Chapter 860: Chapter 25: Shouzhe Sternly Reprimands Liua Ruolan

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Changning’s courtyard is always full of blooms, lush with greenery, and the air is permeated with a subtle mist, exuding a vibrant spiritual rhyme.

Many children of the Wang Family’s direct lineage and direct vein have a deep impression of this courtyard.

This is because the patriarch Wang Shouzhe particularly cherishes his younger generations, and almost every child, when young, has been held by him, sitting on his lap, listening to those magical and fascinating stories.

For the children, Wang Shouzhe is always as gentle as a spring breeze and fine rain, carefully nurturing them, irrigating them in all aspects, supporting them to grow strong, and striving to give them a sunny, positive, and healthy childhood.

However, today, Wang Shouzhe sat inside the pavilion with a face as dark as water, unable even to drink his usual favorite Immortal Tea.

Wang Zongrui is Wang Shouzhe’s second legitimate son, also his fourth child with Liu Ruolan.

This year, he is already fifty-two, born with a handsome and upright appearance, like a noble son in troubled times. Though now sporting two small mustaches, he does not seem wretched, instead adding a touch of maturity and steadiness.

After marrying the direct daughter of the Liaoyuan Fang Family, he also lived a down-to-earth life and has had two sons and a daughter over the years.

Overall, apart from once in his childhood when he suspected his father and Artifact Spirit Xiaoxue had some unspeakable past, and tested his mother’s patience often enough to make him doubt if he was Xiaoxue’s son, he, like his older brother Wang Zong’an, did not give Wang Shouzhe much worry.

At fifty-two now, he has been diligently working in the Changning United Manufacturing Department for thirty years, gradually taking on important responsibilities, and is considered one of the pillars of the Wang Family.

But today, he was miserably kneeling in front of his father, Wang Shouzhe.

Sweat was trickling down his forehead, his gaze was evasive, and his expression was tenuous, as if he had committed a grave mistake.

Since that incident in his childhood, it had been many years, many years, since he had seen his father so angry.

Even when his mother personally made his father’s favorite "rock sugar white fungus lotus seed soup" to try to plead for him, it was met with a single glare from his father.

"Grandpa~ Dad, Daddy..."

When Wang Yingxuan was "escorted" over by her mother from the Fang Family, she was so startled at the scene that her neck shrunk, her little face turned pale, and she could hardly speak, looking pitiful like a little quail.

"Father..." Fang Shi also changed from her previous fierceness in front of Wang Yingxuan, humbly saluting and cautiously saying, "I have brought Yingxuan. You can discipline her however you want, even if you beat her to death, as long as you don’t make Zongrui kneel anymore."

Since marrying Wang Zongrui, the couple had been loving, having two sons and a daughter. Seeing her husband punished, she felt quite heartbroken. Especially because she knew, her father-in-law couldn’t bear to strike Yingxuan.

Wang Yingxuan was almost furious.

Mother, am I really your biological daughter? To save your husband, you’re even willing to sell out your daughter...

Fang Shi, after all, being a daughter-in-law, Wang Shouzhe naturally wouldn’t show her a sour face.

His expression softened slightly, soothingly saying, "Feng’er, since marrying into our Wang Family, you have been virtuous and competent, carrying out things thoroughly without any faults. Yet today’s matter..."

As he spoke, he secretly signaled with his eyes to Liu Ruolan, who was holding the lotus seed soup and silently fuming.

After giving him a glance, Liu Ruolan put down the lotus seed soup, took Fang Shi aside, and gently comforted her, "Feng’er, don’t worry about this matter. The old man is angry, but after all, Zongrui is his son, he won’t be unreasonable."

With that, Fang Shi eased slightly, glaring harshly at her dazed daughter Wang Yingxuan.

"Zongrui, do you realize your mistake?"

Seeing Fang Shi being led aside, Wang Shouzhe resumed a stern face as he looked at Wang Zongrui, his face as stern as iron.

"Dad." Wang Zongrui lowered his head, trembling as he said, "Zongrui knows his mistake."

"Yingxuan is my granddaughter. She ended up in such a state, and you, as her father, bear significant responsibility." Wang Shouzhe said, "Since you admitted your mistake, the penalty will be halved. Someone, execute the family law, fifty strokes."

"Yes, Father."

Wang Zongrui obediently took off his outer clothing, revealing his back. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Right away!" The two Spirit Platform Realm Household Generals who had long been prepared responded, each holding a family law stick, and addressed Wang Zongrui, "Young Master Zongrui, please forgive us."

"This is a deserved punishment, I don’t blame you." How dare Wang Zongrui blame them, he immediately courteously replied, then closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, "Go ahead~"

Upon seeing this, the two Spirit Platform Realm Household Generals raised the family law stick and started striking Wang Zongrui’s back.

At the first hit, Wang Zongrui shuddered, but he could only endure it, not daring to use Profound Qi to protect himself at all.

"Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!"

The family law sticks landed solidly, and after just a few strikes, Wang Zongrui’s back began to break open.

Fang Shi nearly fainted at this sight, was this what he called having a sense of proportion?

Fang Shi immediately pinched Wang Yingxuan, who was still dazed and confused, hard: "You little brat, what are you standing around for? Get over there and beg your grandfather for mercy? Your grandfather usually dotes on you the most."

Wang Yingxuan’s face went pale as she hurried over to Wang Shouzhe’s side, tearfully grasping his arm: "Grandpa, Grandpa. This is all my fault, it has nothing to do with Daddy. I shouldn’t have been lazy; I shouldn’t have not studied properly; I shouldn’t have repeatedly threatened the Clan Academy teachers~ I shouldn’t have led the disturbance, boohoo~~ Please don’t punish Daddy anymore..."