Prime Minister Cheng looked at the old lady helplessly, then flicked his sleeve and put his hands behind his back.
"But there are so many gossips outside. If we don't punish Xi Ran with family law, what will the whole capital think of the Cheng Mansion?" Seeing Prime Minister Cheng wavering, Mrs. Liu deliberately emphasized her words.
Prime Minister Cheng, who highly valued his reputation, seemed to be injected with a shot of stimulant. He shouted sternly, "The family law is unforgiving. Be careful of accidental injury. Send the old lady back!"
Cheng Xiran watched helplessly as the old lady was pulled away. Well, it was probably for the best. She gave a knowing smile. Several servants forcibly held her down, trying to force her to kneel.
"Let go! I'll stand!" Cheng Xiran broke free from the restraints. Her clear black-and-white eyes flashed a fierce light, scaring the servants to take a few steps back.
"Swish!" The whip cut through the air, making a terrifying sound as if the air was wailing. Then it landed heavily on Cheng Xiran's body.
Cheng Xiran gritted her teeth tightly. The whips fell on her back like raindrops. She only let out a few muffled groans from her throat. A thin layer of sweat immediately appeared on her forehead, and blood dripped down, instantly staining her back red.
"All right, stop." Prime Minister Cheng glanced at Cheng Xiran. "Someone, take her to the ancestral shrine to kneel as punishment!"
"Creak—" The door of the ancestral shrine opened. Cheng Xiran was thrown inside. She was sweating all over, feeling dizzy. Then she lost consciousness.
In the middle of the night, a tall and straight figure was reflected on the window paper. Then it stopped in front of the ancestral shrine. The figure entered the shrine. His ink-black eyes fell on the person on the ground.
"Cheng Xiran!" Helian Duo's eyes darkened. He lowered his voice and carefully helped Cheng Xiran onto the cushion.
"Hiss—" The wound on her back was rubbed. Cheng Xiran immediately frowned tightly. Helian Duo unconsciously softened his strength and didn't dare to move casually anymore.
The sight in front of her changed from blurry to clear. Gradually, she fell into a pair of deep, pool-like eyes. Cheng Xiran raised her eyebrows and looked at Helian Duo, with surprise in her voice. "Why are you here? How did you know I was here?"
A look of helplessness flashed across Helian Duo's handsome face. He calmly let go of Cheng Xiran and sat upright on another cushion. "I heard that you were punished by Prime Minister Cheng with family law, so I came to visit you."
"Visit me?" Cheng Xiran pointed at her disheveled appearance. She shrugged and laughed. "You're not here to laugh at me, are you?"
Cheng Xiran was half joking. This smile directly pulled at her wound. She hissed in pain, and her delicate little face wrinkled up like a steamed bun.
Helian Duo immediately frowned. His strong big hand pressed on Cheng Xiran's restless shoulder. There was a hint of sternness in his tone. "Don't move."
Startled by Helian Duo's sudden outburst, Cheng Xiran sniffed her delicate little nose and muttered softly. Then she obediently sat still.
Looking at Cheng Xiran like this, Helian Duo let out a soft sigh. He took something out of his sleeve, held it in front of Cheng Xiran, and slowly opened his palm.
"Here you are." She had eaten them last time. This should be what she liked. Helian Duo looked at Cheng Xiran.
A handful of jujubes lay quietly in Helian Duo's palm. Their greenish skins still had a little dew on them. They were probably freshly picked.
Cheng Xiran tilted her head. She wasn't polite and picked up a jujube to take a bite. But a little question popped up in her mind. Why did Helian Duo always carry jujubes with him? Did the majestic regent actually like such ordinary little fruits?
"Are they delicious?" Helian Duo asked involuntarily.