Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 108: His Own Son

Xie Xun’s screams like a slaughtered pig echoed from the room. The Imperial Physician was applying medicine to him, and from the sounds of it, one would think they had a vendetta against him.

Ah Juan and a few others stood in the courtyard, the night breeze blowing away her intoxication, sending a chill down her spine.

"The Old Emperor is terrifying. Even when you’re drinking in the Duke Mansion, he knows what’s happening from the palace..."

Liu Miaoying learned from her father that the Emperor sent people to secretly protect Ah Juan, but she hadn’t expected that His Majesty would also want to know everything Ah Juan was doing, saying, and whom she was meeting.

They hadn’t been drinking for even an hour when someone from the palace arrived.

Liu Xuan lowered his eyes in thought. If Duke Ping Mansion had His Majesty’s informants, those from the palace wouldn’t have come so quickly. Otherwise, if the Duke knew, it would harm the relationship between the sovereign and his subjects.

His gaze quietly fell on Ah Juan. Could it be that there’s an informant of His Majesty by Ah Juan’s side?

But why would His Majesty place an informant by her side? What was special about her?

Duke Ping came out of the room, saw the group still waiting, and waved a hand, "It’s nothing serious, no need to worry. The Imperial Physician has checked, it’s just a superficial wound. He’ll be bouncing around by tomorrow."

Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief, thankful it was nothing serious.

Liu Xuan showed concern, "It’s best to stay in bed for a couple of days, after all, bone injuries take a hundred days to heal."

Ah Juan marveled, "The Old Emperor is really thorough; he sent both those who punish and those who heal. With such fine medicine applied, even if Duke Xie is angry, he can’t express it."

"Xie Xun, after eating this sweet jujube, is probably feeling choked right now."

Duke Ping, however, was all smiles, "No worries, he’s thick-skinned. Twenty strokes are too few."

If it were his own son, he’d have given him at least fifty strokes.

"His own son, after all..."

Soon, the Imperial Physician came out, "It’s nothing serious. Rest for a night, and he’ll be fine by tomorrow. Duke, there’s no need to worry."

The one in the palace responsible for caning is an expert at it. Sometimes, it seems severe, but they’re just surface wounds; other times, it seems light, yet it damages bones and muscles, potentially fatal. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The Heir Xie was merely being taught a lesson by His Majesty. After all, he hadn’t done anything wrong, so there was no real harm done.

Duke Ping laughed, "Why should I worry? I’m glad His Majesty is teaching this kid a lesson on my behalf. Imperial Doctor Liang, let me see you out."

Imperial Doctor Liang, holding his wooden box, responded politely, "No need, Duke. It’s just a short walk, I’d feel bad having you accompany me."

Duke Ping was practical, "Since you say there’s no need, then I won’t see you out. Take care, Imperial Doctor Liang."

Imperial Doctor Liang: "..." I was just being polite.

Once the Imperial Physician left, Duke Ping instructed the steward and two servants to look after Xie Xun properly in the house. Turning, he looked at Ah Juan with a cheerful expression, "Come, let me show you around the courtyard."

If it weren’t for the palace sending people, he wouldn’t have known Ah Juan had arrived and was taken to the courtyard to drink by that rascal.

Even competing with his own father for people, truly deserving a beating.

His Majesty’s twenty strokes weren’t unjustified.

Duke Ping looked towards Liu Xuan and Liu Miaoying, "Are you two coming along or staying here?"

The two exchanged a glance, as Xie Xun’s shout came from the room, "Help! Someone come... it hurts to death!"

Liu Miaoying looked at Ah Juan, "I’ll go with Ah Juan."

It wouldn’t be appropriate for a girl to stay here alone.

Liu Xuan nodded slightly, "The courtyard Duke arranged for Miss Su, I’d like to have a look too."

Ah Juan: "?" "But I didn’t say I wanted to go, isn’t anyone going to ask me?"

Duke Ping and Liu Miaoying pretended not to hear, and the group left Xie Xun’s courtyard one after another, until the pig-like screams were no longer audible, bringing peace to their ears.

...

The courtyard Duke Ping arranged for Ah Juan was quite large. Upon entering, one was greeted by the scent of flowers, lamps lining the path, and the place was very clean.

Liu Miaoying was stunned seeing the courtyard. Behind a large patch of colorful flowers was a swing, made of what seemed to be sandalwood. She noticed these flowers were quite precious, some being rare varieties, hard to come by...

The Xie Family was indeed wealthy.

No wonder Xie Xun always went out in new clothes, adorned with accessories, accustomed to nothing but the best in food and use.

Previously, several literati in the capital had written articles criticizing Xie Xun for his extravagant spending, living too lavishly, and being ignorant of the hardships of ordinary people.

But he was raised by the Duke to be this way from a young age, never having the chance to understand such hardships.

Duke Ping was very proud of his arrangements. He looked at Ah Juan, his face full of self-satisfied pride, "Girl, what do you think?"

One must know, many of these flowers aren’t even found in the capital; he had them specially shipped from outside.

Exactly like the courtyard in her memories, Ah Juan showed surprise on her face, "Thank you, Duke. I really like it."

Duke Ping squinted his eyes, knowing his taste was spot on. Look how much his grand-niece likes it, proving his arrangements were perfect.

Ah Juan sighed, "These flowers smell fantastic... I need to prepare more medicine in the future to guard against bugs, as attracting bees wouldn’t be a trivial matter."

Duke Ping: "..."

Ah Juan, full of joy, crossed the large sea of flowers to the swing. Vines twined around the swing, with flowers blooming atop.

She sat on the swing, but it was made too low, as if the craftsman thought it was for little girls and made it too short. Fearing it would break if someone fell off, when Ah Juan sat, it was like sitting in a chair, with bent legs, unable to swing.

Duke Ping: "..."

Liu Miaoying smiled quietly, thinking the person who arranged this courtyard must have believed it was for a little girl.

Ah Juan, however, was full of delight, looking at Duke Ping and smiling, "I like the swing too. Thank you, Duke."

"It’s just a pity about the fine sandalwood, unable to swing, what a waste..."

Duke Ping cleared his throat, "The swing seems a bit small, the flowers somewhat excessive, but no matter, I’ll have someone fix it tomorrow."

He glanced at Ah Juan, cursing a few colleagues in his heart, questioning the quality of people they recommended, incapable of even properly setting up a swing.

Ah Juan wanted to laugh but held it in. After all, this was the heartfelt intention of an elder, something to cherish and be grateful for.

Liu Xuan’s gaze lingered on Ah Juan, then turned to Duke Ping, his rosy lips slightly pursed, wondering if Duke Ping was treating Ah Juan a bit too well?

Xie Xun was still lying in the room, yet he was touring the courtyard with Ah Juan.

The entire courtyard’s decoration must have cost significant money and effort, showing the importance placed on Ah Juan, demonstrating Duke Ping’s attention on her...

Thinking of what his father said to him that day, he looked at Ah Juan, his eyes slightly startled, wondering... was the girl his father mentioned, the one in front of him—Ah Juan?