When the board landed on him, Xu Yijie couldn't help but cry out in pain, and as he cried, he confessed again, "I love you, you can't do this to me..."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou quickly ordered someone to stuff a rag into his mouth. The world finally quieted down, and she had the mood to pick up her teacup and drink. To be honest, if it wasn't for the fact that what happened recently was too brazen, and she was afraid of the consequences if it happened again, she really wished she could shut him up forever and make him disappear from this world. Sudannovel.net
The last incident had already reached the Emperor's ears. If she was implicated because of Xu Yijie, it would not be worth it. However, she was not happy to let him off so easily. So, she gave some instructions to the people around her.
Before long, Xu Yijie was thrown out of the Zhou manor like a dead dog. His arm and leg were twisted, clearly indicating an injury.
The sun was blinding, and Xu Yijie lay on the ground, heartbroken. If he had known this would be the outcome, he should have returned to the countryside. Even living with his parents in the village and opening a small private school would have been better than being in the city.
The pain reminded him that he was crippled from now on. At this thought, tears streamed down his face as if they were free.
After crying and accepting reality, lying there was not an option. Fortunately, the Zhou family had thrown him into a small alley, probably afraid of losing face and damaging their reputation if they threw him at the front door. He tried hard to stand up, but he was injured, and his leg couldn't support him. He struggled for a long time but couldn't get up.
He couldn't help but feel sad for a while longer. Just then, a beggar passed by. Remembering that he still had some copper coins in his pocket, he quickly called out to him in a weak voice, "I have dozens of copper coins in my pocket. If you take me home, these copper coins will be yours."
The beggar was quite satisfied with the offer. After all, for people like them, it might take several days of begging to get a few dozen copper coins.
"If you really have dozens of copper coins to give me, I'd be willing to take you home. But you're dressed so shabbily, do you have that much money?" The beggar thought taking someone home wasn't difficult, but he didn't want to work for free. It was better to clarify some things in advance.
Xu Yijie moved slightly, which made him grimace in pain. Trembling, he took out dozens of copper coins from his pocket, showed them to the beggar, and quickly stuffed them back. He said weakly, "If you take me back, these are yours. You don't have to worry about me reneging on my promise. After all, I'm so injured. If you try to snatch them from me, I can't fight back."
The beggar thought about it and agreed. He quickly came over to help him, slowly helping him up. With every movement, more sweat appeared on Xu Yijie's forehead, it was too painful.
But he didn't want to lie there and wait for death. He mustered all his willpower. Fortunately, the rented house was not far away. He had to go to the Zhou manor every day to pester them and monitor Madam Zhou's movements. Even so, they walked for a long time, mainly because Xu Yijie was too slow to walk.
The beggar was relatively kind. He didn't just leave him at the door but helped him onto the bed. Lying on the bed, Xu Yijie felt a sense of happiness. He couldn't help but laugh bitterly, feeling that his life was indeed going downhill.
He was now unable to take care of himself. Even if he got home, it would likely be a dead end. Looking at the beggar standing by the bed waiting for copper coins, he suddenly had an idea.
He readily took out the copper coins from his pocket and handed them over, saying calmly, "You beg on the streets every day, worrying about your next meal. Since I can't move now and need someone to take care of me, why don't you stay here? I'll not only provide food but also give you a few copper coins every day."
The beggar agreed without hesitation. Who would want to be a beggar if they could live a normal life?
His parents died early, and his house was seized by his uncle, leaving him no choice but to wander the streets and become a beggar. As he grew older, he didn't have the money to buy clothes or rent a house. Every time he applied for a job, people would see his dirty appearance and quickly turn him away without even looking at him.
Perhaps this time he could wash himself clean in this small courtyard and change into clean clothes. Even if he recovered and no longer needed him, he could go and apply for a job, as long as they provided food and accommodation.
This time, Xu Yijie was lucky to pick this little beggar, who took care of him quite well. Just as he had imagined, Xu Yijie gave him his clothes so that he wouldn't be chased away when he went out to buy things. He let him heat water to take a bath and dress up neatly.
Under Xu Yijie's direction, the little beggar found a handful of copper coins from an inconspicuous flower vase. Some were used to buy food, some for medicine, and some for his wages.
While Xu Yijie had settled down, Madam Zhou's side was still in turmoil. Although Master Qian was diligent in his public duties, he could not help but indulge his son when it came to matters concerning him. Otherwise, his son would not have developed such a personality.
Seeing his son so injured, he blamed Young Master Zhou. After settling his son, he couldn't help but angrily go to the Zhou residence to settle accounts with Master Zhou.
It was at this moment that Master Zhou learned about the incident at the academy. Although he disliked his eldest son, finding him unpleasant because he was not his biological child, he had raised him for so many years and had some affection for him. Moreover, his son was outstanding, and Master Zhou was often envied for him, so he inevitably showed some favoritism.
After hearing the cause, process, and outcome of the incident, Master Zhou felt that his son had done well to teach him a lesson, but he couldn't say so openly.
"My son did have some shortcomings in this matter, and I will discipline him when he returns. But to be honest, it takes two to clap. Spreading rumors in a place like an academy is clearly not what a scholar should do." Although he was just a merchant, he was, after all, Bai family's son-in-law, and his son's biological father had an even more esteemed status. He was not afraid of Master Qian and spoke neither subserviently nor arrogantly.
Master Qian understood these principles, but he was temporarily angry and also concerned about the influence of Madam Zhou's family, so he dared not go too far. He had originally thought that with rumors spreading everywhere, Young Master Zhou might indeed not be Master Zhou's biological child, and that by coming to confront him, Master Zhou would discipline him properly. He did not expect Master Zhou to defend him so much, which left him somewhat speechless.
After a while, he continued, "I don't deny that my son is unpromising and ignorant, but Young Master Zhou shouldn't have beaten him so severely. He is our only son. If something happens to him, wouldn't it kill us?"