TPATTHU Chapter 37
by VolareAs the words left her mouth, almost everyone’s gaze converged on the same spot.
Han Weiwei resolutely stepped onto the court from the crowded mass of people, dressed in plain clothes, her steps filled with sorrow and heaviness.
Upon seeing her, Yang Sharen suddenly erupted like a furious beast, “It’s you again?! You vicious woman! You set a trap for me yesterday! If it weren’t for you, how could I have been caught! It’s all your fault!”
Han Weiwei stood firmly in the center of the hall, saying with a sob in her voice, “Why won’t you admit the things you’ve done? I’ve never provoked you, yet you’ve repeatedly come to my door to harass me. I can’t swallow this insult any longer! Today, I will expose you in front of everyone!”
She recounted the whole story of how Yang Sharen had been bothering her, and when she spoke of her grandfather’s death, her voice became so mournful that everyone present was moved.
Xiao Zhinian pondered, “Yang Sharen, did you hear clearly? According to the laws of our Yan Country, how should such a crime be punished, Yang Shihui, you tell me.”
Governor Yang wiped away cold sweat, seeing that there was no saving his nephew, and said like a withered eggplant, “For attempting to commit a lewd act and failing, if the evidence is solid, the punishment is fifty strokes of the board. If the act has already been committed, castration is added.”
Shen Zhejiang nodded, “That’s right.”
Having heard only half of this, Yang Sharen was already scared out of his wits. Not to mention fifty strokes, even ten strokes would take half his life.
“No! Uncle! I don’t want to die!! I don’t want to become a eunuch either!! I still want to carry on the Yang family line! Uncle, save me!!”
Yang Sharen lunged at the wooden desk, desperately clinging to the corner with both hands and feet, howling with snot and tears.
Xiao Zhinian immediately ordered, “What are you waiting for? Carry out the punishment!”
The long bench was dragged to the front of the hall, and four or five government officials rushed forward to hold Yang Sharen down, one lifting each arm, quickly moving him onto the bench and securing him.
As the rod rose and fell, Yang Sharen’s pig-like screams echoed throughout every corner of the hall.
It was immensely satisfying, and people clapped and cheered.
“Good!! Well done!”
“Ah– Help! Stop!!”
With the first, there would be a second.
Seeing this, the people who had been oppressed stood up one after another to accuse Yang Sharen, their words filled with righteous indignation, and the list of charges was so long that even a page of paper couldn’t contain it all.
Governor Yang couldn’t bear to watch any longer. His sly eyes shifted, and he saw a scene that left him dumbfounded.
He saw—
Xiao Zhinian was actually massaging Shen Zhejiang’s back?!
The relationship between these two was so sordid.
Half surprised and half understanding, Governor Yang stroked his beard meaningfully, his mind filled with thoughts.
Meanwhile, Xiao Zhinian’s focus was entirely on Shen Zhejiang, not noticing that Governor Yang had already taken in their every move.
“How is my technique? Does it still hurt, sir?”
Although Xiao Zhinian sat upright and proper, his hands were not idle. He reached behind Shen Zhejiang, using the back of the chair as cover, and touched Shen Zhejiang’s lean waist, gently massaging it to alleviate the soreness.
Last night was Xiao Zhinian’s first experience with intimacy, and he had to explore everything first. Coupled with his youthful vigor, he temporarily forgot restraint, and his wild and intense efforts left Shen Zhejiang feeling like his bones were about to fall apart.
Shen Zhejiang was naturally uncomfortable.
After rushing around and standing still for so long, anyone else would have collapsed into a puddle of mud, complaining endlessly.
Fortunately, he had excellent patience. No matter how sore or painful, he stood up straight, gritting his teeth and persevering, never revealing the slightest hint of discomfort.
But no matter what, his body would still involuntarily produce some stress reactions, which even Shen Zhejiang himself had never noticed. For example, the occasional slight furrow of his brows, and his breathing would become less steady, not as regular as usual.
But Xiao Zhinian noticed.
“Let go! Do you want people to see!”
Shen Zhejiang tried to lower his voice as much as possible, his words full of warning. At the same time, he reached back to brush away Xiao Zhinian’s restless hands, both angry and anxious.
A small smile curved on the corners of Xiao Zhinian’s lips. He let Shen Zhejiang tug and grab without letting go, pressing and massaging through the fabric, feeling very comfortable, “Everyone is watching Yang Sharen being beaten, they’re very entertained, how would they notice us?”
His eyelashes were deep, and he asked with a smile, “Is the pressure enough? Does sir feel comfortable?”
Shen Zhejiang rebuked in a low voice, “Xiao Zhinian!”
During the secret struggle, Shen Zhejiang’s fingernails scratched a deep mark on the back of Xiao Zhinian’s hand, breaking the skin and drawing blood.
Xiao Zhinian didn’t feel any pain. It was as if it wasn’t a wound, but nectar bestowed upon him by Shen Zhejiang, so sweet that he savored it, smiling brightly, “Does sir know what you’re like?”
Shen Zhejiang had been stunned earlier, afraid of hurting Xiao Zhinian again, and had already withdrawn his hand, his expression faint. He didn’t want to pay attention to him, but he was a little curious, and asked, “What?”
“Like a kitten, not allowing to be touched, very aloof, scratching people when unhappy,” Xiao Zhinian paused, “But I like it.”
Turmoil never affects only one person.
Shen Zhejiang’s heart suddenly beat faster, as if he had been thrown into a jar filled with syrup, covered in sweetness.
On the other side, Yang Sharen lay dying on the bench, constantly spitting out blood and foam from his mouth. His arms and legs were half-hanging down, and his body was a bloody mess, revealing his pale tendons.
A heavy smell of blood permeated the air.
“Yang Shihui, if you’re not benevolent, then I won’t be righteous…” Yang Sharen said incoherently, his eyes half-closed, “You… you won’t save me, then I will…”
His voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
The yamen runner who was executing the punishment was close by and heard him. He cupped his hands and reported, “My lord, he has something to say.”
Governor Yang waved his hand and said, “Listen to what he’s saying?”
“Yes,” the yamen runner squatted beside his mouth, leaned his ear close, and repeated Yang Sharen’s words one by one, “I want to report to the court that you are colluding…”
Colluding?
Xiao Zhinian and Shen Zhejiang simultaneously sensed something was wrong and became alert in an instant.
Governor Yang acted with lightning speed. With a loud “thwack,” the gavel struck the table, shaking it three times, nearly shattering it.
“Spouting wild words, slandering court officials, the crime is doubled!”
As the sign fell, dust shook.
Governor Yang supported himself on the table with both hands, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets, shouting furiously, “Beat him for me!!”
Xiao Zhinian suddenly stood up, his robes billowing like waves, and rushed over in two strides, “Wait!”
As soon as the words fell, the huge rod slammed down on Yang Sharen’s last breath, splattering blood in all directions, staining the ground.
Yang Sharen convulsed violently like a fish out of water before dying, and then went limp as if deflated. His eyes rolled back, and blood flowed from his mouth onto the bench, forming a circle.
And just like that, he died.
“…”
Xiao Zhinian stopped in place, his knuckles gradually clenching into fists, cracking.
The surrounding people didn’t know what had happened and looked at each other in confusion.