Chapter 133: Contrary to Propriety

"In that case, it must surely concern the method for breaking the curse. Take him in with you. Since we are unfamiliar with the cousin’s followers, you should keep a close watch; if the Master shows no signs of anomaly, then it must be genuine."

"As you command, Young Master."

Sanmu swaggered in behind Xue Mingrui, though he was initially blocked at the door by Xue Kai. "The Young Master has important business; you may enter once he is finished."

"Very well, very well." Sanmu awkwardly retracted his foot and stood guard outside with Xue Kai. Having waited for a long time, he eventually sat on the porch, plucking a blade of grass from somewhere and holding it between his lips, swaying it back and forth.

Watching Sanmu’s demeanor, Xue Kai could not help but roll his eyes. What kind of riffraff had the young cousin recruited?

Inside the room, Xue Mingrui brought out the apology gifts and the invitation he had specially prepared, presenting them respectfully to Master Kongkong.

"I apologize for the offense caused yesterday; I hope the Master will forgive me. I hope you might attend my grandmother’s birthday banquet on the third. My grandmother is a devoted follower of yours, and she would be delighted if you could grace us with your presence. I pray the Master will consider my humble filial piety and overlook my past mistakes."

Kongkong looked at the generous gifts—worth at least several thousand taels—and thought to himself that this was indeed a young nobleman from a Duke's household, showing such lavishness. It was a pity, though, that the Great Immortal had specifically warned him yesterday... His heart itched with desire!

"You are too kind, Young Master. Please take the gifts back. Madam often visits the temple to listen to the sutras, and we have a karmic connection. I shall certainly attend on that day; you need not worry."

Having his inner thoughts exposed, Xue Mingrui felt his face flush slightly.

"The Master is magnanimous, but please, do accept these gifts; they are but a small token of my sincerity."

Seeing Xue Mingrui push the heavy gifts forward again, Kongkong’s right hand, hidden beneath the table, twitched uncontrollably. He had to press his fingers into his palm several times to suppress the impulse rising from the depths of his soul.

"If you truly feel indebted, the mountain paths are rugged and difficult to traverse. On the day of the old lady’s birthday, I would trouble you to send someone to escort me."

"That is only natural."

The two conversed for a while longer. The more they talked, the more Kongkong realized that this cousin of the Great Immortal possessed excellent spiritual roots. If he were to convert to Buddhism, he would surely achieve great things in time!

Regrettably, Kongkong dared not make a move while the Heir was present. What a pity!

After waiting for quite a while, the Second Young Master of the Duke of England’s mansion finally emerged.

Sanmu quickly stood up, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and stood properly to the side.

Xue Mingrui walked out, feeling refreshed. He handed his belongings to Xue Kai and said to Sanmu, "You may go in now."

"Thank you, Second Young Master."

Sanmu walked inside.

Xue Kai, holding the items, looked at his master in confusion. "Young Master, the Master returned the gifts you brought, yet you seem so pleased? Could you be muddled with anger?"

Xue Mingrui twirled his folding fan and smiled at Xue Kai. "One who is ignorant is not to be blamed! One who is ignorant is not to be blamed!"

"?" Xue Kai followed his master. "Then, Young Master, should I still keep watch?"

Xue Mingrui waved his hand. "A person of the Master’s stature would surely see through the goodness or evil of a heart; there is no need for us mortals to worry. Let us go to the mansion of the Earl of Yongan."

The mere thought of the vexing matters at the Earl of Yongan’s mansion gave Xue Mingrui a headache.

With his grandmother’s birthday approaching, his aunt had been causing even more trouble, running to his grandmother’s quarters to weep and make scenes. The entire household had been thrown into disarray, and his father had spent his nights at the government office, avoiding the aunt and leaving him to face her alone.

Not long after Xue Mingrui left, the imperial carriage arrived to escort the Master back to the temple, and Sanmu hitched a ride.

Outside the imperial city, the day began with the usual morning bustle, thriving and crowded with people.

Inside the palace, however, there was a deathly silence. Throughout the entire imperial city, the only sound was that of whips tearing into flesh. Unlike other floggings, there were no cries of pain—only the sharp whistle of the whips cutting through the air with every stroke.

Ministers hurrying toward the Hall of Diligent Governance were shocked to witness this horrifying scene: a corpse being whipped outside the very seat of the nation’s government!

As the bustling morning light illuminated everything, the tattered clothing revealed skin shredded and raw, dripping with blood.

Except for a few who had hurried over without breakfast and managed to hold it in, the rest of the ministers vomited uncontrollably.

Beyond the flayed flesh, flies attracted to the rotting meat buzzed about. Many ministers, unable to dodge in time, collapsed in terror. After being helped up by others, they held their breath and ran toward the hall, clutching their court robes.

Inside the hall, many officials were already lying about, their robes disheveled. Only a few military generals remained calm, wearing expressions of having seen it all before.

However, no matter how much they looked down upon the frailty of the civil officials, the military men dared not joke about the man lying outside; the situation was simply too bizarre. What on earth had happened?

Xue Zuo, Duke of England and Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, was among the better-composed civil officials. Though his face was a bit pale, he managed not to vomit. He stood among the civil officials, looking exceptionally elegant and refined, like a jade tree in the wind.

"Old Xue, do you know something about this?" asked Minister Wu of the Grand Secretariat, nudging Xue Zuo’s arm while his eyes darted elsewhere.

Although the Minister was a rank-two official and not Xue Zuo’s direct superior, the two had a deep private friendship.

Xue Zuo rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes also drifting elsewhere. "Minister Wu, don't speak nonsense. I am just as much in the dark as everyone else today."

Wu Ren wiped his jade tablet and said, feigning indifference, "I just saw a eunuch go out of his way to pass you a note behind your back. Old Xue, if you have any wind of what's happening, don't keep it to yourself. We are old friends who have risked our lives together."

Xue Zuo looked down at his feet. When he saw no one was watching, he quickly handed over the note he had been holding, then continued to rub the bridge of his nose. "Read it, then remember to destroy it. If this leaks out, we are no longer friends!"

Wu Ren hurriedly hid the note, whispered "understood," and then, while wiping his jade tablet, walked away.

Because the main hall was in such disarray, the head eunuch, Xu, brought in a number of attendants to help the officials clean up. Appearing before the Emperor required decorum, especially since the Empress Dowager was also attending from behind the screen.

Once the ministers were cleaned up, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Prince Anping arrived.

Listening to the incessant sound of whips outside, the ministers in the hall were each lost in their own thoughts.

In the silence, everyone turned their gaze toward Censor Yan Jin.

Yan Jin had been the one who vomited the most severely earlier, and he was still feeling dizzy. He was bewildered by the strange looks he was receiving.

Once he regained his composure, Yan Jin was the first to step forward, bluntly stating the impropriety of whipping a corpse outside the hall.

Many ministers gave him a thumbs-up, thinking Minister Yan was in particularly fine form today.

With the Censor having spoken, eighty percent of the other remonstrating officials followed suit, criticizing the act with great fervor, citing classics and speaking their minds.

During this, Yan Jin couldn't help but glance at Xue Zuo several times. Why was this fellow saying absolutely nothing today? Could he have been subdued by his own magnificent display of courage?

Wu Ren, who had been daydreaming, noticed Yan Jin’s look of profound concern and smiled, giving him a polite greeting.