“Bastard!” Sheng Chumu suddenly became furious. “Drag Ye Qiulang out and cane him 100 times!” This couple stung his eyes. Weren’t they like him and Fu Rou in the past? Not caring about anything and willing to go far away for love.
Yan’er jumped up and protected Ye Qiulang, preventing the soldiers from dragging him away. “I did not come all the way to the borders from my hometown just to see him get beaten to death. Without you, I will not go anywhere!” She turned back sharply, her gaze filled with sorrow. “General, why are you so cruel? Don’t you have someone you like as well? Don’t you wish to spend the rest of your life with her?”
Sheng Chumu suppressed the feelings that were threatening to erupt in him and replied coldly, “I can’t answer your question. But there is someone that can answer it.”
He took big steps out of the house and asked the soldiers to push Ye Qiulang and Yan’er out. He pointed in the distance at a woman and a child who had just been murdered. “Every man has to support and protect his country and home. If everyone were selfish like you, forgetting their duties and only thinking of deserting to spend the rest of their days peacefully, what would happen to this village? What would happen to Great Tang? Tell me. Are you all in the wrong?” What Fu Rou said in the past wasn’t wrong. Seeing it from another point of view, he finally understood how selfish he had been!
Ye Qiulang knelt down in guilt. “I am in the wrong. I am willing to accept the punishment.”
Yan’er did not look good either. “General, I am willing to take half of the 100 hits.”
Ye Qiulang became anxious. “General, do not listen to her. This had nothing to do with her.”
Sheng Chumu’s expression did not change. “Cane Ye Qiulang 100 times.”
Ye Qiulang breathed a sigh of relief. He walked to the side and lay down.
After a solid 100 hits, Ye Qiulang did not move. Tears were streaming down Yan’er’s face. Sheng Chumu’s fists were clenched. The greatest taboo in the military was desertion. It affected the troop and as the leader he could not ignore military rules for his own selfish reasons, even if he was once as foolish as Ye Qiulang.
The soldiers came to report that they were done with the punishment.
Sheng Chumu asked. “How is he? Is he still alive?” He could only wish that the heavens would help Ye Qiulang.
“He is still alive but he has lost consciousness.”
The soldiers' reply allowed Sheng Chumu to breathe a sigh of relief. He seemed to recall something as he turned to Yan’er. “I have punished Ye Qiulang but I have not punished you. We are lacking a person to clean and do miscellaneous tasks. You shall help to wash uniforms and take care of the sick and injured. You shall work as your punishment.”
Yan’er was touched. “Thank you, General! I will go and take care of the injured now. Thank you, General!”
Sheng Chumu did not say anything more and left the scene. Ye Qiulang was luckier than him and found a girl that truly loved him. All he got was cold emotions. Fu Rou was even more flippant than a willow tree. He could give up everything for her but she won’t give up everything for him. That was the reality!
Chapter 58.2: Sorrowful Marriage
In the darkness before dawn, the nuptial room in Grand Prince Liang’s Residence was lit up as if it was daytime. Grand Prince Liang stood beside the bed, his face was stoic. He glared at the white silk on the bed as if the white silk could change colour.
Lu Yingying grabbed onto the wedding blanket. She was sitting like a statue. There was no red stain on the silk. She knew what the consequence was and had been wishfully hoping. She never thought of doing something to deceive him.
“Tell me, who was it?” Grand Prince Liang finally blew up. Lu Yingying was definitely not going to say.
Grand Prince Liang’s hand flew over for a slap. He roared, “Tell me who that adulterer is!” Without waiting for her to reply, he grabbed her hair and pulled her off the bed. “You are a broken flower and you still dare to covet the position of my consort? Does your Lu family think I am a fool?!”
Lu Yingying finally spoke up. “My brother and father do not know about this. Please do not implicate others, Your Highness.”
Her words only angered him more. He pulled off his belt and started to hit her. “Who did you give your virginity to? Tell me! Tell me! Why are you not telling me?”
Lu Yingying turned her head away. She did not try to hide nor struggle. She allowed the belt to hit her over and over again. The pain slowly became numb but she did not make a sound.
Grand Prince Liang’s hand had turned numb from hitting her. He furiously threw the belt aside and smashed down all the fragile things in the room before stomping out of the room.
The next day, Grand Prince Liang brought Lu Yingying into the palace to greet the Emperor and Empress. He thought about all the women he had encountered in the past and could not believe that his consort was not a virgin. This humiliation was unbearable and he desperately wanted to kill her. However, his Imperial Father had passed on and although Lu Yingying was in the wrong, she was a consort and the daughter of a Duke. Furthermore, the Emperor had bestowed this marriage on him. If he made matters big, everyone would lose face. Moreover, his Imperial Father had been so comforted before he passed on, he could not let his Imperial Father be humiliated. Hence, he decided to pretend to be a couple with this person in front of him.
After greeting the Emperor and Empress, Grand Prince Liang did not say much and Lu Yingying was silent as well. The Empress did not think anything was wrong and thought that Grand Prince Liang had settled down and was finally calm. Meanwhile, Lu Yingying was a new bride and might be feeling shy.
Empress Zhangsun gave a Child Bearing Guanyin to Lu Yingying. “Consort Liang, this Child Bearing Guanyn was given to me by the Grand Emperor when I married into the Qin Residence back then. Now that you have married into the Liang Residence, Grand Emperor will definitely be comforted up in heaven. Today, I am giving this Child Bearing Guanyin to you. I hope that the both of you will be in perfect harmony and give birth to children soon.”
Lu Yingying stared blankly at the Child Bearing Guanyin. She did not reach out to receive it.
Empress Zhangsun was slightly surprised. “Consort Liang?”
Grand Prince Liang gritted his teeth silently before smiling. “My late Imperial Father is in heaven. I will not disappoint Imperial Sister-in-law’s hopes for us.” He glanced at Lu Yingying’s sleeve and lowered his voice, suppressing his emotions. “Aren’t you going to quickly take it?”
Lu Yingying shivered before reaching out to take it.
In a split second, Fu Rou caught sight of the bruise on Lu Yingying’s hand and frowned. Although Grand Prince Liang’s character was disagreeable, he got along well with Lu Yunji and his son. There was no need for him to be so brutal towards his newly wedded wife.
Empress Zhangsun did not notice and smiled comfortingly. “Your Majesty, look. Getting married is really different. Within a night, Grand Prince Liang has become a lot more calm. It is not the first time that Consort Liang has entered the palace, yet she is so shy and reserved. However, as soon as Grand Prince Liang speaks, she listens obediently. Isn’t this marital harmony?”
The Emperor smiled. “You should not make fun of Consort Liang’s shyness and reservation.”
Grand Prince Liang chuckled dryly. He spoke idly with them for a while before taking leave.
Only after seeing there was no one around them, Grand Prince Liang’s face turned cold. “If not for late Imperial Father’s intention for this marriage and I cannot let him be humiliated, I would have killed you last night. In the future, you are Consort Liang when you are out of the residence. However, as soon as you return to the Liang Residence, you are a bitch that is not even worthy of a servant.”
Lu Yingying looked on as Grand Prince Liang swiped his sleeve and left. She did not care as she took her time to walk.