Chapter 59

Two days later, early in the morning, outside the palace gates, the tightly closed gate of the Dengwen Drum Temple suddenly rang out.

Clack, clack, clack…

Passersby who saw this scene were shocked and stopped in their tracks.

That person… that person must be crazy, to actually go and knock on the gate of the Dengwen Drum Temple!

The young man knocking on the door was tall and elegant, dressed in a refined moon-white robe. At this moment, his face was solemn, and seeing no one answering the door, he knocked more urgently.

Soon, a crowd gathered on the street outside the gate.

Qiao Diyi had disguised himself and hid in the crowd with Qiao Jiaojiao, not attracting any attention.

Originally, the Qiao family wouldn’t let Qiao Jiaojiao see something like this.

After all, Tan Hanchi was going to receive thirty blows in front of everyone, and that scene would be quite tragic.

However, her heart was pounding non-stop, and after two days and nights of hesitation, she had woken up early today, her big round eyes wide open.

Qiao Diyi sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn’t stop Qiao Jiaojiao, and he didn’t want to disappoint her. In the end, he carried her and went.

As for Qiao Zhongguo and Qiao Tianjing, they were attending the morning court session!

The timing of striking the Dengwen Drum Temple was decided by Qiao Zhongguo, who wanted to strike during the morning court session so he could participate and, if necessary, speak up for Tan Hanchi!

Clack, clack, clack…

After about half a quarter of an hour of knocking, the gate of the Dengwen Drum Temple finally creaked open. The bailiff inside looked hurried and impatient.

It had been seven or eight years since anyone had knocked on the gate of the Dengwen Drum Temple, and it was almost as if it didn’t exist.

He had pushed tiles with someone else last night, and after finally falling asleep, he was abruptly awakened by an idiot.

“Who’s there? Why are you knocking on the door so early in the morning?”

“I am Tan Hanchi, an examinee from Zhuozhou. Today, I have been wronged and have come to appeal at the Dengwen Drum Temple!”

Tan Hanchi’s voice was resolute, startling the bleary-eyed bailiff.

When he looked up, he noticed the dense crowd outside the gate and was immediately taken aback.

At this moment, he turned his gaze to Tan Hanchi and asked in a deep voice, “What did you say you came here for?”

Without hesitation, Tan Hanchi repeated, “I came to appeal at the Dengwen Drum Temple!”

At these words, not only the bailiff, but even the onlookers let out a low gasp.

“Do you know that those who appeal at the Dengwen Drum Temple must first receive thirty blows?” The bailiff attempted to dissuade Tan Hanchi.

Tan Hanchi remained unfazed. “I am willing to accept.”

The bailiff’s face changed drastically. “Regardless of life or death?”

Tan Hanchi nodded. “Regardless of life or death.”

Taking a deep breath, the bailiff finally fully opened the gate of the Dengwen Drum Temple.

“In that case, come in.”

Tan Hanchi strode into the courtyard. Qiao Jiaojiao watched closely as a drum, too big for two people to embrace, was set up in the middle of the courtyard, standing silently.

Meanwhile, the bailiff had gone to call for others. Thirty blows required six people to execute.

News of someone knocking on the Dengwen Drum Temple spread quickly, and more and more people came to watch the excitement.

At this moment, a servant boy in the crowd glanced over and his face changed drastically. He pushed through the crowd and ran back in a panic.

Duke Qing’s mansion was not far from the palace, and he quickly ran back, his lips pale with fear.

Sheng Mingcheng had been troubled all night, and in the end, Lian’er from the side room brought a bowl of nourishing soup to comfort him.

He was feeling frustrated, so he pulled Lian’er onto the bed and indulged himself for an hour, and now he was sound asleep.

“Master! Master, something bad has happened!”

The servant didn’t care about anything else and banged on Sheng Mingcheng’s door.

Lian’er was awakened by the noise and scolded towards the door, “What’s wrong! Who’s so blind as to disturb Master’s sleep!”

The servant was sweating profusely and shouted, “Master, Tan Hanchi has been found!”

Upon hearing this, Sheng Mingcheng suddenly jolted awake, all drowsiness gone in an instant.

“Quick, come in! Where is he?” Sheng Mingcheng asked urgently.

The servant pushed the door open, causing Lian’er to let out a low cry and quickly wrap herself in the covers.

“Master, it’s serious! Tan Hanchi went to knock on the Dengwen Drum Temple!”

“What!”

Sheng Mingcheng’s hands, still dressing, froze suddenly, and the next moment, his face turned pale with fear!

“Where’s Grandpa? Does the Duke know?”

The servant wore a pained expression. “It’s chaos over at the Dengwen Drum Temple! As soon as I saw Tan Hanchi’s face, I hurried back to report. As for the Duke…”

Before the servant could finish speaking, a sharp shout came from the courtyard entrance, unmistakably Duke Qing, Sheng Qishan’s voice.

“Get that useless boy out here!”

Sheng Mingcheng’s whole body went limp. He clumsily put on an outer robe and stumbled out of the room, only to be slapped hard and sent sprawling to the ground by a powerful hand.

Smack!

The slap left Sheng Mingcheng dizzy, but he managed to get up and grab the person’s feet, pleading bitterly, “Grandpa, please calm down! Please calm down!”

“Calm down?”

Sheng Qishan towered over him, his face so dark it seemed to drip water.

“Idiot! How did our Duke’s mansion produce such idiots! Didn’t you say Tan Hanchi was already taken care of? Why is he now showing up at the Dengwen Drum Temple?”

“Do you know that because of your stupidity, our Duke’s mansion may be ruined today?”

Sheng Mingcheng trembled in fear as he knelt on the ground.

He… he didn’t expect things to escalate to this extent. Tan Hanchi was just an insignificant examinee, and he thought he would be dealt with quickly!

He had no idea that Tan Hanchi not only evaded capture but also had the audacity to go and knock on the Dengwen Drum Temple!

The Dengwen Drum Temple!

At this thought, Sheng Mingcheng clutched Sheng Qishan’s legs tightly, looked up, and urgently said, “Grandpa, those who knock on the Dengwen Drum Temple must first receive thirty blows. We can let him die under the Dengwen Drum, so he won’t be able to complain to the Emperor!”

Sheng Qishan kicked Sheng Mingcheng hard, his voice cold and harsh. “Do I need you to remind me?”

As soon as he received the news, he immediately sent reliable people.

“If Tan Hanchi can be beaten to death under the Dengwen Drum, you still have a chance to redeem yourself. If Tan Hanchi meets the Emperor, the Duke’s mansion will be ruined by you!”

After Sheng Qishan finished speaking, he grabbed Sheng Mingcheng and threw him to the ground, then, seeing Lian’er on the bed, his anger grew stronger.

“Good-for-nothing! Drag her out and beat her to death!”

Lian’er screamed in terror and fainted on the bed.

Sheng Mingcheng knelt on the ground in fear, not daring to move a muscle even after witnessing the maid who had indulged him last night being executed.

Watching Duke Qing leave in a rage, Sheng Mingcheng quickly picked up his clothes from the ground, got dressed, and hurried out.

Tan Hanchi, that damned Tan Hanchi!

He wouldn’t leave the Dengwen Drum Temple alive!