HMIME Chapter 11: Ancient people were really cruel

Bai Lu smelled the horrifyingly bloody scent in the air, accompanied by the wretched screams of the unfortunate thief next door. Sitting on a small stool, he took a sip of tea.

Before long, Eunuch Wang hurriedly arrived at the main palace hall. Bai Lu vaguely remembered him since he often saw him around Chu Ya, eventually realizing that he was probably Chu Ya’s confidant.

Seeing Eunuch Wang enter, Bai Lu immediately turned his head, avoiding eye contact, but Eunuch Wang still recognized him. Hurrying over, Eunuch Wang said, “Ah, what brings you here in the dead of night? His Majesty would worry if he knew…”

Avoiding that topic would be for the best. The mere mention of it would make Bai Lu stand up abruptly, grabbing Eunuch Wang’s hand as if a warrior clasping the hand of a respected fellow villager. Sincerely, he said, “Comrade, don’t tell Chu Ya. I’m going back right now!”

Eunuch Wang’s face flushed. “Young Master, there’s no need to be so formal. It worries this old servant.”

Captain Geng leaned in and whispered to Eunuch Wang, “Sir, we found him on the wall of His Majesty’s sleeping quarters.”

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wang immediately understood. Recalling Bai Lu’s previous attitude towards His Majesty, it was clear that the young master intended to flee, hence his reluctance to let His Majesty know.

Bai Lu, noticing Eunuch Wang’s silence, grew anxious. “Please, don’t tell him. Otherwise, I’m as good as dead…”

“Who are you saying not to tell?”

With these words floating lightly, a chill swept over Bai Lu’s back. Peering past Eunuch Wang’s shoulder, Bai Lu saw Chu Ya walking towards them, expressionless.

From Chu Ya’s grim demeanor and icy gaze, it was evident that he knew what had happened and was displeased.

Bai Lu knew him too well. Chu Ya was usually composed, but when angered, he turned into a ruthless judge, capable of striking anyone, as demonstrated on the ship.

Feeling a tinge of fear, Bai Lu understood that showing weakness would only invite further aggression. So, he adopted the habit of appearing fiercer externally when he felt afraid. He stared fiercely at Chu Ya, refusing to yield an inch in his demeanor.

As others saw His Majesty’s arrival, they quickly knelt in reverence, but Chu Ya ignored them, maintaining his gaze on Bai Lu, his tone eerily calm.

“Speak up, who are you telling not to tell?”

Bai Lu gritted his teeth, his bravery fueling his defiance. “I’m saying don’t tell you! I’m a living person, with legs of my own. Do I need your permission to go anywhere? Only my mother has the right to control me. Who do you think you are? We’re done!”

As soon as the last word left his mouth, Bai Lu knew he had thoroughly provoked Chu Ya. If Chu Ya had been merely angry before, he was now seething with rage.

Chu Ya’s cold gaze locked onto Bai Lu like a venomous snake fixated on its prey. He spoke in a chilling tone, “Dare to say it again!”

Unable to back down, Bai Lu continued on the path of provoking Chu Ya, disregarding the consequences. “I can say it as many times as I want! We have no relationship, and you have no right to control me!”

With a sharp slap echoing through the room, it seemed as if a string holding back someone’s rationality had snapped. Chu Ya gritted his teeth and sneered, “You seem to have forgotten your current status. I do have the right to control you.”

“Shen Chuyun.”

The man in white not far away took a step forward and said, “I’m here.”

“What crime is it to scale the palace wall after curfew?”

“Your Majesty, it’s considered a violation of curfew.”

“How should it be punished?”

“…” Shen Chuyun hesitated for a moment, “Replying to your majesty. The lighter ones will be punished with twenty sticks, and the severe ones… will be killed on the spot.”

Chu Ya’s tone remained indifferent. “Then punish accordingly.”

Bai Lu hesitated for a moment. Soon, he grew embarrassed. “You’re sick! Is it a capital offense to step out at night? Chu Ya! This is just personal vendetta! If you have the guts, face me fair and square! Win, and then you can let me go!”

Chu Ya didn’t even spare him a glance, directly ordering, “Take action.”

Twenty lashes or immediate execution? If it were anyone else, defying the emperor in such a manner would lead to extermination of the entire family. But facing this highly favored young master, the guards knew they should opt for the former.

Without a second word, the guards pressed Bai Lu down, twisting his arms behind his back and pinning him to the ground. Bai Lu struggled but couldn’t break free.

He raised his head, enduring the pain in his arms, and glared fiercely at Chu Ya. Even in this dire situation, he refused to show weakness, uttering a threat with a sharp tongue.

“Okay, Chu Ya, you have the guts! Just wait for me, I won’t let you go even if I’m a ghost! Even if I die, I will still haunt you. If I stand beside your bed in the middle of the night, I’ll scare you to death. !”

The night was eerie, filled with the sound of the wind and the rustling of leaves, complementing Bai Lu’s bold words with a touch of intimidation.

Chu Ya, his expression unchanged, remarked, “I didn’t say I’d kill you. A beating will teach you a lesson.”

“?” Bai Lu hadn’t reacted yet, but he saw someone from the inner room take out a thick, meter-long wooden stick, swaying it menacingly.

Even Bai Lu, living in the civilized modern society, felt a bit intimidated by this sudden display of corporal punishment. Unconsciously, his eyes showed a hint of fear as he nervously gazed at the black judicial cane.

This cane was used for beating the back. If it were a heavier iron-bound staff, a few strikes would make someone cough up blood. However, for this slender and lightweight bamboo cane, twenty strikes weren’t too many. It wouldn’t break bones, but it was enough to make someone lie in bed in pain for several days—similar methods were commonly used by the palace to punish servants.

Eunuch Wang saw through everything like a mirror in his heart. He quickly went over to advise, “Your Majesty, calm down. The young master is still young and hot-blooded. It’s normal for him to act impulsively. It shouldn’t be intentional disrespect towards Your Majesty.”

Chu Ya glanced at Bai Lu, probably seeing his timidity from his eyes. His mood inexplicably improved a bit, and he maliciously taunted, “Oh, young age, then let’s not hit the back, let’s hit the buttocks instead. Young people who don’t know better should be disciplined, shouldn’t they?”

Before Eunuch Wang could say anything, Bai Lu exploded, “Are you f***ing crazy? If you’ve got the guts, just kill me! Who knows, maybe I can come back and haunt you!”

Eunuch Wang: “…”

Eunuch Wang, eloquent as he was, felt tired. Forget it, dealing with such an obstinate person, no matter how much he tried to reason, it wouldn’t make a difference. Taking risks to plead for mercy, but the other side still continued to provoke, this was like being unethical to open the door to the unethical—completely unethical.

Chu Ya knew Bai Lu had this reckless disposition, and he couldn’t be bothered to waste words with him. He directly ordered, “Start.”

As obedient as if it were an imperial decree, the guards didn’t say a word. They immediately pinned Bai Lu down, raising the long bamboo cane high in the air.

Bai Lu’s angry gaze remained unchanged, but his fingers and shoulders trembled slightly.

To be honest, he was really starting to feel afraid. Being pinned down and facing a beating was a completely different feeling from facing off in a fight. He couldn’t determine if Chu Ya was just trying to scare him or if he really intended to beat him.

Would he? Really? Leaving aside everything else, in Bai Lu’s memory, Chu Ya had always been a very gentle person. Could he really turn dark like this?

Chu Ya looked at him thoughtfully, “Do you want to cry?”

Bai Lu was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth in anger, “Cry your grandma’s head ! If I frown, I’ll take your last name!”

Before the words had even fallen, the slender stick, carrying a heavy wind, landed heavily on Bai Lu’s buttocks. Bai Lu bit his teeth and groaned, showing his toughness by not crying out.

But it really hurt. Even if it was hitting the fleshy buttocks with less bone, the bamboo cane was incredibly resilient. It felt like a whip when it hit the flesh. One strike left a bruise, another left a bloodstain. It inflicted a pain akin to skin breaking and flesh tearing.

Bai Lu gritted his teeth, a thin layer of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. He could swear, even when he was kicked and spat blood during indiscriminate fighting, it didn’t hurt this much! Ancient people were so damn cruel!