Prime Minister Lin also rushed over. Madam Xu and Lin Yu Yan had already arrived, with Madam Xu arriving even earlier, almost at the same time as Lin Qing He. Therefore, she had heard most of what had transpired. Coupled with her understanding of her son Lin Qing Yuan's character, her expression changed slightly, and she immediately said, "Qing He, your second brother was just joking with the Prince. You and the Prince shouldn't take it to heart."
Prime Minister Lin glared at Lin Qing Yuan in agreement and sternly ordered, "You rebellious son, why aren't you apologizing to the Prince quickly!"
"Father, I..."
Before Lin Qing Yuan could finish his dissatisfied words, Prime Minister Lin narrowed his eyes and sternly repeated, "Are you not listening to your father! Apologize to the Prince at once!"
Lin Qing Yuan reluctantly uttered an "Oh," then turned to face Lin Qing He and You Rong, "Your Highness, I apologize for earlier, it was me..."
"Wait!" Lin Qing He interrupted Lin Qing Yuan's apology. Under everyone's puzzled gaze, she smiled faintly at Prime Minister Lin and said, "Father, disrespecting a Prince and injuring one is a grave offense. You wouldn't want to dismiss it as a mere misunderstanding, as Madam's mother suggested, would you?"
"Lin Qing He! What do you mean by that? Are you planning to punish this young master?" Lin Qing Yuan retorted angrily.
Prime Minister Lin's expression also turned grim. "Qing He, your second brother did offend the Prince, and there are indeed improprieties. Can you, for the sake of us being family, let it go this time?"
Lin Qing Yuan grumbled indignantly, "Father! Why are you listening to her nonsense? This fool... Prince Rong trespassed into the women's quarters of our mansion. He was the one who was rude first. Even if we went before His Majesty, we would not be in the wrong!"
"Is that truly the case?" Lin Qing He scoffed. "Isn't the truth that Father sent a servant to guide the Prince to the back courtyard? How can you claim the Prince trespassed and was rude first?!"
"You..."
Lin Qing Yuan was rendered speechless. He looked down upon Lin Qing He, a daughter born to an outer concubine, and coupled with a foolish Prince, he held them in even less regard. Thus, he had deliberately made things difficult for You Rong earlier.
Lin Qing He calmly continued, "It's fine. If Second Brother believes you have a case even before His Majesty, then why don't we go to the palace now, and let His Majesty judge the matter!"
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Lin's expression changed, and he immediately said, "Princess Consort, Qing Yuan was indeed in the wrong earlier. He disrespected the Prince. I will punish him with fifty strokes of the cane and order him to sincerely apologize to the Prince. I implore you and the Prince, for my sake, to spare him this time, alright?"
Prime Minister Lin understood the current Emperor well. Although he didn't care much for You Rong, he placed great importance on the royal family's reputation. After all, You Rong was a member of the imperial family, and such disrespect would surely enrage the Emperor.
Lin Qing He had precisely anticipated this, which was why she dared to suggest going to the palace to see the Emperor and let him decide.
As soon as Prime Minister Lin finished speaking, Lin Qing Yuan and the other two's expressions changed drastically. Madam Xu said anxiously, "My lord, this... this is absolutely not possible! Fifty strokes of the cane, wouldn't that take half of Yuan'er's life!"
"Father, Mother is right! Do you intend to beat my second brother to death?!"
Prime Minister Lin feigned a troubled expression, intending to see if Lin Qing He would go along with their plea. However, Lin Qing He waited with a smile, unmoving. He knew then that Lin Qing He had no intention of letting this matter rest.
Prime Minister Lin had no choice but to harden his heart and shouted sternly, "Enough! All of you, shut up! Qing Yuan brought this upon himself. Guards! Give him fifty strokes of the cane immediately!"
Lin Qing Yuan finally realized Prime Minister Lin was serious. His expression changed drastically, "Father... Son knows he was wrong. Please spare me this time! I will never dare to do it again!"
"Yes, my lord, please spare Yuan'er this time. He has been sickly since childhood. This beating will surely take half his life. How could you bear it? Or... you can beat me. I am willing to bear the punishment in Yuan'er's stead!"
Lin Yu Yan also continued to plead, "Father, please spare Second Brother this time, Father..."
Lin Qing He remained unmoved, holding You Rong's hand and waiting. As long as she didn't relent, Lin Qing Yuan was definitely going to be punished.
Just as Lin Qing He had predicted, seeing that she remained silent, Prime Minister Lin gritted his teeth and cruelly ordered, "Guards! Pull Madam and the young lady aside! Beat him! Beat him severely!"
Maids pulled away the weeping and pleading Madam Xu and Lin Yu Yan. Several servants forced Lin Qing Yuan to kneel, and the bamboo planks struck his body one after another. Lin Qing Yuan cried out in pain and finally collapsed onto the ground, unable to even kneel upright.
Madam Xu and Lin Yu Yan watched with heartache, and Prime Minister Lin's expression was also grim. However, since Lin Qing He had not spoken, he could not order a halt to Lin Qing Yuan's punishment.
After the fifty strokes of the cane, Lin Qing Yuan lay on the ground, too pained to even cry out.
Madam Xu and Lin Yu Yan rushed over, supporting him. Madam Xu wept, "Yuan'er, are you alright? Mother will go get a doctor for you immediately..."
Now that the punishment was over, Lin Qing He, seeing Lin Qing Yuan's miserable state, was quite satisfied. She feigned sincerity and said, "Father, you are being too harsh. As Father said, we are all family. For Father's sake, a small punishment for Second Brother would have sufficed. Fifty strokes of the cane is indeed too severe."
You didn't say it was too severe when he was being beaten! Now that it's over! You might as well have said nothing!
Prime Minister Lin's expression was unpleasant. He dared not speak his mind, but he had to play along, saying, "This is Qing Yuan's own doing. Princess Consort need not worry about it. I should thank the Prince and Princess Consort for not holding this scoundrel accountable."
"Alas, Father, what are you saying? This is only right. After all... we are family."
Lin Qing He's few words perfectly embodied the act of taking advantage and then acting magnanimous. Prime Minister Lin and the others were almost suffocated with anger.
Seeing that it was about time, Lin Qing He said, "It's getting late. We will not be staying for lunch at the Prime Minister's mansion. The Prince and I will take our leave now and visit Father again another day."
"Yes, we see the Prince and Princess Consort off."
Watching Lin Qing He's retreating back as she led You Rong away, Prime Minister Lin deeply regretted his earlier words to Lin Qing He. If he had known, he should have sent her away before she even entered the door!
However, this daughter, whom he had carelessly disregarded and cast aside, was proving to be far more intelligent than he had imagined...
Lin Qing He, accompanied by You Rong, left the Prime Minister's mansion and boarded the carriage. She immediately pulled at You Rong's robes, noticing a bruise on his calf from being kicked.
Lin Qing He frowned. "Your Highness, does it hurt?"
You Rong grinned foolishly, "It doesn't hurt anymore... Princess Consort, don't worry, it doesn't hurt now."
He had been crying out in pain earlier at the Prime Minister's mansion, and now it didn't hurt.
Lin Qing He couldn't help but softly say, "Silly boy..." then instructed Madam Xu outside the carriage, "Go to the nearby medical clinic and buy some medicinal wine to rub on the Prince."
Madam Xu replied, "Yes, Princess Consort."