Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

A slap that was delivered without any hesitation made Bian Yulou tremble all over, and a low groan escaped from his lips.

A series of crisp sounds rang out in the room.

The small area behind me gradually warmed up, layer by layer, from slightly warm to scalding hot, and the pink color deepened under the "caress" of the palm.

Although it hurt, it was still just a slap, so its lethality was limited. It was more of a psychological deterrent. Bian Yulou hugged her pillow and remained silent.

Bian Hongzhen raised his hand, his expression subtly threatening: "Stay in the capital with your brother."

Bian Yulou had made so many preparations, how could she be willing to let it end so hastily because of a few slaps?

"I do not want."

The words of stubborn resistance brought another full-force slap, which made the red-hot dumpling tremble, and the "crisp" sound stimulated Bian Yulou's eardrums.

Bian Hongzhen stopped, placing his palm on his son's scalding hot dough and kneading it gently. "Do you know that although the tribal relationships in those tributary prefectures of western Sichuan are complex, they will set aside their past grievances and unite against any imperial forces that want to intervene?"

"With so many tribes, big and small, and so many people, almost all of them are familiar faces who are related by blood or marriage. Do you really think you can just learn a few words of the local language and successfully blend in and deceive everyone?"

"Since you know that when the late emperor was alive, the local people in western Sichuan ambushed and killed the provincial governor, you should be even more aware that infiltrating them is like dancing on the edge of a knife. Once you reveal the slightest flaw, they will not care whose son you are, but will not hesitate to use you as a sacrifice."

Bian Hongzhen lightly patted the dough ball, his voice low, "At that time, do you want your father to bury his son?"

"Do you want your father to live his whole life burdened by the guilt of his son sacrificing his life in western Sichuan so that I could return to Beijing sooner?"

"Even if His Majesty launches a military campaign against Sichuan, and your father ultimately avenges you, what good will it do?"

"But you can't assume I'll definitely be exposed, can you? Can't you wish me well for once? Besides..." Bian Yulou turned to look at Bian Hongzhen, "Who said I did all this for you? You're just being presumptuous."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tuanzi was slapped again. Bian Yulou cried out in pain and protested, "Bian Hongzhen, you're just being unreasonable and taking revenge! My plan to infiltrate the tributary state as a spy was clearly for the court to resolve this minor problem without bloodshed, and to reduce unnecessary sacrifices when His Majesty wages war. When did I ever say it was for your sake?"

"Even if there is a little bit, you don't need to live half your life in guilt. It's enough that you remember to bring me, your filial son, some wine during Qingming and Hanshi festivals..."

Hearing his son's increasingly absurd talk, Bian Hongzhen slapped him lightly and scolded, "You've thought things through quite thoroughly, even relieving your father of a mental burden in advance. You're thinking that if you bravely sacrifice yourself, your father won't feel too guilty, right?"

Bian Yulou pretended to be dead and remained silent.

Bian Hongzhen patted his son's chubby cheeks and said indifferently, "Since Xiaolou is so filial, why don't I call Yuheng and Yushu over and show them what it means to be loyal to one's father even when facing family discipline, and what it means to be so filial that it moves Heaven?"

Bian Yulou was shocked that his father would resort to such a tactic, and his ears turned almost red. "Bian Hongzhen, you're just trying to scare me. I'm not a child anymore, I'm not falling for your tricks."

"Not buying it?" Bian Hongzhen raised his voice slightly, chuckled, and turned his gaze to the door. "Someone come here."

Bian Yulou was practically bristling with rage. He tried to cover Bian Hongzhen's mouth while frantically pulling up his pants.

Bian Hongzhen calmly pressed down on Bian Yulou's hand and said in a composed manner, "The family discipline isn't over yet. Who gave you permission to pull up your pants?"

The overwhelming aura made Bian Yulou freeze, and after a long while, he reluctantly let go.

He buried his face in the pillow, "sobbing uncontrollably," he said. "If you want to call people in, then call people in. Let the servants see your son's naked bottom; let your second son lose face, and let the news spread like wildfire that a dignified eighth-rank official is being beaten on your lap like a three-year-old child; let your son never be able to hold his head up again, and even Yushu will laugh at his brother."

The brat even dared to play the victim. Bian Hongzhen, both amused and exasperated, slapped him. "If you're ashamed, don't do anything that will get your father to punish you."

"The war in western Sichuan is a delicate matter with far-reaching consequences. The court has its own plans, and His Majesty has his own considerations. You can't influence the situation by becoming a spy. If you accidentally expose your identity, it will only make things worse. If you really want to contribute your share and share your father's burdens, then you should stay in the capital and use your talents. This is much more important than infiltrating the enemy camp as a spy."

Bian Yulou remained silent, it was unclear whether he had listened or not.

Bian Hongzhen looked at his son's red, swollen face covered in handprints and gently massaged it. The warmth of his palm against the dough pressed together. "Father knows you are filial, respectful to your elder brother, and loving to your younger brother. You always put your family first. But back then, you acted first and then gave up the Hanlin degree bestowed by the court. Your brother didn't say anything, but how long did he feel guilty?"

"Xiaolou, aren't you also the most important family member for your father, Yuheng, and Yushu? Do you really want to watch you keep sacrificing yourself for us?"

Bian Hongzhen's words were like a warm current, flowing into Bian Yulou's ears, through his heart, and rising to his throat.

He remained silent for a long while, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, but then he suddenly rubbed his arms as if waking from a dream, exclaiming that he couldn't stand it, "You're being too mushy, it's giving me goosebumps."

Seeing his son using jokes to cover up his emotional turmoil, Bian Hongzhen raised his hand slightly with a smile in his eyes and said, "Xiao Lou, if you want to admit your mistakes, then admit them properly. If you're like a child who doesn't have the courage to admit his mistakes and instead talks about other things, you'll get a beating like a child."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Bian Yulou blushed from the base of his neck to the top of his head. He buried his face in the pillow and covered himself with the blanket again.

As if remembering something, he threw back the covers, turned his head, and threatened, "Go ahead and hit me. If you're so capable, try slapping me to death with your hand and see if your hand or my butt is thicker!"

After saying that, he buried his head under the covers like an ostrich and left his father to his own devices.

Bian Hongzhen didn't stand on ceremony with him.

"Slap!" "Slap!" "Slap!"

Make sure each strike is loud and powerful.

A tingling, burning sensation ran down her back, but Bian Yulou endured it again and again.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he threw off the covers, his face flushed, and protested, "Bian Hongzhen, aren't your arms tired from swinging like that? Don't your hands hurt?"

Bian Hongzhen smiled warmly, "What's wrong? Little Lou's bottom can't take a slap from Daddy?"

Bian Yulou rolled her eyes and swore to the heavens, "If I still feel sorry for you, I'm a dog!"

"Slap!" "Slap!"

A little while later.

"Wrong." A voice as soft as a mosquito's buzzed in the room.

A smile flickered in Bian Hongzhen's eyes. "What?"

"I was wrong, I was wrong!" Bian Yulou quickly scrambled off Bian Hongzhen's lap to straighten himself, barking at him, "Woof woof!"

Bian Hongzhen couldn't help but smile, patting his head. "Shall we apply some medicine?"

Bian Yulou rubbed the burning spot on his back, glanced at Bian Hongzhen's hand, raised an eyebrow, and said, "You should keep it for yourself."

"Stay in the capital?" Bian Hongzhen asked.

Bian Yulou pouted, clearly unwilling, and said, "Okay."

Bian Hongzhen smiled warmly, "My good son."

...

I had some things to take care of today, so I'm a little late. Here's the first update~

The second update will be at midnight. I'm only 580 words short of my goal today, so I have only three hours left. Keep it up, everyone! Ahhhhhh!

I changed my bio today. I don't know if you guys like it. If you like it, type 1. If you like the original bio, type 2. Let me see which one you like better.