Chapter 84: Impressive might, different degrees of punishment (2) (2/2)

Han Yunxi smiled. “Then what kind of living punishment will Official Ouyang choose?”

This…

Lady Xu and Han Yuqi exchanged glances. Official Ouyang was resolute that he wouldn’t die if he didn’t seek trouble. He wanted to say that the slapping was enough, so the living punishment should be lenient, but seeing Han Yunxi’s false smile, he didn’t dare speak. Awkwardly he said, “Of course, I’ll listen to esteemed wangfei on the matter.”

Lady Xu and her son’s eyes filled with aggravation at the words.

“Chen Xiang, what do you think?” Han Yunxi asked lazily.

“Mistress, we can excuse the death penalty, so let’s cane him 100 times,” Chen Xiang answered easily, as if she was making chitchat.

Han Yuqi’s eyes boggled in response, while Lady Xu struggled to contain her fury as she kept her tone frosty. “This little lady certainly knows how to joke…”

“What joke? I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” Han Yunxi said carelessly as if she was discussing the weather.

Now everyone’s faces had turned pale. Lady Xu’s expression was completely black. She couldn’t bear it any more; neither could Official Ouyang keep calm. He implored, “Esteemed wangfei, 100 beatings will kill a man. He was already slapped just then, so as this official sees it, the living punishment should be more lenient.”

Naturally, Han Yunxi knew the consequences of 100 beatings. She just wanted to frighten Lady Xu. It wasn’t easy to see the eldest young Miss of the Civil Board magistrate’s family lose color in her face. She’d grown up in an oppressive house, tormented until adulthood. Every three days, they’d curse her, every five days, they’d beat her. The multiple lashings she’d gotten from bamboo whips had torn the skin from her arms. Most of these were gifted to her by Lady Xu, so she was very clear about her temper.

You could plead with her nicely or beg with tears in your eyes, but her heart was still venomous. It was as if it concealed a viper that was always watching for its chance to strike. The only way to control her was through her precious son.

Han Yunxi shot Lady Xu a glance as if she was considering the proposal. “Deal with him leniently? This, well…”

The crowd tensed. Lady Xu shot Official Ouyang multiple looks before the man tried again carefully. “Esteemed wangfei, why don’t…why don’t we punish him according to Han Family rules?”

Domestic discipline within the Han house had various serious punishments, but all of them were lighter than 100 beatings. Han Yunxi had experienced many of them growing up. Amongst the 100 different punishments, she knew them all. It looked like Official Ouyang and Lady Xu still held hope up to this point.

She quickly dashed those hopes to the ground. “This wangfei’s punishing him for threatening the wangfei. Don’t mix things up, Official Ouyang!”

Official Ouyang’s heart gave a lurch as he came to a realization. There was no escape for Han Yuqi.

Lady Xu wouldn’t give up and wanted to entreat her again, but Han Yunxi said coldly, “50 beatings, and those who plead on his behalf can be beaten with him!”

Silence descended with her words. Lady Xu looked at Han Yunxi in disbelief, unable to believe that this girl was actually serious. If 50 beatings didn’t paralyze the victim, it’d still leave them bedridden for one or two months. At this critical juncture when everyone was vying for the head of house’s position, how could eldest young master compete against Third and Seventh Madame if he couldn’t even get off the bed?

Wasn’t this taking him out of the race ahead of time?

Lady Xu clenched her fists and prepared to protest, but Han Yuqi beat her to it. He rushed before Han Yunxi and cried, “Han Yunxi, don’t be fool enough to reject a life-saving offer! This young master’s had enough, I’m telling you now, if you dare try today to…”

Before he could finish, Official Ouyang rushed forward to pull him back. “Eldest young master, you cannot be rude!”

Han Yuqi threw him off and wanted to continue cursing, but Official Ouyang rushed to remind, “Lady Xu, this cannot do! If it continues the affair will be irreconcilable! You must know, eldest young master offended esteemed wangfei first. No matter esteemed wangfei’s current position in her house…aye, she’s still the face for the Duke of Qin’s estate! If things get huge, even if the magistrate shows himself it still won’t…”

Lady Xu understood before he went on. She was very reluctant, but had to pull her son back. “Yuqi, have you been slapped stupid? You still won’t…”

Han Yuqi had gotten used to bullying others, so how could he keep calm when it was his turn? He angrily told Lady Xu, “Mother, what are you afraid of her doing? Didn’t you say before that she can’t treat us as she likes despite being Qin Wangfei? We still have grandfather to back us up! He won’t stand for it!”

Of course Lady Xu had said these words and even more outrageous things besides. But they couldn’t be said in front of Han Yunxi! She viciously pinched Han Yuqi’s arm to shut him up. “Enough! If you keep up your wild ravings, you can get lost from the Han house!” This was her only way to warn him.

In the end, Han Yuqi still feared his mother the most. Hearing this, he had no choice but to settle into a stormy silence…

-o-

[1] Han Ruoxue (韩若雪) – Ruoxue means ‘like snow.’