mtl008 Chapter 108 I can punish him, and I can manage him. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will always b
Chapter 108 I can punish him, and I can manage him. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will always b
Lin Shihe did not want Lu Yuxi to destroy the guarantee or make any more vows.
After having Lu Yuxi write an imperial edict last time, he thought that was the end of it.
Language, people's hearts, and oaths are all illusions, unlike real imperial edicts. This is similar to why Emperor Longyun suggested that Lin Shiming write a guarantee, or why an IOU is required when borrowing money.
People's hearts and oaths may change, and reasoning and rhetoric may emerge from another angle, but an imperial edict will not.
Lin Shihe and Lu Yuxi were still holding back some of what they had just said.
In fact, with this imperial edict in hand, and the power of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, even in the worst-case scenario, if something were to happen and Lu Yuxi were to renege on her promise and use her power to pressure him, Lin Shiming might still be able to escape unscathed. Although there would be some price to pay.
However, these words couldn't be said directly to Lu Yuxi; it was inappropriate from every angle. They couldn't very well give the future emperor the impression that "my family can use this edict to control you," could they?
Therefore, Lin Shihe could only plan ahead for his younger brother in his heart.
However, this is on the premise that Lin Shiming can come to his senses in time after being hurt and is willing to cooperate in escaping. At that time, Lin Shiming was indeed rational and clear-headed. When Lin Shihe came out of Xuanzheng Hall and told him, he readily accepted it and even seemed to understand everything, so it seemed that no one needed to worry about him.
But it's different now.
This arrangement was already quite secure, but Lin Shiming was determined to get involved and even wrote a "guarantee".
Already severely fatigued, Lin Shihe became dizzy and pale with anger upon seeing Emperor Longyun's smug and boastful letter. In modern terms, his blood pressure soared.
How is this any different from cutting off your own escape route?
With this guarantee, how will he extricate himself if something unexpected happens in the future?
And that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that this person himself had the idea of staying for a lifetime. This is what Lin Shihe finds most unacceptable.
It's not good if something goes wrong and he tries his best to save people, while Lin Shiming hesitates and is unwilling to give up. If the protagonist can't make up his mind, what good plan can there be? Arrange a fake death for him, and maybe he won't want to leave.
Therefore, whether or not the guarantee is torn up is no longer of much significance; what matters most is Lin Shiming's intention.
Therefore, Lin Shihe decided to punish Lin Shiming in front of Lu Yuxi.
“Your Highness, that guarantee was written voluntarily by my younger brother. It reflects his wishes, and I will not force him to change it.”
Lin Shihe downed the tea in his cup in one gulp, as if he were drinking strong liquor.
"I have nothing more to say to stop you or to ask you for anything. Ultimately, this marriage is a matter between the two of you, and the decision is yours to make."
Simply put, it's all about conscience.
"The reason Shi Ming was beaten today is threefold: first, to show Your Highness how your actions affect him, so that you will consider his needs more carefully in the future; second, to punish him for cutting off his own escape route, acting on impulse, and being impulsive; and third, to tell Your Highness that even if Shi Ming is included in your royal family genealogy, he is still the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo's family."
"I can punish him, and I can also control him." Lin Shihe's sharp gaze went straight to Lu Yuxi. "The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will always be his support."
No matter who it is, they should think twice before trying to bully his child.
Lu Yuxi, understanding the implied meaning, stood up and cupped her hands in greeting, saying, "Brother, rest assured, I will remember today's lesson."
"Your Highness, I, as your elder brother, will accept this courtesy."
It had been about half a cup of tea's time since they came in, and Lin Shihe roughly estimated that he would not continue his conversation with Lu Yuxi.
"Let's go, His Highness must be getting impatient. Let's go to the main hall to rescue your Crown Princess."
*
When Lu Yuxi rushed into the main hall, the guards inside were still slowly lowering their sticks.
Lin Shiming was tied to a carved bench, his mouth gagged, only able to groan incessantly with each blow of the stick falling from behind him. When he heard Lu Yuxi run in, Lin Shiming's eyes, which had been filled with despair and beatings, suddenly brightened considerably. He turned around with difficulty and pleaded for help from Lu Yuxi.
"Everyone stop it!"
A guard stepped forward and blocked Lu Yuxi's path. "Your Highness, the young master has ordered that the attack must not be stopped without his permission."
Lin Shiming: "Waaaaah!"
Isn't the Crown Prince a higher-ranking official than my brother? You don't listen to the Crown Prince, you listen to my brother!
Ugh, if it weren't for my brother being such a wicked person and having them gag me, I would have definitely argued with you all and given you all a reason!
"Waaaaah!" Help me!
"Shi Ming!" Lu Yuxi rushed forward anxiously, "How much punishment has my brother been given? I'll take his place!"
The guards dared not lay a hand on Lu Yuxi, yet they also dared not disobey Lin Shihe's orders. Caught in a dilemma, a clear voice came from the doorway.
"Alright, stop for now." Lin Shihe walked in slowly. "How many did you hit?"
"Your Highness, it is already one hundred and twenty-four."
The number was close to what he had estimated. Lin Shihe nodded, "That's enough for now, let His Highness the Crown Prince proceed."
With Lin Shihe's order, the guards finally stopped what they were doing and took a step back to make way for Lu Yuxi.
With no obstacles in sight, Lu Yuxi rushed to Lin Shiming and hurriedly removed the white cloth from his mouth.
The moment his mouth was freed, Lin Shiming couldn't wait to call out, "Legs! Legs! My legs!"
"Leg? What happened to your leg!" Lu Yuxi was sweating profusely and hurriedly looked at Lin Shiming's leg, wondering if it had been injured.
He checked twice and found that the guards were all experienced in torture. The sticks landed accurately on the back and buttocks, places that were not dangerous and could withstand a beating. They deliberately avoided the back and lumbar spine, and there were no marks on the legs.
It shouldn't have been broken!
Lu Yuxi was completely baffled, so she could only check again while anxiously asking, "Where on your leg?"
Soon, Lin Shiming's miserable reply came from ahead.
"The rope on my leg..."
Everyone's eyes were subconsciously drawn to Lin Shiming's two slender and long legs.
"Quick...untie me...my legs are going numb from being tied so tight! Ouch!"
Lu Yuxi:
The surrounding guards chuckled.
"Waaaaah! Help me!"
Lin Shihe shook his head helplessly and chuckled. He stepped forward to help untie the ropes binding Lin Shiming's ankles. Lu Yuxi then realized what was happening and quickly untied the ropes binding her thighs.
"Ouch—slow down, slow down!"
With Lin Shiming's occasional howls, the two ropes binding his legs were finally untied in no time. As blood flowed and the numbness and tingling subsided, Lin Shiming finally breathed a sigh of relief and resumed his singing, chanting, and fighting.
"Waaah! Your Highness, you have no idea how pitiful I am! My legs were numb and I still had to be beaten; it was so painful, one blow after another..."
These henchmen are so reckless. The day I catch them in a compromising situation, I'll make them experience what it's like to be beaten numb with sticks!
Lin Shihe was looking down, busy untying the ropes on Lin Shiming's wrists. This close contact made his head buzz with Lin Shiming's incessant crying and complaining.
"Alright, keep it down. If you keep yelling, I'll gag you again."
After being warned, Lin Shiming immediately shut up and instead looked at Lu Yuxi with pitiful eyes, expressing his grievances, which made the already heartbroken Crown Prince feel even more distressed.
"Brother, why speak so harshly? Let's talk things out slowly."
Look at how distressed he is! Lin Shihe, unusually, rolled his eyes at Lu Yuxi, disregarding his image. No wonder you're so easily charmed by this little brat, and can't control him at all.
Lin Shihe scoffed, tossed the untied rope to a guard beside him, then turned and sat down in the main seat of the hall, watching with interest as Lu Yuxi coaxed him gently.
"...So why did I get beaten up like this?!"