Chapter 56 Kneeling as punishment
Lord Zheng took the article and read the opening carefully. His brows gradually relaxed and a satisfied smile appeared on his face: "Not bad, the handwriting has become more neat and powerful."
However, as he read further, Lord Zheng's expression began to turn gloomy.
Seeing this, Zheng Chengyan couldn't help but feel puzzled and asked cautiously, "Dad, what's wrong? Is my article not good enough?"
Lord Zheng's eyes were slightly red, and his fingers holding the article were shaking slightly: "Did you really write this yourself?"
Zheng Chengyan nodded firmly, and lowered his head deliberately, trying to hide his inner uneasiness, fearing that his father would notice anything unusual: "It is indeed written by me."
"Ah, you are becoming more and more capable, but your writing is getting worse and worse!" There was a chill in Lord Zheng's words.
Zheng Chengyan was full of suspicion. He suddenly raised his head with puzzlement in his eyes: "Dad, is there something wrong with the article? Please..."
Before he could finish his words, Lord Zheng threw the article at Zheng Chengyan's face, "Well written, really great, even better than those literati in the romantic places!"
Zheng Chengyan was horrified and hurriedly picked up the papers scattered on the ground and unfolded them again. He saw that the first half of the text was quite decent, but the subsequent content was jaw-dropping, full of obscene words that were unbearable to read!
"Skin as white as snow, sleepless nights, warm and soft, lingering in dreams..."
"This...what's going on?" Zheng Chengyan couldn't believe it. His body was shaking with shock. He checked the article over and over again.
Lord Zheng was furious: "You're still asking me? Isn't this your own doing? You know it best! You don't study hard, but indulge in these filthy things all day long, and your mind is full of dirty thoughts!"
Zheng Chengyan hurriedly explained, his voice filled with anxiety and innocence: "Dad, this is not written by me!"
Lord Zheng asked sternly, "If it's not you, who else could it be?!"
"Yes..." Zheng Chengyan hesitated to speak, clenching his teeth tightly. He was caught in a dilemma for a moment, and all his excuses seemed pale and powerless.
Lord Zheng's anger was like a raging fire, and his eyes were full of majesty: "It seems that the last punishment was just a light breeze and drizzle for you, and it didn't even touch your skin!"
After he finished speaking, he scanned the furnishings in the study with his sharp eyes, and finally stopped at the ruler lying quietly in the corner.
He strode forward, picked up the ruler that symbolized the family rules, and walked towards Zheng Chengyan with heavy steps.
With two crisp sounds, the ruler fell mercilessly on Zheng Chengyan's thin back, echoing throughout the courtyard and startling several roosting birds.
Outside the door, Su Wanyu's lips curled up in a barely perceptible sneer. She was well aware of the success of this plan.
She turned around and said to Siqi, her personal maid, with a firm tone, "The time has come. Go ahead."
Upon hearing this, Siqi bowed respectfully, tiptoed back, and carried out the young lady's instructions.
Inside the study, Lord Zheng's reprimands, accompanied by the fall of the ruler, were like heavy hammers, striking the hearts of everyone present.
During this period of time, Lord Zheng's disappointment and dissatisfaction with Zheng Chengyan finally found a way out.
Zheng Chengyan, the legitimate son who carries the hope for the future of the Marquisate, is so incompetent that Marquis Zheng feels unprecedented anxiety and anger.
The ruler rained down like raindrops, and each time was accompanied by a scolding from Lord Zheng: "Rebellious son! You are such an incompetent person, today I will make sure you remember this lesson!"
"You are addicted to women and neglect your studies. How can you face our ancestors?"
"Marrying a concubine? Do you know how much criticism this will cause?"
"And these disgusting words are simply a disgrace to the Zheng family!"
Zheng Chengyan gritted his teeth and endured the tearing pain in his back. Although the blood had quietly seeped through the blue silk shirt he had just changed into that morning, he did not utter a single groan.
The severe pain hit him like waves, wave after wave. His ten fingers dug deeply into his palms and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. It seemed that if he endured a few more times, his bones would break under the heavy load.
Even so, he still didn't dare to make any excuses, for fear that once he opened his mouth, he would reveal the secret of hiring someone to ghostwrite, which would bring even more severe wrath from his father.
Finally, Lord Zheng's physical strength seemed to have reached its limit. He threw the ruler away and said with fatigue and helplessness in his voice: "You don't need to write any more articles. Kneel down in the yard and reflect on yourself until I think you have repented!"
"Yes... yes, father..."
Zheng Chengyan's body trembled slightly, his knees softened, and he fell to the ground with a thud. His forehead hit the cold ground heavily, making a dull sound.
This young man, who had been hailed as a child prodigy since childhood, had always been the pride in the heart of Lord Zheng. He had never suffered such humiliation and pain. The pain and unwillingness in his heart weighed on his chest, almost suffocating him.
Lord Zheng glanced at him coldly, waved his sleeves, and strode out of the study with anger still lingering.
As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, the servant Zhenggui came up to him with a smile on his face, his voice full of joy: "Master, great news! Great news!"
Lord Zheng's frown had not yet completely relaxed, and his eyes were still somewhat fierce: "Why are you happy?"
Zhenggui grinned, unable to hide his excitement, "Just now, Doctor Zhou checked the Second Madam's pulse and said that she is pregnant with a boy!"
Ever since the Third Miss Guo entered the mansion as a concubine, Lord Zheng ordered everyone in the mansion to respectfully address her as the Second Madam.
The first wife was Ms. Guo, and the second wife was naturally the new Miss Guo. This arrangement vaguely revealed that Marquis Zheng wanted to place the two wives on an equal footing. Although they were not co-wives, their treatment was almost the same.
"Really? Is it really a boy?" Lord Zheng's expression instantly turned from gloomy to bright.
Zhenggui nodded repeatedly, his tone firm: "It's absolutely true, Master!"
"Then what are you still standing there for? Take me to see it!"
Lord Zheng temporarily put Zheng Chengyan's matter behind him and strode towards the outer courtyard. Zhenggui followed closely behind him, and the two of them went straight to Xiao Guo's residence.
Zheng Chengyan, who was kneeling in the yard, had a pale face, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulged, making him look extremely hideous.
During this period, my father doted on my third aunt, almost to the point of spoiling her. Not only did my mother's voice in the family become increasingly weakened, but even the yard near my third aunt would be scolded by my father.
Now, the third aunt is pregnant with a boy again. If my father is really disappointed in him, then my mother's position will be in jeopardy. The third aunt is very likely to be promoted to the position of legitimate wife, and her son will become the future heir of the Zheng family.
Thinking of this, an unprecedented sense of fear surged in his heart, and he hurriedly ordered the servant beside him: "You, quietly go to the second lady's yard and keep an eye on the movements over there."