Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 293 - 293 294 Invoking Family Discipline_1

Chapter 293: Chapter 294: Invoking Family Discipline_1 Chapter 293: Chapter 294: Invoking Family Discipline_1 Yu Ze followed Marquis Chen into the study.

As soon as he entered the study, Marquis Chen’s face immediately dropped, and he gave Yu Ze a cold stare before saying, “Do you think you are so remarkable just because you dealt with Prime Minister Kong and Consort Yuan in one fell swoop, and even managed to protect the Daqian Dynasty’s rivers and mountains?”

“No.”

Yu Guang let out a cold snort. “No? If not, then how could you commit such an act of arrogance and presumption? The imperial edict from His Majesty was clearly a test of loyalty. Knowing how important this is, you still dared to defy it. Do you really think your life is too long? If you were truly so arrogant, why did you give up the throne to the Crown Prince in the first place? Since you have willingly become a subject, you should behave like one. Look at what you’ve done! It’s a wonder the emperor has been merciful and hasn’t punished you for this; otherwise, ten heads wouldn’t be enough for you to lose!”

Yu Ze said solemnly, “The only way I can act as a subject is to not interfere in court affairs, not seek any fame or profit, and to rush to the border to serve without hesitation if the court needs me. I don’t wish to be controlled by others in any other matters. The imperial edict that His Majesty gave, which appears to be a reward, is actually an attempt to control me. Granting me the title of Prince He’an is intended to make me a target for all. As for the arranged marriage to the He Family, surely you, Father, are aware that the He Family has now become the emperor’s greatest claw and fang?”

Yu Guang slapped the table. “Hmph! Don’t give me such pretty excuses! No matter what the emperor is scheming in his heart, he just wants to make sure you pose no threat to him. By defying his edict now, you are challenging his authority!”

Yu Ze pursed his lips and remained silent.

“What is it all for, anyway?” Yu Guang roared with anger.

“I don’t want to marry He Suxue.”

“Absurd!” Yu Guang’s beard bristled with fury. “A woman, what does it matter if you marry her? If you don’t like her, just leave her aside. Is that worth defying an imperial edict for?”

Yu Ze said in a deep voice, “I admit I am wrong in this matter, and I am willing to accept punishment, but I do not regret it. I will never marry He Suxue, or any other woman for that matter.”

“You!” Yu Guang could hardly believe his own ears.

“One should be responsible for one’s own actions. I assure you that Marquis Chen Mansion will not be implicated in any way because of my actions. I will go to the palace tomorrow to see His Majesty in person and will surely find another way to put his mind at ease.”

Trembling with anger, Yu Guang pointed at Yu Ze. “Fine, fine, you take responsibility for your own actions. Since you are so obstinate, you will first accept my punishment! Someone, bring the family disciplinary stick!”

A servant hastily ran out, needing to tell the Lady about this or else, there might be trouble. Yu Guang bellowed, “Where do you think you are going? Get back here!”

The servant shrank his neck. “Sir, I—”

“No one is to notify the Lady! Bring me the disciplinary stick; I will do it myself!”

With those words from Yu Guang, the servants knew that he was truly enraged. They didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, let alone seek out the Lady.

A trembling old maid brought over a stick as thick as an arm. “Master.”

Yu Guang grabbed the stick without hesitation and shouted at Yu Ze, “Kneel down!”

Yu Ze knelt down straight and unwavering, without a moment’s hesitation, his spine erect, showing no sign of humiliation.

Yu Guang, furious, struck him across the back with the stick, but Yu Ze didn’t move an inch.

As the beating continued, the servants watched with horror. Streaks of blood began to seep through Yu Ze’s back, bleakly unsettling to behold, suggesting that the flesh under the clothes was likely being bruised to a pulp. Yet Yu Ze remained silent, barely furrowing his brow, never once crying out in pain.

The servants truly admired her, recognizing that she must have come from the battlefield; even under punishment, her aura was entirely different.

Yu Guang himself couldn’t count how many times he had struck, but seeing the blood seeping from Yu Ze’s back, he eventually felt a twinge of pity. After lashing out several more times, he threw aside the stick and harshly said, “This is the decision you made, the trouble you stirred up. You deserve to be punished! I’ll let you off this time, but you’ll have to resolve things with His Majesty yourself!”

“Yes!”

“Hmph!” Yu Guang, fuming, flung his robes and then strode out.

When Yu Ze stood up, he was somewhat unsteady, and though the servants wanted to help, he avoided them.

“I’ll go and call the doctor right away!” the young servant said in a panic.

“No need, just place the golden sore medicine in my room. You may all leave, your services are not required,” Yu Ze said in an even tone.

The group of servants exchanged glances, then withdrew.

Jian Yue said to Muniang with a smile, “Please take a seat. I have many questions I wish to ask you.”

A maid brought up the tea, and just as Jian Yue was about to serve Muniang, Muniang quickly served Jian Yue instead, personally handing it to her, “Mother, have some tea.”

Jian Yue nodded in approval, “Quite clever indeed.”

Muniang smiled; one must be clever in dealing with one’s mother-in-law, after all.

“Ze’er has lived with you for a year, and that year was largely thanks to your care. I should have expressed my gratitude to you long ago, but Ze’er kept you hidden so well that we didn’t even know your name, I fear it was to keep us from disturbing you.”

Muniang smiled shyly, “It surely wasn’t about keeping me hidden.”

Jian Yue smiled and said nothing more, but then suddenly added, “I don’t want to interfere with Ze’er’s marriage. He always seems indifferent, never showing much concern for settling down or taking much interest in women. This actually worried his father and me a great deal. Now that he finally says he’s taken a liking to a girl, we naturally wouldn’t hesitate to agree. I was somewhat worried about whether you might have a difficult disposition, but seeing you today puts my mind at ease.”

Muniang listened quietly without interrupting, feeling that her mother-in-law was certainly not saying all this just to praise her; there had to be a catch coming.

Jian Yue glanced at her and seeing no particular change in her expression, couldn’t quite pin her down. This woman was really not ordinary; she looked obedient and behaved with decorum, yet she remained inscrutable.

“But—”

As expected, the turnaround came.

“I heard that He Suxue, the He Family’s daughter, paid a visit to your place a while back—”

Muniang’s expression darkened briefly, then she regained her composure, but her voice became much colder, “Yes, she stayed for a few days.”

From her tone, Jian Yue sensed that they had not gotten along well and said, “The girl later came to me crying, looking deeply aggrieved. I thought perhaps you two didn’t get along. Honestly, you’ll have to live under the same roof sooner or later, and it’s no good if the relationship is strained. After all, you’re going to be the principal wife and will have to enforce rules where necessary, but it should be done with moderation, prioritizing harmony above all. You won’t only be Ze’er’s wife; you’ll also be the mistress of the Yu Family.”