CHAPTER 43: 42: THREE STRIKES ON THE DRUM OF PUBLIC NOTICE (1)_1

Yixuan remained silent upon hearing the words.

Shujun was anxious and tormented, but he knew in his heart that among his brothers, Yixuan was the youngest, yet also the most opinionated. Yixuan was stubborn; he usually seemed noncompetitive and indifferent to many things, but he had clarity of mind, an exceptionally perceptive person.

He saw things very clearly, he was just not talkative, but his feelings were deeper than anyone else’s.

He was always astute and incisive when looking at issues, and his attitude today meant he understood that there was no room for turning back now.

As expected.

Yixuan sighed softly and immediately began to disrobe.

"The marks Lady Zhu left on me that day are still present, and today, people from the Department of Surveillance barged into our home. Among them was a man who had examined me. I have lost my purity. This castration, no matter what, I will have to endure—and according to Dayuan’s laws, if a man loses his chastity, his elder brothers bear the fault of inadequate instruction. Because of me alone, the entire family would be implicated. I truly cannot do such a thing."

His garments fell to the ground, laying bare his snow-white and elegant neck, his beautiful and smooth shoulders, marked with a trail of pale pink bruises. These faint pink marks on his snow-white skin looked beautiful, but each one was a mark of shame and sin.

Shujun’s heart ached as if it was scorched by fire, Yue Ning clenched his teeth, their fists tightened, and no one could understand the depth of hatred the two brothers felt for their own powerlessness at that moment.

Yixuan was still graceful, always one of those exceptionally clean and pure kinds of people. Because his skin was pale and thin, it bruised easily.

When Dong Dabao once flared up in a violent temper, he verbally and physically assaulted Yixuan.

If it had been one of the other brothers, those bruises might have faded in a few days, leaving no trace, but Yixuan would need half a month, a month, or even two months to completely heal from the bruises and swelling.

The three brothers were silent when, at that moment... "There’s something I’d like to ask?"

Dong Huiying looked at her brothers: "Dayuan’s laws have always favored women, and the Liang family certainly has women. How could that man who examined Yixuan conclude for certain that those marks on him were left by Zhu Xingfang?"

"Furthermore, in Dayuan, women are the mainstays of a family. Although I am merely a Marriage Contractor, not yet married, and temporarily not the wife of any one of you, I have been living in your household. From the day the marriage contract was set, I have already become one of the Liang family."

"This world has always esteemed women, with women managing the household affairs. Since it is my own family matter, why should the people from the so-called Department of Surveillance interfere?"

All three brothers were stunned at once, and from their reaction, Dong Huiying already knew.

There was a chance for salvation; it’s just that these three brothers had never thought that she herself could become the turning point.

"I understand now..." Her heart felt a renewed sense of bitterness, and she looked a bit dispirited.

"In the past, ’I’ have done many wrong things. I do not seek forgiveness, nor will I make excuses anymore. I only wish for your hatred to diminish a little." After all, letting go of that hatred is also freeing themselves.

She gave a weak smile to Yixuan inside the cell, then turned and took a step out...

......

The inn where Zhi Chen and Shu Yu were staying was very close to the Department of Surveillance.

Just now Shu Yu felt a tightness in his chest, so his older brother opened the window to ventilate the room, and right at that moment... "Thud!"

The dull sound of a drum came from the direction of the Department of Surveillance.

Both of them were startled.

People passing by the inn downstairs were eagerly discussing the event.

"Someone actually struck the Drum of Public Notice? That young lady must be very courageous."

"Tsk, the Drum of Public Notice at the Department of Surveillance is not something one can strike lightly; it’s for pleading an unjust case. But regardless of whether there is a true grievance, each drum sound equals thirty lashes, and you must sound it thrice to see the Senior Official. Three times means ninety lashes. That young lady must be out of her mind; doesn’t her family care about her?"