Song Zhen opened his eyes but couldn't say a word. Pei Zhiyan didn't have the patience to listen to his excuses. He straightened up and took a few steps back. Just then, Pei Yu was still standing there.
Pei Zhiyan smiled. "Yu'er."
Pei Yu was a bit dazed. It had been a long time since he last heard Pei Zhiyan call him like this. Hearing it suddenly today, he quickly responded, "Father, what do you want Yu'er to do?"
"Would you like to personally carry out their punishments?" Pei Zhiyan's voice was calm, but there was an unyielding tone in it.
Pei Yu turned his head and met the gazes of Song Wanying and the others. His eyes dodged a little. He slightly clenched his fingers and said hesitantly, "Father, this... isn't it a bit inappropriate?"
"What? Are you reluctant to do it?" Pei Zhiyan turned his head to look at him, squinting his eyes. A dangerous aura enveloped Pei Yu, making his hair stand on end.
"No, it's not." Pei Yu shook his head. "It's just that I've never carried out a punishment before. I'm afraid I won't control the strength well, and I can't bear to see such a cruel scene. So, Father, you'd better..."
"Cruel?" Pei Zhiyan snorted. "The people they sent almost cut my throat and chopped off my fingers. Why didn't you say it was cruel then? Now that these sinners are about to be punished, you think it's cruel?"
"What? Do you think it was right for their people to hurt me?" Pei Zhiyan's voice carried a sense of oppression. Pei Yu immediately knelt down and hurriedly said, "Son doesn't mean that. Father, don't misunderstand..."
"I won't force you. If you can't control the strength well, I'll ask the experienced people here to teach you until you can master it." Pei Zhiyan sighed as if helplessly. "You've been doing odd jobs for some time and have been tempered. It's time for you to get a promotion."
As soon as Pei Zhiyan said this, Pei Yu's eyes lit up instantly. He understood the meaning behind Pei Zhiyan's words. He was going to be promoted.
So he replied quickly, "Okay, then son will definitely learn well."
The Song family had no objections. After all, they were still waiting for Pei Yu to go easy on them and let them get through the punishment easily.
Pei Zhiyan walked casually to a chair on one side and sat down. He turned his head and motioned to his subordinate Mo Qing, who was holding a whip, "Go."
Mo Qing stepped forward and handed the whip to Pei Yu. "Young master, don't forget to dip the whip in wine before whipping to prevent infection."
Although that's what was said, the main purpose of the wine here was not to prevent infection but to make the person being punished suffer more.
Pei Yu looked at the wine brought by the jailer. He tightened his grip on the leather whip slightly. He glanced at Song Wanying out of the corner of his eye. Summoning up his courage, he stepped forward and dipped the whip in the wine.
The three members of the Song family were pressed on the long bench. Pei Yu picked up the whip and walked up to Song Zhen first. Thinking that as a man, Song Zhen might be stronger than a woman, he looked at Song Zhen and said while holding the whip, "Uncle Song, I'm offended."
As soon as he finished speaking, he lashed out with the whip, hitting Song Zhen's unhealed back. Song Zhen let out a scream in surprise. Pei Yu was startled. Nie Rong cried out beside him, "My lord!"
Song Zhen broke out in a cold sweat. Nie Rong cried and looked at Pei Yu. "Young Master Pei, my lord's back was burned a few days ago. He can't bear the punishment..."
Pei Yu pursed his lips and turned to look at Pei Zhiyan. But Pei Zhiyan didn't say a word. Only Mo Qing stepped forward, checked the whip marks on Song Zhen's body, and shook his head. "Young master, you didn't hit the right place. You should hit the prisoner's buttocks accurately. The whip should just break the skin, which is the rule of the whip punishment."
After Mo Qing said this coldly, he stepped back and made way. "Young master, this whip needs to be whipped again."
"What?" Song Wanying widened her eyes. "You mean the previous whip doesn't count?"
"Yes." Mo Qing's voice was calm. "Young master, please."
Pei Yu swallowed his saliva and dipped the whip in the wine again. Song Zhen was lying on the bench, sweating profusely. Nie Rong suddenly shouted beside him, "Whipping me instead. Let my lord rest for a while, my lord..."
Pei Yu turned to look at Pei Zhiyan again. The latter nodded. So he walked up to Nie Rong and lashed out with the whip. Nie Rong let out a cry of pain. Mo Qing stepped forward but still shook his head.
This went on and on. Pei Yu was exhausted from whipping. Finally, he finished the whip punishment for the three of them. But the three members of the Song family had been whipped many more times.
After the punishment, Pei Yu threw the whip away and slumped into a chair on one side. Pei Zhiyan looked at the three people lying in front of him and said calmly, "It's not over yet. Why did you sit down?"
Pei Yu's hand holding the teacup paused. He almost dropped it. "Father, they were only supposed to get fifty whips. Isn't that enough?"
"They have more than one crime. The crime of extortion hasn't been counted yet." Pei Zhiyan explained with a half - smile.
Pei Yu turned to look at the dying people lying on the bench. He took a deep breath. It seemed that the three members of the Song family were going to be severely punished this time...
When Pei Zhiyan returned in the evening, he didn't go to Song Ruotang first. Instead, he went to change his clothes. But Song Ruotang was just putting away the clay pot for collecting snow and met him on the corridor.
"Zhiyan, you're back?" Song Ruotang walked over with a clay pot in her arms. Her expression was a bit surprised. Pei Zhiyan didn't step forward to embrace her as he did before. He just nodded with a smile. "What are you collecting this snow for?"
"Didn't you say last time that you like the wine I brewed? It's almost the end of winter now. There won't be many more snowfalls. So I'm taking this opportunity to collect some snow water for future use." Song Ruotang showed him the clay pot.
Pei Zhiyan felt a warmth in his heart and nodded. Song Ruotang handed the clay pot to Xiaoxi and walked into the yard with him. She could smell the blood on Pei Zhiyan. Most likely, the Song family had been punished.
When they returned to the yard, Song Ruotang reached out to hold his hand. But Pei Zhiyan sighed softly. "I'll change my clothes." He was afraid of affecting Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang nodded and waited for him outside. When Pei Zhiyan came out, it was already dark. The lanterns were just lit. Song Ruotang looked out of the door. The snow was still falling, making a rustling sound.
This was probably the last snowfall of the year...
Pei Zhiyan walked over and put his arm around her shoulder. "What are you looking at?"
"The snow." Song Ruotang replied softly. Pei Zhiyan pulled her into his arms and let her sit on his lap. He said gently, "Then I'll accompany you to watch it."
Song Ruotang was very close to him. She could still smell the faint smell of blood on Pei Zhiyan.
"They were punished today, weren't they?" Song Ruotang leaned in Pei Zhiyan's arms, turned her head and sniffed slightly. "There's a smell of blood on you."
Pei Zhiyan paused. "Then I'll go and wash it off."
Saying that, he was about to get up. But Song Ruotang suddenly put her arms around his neck and got very close to him. Her red lips were almost touching his. Her breath was like orchid fragrance. "The hot spring in the back mountain hasn't been used for a long time..."
Pei Zhiyan stopped in his tracks. Looking at Song Ruotang's expression, he reached out and pressed the back of her head. He kissed her lips and slightly curved his lips. "Then let's go together..."