Eternal Night - Chapter 36
Tianyou turned his head away, barely suppressing a burst of laughter. Yongye was too clever. He coughed lightly and recited aloud Huang Taifu's proud "Ode to the Capital".
The third prince hadn't quite grasped it yet and still couldn't remember.
Grand Tutor Huang could only glare at Yongye, then took out a ruler, grabbed the Third Prince's hand, and struck it three times hard: "This will teach you a lesson!"
The third prince was in so much pain that he was gasping for breath.
Huang Taifu hit the wrong person, lost his will to continue the lesson, threw down the ruler, and stormed off.
"Is it painful, Third Brother?" Tianyou asked with concern.
Tianrui sneered, "Is this how you care about your brothers, brother?" He then rubbed his hands together and said, "Cunning! The Grand Tutor clearly hit you, but he made the third brother take the blame! He made the third brother get punished, and I must avenge him." He then struck Yongye with a palm.
Yongye was about to dodge when he heard footsteps approaching. His eyes darted around, and he took the blow head-on, falling to the ground.
"Yongye, are you alright! Second brother, stop!" The eldest prince was shocked and rushed forward to pull Yongye away.
Tianrui sneered and stepped in front of Tianyou: "Big brother, you're protecting outsiders but not your own brothers?"
"Second brother!"
Tianrui struck Tianyou with a palm. Tianyou was about to dodge when his brow twitched, his hand faltered, and he was struck in the chest by Tianrui, staggering a few steps and falling at the doorway. Tianrui walked to Yongye's side, grinned maliciously, and kicked him down again.
"stop!"
A sudden shout startled Tianrui, who trembled at the sight of a bright yellow light and went limp: "Father!"
Emperor Yujia appeared at the door, his face contorted with rage. Seeing Tianyou and Yongye lying on the ground, he turned back somewhat awkwardly: "Why haven't you summoned the imperial physician yet!"
"Your Majesty, please don't be anxious. Let me see what happened." Prince Duan slipped into the room and saw Yongye covered in soot and looking disheveled. He pulled him up and asked, "What happened?!"
Yongye stood silently.
"Tianyou, you're the eldest brother, what's going on?" Emperor Yujia and Prince Duan had come to see the young boys studying when they unexpectedly witnessed this scene.
Before Tianyou could speak, Tianrui interrupted, "Yongye fell asleep in class, and the third brother got blamed and punished by the Grand Tutor. I was so angry that I disciplined him. My elder brother saw it but didn't tell the Grand Tutor." He then accused both Tianyou and Yongye in one go.
The more Prince Duan listened, the darker his face became. He turned to Emperor Yujia and said, "Your Majesty, please do not relax your discipline because of me."
"Your Majesty, I wasn't sleepy. I was just feeling tired and rested my head on the table for a while. I didn't miss a single thing the tutor taught me," Yongye said, sounding aggrieved.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?!" Prince Duan shouted.
Yongye lowered her head and said softly, "I'm afraid the Second Prince will hit me. I... can't beat him. And the First Prince doesn't dare to help me."
Tianrui, enraged, roared, "When did I ever hit you?!"
"...No, you didn't hit me." Yongye trembled and pitifully buried his head.
Prince Duan and Emperor Yujia exchanged a glance, and Emperor Yujia snorted: "Look how scared you've made Yongye! Tianyou, tell me, what exactly happened?"
Tianyou knelt on the ground and quietly said, "As the eldest brother, I failed to lead my younger brothers well, and I am willing to accept the punishment."
"Ten strokes of the cane, take them well," Emperor Yujia ordered calmly.
A moment later, a eunuch brought in a long bench. Tianyou lay down on the bench, and the eunuch pulled down his pants and began to beat him. The ten strokes of the cane cracked loudly, but the eldest prince didn't utter a sound. After the beating was over, he thanked the emperor.
Yongye stared without blinking, a chill running down his spine, and his hand involuntarily touched his buttocks.
"Tianxiang!"
"Your subject is here."
"The Grand Tutor said you didn't memorize your lessons well today?"
"Your subject will certainly work diligently in the future!"
"Ten strokes of the cane."
Tianxiang was hit ten times with a pained expression, wincing in agony.
"Father, my eldest brother and third brother have all been punished, why not punish Yongye?" Tianrui protested.
"If I ever see this again, without asking why, everyone will receive ten strokes of the cane. As for Yongye... your Imperial Uncle will handle the family law!" Emperor Yujia finished speaking, glanced at Prince Duan, and left.
Prince Duan took Yongye's hand and said, "Let's go back to the manor!"
"Uncle! I have always held you in high esteem, and I am sure you will not disappoint me."
Prince Duan stopped, glanced at Tianrui, and slowly said, "What, does Your Highness wish to return to the palace together to see how I enforce family discipline?"
Tianrui was taken aback, but Prince Duan chuckled and said, "No need, this will do!" With that, he dragged Yongye to the bench and shouted, "Take off your pants and lie down!"
Enraged, Yongye roared, "No!"
The word "no" startled everyone in the room. Prince Duan frowned at Yongye: "Say it again?!"
Yongye snapped out of his daze, stood up straight, and looked at Prince Duan, saying each word clearly, "If you want to fight, then fight. Do you want me to take off my pants and beat them up in front of them? No way!"
"Good, very good!" Prince Duan snatched the red lacquered wooden board from the eunuch's hand and waved it away.
Yongye dared not secretly exert his power in front of Prince Duan. The blow landed squarely on his buttocks, sending him flying. Tianyou was startled and leaped up to catch Yongye in his arms, urgently calling out, "Yongye's health has always been poor, Imperial Uncle, please be careful!"
"come over!"
Yongye pushed Tianyou away, feeling a burning pain in his buttocks. It seemed the Prince Duan was determined to cripple him. Yongye's mind raced, considering whether he should gamble. Remembering his pre-arranged plan, he forced himself to stand up straight and said, "Go ahead and hit me!"
Prince Duan snorted coldly and showed no mercy, bringing the paddle down heavily. This time, Yongye stood straight and took all ten blows from Prince Duan. Blood seeped out from his trouser leg.