The Prodigal Son

In the afternoon, at the Ministry of Justice.

Having just been severely beaten that morning, Lü Si became much more obedient, quietly helping others organize official documents at the Ministry of Justice.

Yes, organizing official documents.

This is the latest task assigned to him by Lü Chunqiu.

Let him start by learning the most basic things.

They even found him a "mentor" to teach him how to organize official documents.

"You old geezer, you're out of your mind!"

"I'm supposed to be a dignified seventh-rank official, how come I'm doing the work of a lowly servant?"

"You're not ashamed, but I am!"

As Lü Si casually sorted through the official documents, he muttered complaints under his breath.

If he makes even a slightly larger movement, he gets a lot of pain all over his body.

"Young Master Lü, what's wrong?"

Seeing Lü Si grinning and grimacing, the bystanders couldn't help but ask him with concern.

"fine."

Lu Si answered casually, enduring the pain in his body.

He got so drunk at the Peony Garden yesterday that he slept until dawn today, still not recovered from his hangover. Lu Chunqiu, who was also still recovering, rushed into his room and gave him a good beating, making him cry for his parents.

Now, his body is covered in bruises!

How can it not hurt?

The only saving grace was that he managed to protect his face.

Although his body ached, there were no marks on his face from being hit.

Just then, a constable from the Ministry of Justice trotted in, his face beaming with a fawning smile: "Lord Lü, the Minister requests your presence."

Although Lü Si may not seem like much in the eyes of those big shots, he still holds considerable influence within the Ministry of Justice.

Not to mention these lowly clerks, even the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice had to treat him with utmost respect.

Upon hearing the constable's words, Lü Si inexplicably began to feel pain again, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.

His intuition told him that if Lü Chunqiu called him over at this time, it was most likely not for anything good.

Was it not enough that he beat me up this morning, that he wanted to beat me up again?

So what if he was drunk and said something wrong?

The Empress Dowager punished me, and he beat me before. Did he want to beat me to death?

"Alright! I'll be right there!"

Lu Si responded with a rather imposing tone, followed the constable out, and then lowered his voice to ask, "Did the Minister say what business he had with me?"

"have no idea."

The constable shook his head slightly. "However, Lord Shangguan came by earlier."

Lu Si's eyelids twitched, and he asked in a low voice, "Shangguan...youyi?"

"Um."

The constable nodded slightly.

Upon seeing this, Lü Si immediately felt guilty.

No way?

Is His Majesty going to give me a lecture?

I……

I just copied a poem, it's not like I broke any laws!

Even passing dogs slap themselves?

Is it really worth it?

Lu Si was both frustrated and guilty, and cursed Qin Yu in his heart.

It's all that bastard Qin Yu's fault!

I have no idea where that bastard copied so many poems from.

Why don't you just be a good spendthrift?

What a load of rubbish, what a pretentious genius!

I got dragged into this mess too!

Lu Si cursed Qin Yu under his breath as he made his way to the main hall where Lu Chunqiu was located.

Lü Si stepped forward and bowed, "This humble official, Lü Si, greets Your Excellency, Minister..."

Lu Chunqiu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you feeling ashamed and trying to distance yourself from me?"

Lu Si lowered his head and said, "This is the Ministry of Justice. I am just handling official business."

I'm no longer your son!

They're officials from the Ministry of Justice!

Surely you wouldn't openly assault a lower-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice?

Bang!

Lu Chunqiu slammed his fist on the table. "Don't you dare try that trick on me!"

Lu Si was already feeling guilty, and seeing Lu Chunqiu get angry, he quickly and obediently called him "Father".

After calming down this scoundrel, Lü Chunqiu said with a dark face, "His Majesty has already started urging us to deal with the Holy Fire Sect. I have already discussed it with several officials in the Ministry of Justice, and we will send people to Chenzhou first thing tomorrow morning."

Ok?

Lu Si's eyelids twitched.

Why are you telling me this?

Is it...

They want me to go to Chenzhou with them?

Chenzhou is so far away, wouldn't it be better to enjoy the good life in the capital?

What are you doing going to Chenzhou?!

Lu Chunqiu ignored his son and continued, "I'm giving you two choices! First, resign from your official post and, starting tomorrow, stay home and study. Then, in three years, bring back the top scholar in the imperial examination!"

"What?"

Lu Siren was dumbfounded, staring blankly at his father, "The... the top scholar?"

Is this old man getting senile?

I?

To become the top scholar?

You yourself barely passed the provincial examination and became a Juren, yet you expect me to become the Zhuangyuan?

Which eye of yours saw that I look like a top scholar?

If I could become the top scorer in the national college entrance examination, the streets would be full of top scorers!

Lu Si was still clear-headed about this point, and he was internally criticizing himself.

He strongly suspected that the old man was still hungover.

Or maybe he drank himself into a stupor!

Ignoring his son's astonishment, Lü Chunqiu continued, "Secondly, go to Chenzhou with the Ministry of Justice to atone for your crimes!"

As expected, I still need to go to Chenzhou!

Lu Si felt secretly annoyed and reluctantly said, "I only copied a poem, it's not like I committed any heinous crime, why should I atone for it?"

Since His Majesty didn't dismiss him from his post, it's not a crime!

Lu Chunqiu slowly stood up, looking at Lu Si with an unfriendly expression. "You think I'm discussing this with you?"

Seeing the situation was dire, Lü Si immediately took two steps back strategically, and said with a bitter expression, "Father, Chenzhou is so far away, and I don't know martial arts. What can I do in Chenzhou? The Holy Fire Sect wants me dead. If I go to Chenzhou, won't I be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?"

There's no love left!

His mother doesn't even know if the baby in her belly is a boy or a girl, and this old woman has no love for him!

The Holy Fire Cult failed to assassinate him, so he sent himself to Chenzhou, giving the Holy Fire Cult the opportunity to kill him.

He even doubted whether this person was really his biological father.

"Better to die than to be a stupid pig!"

Lu Chunqiu flew into a rage, "Do you know that the entire court is laughing at me, saying I'm a pig farmer! You've completely disgraced the Empress Dowager and me!"

Lu Chunqiu was truly enraged this time.

I'm even angrier than when that stupid pig helped Qin Yu screw over the Luo family.

This stupid pig has not only disgraced himself and the Lü family this time.

And what about the Empress Dowager's dignity!

The Empress Dowager is the Lü family's greatest asset!

Lü Si obtained this official position on the behalf of the Empress Dowager!

If he doesn't do something decent to bring honor to the Empress Dowager, she might give up on him!

Without the Empress Dowager's support, the Lü family is nothing!

Feeling uneasy, Lü Si tentatively asked, "Father, is there a third option?"

"have!"

Lu Chun nodded, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Starting tomorrow... no, starting today! I'll hang you up and beat you three times a day! If you're still alive and well a year from now, I'll consider you a hero!"

"..."

Lu Si's face twitched violently. "Father, even tigers don't eat their cubs, how can you do this?"

"Even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs?"

A cold glint flashed in Lü Chunqiu's eyes. He took a step forward and kicked Lü Si to the ground. "Today, I'm not only going to eat your son, I'm going to use all your bones to make soup!"

bang bang...

Lü Chunqiu kicked Lü Si several times in succession.

Lu Si screamed in pain as he was beaten, and hurriedly begged for mercy: "Stop hitting me! I'll go, I'll go, okay...?"