The lingering warmth from Wei Mingze's betrothal gift had not yet dispersed. Everyone was discussing how the Duan Mansion would host a three-day banquet for the wedding, and no one mentioned Su Xiuer, the original wife, anymore.
As Su Xiuer stepped out of Shen Ji Cloth Shop with the marriage-in-law document, Su Xiaobao followed her out from inside.
"Mother, I'll wait for you to come back."
The little fellow tightly gripped her corner of clothes, his eyes slightly red, yet he forced a smile at her.
This clumsy pretense made Su Xiuer's chest suddenly tighten.
She had brought her son with her, hoping he would have a better life, but she never expected him to suffer alongside her.
Su Xiuer felt a sense of indebtedness as she gently touched Su Xiaobao's head. She took out a sugar cake from her sleeve and stuffed it into his hand, suppressing her voice as she promised, "Okay, Mother will definitely come back."
After Su Xiuer's figure disappeared, Su Xiaobao did not return to the shop. He squatted by the entrance, clutching the sugar cake.
Ye Jiu stood by the counter, feeling a pang of sadness.
Although Su Xiuer and Su Xiaobao were not biological mother and son, their bond was even stronger than that of biological relatives.
From yesterday to this morning, he no longer felt the initial excitement of learning that Su Xiuer was going to sue the emperor.
After all, the suffering endured from beating the Dengwen Drum could leave one skinless and still not guarantee survival.
"Sixty board beatings, dead or crippled. Miss Su is still so young, and she has elders to care for. If anything were to happen to her... Young Master, are you truly going to abandon her like this?"
Having followed the Young Master from the battlefield all the way here, he knew well that soft-hearted people didn't live long. Yet, at this moment, he admitted that he had gone soft on Su Xiuer.
He also admitted that the Young Master had better judgment. This village woman indeed possessed a fierce spirit that ordinary women lacked.
Cruel to others, and even more so to herself.
Shen Hui sat in a corner, took out a jade pendant from his embrace, and tossed it over. He then stood up and walked out of the shop, saying, "Take this to that fox and have him arrange for them to go easy when they administer the beating."
Ye Jiu felt the intricate patterns on the dark jade pendant in his hand and knew it was a token from the Eastern Jing Prince's Mansion. Once revealed, the Young Master's secret return to the capital would be exposed.
The Young Master was willing to expose his identity for Su Xiuer, essentially placing all his bets on her.
Was it truly worth it?
Ye Jiu's old habit of doubting resurfaced, and he couldn't help but question it in his heart. However, his steps quickened, fearing any delay. As he walked, he asked, "Young Master, what is the extent of 'going easy'?"
Shen Hui glanced at the foolish Ye Jiu and uttered two words: "Half."
Half of sixty board beatings meant only about thirty board beatings in terms of force.
With Su Xiuer's physique, thirty board beatings would only require her to stay in bed for a few days.
With a clear plan in mind, Ye Jiu's previous worries completely vanished.
The route had been scouted yesterday, and Su Xiuer headed straight for the Dengwen Drum Academy.
Fearing that Wei Mingze and the Duan Mansion might cause trouble at the last moment, she remained vigilant the entire way.
As she rounded a corner and passed through the crowd, she always felt like someone was watching her.
When she turned her head, there was no one behind her.
By the time she was close to the Dengwen Drum Academy, she ducked into a small alley. When she emerged again, she had indeed caught the person following her.
Her nimble hands grabbed the person's belt and with a heave, she lifted them up to throw them to the ground.
Unfortunately, despite using half her strength, she could only lift the person; she couldn't throw them down at all. The person pressing down on her head felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Su Xiuer frowned and looked up, her eyes widening slightly as she saw a familiar face.
"...Young Master Shen, why is it you? Why have you become so heavy!"
Shen Hui, suspended in the air, had a hint of unnaturalness on his calm face. He glanced around and asked, "Can you put me down?"
Su Xiuer suddenly felt a bit awkward. She thought to herself that it was a shame she had left the butcher knife at the shop when going to the Dengwen Academy; otherwise, she wouldn't be empty-handed and unable to grab someone properly.
She smiled, released her strength, and placed him on the ground.
Shen Hui's expression remained calm, as if he were incapable of anger.
He adjusted his belt, said nothing, glanced in the direction of the Dengwen Academy, and said, "Let's go!"
Accompanied by Shen Hui, Su Xiuer walked towards the Dengwen Academy, one after the other.
Neither of them spoke a word along the way.
Su Xiuer looked at Shen Hui's broad and upright back as he walked ahead, and a sense of peace of mind washed over her.
This feeling made her feel... unfamiliar.
Ever since she could remember, she had always been the one playing the role of protector. This was the first time she felt protected.
Su Xiuer walked and bumped into a solid wall of flesh. Looking up, she realized Shen Hui had stopped without her noticing.
"We're here!" Shen Hui turned around.
"Oh!" Su Xiuer's cheeks flushed. She covered her nose, which had been bumped, and stepped back.
It seemed that in front of Shen Hui, she always easily became awkward and lost face.
Shen Hui's expression was calm, but his dark eyes were as gentle as spring water.
He glanced ahead and urged, "Go on, don't be afraid."
The words "don't be afraid" were very light, but when they reached her ears, they made her heart tremble uncontrollably.
Su Xiuer suddenly realized that although Shen Hui appeared as cold as ice, he was a very considerate and gentle person.
"Ice Block Shen, thank you." Su Xiuer exhaled a breath of turbid air, took a few quick steps forward, then turned and walked backward towards Shen Hui, revealing her pearly white teeth and waving her hand, "I'm leaving. If I make it back alive, I'll treat you to a drink."
Su Xiuer's smile was like the summer sun, capable of melting everything.
Even though going to beat the Dengwen Drum was like going to her death, she appeared carefree, as if she were going on a spring outing.
Shen Hui, lost in thought without realizing it, curved his lips and replied, "Okay."
His smile was like melting ice and snow, instantly bringing forth spring.
The two vermilion-lacquered doors of the Dengwen Drum Academy were wide open. The two stone lions at the entrance, tall and majestic, weighed heavily on one's heart.
Beside them, the Dengwen Drum stood on the bluestone slab, taller than an ordinary man.
The Dengwen Drum had always been there, but it had never been struck. The bailiffs guarding it were rather lax, waiting for their shifts to end each day.
The one on duty today had been yawning since the start. Seeing Su Xiuer approach, he assumed she was just a passerby.
Until Su Xiuer got closer and closer, he thought she had taken a wrong turn, not that she was here to sue the emperor.
"Stop." The bailiff stood up straight with a stern face, kindly saying, "This is the Dengwen Academy, not a market. You can't just barge in."
Su Xiuer's eyes were firm: "I want to beat the Dengwen Drum and sue the emperor."
Surprise flashed across the bailiff's face as he sized Su Xiuer up. "Miss, are you sure you want to beat the Dengwen Drum? Sixty board beatings will shatter your bones. With your physique, you might not even survive thirty. If you have a grievance, you can go to the Jingzhao Yin. Why come here to die for nothing?"
Su Xiuer bared her white teeth and said with a carefree air, "Even if it means death, I will beat the Dengwen Drum, because I have a grievance to redress."
In the quiet Dengwen Academy, this was the first visitor in many years, a truly novel event. A crowd of onlookers quickly gathered around.
"This young lady looks so young, yet she wants to beat the Dengwen Drum. Is she tired of living?"
"She must have suffered a terrible injustice."
"This... doesn't she look a bit familiar? She seems like the original wife abandoned by Scholar Wei..."
Su Xiuer did not look back. She walked past the bailiff and picked up the drumstick made of black sandalwood.
The bailiff, not wanting his peaceful life to be interrupted and not wanting to see Su Xiuer die like this, tried to persuade her again: "Miss, think thrice..."
Su Xiuer did not look at the bailiff. She raised the drumstick high and brought it down heavily on the drum surface.
"Dong—"
The first drumbeat made the bowls and plates at the nearby tea stall tremble.
The second beat seemed to even overpower the morning bell from the direction of the Imperial Palace...
Su Xiuer did not stop. With each successive beat, the force of the drumstick grew heavier, making her tiger's mouth go numb, but she did not relent in the slightest.
She refused to believe that there was truly no place in this world where one could seek justice.
She refused to believe that a Minister's Estate could truly have absolute power.
Minister Duan certainly had political enemies. Even if she were to be used as a weapon by Minister Duan's political enemies, she would use that weapon to pierce through Duan Zhenzhu's sky.
The sound of the Dengwen Drum reverberated throughout the Capital City.
Inside the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor, just returning from court and heading to the Imperial Study, heard the drum sound penetrating the palace walls.
He raised an eyebrow and instructed the eunuch beside him, "It's been so long since my ascension, and this is the first time someone has beaten the Dengwen Drum. Go investigate who it is and what grievance they have."
The eunuch quickly departed.
The Emperor stopped, standing in place, gazing nostalgically in the direction of the Dengwen Drum, listening to the increasingly resonant drumbeats.
He missed his Eldest Sister. The laws enacted after she took charge of governance were all revised by her, including the system of the Dengwen Drum.
His Eldest Sister was nowhere to be found.
In the Duan Mansion, Duan Zhenzhu was strolling in the garden with Wei Mingze.
Wei Mingze had promised Duan Zhenzhu yesterday, after his betrothal, that he would finish painting the portrait of the beauty for her. Thus, he had come early this morning.
Duan Zhenzhu casually picked a pink rose and asked Wei Mingze to help her place it by her temple. Hearing the drum sound from outside, she frowned with impatience.
"This sound is so harsh. Cui Juan, go and see what's happening."
Wei Mingze's gaze paused. Although he had never heard the sound of the Dengwen Drum before, he had perused the Great Sheng Law in the Su family's library and knew that only the Dengwen Drum's sound could penetrate the entire Capital City.
Who was beating the Dengwen Drum... Why not go to the yamen first with a grievance, but directly appeal, risking their life...
..Could it be Su Xiuer?
Su Xiuer had already left the capital. It had been about two days, and based on the travel time, she should be nearing Luzhou.
Wei Mingze thought this to himself, but still felt a sense of unease. He reminded her, "Zhenzhu, this sounds like the Dengwen Drum."
Meanwhile, as Su Xiuer's drumbeats echoed, the Drum Court Envoy of the Dengwen Academy, along with a group of bailiffs, rushed out.
Shen Hui stood at the back of the crowd, watching Su Xiuer put down the drumstick and walk step by step towards the Drum Court Envoy.
Ye Jiu, having delivered the message, arrived and stood quietly beside Shen Hui, reporting back, "Young Master, everything is in order."
At the same time, Dong Mei and Dong Song, who had been searching for Su Xiuer for two days, learned she had left the capital, tracked her outside the city, failed to find her whereabouts, and then returned to the capital. They finally found Su Xiuer.
Dong Song and Dong Mei only wanted to find the person and did not wish to meddle in other people's affairs. They were not interested in watching the spectacle upon hearing the drum sound.
However, while on horseback, with just a glance, Dong Song spotted Su Xiuer descending from the drum platform.
He pointed at Su Xiuer and blurted out, "Aunt Dong Mei, the beautiful older sister is there! We've finally found her."
✦✦✦