The Sickly Emperor Is Only Immune to Me

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Corporal Punishment

In reality, which eunuch would dare to truly beat the father of the Emperor’s favored concubine?

Especially since the Emperor’s partial favor towards the Sang Family’s daughter was almost boundless.

Thus, Sang Kun did indeed endure a beating, but it was only superficial wounds, looking just bloodied and frightening.

This effectively silenced the ministers.

“Do any of you have anything to say about this punishment?”

He Ying’s gaze was cold, and his tone carried a threat.

The ministers looked at the blood-covered Sang Kun, exchanging glances and tacitly keeping their mouths shut.

“This servant, acknowledging a grave mistake, wishes to offer half of my family’s wealth to compensate the losses of the people.”

Sang Kun’s face was pale as he lay on the ground, his clothes dripping with blood.

He Ying looked on, nodded in approval, then had someone send him back to his mansion.

Additionally, two Imperial Physicians were dispatched to treat him.

Sang Mansion

As soon as Sang Kun returned to his room, he started to groan in pain.

Seeing him like this, his wife Ms. Lin was moved to tears, “Ever since Ah Yan came back, you’ve been met with misfortune; could it be her destiny—”

“Just shut up. Others say that, and you follow suit, do you want her to be expelled from the Imperial Palace?”

In pain, Sang Kun’s mood was irritable, and his words came out harshly.

Ms. Lin, known for her good nature, did not take his scolding to heart but gently advised, “Don’t be angry, I misspoke.”

Sang Kun wasn’t angry with her.

He was furious now with those ministers, and Jiang Chongyu leading them!

Damn it!

In pain, he pounded his pillow and bitterly said, “That Jiang Chongyu has opposed me time and again, damned troublemaker, I will make him pay in blood!”

Hearing this, Ms. Lin, frightened, covered his mouth, “Master, have you lost your mind! You can’t say things like that!”

Sang Kun wasn’t insane.

On the contrary, amidst the pain, he was particularly rational.

His expression dark, his eyes fierce, he commanded, “Send someone to Long Chan Temple to fetch Sang Yan. I want to see her.”

*

Sang Yan was in her room reading Buddhist Scriptures.

A little monk came with a message, “Benefactor, someone claiming to be a Sang Family Servant is here to see you.”

Catching the words “Sang Family Servant”, Sang Yan guessed it was someone sent by Sang Kun. After considering for a moment, she went out to meet them.

Four people stood rigidly outside.

They were all quite young, dressed in black outfits, swords at their waists, likely close guards of Sang Kun.

The best-looking one, who appeared the most imposing, stepped forward and bowed, “Greetings to the young mistress.”

Sang Yan didn’t recognize him and asked, “Who are you?”

That person immediately introduced himself, “I am Du Yang, guard servant to our master.”

Indeed a guard.

Sang Yan further inquired, “What brings you here?”

Du Yang responded, “The master wishes to see you and asked us to escort you back to the mansion.”

Sang Yan didn’t think returning to the mansion boded well, so she asked first, “For what reason?”

“I am not aware.”

“What is my father busy with?”

Why would Sang Kun ask her over instead of coming himself?

Du Yang thought for a moment, then truthfully said, “The master made mistakes and received flogging.”

Sang Yan: “…”

Flogging?

It seemed He Ying really dealt with the matter severely.

“How many lashes?”

“Fifty.”

That seemed somewhat excessive.

Sang Yan felt a bit guilty, “Is he… still alright?”

Duan Yang did not know the specifics of the injury and could only say, “The Emperor has already sent the Imperial Physician to treat him.”

Hearing this, Sang Yan guessed that returning to Sang Mansion would involve a scolding or listening to nagging. She said, “I am engaged in praying to Buddha, which requires seventy-nine days, and during this period, I must not leave Long Chan Temple, otherwise, all efforts will be wasted. You all should go back. If there is an urgent matter, send someone to inform me.”

Duan Yang was aware of Sang Yan’s prayer duties, and after hearing her say so, he paused for a while before taking his leave, “Then I will return to report.”

The four of them left quickly.

Sang Yan went back to her room and copied the Buddhist Scripture to calm her mind.

The next day

She was performing her morning prayers.

Her birth mother, Ms. Lin, arrived.

She brought some snacks favored by Sang Yan, but upon seeing her, she first shed tears.

Sang Yan couldn’t stand seeing her cry and spoke first, “I already know about father’s injury and I believe the Emperor will consider everything when punishing. Everyone should bear responsibility for their own actions, so mother, please don’t feel too sad.”

Ms. Lin, wiping her tears, said, “Husband and wife are one, how can I not be distressed when your father gets injured time and again?”

Sang Yan, who had no fond feelings for Sang Kun, indifferently said, “You are distressed, but aren’t those peasants who had their fields seized also distressed? Those fields are their means of survival!”

“Your father has already donated half of our family wealth to compensate them.”

“Should have thought before acting.”

She stopped Ms. Lin with her remark.

Ms. Lin bit her lip, not knowing what to say.

Sang Yan continued, “You say husband and wife are one, then why didn’t you advise him before he acted? Don’t say he wouldn’t listen to you. Have you even tried? Have you expressed your own thoughts? Mother, you should be stronger. If father loses his temper at you, tell me, I will stand by your side. Do you understand what I mean?”

She implied that she would protect her.

She wanted to give her mother the courage to live more “recklessly.”

Ms. Lin, who had been timid all her life, said timidly, “I don’t understand anything.”

“One can learn what they don’t know. Right and wrong, a person of proper conduct can naturally judge.”

“I, I—”

“You came here, so surely father must have said something. Then, pass on a few words for me. Stop using my name to do things that are unjust and abuse power. I am not his protection. If it happens again, I will ask the Emperor to appoint him as a civil servant.”

Her words were sharp, showing no consideration for feelings.

Ms. Lin had always been afraid of her and didn’t dare say much. Leaving the snacks, she descended the mountain.

Sang Yan saw her off to the foot of the mountain and watched her get into the carriage.

It was a bright sunny day.

The blood rain had stopped, but the lingering fear had not yet dissipated.

Many people came to burn incense and worship Buddha.

Sang Yan followed the crowd up the mountain.

Suddenly, a thin man in coarse clothes squatted down, clutching his stomach with a pale face and sweating profusely.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

“Young man, did you eat something bad?”

“That must be a bad stomach, look at that belly, as big as a pregnant woman’s.”

“Ha-ha-ha, young man, how many months along are you?”

…

Many people were watching.

Some showed concern, others made jokes.

The young man, trapped in the middle, who was originally pale with pain, instantly flushed red and his eyes filled with fear.

“Go away! Everybody, go away!”

He bent over, one hand covering his stomach, the other his face, and ran up the mountain.

The crowd around him gradually dispersed.

Sang Yan also moved away, not dwelling on this small episode, and continued towards the temple.

Qiuzhi quietly followed her, unable to resist saying, “Miss, did you see? That man’s belly was really big, like he was pregnant.”

Having seen many modern men with beer bellies, Sang Yan commented further, “Some families are wealthy and eat well, what’s so unusual about that?”

Qiuzhi also thought a man with a big belly was not unusual, but something about that man felt off.

“I don’t think his clothes looked like those of a wealthy man, and besides his belly, he didn’t seem to have much flesh on him…”