Drunk Bamboo

Xie Yuzhu seemed to have heard Hua Qinfeng's voice, and her bloodless lips moved.

The last lash of flogging was delivered.

"Hua Qinfeng..." whispered.

"Here, I'm here! Xie Yuzhu, I'm here!" Hua Qinfeng had excellent hearing and regardless of the injuries on his body, he stumbled towards Xie Yuzhu.

"Your Highness..." She slowly opened her eyes, and the pain from her back instantly brought her back to consciousness.

Seeing that Hua Qinfeng was covered in blood, she immediately took out a pill from her sleeve and held it in her hand so that no one would notice. Then she opened her arms and Hua Qinfeng hugged her.

Xie Yuzhu reached out and stuffed the pill into his mouth.

He whispered in her ear, "Swallow it. It's medicine for internal injuries."

"What about you?" Hua Qinfeng held the medicine in his mouth.

"I ate it before I was tortured."

Only then did he swallow the pill.

Before going out, Xie Yuzhu made two preparations. If arguing with reason was useless, then she could only rely on herself.

Han Jian hopes that the matter will become more and more serious, and Hua Qinfeng's crime will become more and more serious. This is his goal.

Xie Yuzhu's reporting of the incident only made the matter more serious, but she was suing Han Jian instead, which had a completely different meaning. Moreover, this time the initiative was in her hands.

Han Jian was narrow-minded and ambitious. He had been an official all his life, so it was impossible for him to be innocent. No matter how well he covered it up, it would not withstand a close scrutiny. Just from the two gatekeepers, something could be found out.

Since she was going to beat the drum to report the incident, physical injuries were inevitable. She prepared medicine, but she didn't expect that she would faint from the pain.

Suddenly, she realized something and looked up in panic: "How come you... were also beaten? Did the emperor change his mind and not let me complain?"

"Nothing matters. Your injury is the most important thing now. I will take you back home to heal." Hua Qinfeng seemed not to have been beaten. He stood up swiftly and planned to pick up Xie Yuzhu.

"Then those blows I took were in vain. In the end, the prince took the punishment silently. Why did I faint? I can't faint no matter how much pain it hurts. I have to hold on..." Xie Yuzhu was annoyed and felt that this was more painful than the pain of the wound.

Hua Qinfeng was stunned for a moment, then looked down at Xie Yuzhu, whose back was still bleeding. This was the injury she suffered because of him.

She was so painful that she almost fainted, but when she woke up, she was still thinking about what she was doing to speak up for him. He knew that Chaoyang could sacrifice his life for him, and anyone in the palace could. Some were willing to sacrifice their lives for him, some ....

They would do anything to protect his life.

And Xie Yuzhu gave up everything just to prove his innocence and his reputation, just to give him a chance to be treated fairly.

Only Xie Yuzhu understood his anger and unwillingness.

"No, my father did not take back the order. I beg my father to take the remaining twelve lashes for you."

Xie Yuzhu's eyes immediately lit up, and he stretched out his hands to him: "My Lord, help me to beat the Dengwen drum."

Her face was pale, but she smiled brightly in the sunshine.

Hua Qinfeng put aside all the resentment in his heart, sighed, carefully picked her up, and said softly: "Okay, do whatever you want, I'll accompany you."

Outside the Golden Steps Palace, two people with scars all over their backs supported each other and walked step by step towards the drum at the palace gate.

Bright red blood dripped from their bodies, drop by drop, like burning fire, paving a passionate road of rebirth behind them.

"Bam—"

"Bam—"

"Bam—"

The long-forgotten Dengwen Drum roared like a sleeping lion awakening.

The sound of the Dengwen Drum was deep and powerful, penetrating the palace walls and the clouds, and echoing for a long time.

When the people in the Golden Stairs Hall heard the drumbeats, they were shocked and something seemed to be shaking in their hearts.

Hua Qinfeng held her arm, and Xie Yuzhu's entire upper body almost leaned on him.

"Xie Yuzhu, why did you do this? Why did you have to sue Minister Han? I did violate the palace rules, and twenty strokes of the cane is the lightest punishment my father could give me."

Xie Yuzhu: I also feel that I am meddling in other people’s business.

But she said, "Prince, you are tall and mighty. Everyone says you are like a living devil, and everyone is afraid of you. But I know that you are the easiest to be bullied. In the palace, your status is the most respected. We bullied you so much that you could only stand to eat, but you didn't get angry, and you didn't care about us. There is no other prince like you in the world."

This answer was reasonable and not surprising. But Hua Qinfeng was waiting for a different answer.

"Everyone in the mansion cares about me. I know that. I am willing to listen to your nagging. I, I don't think you are bullying me."

"I knew the prince knew. Remember, we can bully you, but others can't." Xie Yuzhu forced a smile, "Those who call a horse a zebra and have ulterior motives cannot bully the prince!"

"Okay, I'll remember that. I'll take you home later." Hua Qinfeng nodded. This answer was enough to show that Xie Yuzhu was very important to him.

"Wait." Xie Yuzhu hesitated for a while, and said with some embarrassment, "Your Highness, you may not be able to return home in the next few days. Don't be angry, don't fight, eat well, and take good care of your injuries. After this incident, no one will dare to mess with us anymore."

At this moment, Hua Qinfeng still couldn't understand the true meaning of Xie Yuzhu's words.

Back at the Golden Stairs Hall, they both knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please make the decision for me!"

The long-silent Golden Stairs Hall finally heard a sound.

The emperor looked at the blood-stained man at his feet and gave the order without hesitation.

"Detain Prince Feng and Minister of Works Han Jian in the Ministry of Justice. Hand over the witnesses as well. The Censorate will assist in the investigation. Give me an explanation in three days."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Xie Yuzhu knelt down to thank him.

Everyone was shocked by the unexpected ending.

A pair of shrewd eyes couldn't help but glance at Xie Yuzhu one more time.

Han Jian completely collapsed.

How could this happen? How could things develop to the point where he was sent to the Ministry of Justice? He was the Minister of Industry, but he was actually going to jail!

Han Xin lost his mind and roared on the spot: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Lord Han is the Minister of Works, loyal to Your Majesty, and dedicated to the Rao Kingdom. Our Han family has been a family of nobles for generations. How can we put Lord Han in jail based on a few words from a woman? You will be laughed at by the world, Your Majesty!"

The emperor said coldly: "Prince Feng is my son. He can go to the prison of the Ministry of Justice. Why can't your father go in? Is he more noble than my son?"

Han Xin came back to his senses and said in horror: "Your Majesty, calm down. This is not what I meant..."

"Princess Feng is the legitimate daughter of the Xie family, one of the four famous families in Rao State, and has been educating people for a hundred years. She beat the drum for her husband to be heard for the greater good, and she is not just a woman." Prime Minister Wang said. Xie Yuzhu is smart and open-minded, and has the demeanor of a famous family.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. My son was worried about me and spoke too quickly. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me for his filial piety. I have a clean life and am willing to go to the Ministry of Justice to cooperate with the investigation." Han Jian begged for mercy for his son.

Since the wind direction has changed, we can only take a long-term view and make timely cuts.

The emperor said sternly: "Han Xin, the Minister of Works, made rude remarks. He must reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors for a month and is not allowed to leave the palace."

Han Jian: "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty!"

The emperor stood up and waved his golden robe: "Dismiss the court."

Eunuch Dong: "Resign..."