Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Begging the Yue Family for Severe Punishment
After leaving the rockery, Shen Hua returned to her side room to rest.
She slept for two hours. When she awoke, she saw Cui Rong flaunting the shuttlecock she had just received deliberately.
"Guess how many times I can kick it?"
To not give her the satisfaction, Shen Hua paid her no mind, clearly seeing through Cui Rong’s intentions, "No need to guess, can I just praise you directly?"
"Really amazing, your legs seem to be made for kicking shuttlecocks, it’s just they are a bit short, not gaining in length."
Cui Rong: "..."
You’re the one who’s short!
Cui Rong glared, "I’ll give you a chance to compete with me. I won’t let you lose too miserably."
Shen Hua’s clear and bright eyes glittered.
"Compete with you?"
"Yes."
"But I don’t want to compete with you."
"That’s not acceptable!"
"Then I admit defeat."
Cui Rong was fiercely stubborn, holding her head high with pride, hands on her hips, "Then wouldn’t I win without honor?"
"That’s not acceptable!"
The more Shen Hua didn’t want to compete, the more Cui Rong itched for it.
"I order you to kick the shuttlecock."
"I am a Commandery Princess, you should listen to me."
Shen Hua: "I didn’t hear that."
Having suffered under Shen Hua before, Cui Rong couldn’t keep up her forcefulness, the little girl unnaturally dropped her arms, clenching her fists while her gaze wandered.
She was full of grief and indignation.
"Sister Shen, then please, I beg you."
Shen Hua lowered her eyes slowly, "I heard that."
Cui Rong hurriedly handed the shuttlecock to Shen Hua.
The shuttlecock, delicately made by the maids with pigeon feathers, was small and exquisite. Shen Hua felt its weight and knew what to expect, then she tossed it down, her embroidered shoes peeking out from under her skirt.
With the tip of her toe, she caught it, gently lifting it upward.
Cui Rong carefully counted.
Shen Hua kicked steadily, but it wasn’t long before her body couldn’t bear it. Not reaching ten, the girl stopped.
Cui Rong gave a pretentious critique.
"That’s just so-so."
"Now, it’s my turn. Sister Shen, you count for me."
She proudly held back from losing her composure, listening to Shen Hua count.
"One."
"One."
"One."
Cui Rong stopped.
"What’s happening! Keep counting upwards! Go on."
Shen Hua cooperated this time, counting from one to nine. Then she slowly said.
"Eight."
"Seven."
Shen Hua softly remarked, "So impressive, but why is the number decreasing?"
Cui Rong: ... Whom should I ask then?
"Five."
"Two."
Cui Rong: Why are you still jumping down the count!
"That’s too much!" She yelled loudly.
But Shen Hua covered her chest.
"What’s wrong with you?"
"I got scared by the Commandery Princess."
Cui Rong: !!!
"Will the Commandery Princess continue kicking?"
Cui Rong ran away angrily.
As soon as she left, Shen Hua reined in her smile somewhat. Her face pained, she leaned weakly against the wall, letting her body slide down. After a moment, she calmly wiped away the bloodstain at the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.
The blood on the white handkerchief was still not a healthy crimson, but it was no longer the thick black color as before.
Shen Hua stared blankly at the white handkerchief.
Until Cui Rong doubled back. Subconsciously, Shen Hua put the handkerchief away. Then, she beckoned Cui Rong with her finger.
"Little ghost, help me up."
Cui Rong: "It was just a blink of an eye, truly a never-ending worry."
While she said that, her body moved honestly as she hurried over.
Shen Hua leaned against the wall with one hand and, with the help of Cui Rong’s strength, finally stood up. Cui Rong then moved a chair over for Shen Hua to sit down.
Cui Rong pursed her lips, hesitantly she said, "Are you not feeling well? I can go find Ni Kang. Where is Yingwu, didn’t she sneak off to the kitchen to steal a chicken leg again? If I hadn’t returned, who would have supported you? Ying Yi once said that Yingwu is usually alright, but when it comes to chicken legs, she always makes mistakes. Eat, eat, eat, that’s all she knows."
Shen Hua breathed shallowly.
She pretended it was no big deal, "I’m fine. Ying Yi has gone to fetch medicine."
"But you just now—"
"It’s nothing, I just wanted to order you around on a whim."
Cui Rong pursed her lips.
She didn’t say: But you just gave me a fright.
Shen Hua: "Why have you come back?"
"I heard that Chong Bingwen has come. He’s currently getting the cold shoulder outside."
Chong Bingwen?
Shen Hua understood.
"Do you want to go over?"
Cui Rong shook her head: "Mama won’t allow it. Mama also said that I should no longer call him uncle."
She pointed at Shen Hua: "I want you to accompany me."
"Later, I can tell Mama that you insisted on dragging me there. That way, Mama won’t blame me, what do you think?"
"I think you’re being very optimistic."
————
Chong Bingwen felt dizzy and reeked of alcohol. Fright made him extremely alert.
"Lady!"
"Let the Lady come out to see me."
He pounded heavily on the door of Xuan Residence.
Old Madam Chong told him he could return tomorrow and it wouldn’t be too late, but he dared not. Guiltily conscious like a thief, and even more afraid of losing something.
Old Madam Chong did not understand the depths of the political arena, but he was acutely aware of them.
The Hanlin Academy is the poorest place in the court, short on benefits, yet students struggle desperately to enter.
The imperial examination’s palace exam names three top candidates - the top scorer, second place, and third place – they would be the ones entering the Hanlin Academy. Top scorers start as a sixth-rank officer, second place and third place start as seventh-rank officers.
Though their ranks are not high, their positions are noble enough.
If they catch the eye of the officials, they could rise step by step. Nearly half of the civil servants in the court have made their way up in such a manner.
Were it not for the Xuan Family, Chong Bingwen, after the results had been announced, if his luck was not good, would have been dispatched to some small county outside of Shengjing to become a county magistrate. How could he enjoy his current life?
He indeed had literary talent, but human laziness made him only want to cling firmly to the Xuan Family’s coattails.
Therefore, he had not studied by lamplight for a long time.
With monthly assessments in the Hanlin Academy, the Grand Scholar had long been dissatisfied with him but did not take action, out of respect for Uncle Yong Chang, his patron.
Being expelled from the Hanlin Academy, after all, was just a matter of one word from the Xuan Family.
Xuan Ai was indeed out of his league. Xuan Ai was also the most beautiful yet unspoiled girl he had ever seen.
When he first married her, Chong Bingwen was thrilled in every way. He also wanted to treat only her well.
However, as beautiful as Xuan Ai is, she is not as coquettish as Lady Song, not as proactive as Lady Song, nor as skilled in sweet nothings as Lady Song. Over time, it also seemed dull and uninspired.
Seeing no response, Chong Bingwen felt a sinking in his heart. He no longer cared about the onlooking public. He lifted the hem of his garment and knelt.
"I am guilty; I only beg to see Madam once more."
"No one is perfect without fault!"
"I ask the Yue Family to punish me severely; Bingwen accepts it all."
He repeated each word, his voice growing hoarse.
The Xuan Family cares about their reputation, so how could they let him kneel for too long.
Indeed, the red gate was opened from the inside, making a dull sound.
It was Xuan Chen.
The man looked at him coolly.
Behind him, servants came and went, quickly laying an item in front of Chong Bingwen.
It was a square piece of wood, covered with sharp spikes.
Chong Bingwen’s heart lurched.
"This—"
Xuan Chen sneered: "Don’t recognize it?"
Chong Bingwen felt a chill blowing through him.
"Wait a moment."
Cui Yun came striding over.
Chong Bingwen took a breath of relief, indeed, Marquis Cui was not so impulsive.
But then he saw Cui Yun holding a clay pot, letting go over the wooden torture instrument, dropping the pot from height. Shattered pieces everywhere, and the salt within spilled out.
Broken pieces of ceramic, densely packed spikes now sprinkled with salt.
Cui Yun: "Kneel!"