Chapter 113 - Outcry (2/2)

Zhong Ji then got angry and shouted, ”I said I didn't ask for him! What did you want me to do? Say no to the Emperor?!”

”I am not a servant and I am not useless!” Jun Shan shouted, interrupting their sibling bickering. The two sisters blinked and turned to see Jun Shan glaring at them with red eyes.

Zhong Hua frowned, ”It seems that stupid servant of a mother failed to te-”

”My mother is not stupid! And she was a consort! You both should stop disrespecting her!” He resolutely shouted back, blinking back the tears.

Zhong Hua stood there looking at him with a stunned scowl, while Zhong Ji ordered the servants to take him away, annoyed with the whole situation. She had called him because her sister asked her to, but all it did was end up putting her in a bad mood. Before the servants could take him away, Zhong Hua stopped them and then said, ”If you apologize, I will consider it a child's foolishness an-...”

”I said nothing wrong so I will not apologize.” Jun Shan indignantly responded.

Zhong Hua glared at him and then scoffed, ”It seems the beating from last time was not enough for you to learn some manners, th-”

”You're the one lacking manners to insult the deceased.” Jun Shan countered.

Zhong Hua blinked and then became enraged, ”This brat! You seem to have lost all sense now, is it? Bring a whip!” The servants quickly provided one, she snatched it and walked up to Jun Shan and condescendingly said, ”Turn around.”

Jun Shan stood there, glaring at her and did not move. Zhong Hua's scowl deepened and she ordered the servants to force him to his knees and hold him down while she unleashed her rage on his back. Jun Shan tightly closed his eyes and braced himself, constantly reminding himself not to cry and bit down on his lip so hard it started bleeding as hit after hit came down on his back.

The fact that he was not making a sound further enraged Zhong Hua and she hit even harder. Eventually, after his back was covered with bloody streaks, Zhong Ji sighed and reminded, ”Jie that's enough, it'll be a problem if he dies like this.”

Zhong Hua blinked and then tossed the whip towards her, ”Since you're going to raise him, be sure to teach him some manners to avoid embarrassment in the future. You're lucky it's me this time.” She finished and then stormed off.

Zhong Ji rolled her eyes and then looked at Jun Shan on the ground and irritatedly said, ”I told you not to cause trouble.” Then she sighed, ”Since you have been disrespectful you should be punished, no food for three days. Lock him in his room so he can repent.” She ordered and the servants dragged his limp body off. He glanced at Zhong Ji as he was carted off and saw her casually sipping on tea, completely relaxed while he was in boggled down with pain and felt a pang in his heart.

They tossed him on his bed and then left him there, he listened as they locked the doors. He just laid there staring at the doors and the tears he had been holding back finally started pouring down.

{...I want to go home...Mother, it hurts...a lot...}

Jun Shan later opened his eyes in immense pain to see an imperial doctor applying acupuncture on him with a lot of people in the room. The Imperial doctor seeing him awake smiled and turned and bowed, ”Your majesty, he is awake. Some of the wounds have been infected and so will take longer to heal but will be able to make a full recovery shortly.”

”In that case, you stay here to look after him until he recovers.” Jun Shan's eyes followed the sound of the warm voice to see the Empress standing on the side with her servants.