Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Bian Yushu and Shen Jiangliu headed straight for the villa.

Upon entering Yunqi Courtyard, one sees servants hurrying back and forth, carrying copper basins as they come out of the house.

A blood-stained cloth was draped inside the basin, revealing a layer of bright red blood on the water's surface.

The servants following closely behind carried the discarded clothes, which were stained with blood.

Bian Yushu pursed her lips, her expression becoming even more tense.

His Majesty is lenient and usually punishes them with small bamboo sticks or wooden canes.

What exactly did our mortal enemy do to warrant His Majesty's punishment?

Shang Jingming is useless!

Bian Yushu casually grabbed a servant: "Have you called a doctor yet?"

"Young Master Shang sent word early on that Doctor Liang is already inside."

Shen Jiangliu glanced at the bright red liquid in the copper basin, then lifted the curtain and went in first.

Bian Yushu followed closely behind.

Shang Jingming had changed into clean clothes and was lying on the couch with a small wooden table behind him, covered with a thin blanket.

Dr. Liang lowered his head and packed his medicine box, as if he had just finished treating Shang Jingming's injuries.

Upon seeing the two of them enter, Shang Jingming was somewhat surprised and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Shen Jiangliu.

"How are the boy's injuries?" Shen Jiangliu glanced at Shang Jingming, who was still in relatively good spirits on the bed, and then turned to Doctor Liang.

A strange look flashed across Dr. Liang's face.

It's not fair to say he was completely unharmed; his skin was only slightly red and swollen, a stark contrast to his previous two horrific injuries.

If he had arrived even a little later, it might have already disappeared.

As a doctor with medical ethics, I should tell the truth, but unfortunately, the young man offered me far too much...

Doctor Liang coughed lightly, and, against his conscience, said, "All injuries from a beating are like this; they'll need some time to heal. But young Shang is strong and healthy, with plenty of energy and no fever, so it's not too dangerous..."

Shen Jiangliu didn't miss the slight unease on Doctor Liang's face. His eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Shang Jingming again, and the two locked eyes.

After exchanging glances, Shen Jiangliu realized that there was probably more to this story.

Tsk, one becomes like those one associates with.

Passing by the door of Xiaokong Honeycomb Coal, let alone a doctor, even a passing dog would probably put on a show.

After exchanging glances with Shen Jiangliu, Shang Jingming looked at Doctor Liang and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you with the prescription and medicine. I'm afraid you'll have to stay at my residence for the next few days to help me recover."

If you're going to put on a show, go all the way.

It's still unclear how good Dr. Liang's acting skills are. He shouldn't expose himself outside. It would be better to keep him confined in the villa. The reason is legitimate, and no one can find fault with it.

Having received sufficient consultation fees and not having to do any work, Dr. Liang was naturally quite happy.

There's something wrong with this family.

It seems like you're destined to have a bad year, like you can't seem to get along with a certain place.

They come here every two or three days.

He had just stayed here for more than half a month before the Lunar New Year to treat Liu Xiaozi, and only a few days after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, he had to "treat" Shang Xiaozi again.

He was a perfectly good doctor, but he's practically become the family's personal physician!

After Doctor Liang left with his medicine box, Bian Yushu shook his head with an air of superiority and asked, "What errand did you fail to complete this time? How can I be at ease with you like this?"

Shang Jingming was all too familiar with this tone. The last time Bian Yushu was in the palace, when she was afraid of being implicated, she had this same expression, looking completely bewildered as if she had taken the wrong medicine.

This fool still doesn't realize His Majesty is teasing him?

Shang Jingming almost burst out laughing. Controlling his expression, he sighed, "Who told you to end up with such a good-for-nothing junior brother?"

He raised an eyebrow: "Senior Brother, please be lenient?"

The address "Senior Brother" seemed to carry a hint of schadenfreude, making Bian Yushu want to pounce on him and pinch him, but she held back because her mortal enemy was "seriously injured".

When he first became a disciple, how could he have known that the eldest disciple would be implicated?

If he had known earlier, he would have...

Bian Yushu immediately shook his head, trying to banish the infuriating scene from his mind, as he recalled his mortal enemy's provocation of demanding that he call him "Senior Brother."

No, no, I can take the beating, but I can't let my mortal enemy take advantage of my senior brother!

Shang Jingming was delighted to see him grit his teeth and change his expression. After watching for a while, he once again clasped his hands in thanks to Shen Jiangliu and said, "Thank you for your visit, Senior Uncle."

"Senior Uncle?" Bian Yushu's eyes widened, her gaze shifting back and forth between Shen Jiangliu and Shang Jingming.

When did our arch-enemy start calling each other "Master Uncle"?

She actually managed to sneak away while he wasn't paying attention and gain a foothold in the sect? Shameless!

He eagerly followed suit, saying, "Uncle-Master, thank you for today."

Hearing them address him as "Uncle-Master" repeatedly, Shen Jiangliu felt as if he had been unjustly aged several years.

His teacher, barely thirty years old, had already become a grandmaster—what a tragedy…

Feeling existential turmoil, he bid farewell to the two men.

Shen Jiangliu lived next door anyway, and since his junior apprentice was just putting on an act and there was no real harm in it, there was no need for him to stay any longer.

Just as he stepped out, a servant came in to deliver a message: "The sedan chair of Minister Shang of the Ministry of War is outside the mansion, and he has delivered a visiting card."

Shen Jiangliu, who had already taken a step, quietly withdrew it, sat down at the table, and poured himself a cup of tea.

He did hear the two boys inside the room call him "Master Uncle" several times.

One of them couldn't say anything harsh because of the obligation of father and son.

One of them is less powerful than the chickens kept in the yard.

If he leaves, they'll probably be bullied to the point where they have nowhere to turn for help.

Shang Jingming glanced at the composed Shen Jiangliu and instructed a servant, "Please invite him in."

Bian Yushu was unaware of the inside story; he thought that Lord Shang had come to visit his son after hearing about Shang Jingming's accident.

Led by his servant, Shang Yu strode across the courtyard, accompanied by a doctor carrying a medicine box.

Shang Jingming was, after all, his son. No matter how strained their relationship was, he couldn't remain indifferent when he heard that Shang Jingming had been punished by the Emperor for his poor performance.

Even though she had just been impeached because of her eldest son a few days ago, she still harbored some resentment.

But Shang Jingming has always been at odds with Bian Yushu. He was punished and didn't go home. Why is he now living in Bian Yushu's villa?

Since my son became the commander of the Five Cities Garrison, it seems that not coming home has become the norm.

They always made excuses about being away, saying they were on patrol or on duty, and slept in the government office.

Shang Yu always felt that his son seemed different from before.

He was respectful but distant, as if he had kept his family outside his barrier.

This change left him feeling deeply troubled.

Once outside, the servant announced his arrival and then lifted the curtain.

Upon entering the room, Shang Yu immediately saw his son lying on the couch and Bian Yushu standing beside him.

Finally, his gaze settled on Shen Jiangliu, who was drinking tea at the table.

Almost instantly, his expression darkened, and a thought quickly came to mind.

The son has been hanging out with Shen Jiangliu time and time again. Could it be that the impeachment was instigated by his son?

Banishing the unfounded speculation from his mind, Shang Yu made a gesture of invitation, "Dr. Ji, thank you for your help with my son's injuries."

The middle-aged doctor nodded slightly. "Don't worry, Lord Shang."

...

First update delivered, second update at 12:00.

I'm working hard today, just 500 words short of triggering a double update tomorrow. Keep it up!