In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

Meanwhile, the beatings continued.

eleven.

twelve.

Thirteen.

With each strike of the staff, the scene before Yang Xuan's eyes darkened a little more.

The sounds around me gradually faded away.

He could feel the blood flowing down his side, and he could also feel the excruciating pain slowly turning into numbness, as if his body no longer belonged to him.

But he can't faint now.

At least, not before twenty strokes.

So, holding on to his last breath, as the fifteenth blow landed, he suddenly looked up and smiled at Yang Guozhong, who was still kneeling on the ground.

That smile already carried a hint of bloodlust.

"Right Prime Minister, rest assured..."

"In the future, when others say that the Yang family father and son are of one mind... some will always remember that it was you who personally requested the court flogging today."

Yang Guozhong's eyes were bloodshot, and he almost wanted to rush over and strangle him with his own hands.

But he couldn't move.

He could only kneel, plead guilty, and put on an act of deep remorse and selflessness.

Because today's situation is no longer about whether or not to punish this rebellious son, but whether or not one can pull oneself out of this mess.

After twenty strokes of the cane, Yang Xuan's voice finally lowered.

But Yang Guozhong was not relieved by this; instead, his heart sank even more.

Because he suddenly had a very ominous premonition.

This rebellious son, risking his life to cause this scene today, probably isn't after a moment's pleasure in front of the emperor.

It was as if he was using his own hands, and the Emperor's anger, to cut himself off from the Yang family.

As soon as the thought crossed Yang Guozhong's mind, he felt a chill run down his neck.

If that's the case, then wouldn't the thirty strokes of the cane he brought today just become a stepping stone for this wicked creature?

Just then, the twenty-fifth staff fell.

Yang Xuan finally couldn't hold on any longer. He felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood onto the bluestone ground next to the stool.

The crimson hue slowly spread under the light.

The expressions on the faces of the onlookers all changed.

If the fighting continues, people will really die.

Gao Lishi's gaze darkened slightly.

He could see that if the blows continued with the same force, the person would most likely be crippled.

But he also knew that he couldn't let Yang Xuan die today.

At the very least, I cannot die outside the Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

To die here would mean the eldest son of a high-ranking official was beaten to death by the emperor.

This matter carries far greater weight than simply crippling Yang Xuan.

So when he reached the twenty-sixth stroke, he subtly tilted his whisk.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers carrying out the execution slightly reduced the force in their hands.

not much.

But it was enough to save his life.

When the thirty strokes were finished, Yang Xuan was almost unrecognizable.

His back was a bloody mess, his clothes were torn, and he couldn't even lift his head.

But as the final blow fell, he used his last breath to utter a hoarse sentence:

"remember……"

"It's not that the Yang family abandoned me..."

"It was I, Yang Xuan... who abandoned the Yang family first."

After saying this, everything went black before his eyes, and he finally passed out completely.

Outside the Hua'e Xianghui Building, all was silent.

Gao Lishi looked at the unconscious Yang Xuan, remained silent for a moment, and then said:

"Send the person back to the Prime Minister's residence first, hand over the official documents, and we'll issue a further order tomorrow."

This is to leave him a chance to breathe.

This was also to save face for Yang Guozhong in the final stage of the punishment.

Yang Guozhong got up from the ground, his knees were numb, and his face was extremely pale.

He looked at Yang Xuan being carried onto the stretcher, and after a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth:

"Send it back through the side door."

"Do not disturb the main courtyard."

"Also, bring the family genealogy."

The confidant beside him was taken aback, then responded in a low voice.

This means... they're really going to use family discipline and expel him from the family.

Meanwhile, at the Yang residence.

Night had fallen, but the inner quarters were far from quiet.

First came an urgent message from the palace, followed by the sudden lighting of the lights in the front courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence. The stewards hurried about, and even the most disciplined nanny could not hide the panic on her face.

The news traveled like it had legs, crossing the outer courtyard and the ceremonial gate in the shortest possible time, and flooded into the inner residence.

At the Hua'e Xianghui Tower, the eldest son splashed wine all over An Lushan's face in public.

The eldest son cursed An Lushan in front of the emperor.

The eldest son was subdued by the Imperial Guards.

The Right Chancellor requests His Majesty to administer the punishment of corporal punishment in court.

As each incident was passed down, it became impossible to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Only the phrase "disaster is imminent" seemed to become increasingly true.

In Princess Yanhe's courtyard, the lights were still on.

She was copying scriptures under the lamp.

When the news came in, the pen in his hand paused only slightly, and the ink spread a small blot on the paper, showing no sign of panic.

Cai Fan, the personal maid, had already turned pale.

"Princess... things are in complete chaos. They say the eldest son has committed a terrible crime before the Emperor, and the Right Chancellor even personally requested that he be flogged in court..."

Yanhe raised his eyes and glanced at her.

Which statement is true?

Cai Fan was taken aback.

"This servant...this servant can't say either."

Yanhe put down his pen, paused for a moment, and then asked:

"Has the Prime Minister sent anyone?"

"not yet."

"What about the eldest son?"

"And... there's still no news."

Yanhe remained silent for a moment, then stood up.

Her movements were slow, even composed, yet Cai Fan sensed an unusual chill within that composure.

"Go and invite the old physician from the manor to wait in the side courtyard, and prepare hot water, clean cloths, and wound medicine," Yanhe said.

Cai Fan was stunned: "Princess, you mean...?"

"If it were just a matter of handing the person over to the authorities, there wouldn't be so much word of it reaching the manor first." Yanhe raised his hand to adjust his sleeves, his voice very soft. "Since we've mentioned court flogging, that person will most likely be sent back first."

Cai Fan's heart skipped a beat.

"But what if Your Excellency doesn't allow it..."

Yanhe finally raised his head.

That usually gentle and quiet face showed little expression.

"He is my husband."

"Whoever forbids it, let them come and tell me."

Cai Fan was momentarily speechless, feeling as if the princess in front of her, who was usually quiet and had almost no presence in the Yang family, had suddenly become a different person.

Yanhe, however, had already turned and walked away.

Outside the courtyard gate, the night breeze was cool.

In the distance, from the front yard, the sounds of stretchers being lowered to the ground and shouts of commands could be faintly heard.

The person has returned.

This time, however, it was neither the eldest son of the Prime Minister's family nor the eldest son of the Right Prime Minister who returned.

He was a discarded son who had just been beaten half to death with thirty strokes of the cane in front of the emperor and, in full view of everyone, severed ties with his father.

Yanhe stood under the eaves, listening to the approaching footsteps, and slowly clenched the fingers in his sleeve.

As soon as the side gate of the Yang residence opened, the night wind carrying the stench of blood rushed in.

When the stretcher was brought in, those waiting inside instinctively took a half step back.

It wasn't that I couldn't recognize who was up there, it was just that their injuries were so severe that I dared not look at them for long.

His clothes were tattered to shreds, and blood and flesh were stuck together, dripping down the edge of the stretcher.

His face, which had been fairly handsome, was now as white as paper, with a trace of dark red blood still clinging to his lips.

This is the eldest son of the Right Chancellor's household.

It was Yang Xuan who, tonight, in the Hua'e Xianghui Tower, personally overturned the singing and dancing on the first floor and the entire hall of emperor and his ministers.

The guards carrying the person did not walk slowly.

They were ordered by Gao Lishi to send the person back, and once they had done so, their mission was complete.

Whether they live or die after being sent back, whether they are punished again by the family, or whether they are simply thrown into a side courtyard to be left to their fate, is none of their concern.

"stop."

A woman's voice rang out from under the corridor, not loud, but very steady.

The steward leading the way was startled and quickly looked up.

Princess Yanhe stood under the eaves, followed only by Cai Fan and two lantern-carrying maids.

The lamplight fell on her face, illuminating her usually calm and gentle features clearly. She remained composed, though her eyes and brows appeared colder than usual.