TPATTHU Chapter 82

Chapter 82: What Exactly Counts as Staying Together Forever?

“Ah—Father! Father!! Don’t hit me!! Any more and I’ll be crippled!!!”

Amidst the bustling ten-mile-long street, Wang Chengming pushed his way through the crowd, howling as he frantically darted around.

Not far behind him, his father, Wang Shouchi, chased relentlessly, wielding a long staff. As expected of the former Minister of War, he maintained a steady pace despite chasing for so long, not even slightly out of breath.

“You brat! I’m going to cripple you today!! How dare you say such things? I think you’re tired of living!!!”

The surrounding people quickly retreated to the sides of the street, almost clearing the entire thoroughfare, as they watched the father and son chase each other.

Wang Shouchi charged forward, heavy breaths escaping his nostrils. Seizing the opportunity, he swung the long staff, tripping Wang Chengming’s leg.

Wang Chengming knew something was wrong and fell to the ground, tumbling several times. His face was covered in snow, but he still wanted to escape. Wang Shouchi immediately raised the staff and struck, the force precisely aimed at Wang Chengming’s vitals.

“Ahhh! Help! Don’t hit me anymore!!! Father! Father—!!”

Miserable screams echoed in the air.

It was said that even tigers don’t eat their cubs, but seeing Wang Shouchi’s furious glare and uncompromising demeanor, it seemed he really intended to beat Wang Chengming to death before stopping.

Wang Shouchi roared, “Even the Heavenly King won’t help you!! How could I have given birth to such a disgrace?! You’re simply outrageous!! You’ll kneel in the ancestral hall and kowtow to our ancestors to admit your mistakes!!”

Fortunately, Wang Chengming had thick skin and strong flesh, plus three years of training in the military camp had forged him into a sturdy physique, so he wouldn’t die for a while. He howled, “I’m not wrong! I’ve loved her since I was a child. When I return to the Northern Borders, I’ll confess my feelings to her!! And never come back to the Capital City!!”

“You say that again!! Say it again and I’ll break your legs!! So you can never step out of the Capital City!!”

With a cracking sound, the long staff was snapped in half by Wang Shouchi. One section flew dozens of meters away. Wang Shouchi used the remaining piece to continue beating him, each strike a fierce blow, sending splinters of wood flying everywhere.

Wang Chengming lay wretchedly on the ground, his waist, legs, and buttocks aching all over.

At this rate, his little life would be in danger. He barely managed to spare a moment to look around for someone to save him.

Then, he saw him.

“Your Majesty—!!”

On the main path, Xiao Zhinian heard someone calling him again, his eyes narrowing.

From afar, he saw Wang Chengming rolling on the ground in the middle of the street, pitifully casting a look of help towards him.

…Heh, Wang Chengming has this day too.

Xiao Zhinian gradually slowed down, but even so, the tall black horse still sidestepped the Wang family father and son. The reins were pulled sharply, and then the horse turned its head.

Seeing that Xiao Zhinian was actually willing to pay attention to him, Wang Chengming rushed towards Xiao Zhinian without thinking, pouring out his woes, “Your Majesty, save me! For the sake of our friendship, you must save me from this misery!”

Wang Shouchi was so infuriated by this kid that his beard bristled. He grabbed Wang Chengming’s ear, pulled him back, and scolded, “Have you no shame?! Using your dirty business to trouble His Majesty!! I’ll skin you alive when we get back to the residence!!”

Xiao Zhinian was still holding the hot porridge and pastries he had just bought from Zisulou, prepared for Shen Zhejiang, not wanting to delay too long, so he asked, “What’s going on?”

Wang Chengming blurted out, “I proposed marriage to my father, and he wants to beat me to death!”

Xiao Zhinian: “…” I know about your matter, but there’s no need to say it so bluntly, right?

Wang Shouchi: “…”

The onlookers: “…”

Wh-what does that mean? Who proposed to whom?

A moment of silence.

The first to explode was Wang Shouchi, like a volcano, “Are you even speaking human language?! You’ve disgraced me! How can I face my ancestors in the afterlife!! Our Wang family has always been loyal and upright, we don’t have someone like you!! Get out of the Wang family!!”

Wang Chengming shouted, “Get out, then get out!! It’s best to be clean, so I can welcome her through the door!”

Wang Shouchi couldn’t bear it any longer and decisively slapped Wang Chengming to the ground. Clutching his heart, he gasped for air and pointed at Wang Chengming, continuing to scold, “You, you’re going to anger me to death! This is truly a sin! The Wang family is righteous to Heaven, to Earth, and to the Emperor. Upright and honorable, with a clear reputation, yet you… are so vile and contemptible!”

Wang Chengming, scolded relentlessly, lowered his head without saying a word.

As the saying goes, one should not wash dirty linen in public. Wang Shouchi scolding his own son like this showed that he was momentarily overwhelmed with anger and couldn’t control himself.

Xiao Zhinian glanced at him, then turned his gaze to Wang Chengming, whose nose was already bruised and swollen.

These were originally matters of their Wang residence, and even if Xiao Zhinian was the Emperor, he shouldn’t interfere. But Wang Chengming’s appearance reminded Xiao Zhinian of himself and Shen Zhejiang—

His father had also prevented him in the same way.

“How about this…”

Unexpectedly, before Xiao Zhinian could finish speaking, Wang Shouchi interrupted him directly, “Your Majesty is still young, but you can’t possibly not understand the principles of morality and law. The relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, has always been fixed. How can there be such a thing as siblings marrying, which goes against the natural order of Heaven and Earth! In short, this marriage, I don’t agree!! Unless you step over my dead body!!”

The remaining half of the long staff slammed into Wang Chengming, hitting his head, instantly causing it to bleed.

Wang Chengming snorted unconvincingly, “I never wanted you to agree anyway!”

The same stubborn temper.

Xiao Zhinian raised his eyebrows and said, “Expelled from the family? I’m kind-hearted, do you want me to take you in?”

Wang Chengming wiped the blood from his face, staggered to his feet, and gave Xiao Zhinian a bitter smile, “No need, thank you, Your Majesty. I will return to the Northern Borders in the coming days.”

Xiao Zhinian nodded, “Alright.”

He spurred his horse, galloping away and raising dust.

The love affairs of the world are always so circuitous. Some people clear away the clouds but never find that ray of moonlight, while others piece together fragments of a copper mirror but still find a piece missing.

The long remainder of life, either you torment me, or I torment you, what exactly counts as staying together forever?

Xiao Zhinian also wanted to know.

Outside the city, at the agricultural estate.

Huai Wen paced anxiously outside the wooden house. Seeing Xiao Zhinian finally appear, he immediately reported this morning’s events to him.

“Shen Zhejiang refuses to eat no matter what, insisting that this humble servant untie his ropes. This humble servant didn’t dare to act without authorization. Your Majesty, please go take a look. Shen Zhejiang’s hands are bleeding from the chafing.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhinian hastened his pace.

Shen Zhejiang had already heard Xiao Zhinian’s voice inside and decided to ignore him. So, with his hands still bound, he turned over, facing the wooden wall.

“Teacher, I’ve come.”

Xiao Zhinian walked over and casually placed the food box on the nearby small table. There was rice and dishes, but they were untouched, the rice not having been eaten even a mouthful.

Was Shen Zhejiang planning to starve himself?