The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 436

Chapter 436: 220 Beating the Scum Marquis (Second Update)

The old Marquis was not aware of the return of Madam Yao and her son to the Capital City, thinking they were still at the Hot Springs Villa, and therefore had not sent them any messages.

He began to question his son and three grandchildren: “What are all these rumors spreading in the Capital City about?”

He was shocked to discover that during his absence from the Capital City, numerous significant events had occurred in the Marquis Residence.

The first of which was the real background of Gu Jinyu. It was unsettling to learn that the child they had been raising was not theirs. _{freewёbnoνel.com}

Then came the matter concerning Aunt Ling.

This also explained why Gu Chenglin had changed.

Aunt Ling had already been dealt with by the Old Madam Gu. Whether she was alive or dead, the old Marquis didn’t ask. He didn’t have the time to concern himself with a concubine.

As for his real granddaughter, who was unwilling to return to the Residence, he didn’t care much about that either.

She was merely a girl, and therefore not important. Besides, she was already married. Once a daughter is married off, she no longer belongs to her birth family.

Neither the father nor the three sons mentioned the incident where Gu Jiao thrashed Gu Chenglin for bullying Gu Yan.

Speaking of it would do them no good; they were the ones who ended up getting beaten anyway.

Gu Yan was frail, incapable of withstanding a beating. No matter what wrong he committed, he was never punished physically.

Moreover, Gu Jinyu, who was the daughter of the Marquis Residence, was not expected to carry its burden. Regardless of whether she caused trouble, the old Marquis never laid a finger on her.

Therefore, Gu Jiao would not be punished either.

Regardless, the Marquis Residence was in chaos—those who should get punished, those who moved out, and those who were corrupt, all had to be punished!

The Marquis had been thrashed once already, so now he would receive another beating.

Marquis Gu: “…!!”

Are you still my real father?

The old Marquis turned to Gu Changqing: “As the older brother, you failed to control your two younger brothers. Shouldn’t you be punished?”

Gu Changqing, with his eyes lowered, replied, “I should be punished.”

The old Marquis had not seen the complexity in his eyes and said solemnly, “Alright, one hundred military whips.”

Gu Chengfeng was to receive fifty military whips, and Gu Chenglin fifty as well.

Gu Changqing said, “My third brother is still recovering from serious injuries and couldn’t withstand the whips. I’ll accept the punishment on his behalf.”

Gu Chengfeng quickly offered, “I can also take the punishment for our third brother!”

“Fine, add twenty more whips each,” the old Marquis said coldly, then turned to Gu Chenglin with half of his hair remaining, “Bear the remaining ten whips. If you can’t, then I’ll have to disown you as my grandson!”

No one was as ruthless as the old Marquis!

When Gu Changqing disciplined his two brothers, the Old Madam Gu dared to cry, cause a scene, and even threaten suicide. But when the old Marquis gave the order, and the whips cracked upon his son and grandsons, the Old Madam Gu dared not utter a single word.

Marquis Gu was whipped until his body was covered in wounds.

“That’s enough.” the old Marquis said, “Don’t beat him to death; we still have to go to the palace to apologize.”

Marquis Gu who felt he had nothing to live for: “…”

You really are my real father!

The old Marquis brought his son to the palace to apologize to the Emperor.

The old Marquis knelt down and saluted, then clenched his fists in front of his chest: “It is my fault as a father for not educating my child properly. The monstrous disaster that young girl caused was due to my indulgence. I have brought this unruly son here for Your Majesty to deal with however you see fit!”

The Emperor glanced at Marquis Gu, whose face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition.

Having been beaten to such an extent, the Emperor couldn’t bring himself to punish him further.

The Emperor cleared his throat and waved his hand, “Forget it. This matter is not Marquis Gu’s fault. The young girl was just being reckless due to her youth; she just needs more discipline in the future.”

The official reason given for Gu Jinyu’s punishment was still the damage caused to the jade seal, but a new charge of deceiving the Emperor was added.

However, whether the deception was related to the bellows or the sticky rice mortar, the officials did not elaborate on.

This kind of ambiguity just amplified the rumors, and by now there were quite a few voices in the public blaming Gu Jinyu for falsely claiming credit for the bellows.

Strictly speaking, the main responsibility of this incident does not lie with Gu Jinyu. Although she provided the blueprints for the modifications, it was the Ministry of Works who decided to use them.

The Ministry’s supervisor had detected problems with her modifications early on but they not only failed to prevent it, they leapt over the normal process of testing and moved into illegal mass production using under skilled laborers.

But the old Marquis couldn’t exonerate Gu Jinyu. He declared that the Marquis Residence would bear all the losses. Moreover, he requested the Emperor to revoke Gu Jinyu’s County Mistress title.

The Emperor sighed, “Ah, why the insistence, old Marquis? I have already revoked her title of Regional Mistress, let her keep the County Mistress’s title.”