Reborn into the Harem of the Enemy Nation’s Prince CHAPTER 26

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Chapter 26: Falling into the Trap

“Help! Someone! Help!” Tingqin began to shout for help.

Many guests at Xiangnan Building were drawn to the doorway.

However, everyone had just heard how noble Chu Tianlin’s status was, and it was just a pretty boy; who would meddle in other people’s business and risk incurring wrath?

Suddenly, Tingqin, who had seemed completely defenseless, violently pushed Chu Tianlin away.

Chu Tianlin flew several feet away, crashing against the wall with a “bang.”

“…!” Chu Tianlin was shocked. Tingqin’s push had been imbued with internal force! “You know martial arts?!”

“Heh.” Tingqin sneered, removing his veil. “Do you know who I am? I am the son of the Villa Master of Jinyixuan Mountain Villa. Do you think I wouldn’t know martial arts?”

“What?” Chu Tianlin had heard of Jinyixuan Mountain Villa’s reputation. “You’re Ouyang Qin?!”

“You even dare to provoke me!” Ouyang Qin walked over and slapped Chu Tianlin twice across the face. “You’re tired of living!”

“You dare hit me!”

Although the other party was a martial artist, the martial arts world and the court had always been separate, so Chu Tianlin was very angry.

However, he knew that a wise man doesn’t fight when he’s sure to lose. It was clear that he was no match for the other party; he couldn’t resist, so he just angrily left.

Then, he ran home crying to complain to his father, Chu Weide.

Chu Weide saw his swollen face, feeling both angry and distressed. “Who dared to hit my son, Chu Tianlin? Rest assured, my son, once I find out who this person is and where they are, I’ll go settle the score immediately!”

Before Chu Weide could find Ouyang Qin, Ouyang Qin had already gone to the government office to beat the drum and appeal for justice.

He accused Chu Tianlin of attempting to forcibly take a man.

This case involved the royal family, so the Jingzhao Yin (the magistrate of the capital) didn’t dare to handle it himself and immediately reported it to Emperor Chu Wen.

Emperor Chu Wen was very angry at Chu Tianlin’s behavior and sent word to De Wangfu (De King’s Mansion) that night, ordering Chu Weide to bring his son to court the next morning, as he would personally hear the case in front of all the officials.

Chu Weide panicked.

He knew that this matter could not be easily resolved and hurriedly went to find Chu Ziqian.

Chu Ziqian, who was sleeping with Jiang Yingnan, was awakened.

“What should we do, Eldest Brother!” Chu Weide looked anxious. “You must help me and Lin’er!”

“…” After hearing the story, Chu Ziqian rubbed his temples irritably. “Your son did this himself; so many people saw it. How can I help? Should I go and kill all the witnesses at that brothel?”

“You can! As long as you can help Lin’er!”

“Are you an idiot! I was just saying it casually!” Chu Ziqian glared fiercely at Chu Weide.

Chu Weide had always been like this since he was young, impulsive and always seeking help after causing trouble. Since they were brothers from the same mother, Chu Ziqian could only try to help him.

However, this matter was no longer just a matter of impulsiveness. With Chu Ziqian’s intelligence, he understood at a glance that someone had deliberately designed this to target Chu Weide and Chu Tianlin. Sadly, the foolish Chu Tianlin was as stupid as his father, easily falling for it.

“I ask you, has your precious son arrived?”

“He’s here, he’s kneeling outside.”

“Men.” Chu Ziqian gave an order. “Bring a long bench and a board.”

“Eldest Brother?!” Chu Weide guessed what he was going to do and turned pale.

Chu Ziqian asked indifferently, “Will you do it yourself, or shall I help you?”

“…No, Eldest Brother! Lin’er has never been beaten before; he can’t take it! Besides, we should be discussing solutions, that boy did wrong, but we can discipline him later?”

“This is the solution, and it’s his only way to survive.”

Chu Ziqian didn’t bother to argue with his younger brother and strode out.

By now, the servants of the Prince’s mansion had already pressed Chu Tianlin onto the bench.

Chu Ziqian took the board from the servant and mercilessly beat Chu Tianlin on the buttocks.

“Ah!” Chu Tianlin, who had never been beaten so harshly before, let out a earth-shattering scream.

“Brother! I beg you to let Lin’er go, brother!” Chu Weide anxiously tried to stop him.

Chu Ziqian motioned for the servants to restrain him, and then continued to beat Chu Tianlin vigorously.

Only when Chu Tianlin was beaten until his skin was torn and bleeding, and he had cried himself hoarse, did he stop.

“Take him back like this, don’t apply any medicine. Bring him to court tomorrow like this, the more miserable, the better. Then, I will teach you what to say. Remember every word, and say it to Father exactly the same way tomorrow.”

“…Eldest Brother, you… are you planning to use a bitter ploy?” At this time, Chu Weide finally understood.

Chu Ziqian snorted. “Things have come to this point; your son is completely in the wrong. The other party is an important figure from Yan and a friend of the Third Brother. Can we afford to offend them easily? Besides this bitter ploy, there’s no other way.”

“…Thank you, Eldest Brother.”

After that, Chu Weide had people carry the crying Chu Tianlin back.

The next day, he was carried to court.

Chu Tianlin could only lie prostrate on the rack, without the strength to even kneel. His buttocks were still bloody and red, a truly miserable sight.

“Father, it’s all because of my failure to teach my son!” Chu Weide knelt directly before Emperor Chu Wen. “I have severely punished him yesterday! I beg you to forgive him this time, considering that I only have this one son!”

Before Emperor Chu Wen could speak, Chu Lianmo spoke coldly, “Second Brother, that’s wrong. No matter how you punish him, it’s still family discipline. Family discipline cannot override the law. The law clearly states that anyone who forcibly takes a woman or a man will be caned fifty times and then imprisoned for five years or more, or even beheaded depending on the severity of the offense.”

“Hmm…” Emperor Chu Wen spoke at this time. “Mo’er is right.”

“Father! I beg you to show mercy!” Chu Weide knew very well that even if Chu Tianlin was only sentenced to five years, his life would be ruined.

“Father,” Chu Ziqian stepped forward. “I heard the whole story from Ade and Lin’er last night, and I think there are still some suspicious points. I hope you will summon Ouyang Qin so that we can confront him.”

“Your Majesty,” a eunuch reported. “Ouyang Qin is waiting outside the hall.”

Since it was a trial, both parties involved would naturally have to be present. Emperor Chu Wen was prepared for this.

So, Ouyang Qin was brought in a moment later.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” Ouyang Qin, a man who had seen the world, was not nervous at all; he calmly greeted Emperor Chu Wen.

“I ask you,” Chu Ziqian looked at him sternly. “You say that Lin’er tried to forcibly take you, but yesterday, you first appeared to be unable to resist, shouting for help to attract everyone, and then suddenly attacking Lin’er… Was all this deliberately planned by you?”

Chu Lianmo smiled coldly in his heart.

The Crown Prince is indeed the Crown Prince; he still has some brains.

This matter was indeed designed by him and Qi Xiaojun. They had approached Ouyang Qin. Ouyang Qin was a person on Princess Ping’s side, and he already disliked Chu Ziqian and Chu Weide, and because of his family environment, he respected women very much. So, when he heard about Chu Tianlin’s shameful actions, he immediately agreed to help.

And they had anticipated Chu Ziqian’s question.

Ouyang Qin spoke calmly and slowly, “I concealed my identity as a pretty boy to earn money to support myself. If the guests knew my real identity and that I knew martial arts, who would dare to watch me dance and listen to me play the qin? Of course, I would try to hide it. Now, I can’t stay in Chu anymore, and it’s all because of Chu Tianlin!”

“…” What he said was reasonable, and for a while, Chu Ziqian couldn’t find anything to refute.

“So,” Emperor Chu Wen looked sternly at Chu Tianlin, “Do you plead guilty to forcibly taking Ouyang Qin?”

Chu Tianlin on the ground looked at his father, Chu Weide, with pleading eyes. Unfortunately, even Chu Ziqian was powerless now, so how could Chu Weide save him?

“I’m asking you! If you don’t deny it, that’s considered admitting it!”

“…I… I did…” Chu Tianlin could only sob and admit it.

Emperor Chu Wen’s face was livid. “You’ve really disgraced the Chu royal family! In that case, let’s deal with it according to the law. Bring him down! Fifty lashes, and then five years in prison!”

“Father!” Chu Weide knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly. “Lin’er is already seriously injured, how can he endure fifty lashes?! Considering that he hasn’t committed a major crime, I beg you to be lenient!”

“Forget the fifty lashes, but five years is already a lenient sentence and cannot be reduced.”

“Father, show mercy, Father!” Chu Weide continued to kowtow. “Please consider our father-son relationship, your relationship with the Empress, and your grandfather-grandson relationship with Lin’er, and forgive Lin’er! …Eldest Brother, please say something too!”

“…” Chu Ziqian was forced to do so and could only kneel down and echo, “I beg Your Majesty to show mercy.”

“Crown Prince, don’t be biased!” Emperor Chu Wen’s face became even more unpleasant. Chu Weide had indeed used everyone he could, using family ties to pressure him into compromise.

The Empress did indeed spoil Chu Weide and her precious grandson Chu Tianlin. If he insisted on punishing him, the mother and son might resent him for life.

“Your Majesty!” At Chu Lianmo’s signal, the Minister of Personnel knelt down. “Even the emperor is subject to the law, let alone the son of the De King. I beg Your Majesty to deal with it according to the law!”

Princess Ping also said, “Ouyang Qin is my friend. I also beg Father to punish Chu Tianlin according to the law.”

“I second that! I beg Your Majesty to deal with it according to the law!”

Several other old ministers also knelt down.

They were all Chu Lianmo’s people.

“…” Emperor Chu Wen looked at the large number of people kneeling below, rubbing his aching temples.

“Father,” Chu Lianmo spoke at the right time, “Punishing a grandson of the emperor is a serious matter. Your Majesty might consider it for a day and give a decision tomorrow.”

“That’s good.” Emperor Chu Wen was already extremely upset, so he followed Chu Lianmo’s words. “Dismiss court, we will discuss this matter tomorrow!”

Having seen the development of the situation, Chu Ziqian understood what Chu Lianmo wanted to do – his real target was not Chu Tianlin, but Chu Weide.

So after the court session, Chu Ziqian asked Chu Weide to visit Chu Lianmo at Rui Wangfu (Rui King’s Mansion).

For the sake of his precious son, Chu Weide had to go.

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