Chapter 31 (1/2)
Qingyang's Punishment
Chengfeng walked towards the raphy brush beside the calligraphy set He swung the calligraphy brush and wrote one word on the paper as he asked Zhou Qingyang, “Dear Young Master Zhou, the self-acclaimed 'national scholar', please tell me… what is this word?”
If anyone looked at the paper, all they would see was just gibberish The writing was so sloppy no one couldHis face turned red froive an answer
“Oh, you don't recognise it?” Li Chengfeng proceeded to write another word of gibberish on another piece of paper He held it up as he asked Zhou Qingyang again, “Well, Young Master Zhou do you know this word then?”
Zhou Qingyang's lips treh unsure if it was froibberish, aren't you? No one can recognise that!”
Li Chengfeng held the two pieces of paper together and presented it to the crowd “Does anyone recognise these tords?” he asked
On the floor above, Liu Sumei, who stood behind Little Bell, quietly muttered tords Little Bell quickly took the chance and replied to Li Chengfeng, “I think it's read as the 'Lian' [廉] in 'Lian Chi' [廉耻] and the 'chi' [耻] in 'Lian Chi' [廉耻]!”
[T/L note: 'Lian Chi' 廉耻 means “with no conscience nor shame” in Chinese]
Li Chengfeng suddenly threw the two pieces of paper on the ground He aggressively pointed his finger at Zhou Qingyang as he yelled at hiht!”
Zhou Qingyang's already horrendous facial expression instantly changed As he was about to try and defend hie towards Zhou Qingyang His words spouted out like cannons, and his sentences were like heavy stor until he was burnt to a crisp
“Even a young handnise these tords! It reads: 'SHAME'!How ironic it is that you call yourself a scholar, yet do not even know the word 'shame'? And you even dare to mention academic texts and the relics of saints?! From what I see, you're not just a decorative pot whose insides are ugly, shattered and cracked, you're also a ence! And no dignity!” scolded Li Chengfeng furiously, not leaving even an inch of space for Qingyang to retaliate
“Y-you!” Zhou Qingyang's face turned from red to purple fro cut hiain
“Silver Hairpin was pregnant with your child, yet you killed her to save your reputation! Not caring if she was carrying your flesh and blood!Even a vicious tiger will not eat its cubs, just what kind of cruelexclai, his finger poked at Qingyang's heart at every sentence, each word like a sharp knife piercing through his body
“Everyone knew Zhixi had only sold her talents and not her body throughout her life, she was a wority She had never let anyone see her true face Yet, she trusted you of all people and let you into her boudoir! And all you were thinking throughout your exchanges was how to taint her reputation with your dirty hands! When she was still alive, you treated her as if she was a beautiful phoenix, but the second she had turned into a cold corpse, you were already playing around with other wo fun as you threw her to the back of your mind like she never mattered! What sort of injustice is this!”
Zhou Qingyang's face was as red as amber, the veins on his neck popped He stuttered as he tried to retaliate, “S-s-she, s-she as no-nothing b-b-but a wo around!”
Li Chengfeng let out a guffaw, but his laughter was filled with rage He once again poked Zhou Qingyang on the chest and said, “Just ' on! Even if you tere just ' around', why have you shown yourself at such a venue? From what I know, in Daqi anyone who prepares for the imperial examination is considered a reserved official, and all officials are expressly prohibited fro: prostitution! You knew that it was forbidden yet you still commit this crime?! The level of disrespect you have for the official's code of conduct!”
Zhou Qingyang's face was filled with horror He suddenly staggered as if someone had just punched him in the chest
Li Chengfeng continued, “You're out of your mind, on the one hand, you talk of the relics of saints yet, on the other hand, you commit such despicable acts Even three-year-olds know that these acts should never be done, yet you! A self-proclaimed scholar who had studied the relics of saints can actually commit such heinous crimes! This level of decrepit sho insolent you are!”
“Silver Hairpin betrayed others just to help you, she even killed a person for you! She gave her entire life to you, yet you coldly threw her and your unborn child to the side and killed them so that no one would know of your heinous crimes This level of betrayal and abandonment sho untrustworthy you are!”
“You're a , untrustworthy, conscienceless and unintelligentYou have failed all five basic morals, how could you possibly still have the face to show yourself to us all!” yelled Li Chengfeng, his face was solemn and severe
Zhou Qingyang's face went paler and paler, Li Chengfeng poked his chest once again At thisunconsciously covered his chest as he felt a sudden throbbing pain He pointed to Li Chengfeng as he trembled, only to reply, “Y-you…”
Li Chengfeng glared at hi?”