Da Li Temple - Chapter 8.1

Chapter 8.1
Flogging

Official Li’s flattery smile on his face was cold, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses. This Lord Su was known for his indifference. He won’t even protect his royal relatives, let alone such an unknown small recorder. His question was only to fawn him.
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Official Li’s greasy face piled up some smiles and complimented Su Moyi before shouting toward below the hall: “What are you waiting for? Drag her down and beat her!”
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Lin Wanqing was stunned at these words. Her eyes that looked straight at Official Li flickered with worry.
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It was only for a breath, but Su Moyi quickly captured this look.
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Did she — afraid? Heh! It looked like Lin Recorder, who could dislike the heavens and the earth by relying on a single breath, actually had times when she was afraid.
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Su Moyi suppressed the upturned corners of his mouth, and a subtle joy replaced the astonishment in his heart.

Knowing fear is good. Knowing fear meant that she was controllable. If she is controllable, he can use her.
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Between the thoughts flying, when the two guards had already come forward to hold Lin Wanqing and wanted to drag her away, Su Moyi’s cold voice interrupted them.
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“I was thinking, isn’t 30 flogs too heavy?”
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“Huh?” Official Li shuddered and looked at Su Moyi in confusion.

Perhaps to cover up his suspected favoritism, the always impartial Lord Su put his fist against his lips uncomfortably and lightly coughing: “Lin Recorder’s defiance of the public court is true. But, investigating Wang Hu in the middle of the night is also considered to be a part of the job. Moreover, there is something strange about Wang Hu’s case.”
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In the end, with cold eyes sweeping over Official Li, Su Moyi added, “She is more attentive and perceptive than Lord Li.”

Even if he inverted black and white, he could only be justified. One sentence left Official Li’s breath held in his throat.
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“Yes, yes, yes ……” he wiped his sweat while concurring, “Lord Su is right. Then ……”
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“Let’s give her ten flogs as a punishment.”
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Lord Su’s order, so those present naturally did not dare to disobey. They all nodded with lowered eyebrows and even using lighter force.
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However, Lin Wanqing still had a worried look, hesitating for a long time before she looked at Su Moyi and said weakly, “But, is it possible not to use the plank?”
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“What?” Su Moyi almost laughed at her question, looking at her disdainfully. This person’s talent was rare. Although it was hard to tame, it was harder to find a good horse. He didn’t mind taming her and made her owe him a favor. But unexpectedly, this person actually stirred up his nose and was insatiable.
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The person below seemed to have guessed his euphemistic thoughts. As if clarifying something, she hurriedly waved her hand and said: ”Lord, don’t misunderstand. I’m not greedy for life and afraid of death. It is just that my family was poor when I was young, leaving me with leg disease, so I am afraid that I can’t withstand flogging, and that’s why I have such a request.”
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“Oh?” Su Moyi scorned. He had already heard those rotten excuses when he interrogated the prisoner. He rubbed his index finger and thumb under the moon-white wide sleeve again, making a rustling sound.
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“But according to the Nan Dynasty’s Laws, apart from flogging, there’s only whipping.” After saying that, he deliberately paused and lifted his eyes to observe Lin Wanqing’s expression.

The Nan Dynasty used whipping to punish slave pariahs who had committed major faults. As the name suggests, the punishment was to hold the person and lash them on the back. But the whip used was special, covered with barbs, and every whip that went down was skin-opening.
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As the Recorder of the Capital Government Office, Lin Wanqing knew that Su Moyi was giving her a hard time. However, to his surprise, Lin Wanqing only smiled flatly, as if she was still silently relieved, and bowed toward him, “Thank you for the Lord’s grace.”
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After saying this, she followed the guards, which threw the shock back to Su Moyi. Fearful of being flogged, but treating the whipping lightly. Lin Wanqing, this person, was getting more interesting.
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The moon hung in the middle of the sky, and the spring night air was misty. When Su Moyi came out from the Capital Government Office, it was already past midnight. Ye Qing followed him out from the main gate of the Capital Government Office and put a cloak on his shoulder.
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Su Moyi tied the belt and looked up at the sky. Suddenly, he instructed Ye Qing, “Go to the Imperial Doctor Bai’s residence to visit.”
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“Shh, what?” Ye Qing almost thought that he had misheard. Loss for words, he raised his head to look at the sky. At three o’clock in the morning, it was the time when ten thousand households were dreaming, and yet he had to go to someone’s residence just like this —
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What for?

Su Moyi, however, was oblivious to his doubts, leaning down to get into the carriage. He rested his body lazily and drove away.
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Ye Qing: “????”
Can this ancestor finish his sentence before leaving?