Zhu Ling'er's expression turned solemn.
She nodded earnestly, "I am willing to take responsibility for my words."
Since Zhu Ling'er vouched for it, the other clan elders had no choice but to remain silent.
They immediately took the keys and went to open the ancestral hall.
The bearded man lagged behind.
Looking at the clan elders, he pursed his lips, "A bunch of old fuddy-duddies."
These clan elders constantly lamented that the Zhu family had no heir.
In the bearded man's opinion, these people just looked down on women!
Compared to the useless wastrels within the Zhu family.
What was Zhu Ling'er lacking, except for one thing?
She had looks, she had brains.
Skills and experience could be learned; there was no need to fuss over it.
In the bearded man's view.
Zhu Ling'er was perfectly capable.
If Zhu Ling'er became the head of the family in the future, and then married someone capable,
The Zhu family would still have an heir!
Yet, every time the bearded man said this.
The clan elders would turn red-faced, wanting nothing more than to jump up and object.
Over time, the bearded man stopped bothering.
Let these clan elders jump around.
As far as he was concerned.
The head of the Zhu family was no easy opponent.
These clan elders plotting against the head of the Zhu family and Zhu Ling'er would likely have their plans fall through!
Zhou Yu happened to be walking behind them and heard the bearded man's words clearly.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
It seemed the Zhu family also had some interesting characters.
The path from the main gate to the ancestral hall was not too far.
They arrived in no time.
When the old wooden door was opened.
Inside, on the offering table of the ancestral hall, three layers of memorial tablets were displayed!
Even Zhou Yu, with all his experience, was stunned by the sight.
After all, Zhou Yu had grown up with an old man.
After descending the mountain, he had spent most of his time in Yunhai City.
He had never seen an ancestral hall of such a prominent family.
This was the first time he had seen so many memorial tablets.
At the same time, Zhou Yu finally understood.
Just how profound the foundation of these prominent families was.
"Come in, I've already asked someone to light the candles in advance."
The clan elder leading with the key spoke first.
Everyone entered the ancestral hall.
The scent of burning candles and paper money filled the air.
Entering the hall immediately made one feel solemn.
Even Zhou Yu was no exception.
The clan elders, according to their rank, took their positions on either side of the ancestral tablets.
The head of the Zhu family stood at the very front.
Zhou Yu and Zhu Ling'er, being considered juniors, stood closest to the entrance.
After everyone had taken their positions.
Not long after.
The Zhu family's enforcers brought Zhu Rong over.
Earlier, at the company.
Zhu Rong had already been secretly beaten by the head of the Zhu family.
He now looked bruised and swollen.
His body was bound like a zongzi with ropes.
His mouth was stuffed with a rag.
Even so.
Zhu Rong continued to twist his shoulders, glaring fiercely at the head of the Zhu family.
His expression was as if he wanted to eat the head of the Zhu family's flesh and drink his blood!
"Sinner Zhu Rong, kneel!"
The leading clan elder roared.
Immediately, someone stepped forward and kicked Zhu Rong's instep.
Forcing him to his knees.
Zhu Rong's head was bowed towards the ancestral tablets, and also towards the head of the Zhu family!
"Zhu Rong has violated the family rules, and under the premise of endangering the lives of clan members, forced the current head of the family to abdicate."
"His crime is unforgivable!"
"Now, we shall carry out the family law!"
"Sinner Zhu Rong, do you have anything to say?"
The clan elder recited the customary lines.
Someone stepped forward and pulled the rag out of Zhu Rong's mouth.
Zhu Rong began to curse vehemently.
"Bullshit! I'm not a sinner, I've done no wrong!"
"Isn't it just about taking the position of family head? What's wrong with that?"
"If you old geezers hadn't supported him, and he hadn't been willing to step down, would it have come to this point today?"
"Now you pretend to be righteous and pronounce me guilty, I spit on you!"
"If I had succeeded then, you wouldn't even be afraid to lick my toes now!"
Tears welled up in Zhu Rong's eyes, and he glared hatefully at the head of the Zhu family, clenching his trembling lips.
He was both angry and resentful!
The clan elders were clearly taken aback that the accusations had reached them.
They nearly fainted with their eyes wide open, their mouths twitching and eyebrows jumping, unable to speak.
Beside them, the head of the Zhu family's face turned dark.
"Silence!"
The head of the Zhu family roared.
His gaze was like a sharp blade, almost piercing Zhu Rong's skin and sinking into his flesh and blood.
"Even if you wanted to seize the position of family head, you shouldn't have used Ling'er's life as a threat!"
"If not for the help of Divine Doctor Zhou this time, it's likely that neither my daughter nor I would have survived!"
"Zhu Rong, even at this point, you remain unrepentant, blaming your mistakes entirely on others?"
The head of the Zhu family's words resounded like thunder.
They made Zhu Rong tremble all over.
But soon, Zhu Rong sneered.
He had already committed such inhumane acts; what else could break his psychological defenses?
The head of the Zhu family's words could only subdue him for a moment.
"So what?"
"Should I have kept you around so you could take my position at any time?"
"Head of the Zhu family, if you were decisive, you should have just abdicated to me!"
Zhu Rong said these words with absolute conviction.
It made the head of the Zhu family's veins bulge.
If not for the presence of so many clan elders, the head of the Zhu family would have likely gone up and beaten Zhu Rong again.
Seeing that his words had successfully angered the head of the Zhu family.
Zhu Rong became even more smug.
He looked around and said impatiently, "The winner takes all. Regardless, I lost in the end."
"Do whatever you want to me quickly, don't drag it out."
At this point, everyone present could not help themselves.
They began to curse Zhu Rong endlessly.
Zhou Yu, hearing Zhu Rong's words, looked at him with a bit more respect.
He was someone who dared to take responsibility.
But unfortunately, he chose the wrong path.
Otherwise, given Zhu Rong's personality, if he had started his own venture.
Although he might not have rivaled the Zhu family's deep heritage, he could have achieved something great in his own right!
"Very well, since you are in a hurry to accept your punishment, we have nothing more to say."
"Now, carry out the sentence!"
The clan elder was so angered that his beard bristled.
His previous desire to smooth things over had long since vanished with Zhu Rong's defiant words.
He only wished to see Zhu Rong suffer.
"Hahahaha, come on!"
Zhu Rong laughed heartily, showing no fear of the punishment to come.
Then,
Two of the Zhu family's enforcers stepped forward, each holding a whip.
"The first punishment, one hundred lashes!"
The clan elder's voice fell.
Crack, crack, crack—
The whips were barbed and had been soaked in chili water.
They were continuously swung towards Zhu Rong's body.
Those carrying out the punishment were all martial artists; the force of their blows was tremendous.
He didn't even last twenty lashes.
Zhu Rong's body was already tearing open, flesh and skin splitting.