CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 242: I HAVE COME TO OFFER MY APOLOGY WITH A THORN BRANCH!

"Slap, slap, slap..."

The faint scent of blood filled the air as Long Yue grabbed Pang Shuangyue’s hair, lifted her up, and fiercely struck her stunning face.

Each hit scraped her skin with nails, leaving blood marks—her screams and cries echoed continuously.

One, two, three...

She counted each one, just like she watched Li Qingmu endure the lashings last night!

Empress Qiao attacked them, husband and wife, and their arms were too thin to twist against strong thighs. But you wicked woman brought this upon yourself, walking right into trouble. If I let you go again, I don’t deserve the title of "Evil Woman Li!"

Long Yue struck heavily, and significantly, she wasn’t using her palm but her nails. After a few blows, Pang Shuangyue’s once smooth jade-like face became unbearably mangled and grim with blood.

"Ah, ah—"

Pang Shuangyue tried to resist, but with just a knee thrust from Long Yue, she couldn’t move, lying like a dead dog, letting Long Yue thrash her.

After thirty hits, Long Yue’s hand was covered in blood, but Pang Shuangyue endured the worst.

Her face was beyond recognition!

Eunuch Xiao Chen slightly opened his mouth, apparently stunned by the scene, while a shiver ran through his heart—something serious would happen!

"Lady Jiao, you... you’ve gone too far!"

This completely destroyed her appearance! He thought it would just be a few strikes to vent anger, but who knew the opponent would be so ruthless?

It’s a disaster; this matter cannot end well, even he would be in trouble!

"You, you..."

Long Yue’s action was too swift for Eunuch Xiao Chen to intervene. The key was Long Yue had her back to him, he couldn’t see it coming. Initially, he genuinely thought it was just to vent.

He was too frustrated to speak.

As for those watching the scene from the side, they were eager for something big to happen, and added this trespassed the Holy Emperor’s anger—a time when no one intervened.

Long Yue slightly bowed and said, "Eunuch Xiao Chen, this matter is a personal grudge between Pang Shuangyue and me. If the Holy Emperor blames it, let him summon me, the Minister’s Wife!"

Eunuch Xiao Chen was infuriated; what good was her confession? She was the perpetrator, but he was implicated!

"Eunuch Xiao Chen, it truly is a petty squabble between sisters! Women’s affairs shouldn’t be brought to the court, as was stated previously in court."

"But... this was too wicked!"

"Yes, I know? I’m inherently wicked, and the name ’Evil Woman Li’ isn’t called without a reason!"

Eunuch Xiao Chen, "..."

Why do I feel like I boarded a pirate ship?

Little did Eunuch Xiao Chen know, this inexplicable boarding a pirate ship would bring him great glory in the future.

"Enough, enough. Since it’s come to this, I must report the matter to His Majesty the Emperor for judgment!"

He was inexplicably implicated, and it was a bloody trap; Eunuch Xiao Chen was very annoyed—he huffed coldly and left.

"Hey, disperse, disperse, nothing else to see!"

"How vicious, this face is... tsk tsk, how can she face people in the future?"

"The name ’Evil Woman Li’ has proven true!"

"..."

The maidens and ladies murmured among themselves and dispersed, but today’s event was bound to resonate throughout Shengjing City!

The Pei Family’s newly-wedded Young Madam was publicly humiliated and disfigured—this blow was not only to Pang Shuangyue’s face but also to the Prime Minister Pei’s reputation. The country’s Prime Minister might lose his temper!

...

"Giddyup, giddyup!"

Li Qingmu curled up inside the carriage, lying across his little wife’s lap. The posture seemed somewhat... unusual...

But there was no choice; his back was fully wounded, even his buttocks. Sitting hurt terribly; what else could he do but lie down?

But he wasn’t behaving—lying on Long Yue’s lap, he was up to no good, rubbing here and touching there. Was it really because the carriage was too bumpy?

"Li Qingmu!"

Long Yue couldn’t bear it any longer, she burst out.

"Hmm, darling?"

Li Qingmu had a perplexed look, an expression of innocence.

Long Yue couldn’t stand this annoying man’s expression—annoyed she asked, "Is the carriage extremely bumpy?"

"Hmm, yes..."

"Are your wounds healing lightly?"

"Hmm... ahh, it hurts so much, darling, I’m dying of pain..."

Long Yue, "..."

Is this guy a wolf dog? Howling like that?

"Li Qingmu, do you think mimicking a wolf is fun?"

"Ah, darling doesn’t like little wolf dogs? How about little puppy dogs? Woof woof!"

Long Yue, "..."

Indeed, this man wasn’t beaten hard enough, becoming more and more shameless. She regretted worrying herself to death before—this bastard!

Empress Qiao had beaten Li Qingmu thirty times, his skin torn and flesh exposed, but Long Yue returned all thirty slaps to Pang Shuangyue of Empress Qiao’s alignment, disfiguring her. This battle had settled accounts!

The journey back was filled with a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere. Although each time Long Yue saw the bloodstains on his back panic flashed across her face, she always got angered by his increasingly cheeky words!

This man’s ability to court death was top-notch.

By evening, Long Yue’s carriage entered the Imperial City, arriving at the General Mansion.

The carriage slowed and stopped; Long Yue lifted the curtain and stepped down, turning to assist Li Qingmu. His back wounds were still severe; just a slight move tugged at the injury—agonizing pain.

Long Yue heard the sound of his sharp intake of breath.

They stepped off the carriage together and lifted their eyes, spotting a familiar figure.

It was a young lad.

Dressed simply in linen-colored long shirt with a blue collar, hair tied in a bun with a gray-blue hair band, standing upright but his hands fumbling, unsure where to place?

"Young Master, stop waiting; you’ve been waiting all day. How about tomorrow? Waiting like this will make you sick!"

Beside the young lad was a graceful woman, dressed in an apricot-yellow skirt, her beauty partially hidden by a veil.

She glanced anxiously at her Young Master and lightly pulled him.

"No, I must wait for them to return! Unless they do, I won’t go!"

The young lad shook her hand away stubbornly.

"Young Master, there’s no need for this..."

The young woman tried to console him, then as she turned, she caught in the corner of her eye two figures leaning into each other.

She was momentarily stunned, then turned and was taken aback.

"You... you returned?"

This woman was none other than Shi Qin!

Beside her, the young lad was Qi Jingyu!

Nearly two years had passed; the boy had grown significantly taller, and his eyebrows had sharpened, losing some boyishness and gaining a heroic air—a hint of leadership presence!

Qi Jingyu heard the astonished tone of Shi Qin and quickly turned around; his small face, having stood there all day, was slightly flushed.

He looked at Li Qingmu, whose face was pale and unsteady, and felt very guilty.

He clenched his teeth and walked over.

"Li... Uncle Mu, I’m sorry, I... I didn’t mean it! This is thorn willow; hit me, I’m... I’m here to offer repentance!"

Qi Jingyu’s face showed deep remorse, and he snatched the thorn willow from Shi Qin’s hands, holding it up with both hands.