Chapter 245: The Manic Couple 5

Wu Chufeng stood to the side, coldly watching Xiao Mumu cling to Wu Daniu’s leg and wail, a scornful smile playing on his lips.

He had long seen through Xiao Mumu’s tricks. Every time she made a mistake, she would bring up her mother to win Wu Daniu’s sympathy.

It was a move that never failed her.

“Mumu, what happened to your mother is a thorn in your grandfather’s heart, but you can’t use it as a shield every single time, can you?”

Wu Chufeng’s tone was cold, his eyes filled with disdain. “Your mother suffered back then because of the war, not because of your grandfather. Now you’re exploiting his guilt to run wild, causing harm and even death. Is this what your mother would have wanted you to do?”

Hearing Wu Chufeng’s words, Xiao Mumu’s face instantly turned ashen.

She snapped her head up, a venomous glint in her eyes, her tone sharp and biting. “Uncle, what are you trying to say? What happened to my mother is none of your business to comment on! You’re just a son who also grew up living like a stray dog on the outside. What right do you have to lecture me here?”

At this, Wu Daniu’s expression grew even uglier.

He looked down at Xiao Mumu, his voice laced with exhaustion. “Mumu, your uncle is right. What happened to your mother is a thorn in my heart, but it’s not an excuse for you to run wild. Your mother suffered back then because of the war; it wasn’t my fault. My compensation to you and your mother over the years has been more than enough. But what about you? You use my power to treat human lives as worthless, to bully the common people, and now you dare to throw a tantrum here? Do you have any regard for the law?”

Xiao Mumu’s face paled, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

She hadn’t expected that this time, not even Wu Daniu would be on her side.

She bit her lip, her voice turning pleading. “Grandfather, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me! I’ll never do it again!”

While Xiao Mumu was crying and begging, Li Zhixiao remained kneeling on the floor, his head lowered as if he were invisible.

‘He was secretly relieved, hoping that all of Wu Daniu’s anger would focus on Xiao Mumu, allowing him to escape this disaster.’

However, Wu Daniu’s cold gaze swept over to him, his voice laced with authority. “Li Zhixiao, you’re quite good at hiding. What, you thought you could get away with it by staying silent?”

Li Zhixiao trembled and quickly raised his head, his face a mask of terror and grievance.

“General, I… I have been truly wronged! This is all a misunderstanding. I never intended to harm Miss Ji’s father, nor did I conspire with Miss Xiao. I was just momentarily confused and misled Miss Xiao, which is why I committed such a wrongful act…”

Wu Daniu sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Momentarily confused? Deliberately misleading? Li Zhixiao, you’re quite good at shirking responsibility. The contract states it clearly in black and white: you were to marry into the Ji family, you took their money for the imperial examinations, and now you turn your back on them after getting what you wanted, even causing the death of Miss Ji’s father. Your ‘momentary confusion’ has certainly caused a great deal of harm!”

Li Zhixiao’s face was deathly pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

He knew he couldn’t argue any further, or he would only infuriate Wu Daniu.

He gritted his teeth, suddenly throwing himself to the ground, his voice choked with sobs. “General, I know I was wrong! I am willing to bear all responsibility, I only beg the General to spare Miss Xiao! This is all my fault. It was I who was greedy for wealth and status, which is why I committed such an ungrateful act! Miss Xiao is innocent, she was simply deceived by me!”

A touched look flashed in Xiao Mumu’s eyes as she heard Li Zhixiao’s words.

She rushed to Li Zhixiao’s side and hugged his arm, her voice choked with sobs.

“Zhixiao, don’t say that! I was the one who forced you. I insisted on being with you, and that’s what made you do this! Grandfather, if you’re going to punish someone, punish me! Don’t blame Zhixiao!”

Wu Daniu watched this pair of “star-crossed lovers,” his brow furrowed, but inwardly he was sneering.

He had long seen through Li Zhixiao’s ploy. On the surface, he was trying to take all the blame so that Xiao Mumu could get off scot-free.

‘In reality, he was just banking on the fact that Xiao Mumu would save him!’

However, Wu Daniu had no intention of letting him succeed.

“Li Zhixiao, you’re quite the actor.”

Wu Daniu said coldly, “Did you think that by taking all the blame, you could let Mumu get away? You’re wrong. Neither of you is getting away with this!”

Li Zhixiao’s face paled, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.

He hadn’t expected Wu Daniu to not fall for his act. He quickly lowered his head, his voice pleading, “General, I know I was wrong! I’m willing to accept any punishment, I only beg the General to spare Miss Xiao!”

Wu Daniu snorted, his voice filled with authority. “Li Zhixiao, as a newly appointed scholar, you committed such an ungrateful act. You’ve brought utter shame to the court! Drag him out and give him forty strikes with the military rod!”

With that one command, the atmosphere in the study instantly froze.

Li Zhixiao’s face was deathly pale and his whole body trembled, as if he could already envision the horrible state he would soon be in.

He looked up, his eyes full of desperation, his voice breaking into a sob. “General, spare me! I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong!”

However, Wu Daniu just watched him coldly, without a shred of pity in his eyes.

He waved his hand, his voice thick with authority. “Drag him out and flog him!”

Two guards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Li Zhixiao by each arm and preparing to drag him out of the study.

Li Zhixiao struggled, his voice filled with despair. “General, spare my life! I’m willing to take all responsibility, I just beg you to spare me!”

Seeing this, Xiao Mumu completely panicked.

She threw herself at Li Zhixiao’s side, clinging desperately to his arm, her voice choked with tears. “Grandfather, you can’t do this to Zhixiao! He was forced into it, it’s all my fault! If you must punish someone, punish me, don’t blame him!”

Wu Daniu looked down at Xiao Mumu, a complicated expression flashing in his eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke with a weary tone. “Mumu, you’ve disappointed me too much. You use my power to run wild and cause people’s deaths, and now you dare to plead for him here? Do you have any regard for the law?”

Xiao Mumu bit her lip, a stubborn glint in her eye. “Grandfather, I know I was wrong! Please spare Zhixiao! I’ll never do it again!”

Wu Daniu let out a long sigh, his voice tinged with helplessness. “Mumu, you are my granddaughter. I should be the one to protect you. But you’ve gone too far this time, and I cannot indulge you. Li Zhixiao must pay the price for his actions.”

Hearing this, a flicker of despair crossed Xiao Mumu’s eyes.

She knew that Wu Daniu was dead set on punishing Li Zhixiao this time, and no amount of begging on her part would help.

Still, she refused to let go, clinging desperately to Li Zhixiao’s arm, her voice turning hysterical. “Grandfather, you can’t do this! Zhixiao is my fiancé, you can’t treat him like this!”

Wu Daniu’s face darkened, his voice laced with anger. “Mumu, let him go!”

But Xiao Mumu acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing to cling desperately to Li Zhixiao, refusing to loosen her grip.

Seeing this, Wu Daniu’s brow tightened. He waved his hand, signaling the guards to pull Xiao Mumu away.

The two guards stepped forward, seized Xiao Mumu by her arms, and pulled her away from Li Zhixiao.

Xiao Mumu struggled, crying out, “Grandfather, you can’t do this! You can’t do this to Zhixiao!”

Wu Daniu looked at her coldly, his voice stern and authoritative. “Mumu, if you keep making a scene, I’ll punish you right along with him!”

At these words, Xiao Mumu froze.

She looked up at Wu Daniu, her eyes filled with disbelief. “Grandfather, you… you’d really do this to me?”

Wu Daniu was silent for a moment before speaking wearily, “Mumu, go back and reflect on what you’ve done. If I ever find out you’re running wild again, I will not be lenient!”

Xiao Mumu bit her lip and replied in a low voice, “Yes, Grandfather.”

Wu Daniu waved his hand, signaling the guards to take Xiao Mumu away.

As Xiao Mumu was being dragged away, her eyes filled with tears, and she pleaded, “Grandfather, please spare Zhixiao! I’m begging you!”

However, Wu Daniu paid her no mind, turning instead to the guards. “Drag him out and flog him!”

The two guards immediately dragged Li Zhixiao out of the study and forced him down onto a long bench in the courtyard.

Li Zhixiao struggled, his voice filled with despair. “General, spare me! I know I was wrong!”

But Wu Daniu just watched him coldly, without a shred of pity in his eyes.

He waved his hand, his voice thick with authority. “Flog him!”

The guards immediately raised their military rods and brought them down hard on Li Zhixiao’s back.

Li Zhixiao let out a bloodcurdling scream, his voice laced with agony. “AHH! General, spare me!”

The guards, however, showed no mercy, striking him again and again.

Li Zhixiao’s agonizing screams echoed through the courtyard, sending a chill down the spine of anyone who heard.

Dragged to one side, Xiao Mumu could only watch helplessly as Li Zhixiao was beaten, her eyes filled with tears.

She struggled, her voice choked with sobs. “Grandfather, please spare Zhixiao! I’m begging you!”

However, Wu Daniu paid her no more mind. He turned to Ji Xiaosong and said, “Miss Ji, what happened today is because of my failure to discipline my family. You have been wronged. Rest assured, I will give you a just resolution.”

Ji Xiaosong gave a slight smile, her tone calm. “General, there is no need to blame yourself. All I ask for is justice.”