At the sound, joy flashed in the eyes of Wang Manwen and Su Yueyue.
Su Yueyue quickly stepped forward. "Father... Sister deliberately embarrassed me at the birthday celebration of the King of Yu, shaming our Su family..."
Su Zhengyi looked a bit grim. Just as he was about to say something, a clear voice rang out from the doorway.
"However, what this king heard just now outside the door seemed to be a different story."
Accompanied by a faint fragrance, a pale - faced man in a wheelchair was slowly wheeled in.
A gentle breeze blew up, just lifting the man's black hair, revealing a face with delicate features and sharp eyes to everyone.
Almost everyone couldn't help but secretly admire his appearance after seeing him.
There was actually such a good - looking man in the world. Every contour of his face seemed to be carefully crafted by God himself. He was so good - looking that people hardly noticed his disabled legs.
Seeing the dazed looks of the maids and his wife, Su Zhengyi couldn't help but cough lightly. "This is His Highness, the Virtuous King of Rui. He has come to our Su Mansion today to investigate the leakage of the exam questions."
Then, Su Zhengyi bowed to Gu Ruobai. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. You've witnessed this scene of disharmony in my family."
Gu Ruobai raised his eyebrows and looked at Su Zhengyi. "Minister Su, this is your family matter. I should not interfere."
"However, this king quite appreciates Su Mingyu's courage to take responsibility. So, may I watch when you enforce the family law?"
...
Su Mingyu rolled her eyes in her mind and secretly cursed this damned man.
In such a situation, he could even say that he wanted to watch from the side. In modern times, he would be a typical straight - laced man.
Su Mingyu squinted at Gu Ruobai with a half - smile. "Your Highness, may this little girl venture to ask you a question?"
Gu Ruobai nodded slightly. "What is it?"
Su Mingyu looked up and stared directly into Gu Ruobai's handsome face. "Your Highness, do you know why, at the age of twenty - five, no girl is willing to marry you?"
At this question, everyone present instantly looked embarrassed.
Everyone in the world knew that the Virtuous King of Rui was brave and good at war, and was the most trusted prince of the emperor.
This man had gone to war with the army since he was fifteen and had made great military achievements.
He was the most popular prince and the most suitable candidate for the crown prince.
However, fortune did not favor the hero. Just as the emperor was about to make him the crown prince, he suddenly injured his legs. Otherwise, the crown prince's position would have nothing to do with the King of Yu.
Although he was now only assigned some trivial tasks by the emperor, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. How dare Su Mingyu be so presumptuous in front of the Virtuous King of Rui!
Su Zhengyi's face darkened, and he scolded in a low voice, "Mingyu!"
Gu Ruobai didn't show the slightest sign of anger. He stared at the seemingly frail girl in front of him for a long time.
With his murderous aura, ordinary civil officials would be as scared as chickens seeing a hawk when they looked at him. But this little girl not only dared to look him in the eye but also made fun of his lack of tenderness.
Thinking of the main purpose of his visit to the Su Mansion, Gu Ruobai suddenly hooked his lips and burst into laughter. "Interesting. I'm becoming more and more fond of you."
Su Mingyu perfunctorily thanked him and then straightened her back and knelt on the ground again.
"Although this girl doesn't quite agree with what the second step - mother said, since the elders have been called, it means that I have indeed violated the family law. I'm willing to accept the punishment."
Seeing Su Mingyu suddenly become so obedient, Su Yueyue was so angry that her eyebrows knitted together.
This damned Su Mingyu was actually willing to be beaten just to drag her down!
Carefully grabbing the sleeve of Su Zhengyi's robe, Su Yueyue's lips trembled in fear. "Father..."
Looking at the daughter he had doted on, a look of reluctance flashed in Su Zhengyi's eyes. "Yueyue, go and kneel down... Look, Mingyu has already knelt properly. We, the Su family, can't be so weak!"
Su Yueyue had thought that, according to Su Zhengyi's doting on her, he would never let her receive the family law.
Unexpectedly, Su Zhengyi was also deceived by Su Mingyu's nonsense.
Su Yueyue bit her lower lip tightly and reluctantly knelt on the ground.
Just as the elders were about to administer the family law, Gu Ruobai suddenly spoke up to stop them. "Minister Su, the purpose of the family law is to punish those who break the rules. Shouldn't those who take the initiative to take responsibility be punished more leniently?"
His words stunned Su Zhengyi. It took him a long time to react. "Your Highness means not to punish Mingyu? That's impossible. After all, she made the mistake first."
Gu Ruobai slanted a glance at Su Mingyu, whose back was straight as a ramrod, and slightly raised his thin lips. "Su Mingyu must be punished."
"However, this king thinks that her courage to take responsibility today is in line with the family precepts of the Su family. So, can the punishment be reduced a bit to avoid chilling people's hearts?"
Hearing this, Su Zhengyi also glanced at Su Mingyu.
What he disliked most about her was her timid appearance.
Now that she was brave enough to change, he might as well see if she could be supported. "Your Highness is right. Then Su Yueyue will be punished with ten lashes, and Su Mingyu with five. Elders, please start."
"Smack!"
When the first lash fell, the excruciating pain made Su Yueyue hate Su Mingyu to the core. "Ah!!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Su Mingyu biting her lips without making a sound, and her eyes were full of hatred.
One lash after another, Su Yueyue's screams grew louder and louder, and then gradually faded into the howling of the whip.
Finally, the family law was over. Wang Manwen rushed up and hugged Su Yueyue.
But as soon as she touched Su Yueyue, Su Yueyue let out a painful howl.
Looking at the bloodstains on her back, Wang Manwen's eyes turned red with distress. "What are you all standing there for! Quickly help the young lady back and invite the imperial physician from the palace for me!"
When about to walk out of the main hall, Wang Manwen cast a reproachful look at Su Zhengyi with tears in her eyes. "She's our daughter!"
Su Zhengyi didn't feel good either. He casually perfunctorily replied to the Virtuous King of Rui and then quickened his steps to follow.
Looking at the main hall that was just crowded but now empty, a mocking smile curled up on Su Mingyu's lips.