Arc 4 Chapter 7 Part 1
Back to the banquet, the mingling of the cups of wine continued, and people started becoming a little intoxicated from the wine.
The Emperor looked at Shen Jiayan, who was pressed down in front of him, in an extremely wretched manner. He asked with intoxicated and blurred eyes, “Who is this person?”
Su Yun stepped forward and kneeled down, “Replying to Your Majesty, he is this humble one’s concubine-born younger brother, Su Yichen. He is also Guoshi’s apprentice. He should have been a pillar of our Imperial Court and served the country, but he actually committed such a filthy crime; having illicit sexual relations in the Palace. These young masters and young ladies witnessed it personally with their own eyes. Therefore, this humble one has brought him here to beg for forgiveness from Your Majesty.”
“Having filthy illicit sexual relations in the Palace!” The Emperor immediately became sober from his wine induced intoxicated state. He coldly looked at Shen Jiayan and an invisible might immediately overwhelmed Shen Jiayan, “Speak! Who is the other person you had improper relations with?”
The Emperor was angry, it was as if a mighty thunderstorm was present.
If one was cowardly, one might have already kowtowed and acknowledged his mistake in fright. Shen Jiayan lowered his head, pursed his lips, but he never said a word from the beginning to the end.
“The mouth is sealed hard.” The Emperor laughed in anger, “Do you think Zhen1 won’t know, just because you don’t want to say? Hit him for Zhen, hit him until he’s willing to talk. Zhen would like to see how long he can hold out. Bring the torture instrument. Zhen wants to see him being executed in public, as to be an example to others”
“One, two, three, four……” The Imperial Guard counted under his breath, as the thick wood vigorously struck Shen Jiayan’s body. In an instant, a burst of pain rose from a hidden area and corresponded to the area where the strikes were falling.
Shen Jiayan wasn’t able to hold back letting out a grunt of pain. However, he then clenched his teeth. He didn’t scream out again, no matter how painful the following strikes were.
“Thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two……” The thick wood kept falling on his body. Shen Jiayan’s skin was already swollen, blood stained the thick wood and splattered on the ground, looking like red plum flowers blooming.
The atmosphere that was calm at the beginning, started to become faintly restless.
The moment when the Imperial Guard counted to “fifty-six”, a loud “crack” rang in the air and the thick wood broke.
Yu Chiyan was unable to bear it anymore and stood up to plead for Shen Jiayan. He said, “Father Emperor, this must be the will of the Heavens since the wood broke. It’s better to stop the punishment now and it will also be in accordance with Heaven’s will.”
The Emperor was still pondering over Yu Chiyan’s words, but he didn’t speak yet.
The Crown Prince seized the opportunity and opened his mouth peculiarly. He directly poured dirty water2 on the other, “Oh, Old Seven, looking at your distressed mood, you’re not the person he’s protecting, right?”
The Sixth Prince followed in hitting a person who was already down and said, “Old Seven ah, you’re saying that this wood broke in accordance with Heaven’s will, then do you mean to say that Father Emperor, who ordered him to be beaten, was against Heaven’s will from the beginning?”
As soon as the Sixth Prince finished saying these, the expression on the Emperor’s face immediately cooled down, “Use a new piece of wood for Zhen and continue!” As the Emperor, he would never allow other people to say that he was wrong. Even if he really was wrong, he should still be considered right.
Yu Chiyan lifted open his robe and kneeled down, “Father Emperor is wise and insightful. This humble son dares not. This humble son simply thinks that Heaven has virtue and perhaps knew that Father Emperor is also a benevolent person. Therefore, the Heavens must be thinking that his small life should be spared.”
The Emperor’s expression eased up a little. He pointed at Shen Jiayan and finally loosened his mouth, “In that case, Zhen will give him a chance. You ask him who the other person was. If he is willing to say it, Zhen is willing to spare his life.”
Yu Chiyan kneeled in ceremony, “Father Emperor is wise.”
It wasn’t until Yu Chiyan walked to Shen Jiayan’s side that he realized how badly injured Shen Jiayan was. There was almost no unmarked piece of flesh on Shen Jiayan’s back and legs. His clothes and wounds were already stuck together, every bit of movement would cause him pain. If he continued to be beaten, the person might be beaten to death.
“Who was the other person?” Yu Chiyan made an attempt to persuade Shen Jiayan, “At this point, if you continue to protect him, then I’m afraid no one else will be able to protect you.”
Shen Jiayan opened his eyes and firmly shook his head, “My apologies, I can’t say it.”
“Is that person more important than your own life?” Yu Chiyan asked incomprehensibly. He failed to understand why Shen Jiayan was still insisting on protecting them.
Beyond expectation, Shen Jiayan admitted without hesitation, “Well, more important than my life.”
For a person that could make Shen Jiayan want to protect with all his life, Yu Chiyan thought of Fan Yin immediately, but he denied it himself the next second. Fan Yin was a person who was devoted to Buddhism. Where could others fit in his heart? Not to mention that he was always self-restrained and had a sense of propriety. It was impossible for Fan Yin to do this kind of thing with Shen Jiayan in the Palace.
Seeing the outcome of Yu Chiyan failing to get an answer, the Emperor waved his hand, “Continue with the execution.”
The Imperial Guard responded with a “Yes!”, but before the new stick had fallen, a cold male voice was heard, “No need to ask. The man is this humble monk.”
Arc 4 Chapter 7 Part 1
Back to the banquet, the mingling of the cups of wine continued, and people started becoming a little intoxicated from the wine.
The Emperor looked at Shen Jiayan, who was pressed down in front of him, in an extremely wretched manner. He asked with intoxicated and blurred eyes, “Who is this person?”
Su Yun stepped forward and kneeled down, “Replying to Your Majesty, he is this humble one’s concubine-born younger brother, Su Yichen. He is also Guoshi’s apprentice. He should have been a pillar of our Imperial Court and served the country, but he actually committed such a filthy crime; having illicit sexual relations in the Palace. These young masters and young ladies witnessed it personally with their own eyes. Therefore, this humble one has brought him here to beg for forgiveness from Your Majesty.”
“Having filthy illicit sexual relations in the Palace!” The Emperor immediately became sober from his wine induced intoxicated state. He coldly looked at Shen Jiayan and an invisible might immediately overwhelmed Shen Jiayan, “Speak! Who is the other person you had improper relations with?”
The Emperor was angry, it was as if a mighty thunderstorm was present.
If one was cowardly, one might have already kowtowed and acknowledged his mistake in fright. Shen Jiayan lowered his head, pursed his lips, but he never said a word from the beginning to the end.
“The mouth is sealed hard.” The Emperor laughed in anger, “Do you think Zhen1 won’t know, just because you don’t want to say? Hit him for Zhen, hit him until he’s willing to talk. Zhen would like to see how long he can hold out. Bring the torture instrument. Zhen wants to see him being executed in public, as to be an example to others”
“One, two, three, four……” The Imperial Guard counted under his breath, as the thick wood vigorously struck Shen Jiayan’s body. In an instant, a burst of pain rose from a hidden area and corresponded to the area where the strikes were falling.
Shen Jiayan wasn’t able to hold back letting out a grunt of pain. However, he then clenched his teeth. He didn’t scream out again, no matter how painful the following strikes were.
“Thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two……” The thick wood kept falling on his body. Shen Jiayan’s skin was already swollen, blood stained the thick wood and splattered on the ground, looking like red plum flowers blooming.
The atmosphere that was calm at the beginning, started to become faintly restless.
The moment when the Imperial Guard counted to “fifty-six”, a loud “crack” rang in the air and the thick wood broke.
Yu Chiyan was unable to bear it anymore and stood up to plead for Shen Jiayan. He said, “Father Emperor, this must be the will of the Heavens since the wood broke. It’s better to stop the punishment now and it will also be in accordance with Heaven’s will.”
The Emperor was still pondering over Yu Chiyan’s words, but he didn’t speak yet.
The Crown Prince seized the opportunity and opened his mouth peculiarly. He directly poured dirty water2 on the other, “Oh, Old Seven, looking at your distressed mood, you’re not the person he’s protecting, right?”
The Sixth Prince followed in hitting a person who was already down and said, “Old Seven ah, you’re saying that this wood broke in accordance with Heaven’s will, then do you mean to say that Father Emperor, who ordered him to be beaten, was against Heaven’s will from the beginning?”
As soon as the Sixth Prince finished saying these, the expression on the Emperor’s face immediately cooled down, “Use a new piece of wood for Zhen and continue!” As the Emperor, he would never allow other people to say that he was wrong. Even if he really was wrong, he should still be considered right.
Yu Chiyan lifted open his robe and kneeled down, “Father Emperor is wise and insightful. This humble son dares not. This humble son simply thinks that Heaven has virtue and perhaps knew that Father Emperor is also a benevolent person. Therefore, the Heavens must be thinking that his small life should be spared.”
The Emperor’s expression eased up a little. He pointed at Shen Jiayan and finally loosened his mouth, “In that case, Zhen will give him a chance. You ask him who the other person was. If he is willing to say it, Zhen is willing to spare his life.”
Yu Chiyan kneeled in ceremony, “Father Emperor is wise.”
It wasn’t until Yu Chiyan walked to Shen Jiayan’s side that he realized how badly injured Shen Jiayan was. There was almost no unmarked piece of flesh on Shen Jiayan’s back and legs. His clothes and wounds were already stuck together, every bit of movement would cause him pain. If he continued to be beaten, the person might be beaten to death.
“Who was the other person?” Yu Chiyan made an attempt to persuade Shen Jiayan, “At this point, if you continue to protect him, then I’m afraid no one else will be able to protect you.”
Shen Jiayan opened his eyes and firmly shook his head, “My apologies, I can’t say it.”
“Is that person more important than your own life?” Yu Chiyan asked incomprehensibly. He failed to understand why Shen Jiayan was still insisting on protecting them.
Beyond expectation, Shen Jiayan admitted without hesitation, “Well, more important than my life.”
For a person that could make Shen Jiayan want to protect with all his life, Yu Chiyan thought of Fan Yin immediately, but he denied it himself the next second. Fan Yin was a person who was devoted to Buddhism. Where could others fit in his heart? Not to mention that he was always self-restrained and had a sense of propriety. It was impossible for Fan Yin to do this kind of thing with Shen Jiayan in the Palace.
Seeing the outcome of Yu Chiyan failing to get an answer, the Emperor waved his hand, “Continue with the execution.”
The Imperial Guard responded with a “Yes!”, but before the new stick had fallen, a cold male voice was heard, “No need to ask. The man is this humble monk.”
