouted after kowtowing.

  "Come on, I'll say it again. Stand up, all of you! Have you forgotten what I usually tell you?" Zhao Zhe pulled up Qiong Xi and shouted to the others.

  "A man should be strong!"

  "Yes, a man should be strong. If you want others to look up to you, you must first look up to yourself. Why bow your head to this wicked woman? Stand up!" Zhao Shu said, kicking Xiang Xi who was kneeling at his feet.

  "Yes, Your Highness!" Xiang Xi suddenly stood up, wiping away the tears on his face, but more tears kept falling. The others also got up one by one, and their eyes seemed to hold something extra.

  "Hit me again! If you can make me utter a sound today, I'll consider myself defeated!" Zhao Xiao said with a cold smile.

  "Alright, you're good!" Yu Zhu was furious that Zhao Che still dared to challenge her authority, and she raised her hand to hit him again.

  "Dian Zheng, can't hit anymore, Wang Ye's hand." At this time, a palace maid who came with Yuzhu reminded her.

  Yu Zhu finally hadn't lost her mind, but the young master's hand was now swollen, red and purple, with black showing through. His fingers were thicker than his toes. "Hmph, that's enough for today. Next time, you'll be severely punished!" Yu Zhu was a little scared, regretting that she had used too much force. Although the empress had told her to discipline the young master, they were mother and son after all. If she really hurt him, it would be bad luck for herself. But things had already gone this far, so she could only put on a strong front.

  "I'll remember this beating today, and I hope you also remember that this is the young master's palace, it's my territory. There are some things that aren't for you to decide!" Zhao Ke glared at Yu Zhu's eyes coldly and said. Yu Zhu let out a cold snort and turned around to leave, but suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, and couldn't help but shiver. This cold seemed to be rising from the bottom of her heart, like a cold wind flowing through her eight meridians and spreading throughout her body.