Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

Baoyu was already unwilling to be confined here, and the fact that Qingwen had been given to this fellow before only made him more resentful.

However, after being sternly reprimanded by Jia Zheng yesterday, who even threatened to punish him with family discipline if he skipped school again, he came reluctantly out of fear. He was extremely unwilling and wanted to make a joke to get by.

Jia Yun looked up and interrupted him: "This is a school, there are only teachers and students, no uncles and nephews. You are a stick late, so according to the rules, you should stand and listen to the lecture."

When had Baoyu ever suffered such humiliation?

Especially in front of the "collateral" descendants he has always looked down upon? Who was it that used to call him Uncle Bao Er so often?

Baoyu's barely suppressed reluctance instantly turned into anger. His smile vanished, and he jumped up, pointing at Jia Yun and yelling, "I've given you some face, and you've really taken advantage of it! Who do you think you are? You're just a distant relative of the Jia family, whom we only eat on charity! You dare to tell me what to do? You want me to stand? I'll sit!"

As he spoke, this troublemaker insisted on slumping down in his seat.

The school fell into a deathly silence. Jia Lan turned pale with fright, while Jia Huan and his brother had a smug look in their eyes, waiting to see what would happen.

The maids and servants standing on both sides dared not utter a sound.

Jia Yun remained expressionless, and slowly pulled out a glossy black sandalwood pointer from under the table.

"Disrespecting teachers and elders, roaring in the classroom! According to my rules, he deserves to be disciplined with a ruler. Jia Lan, Jia Huan, and the servants you brought, restrain him!"

Jia Lan hesitated for a moment, but seeing the master's gaze sweep over him like lightning, he naturally dared not disobey.

Jia Huan was somewhat excited, having long disliked Bao Yu, so he immediately beckoned his servant Qian Huai to come forward. The others, including Mushe, who were brought by Bao Yu, tried to stop them, but Jia Yun glared at them and sent them back.

Four or five people rushed forward and, with their hands and feet, pressed the struggling and cursing Baoyu down onto the large desk.

"Rebellion! Rebellion! You murderers! Let me go! Jia Yun! You dare touch me and see what happens! I'll tell the matriarch! I'll have my father beat you to death!" Baoyu twisted and turned desperately in shock and anger, like a live fish being pressed onto a chopping board.

The quick-witted servant, sensing the danger, ran inside to report the news.

Jia Yun did not stop him when he saw this, but instead held a pointer and walked step by step toward Baoyu, who was being held down and unable to move.

Looking at the chilling sandalwood in his hand, and then meeting Jia Yun's cold eyes, Baoyu finally felt fear.

Her voice trembled with tears: "You...you really dared to..."

Just then, hurried footsteps and Madam Wang's tearful cries came from outside the door: "Stop! Stop it now!"

Lady Wang rushed in, followed by a grim-faced Grandmother Jia. It was later learned that, fearing something might go wrong, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang had long wanted to come and observe the teaching, but unexpectedly encountered this unpleasant situation.

When Lady Wang saw her beloved son being so humiliated and pinned to the table, her heart broke. She disregarded everything else and pleaded with Jia Yun, "Yun-ge! This won't do! Absolutely not! Bao-yu is weak; he can't take this beating! This…this is unacceptable! How will he ever face anyone if word gets out?"

Grandmother Jia's face was ashen. She first glanced at Baoyu, who was being held down, then at Jia Yun, who was holding a pointer, and finally her gaze fell on the servant who had brought the news. She asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"

The servant boy, trembling with fear, recounted in detail how Baoyu was late, how he spoke rudely, and how he insulted the teacher.

After hearing this, Grandmother Jia looked at Baoyu, who was still defiant but full of fear, and then at Jia Yun, who was expressionless. She instantly weighed the pros and cons in her mind.

She recalled her promise yesterday that she would "beat or scold him as she pleased," and she remembered that Baoyu was indeed unruly and needed to be disciplined. She also remembered that if she backed down now, Jia Yun would have no authority in the mansion in the future, and there would be no point in teaching him.

In the end, the old lady said nothing, took Yuanyang's hand, and left without looking back!

Lady Wang was stunned to see that her greatest hope had left! She wanted to plead again, but then she saw Jia Yun raise his teaching whip.

A crisp yet muffled "smack!" echoed through the schoolhouse, accompanied by Baoyu's pig-like screams.

Madam Wang closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face.

She knew that Jia Yun was not only disciplining her, but also taking revenge for the ten severe beatings he had received in Rongqing Hall that day!

But what can she do now? The old lady has already acquiesced!

Madam Wang stamped her foot, unable to bear watching any longer. Supported by Yu Chuan, she also left this place of trouble while crying.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Jia Yun was very careful in his actions, striking with enough force to cause pain and humiliation without inflicting serious injury.

The sandalwood pointer landed solidly on Baoyu's buttocks and legs, and no matter how much he cried and swore, it was all in vain.

After striking her about ten times, and seeing the faint swelling visible beneath her sapphire blue silk trousers, Jia Yun finally stopped.

Jia Lan and Jia Huan were already pale with fright. They glanced at each other and saw deep fear in each other's eyes.

This fellow... oh no, this young gentleman, is not only learned, but also ruthless! He even beat up Baoyu without hesitation!

Jia Yun tossed aside his teaching pointer, picked up a book from the table, and coldly glanced at Bao Yu, who was slumped on the table sobbing, and the two students who were trembling with fear. He said indifferently, "I'm not in the mood for teaching today. Copy the Analects, Book 1, Chapter 1, ten times and hand it in first thing tomorrow morning. If you miss one, or if your handwriting is messy..."

His gaze swept over the three of them one by one: "The three of you will all be punished together."

After saying that, Jia Yun stopped looking at them and turned to leave the school.

Behind them, only Baoyu's suppressed sobs and the deathly silence filled the room. Jia Lan and Jia Huan exchanged a glance, hurriedly took their seats, and began preparing paper and ink, no longer daring to be negligent in the slightest.

The incident of Jia Yun beating Jia Baoyu was like pouring a ladle of cold water into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar in both the Ning and Rong mansions.

The servants whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and fear as they looked towards the small courtyard under the west corridor.

"Incredible! Second Master Yun is truly a ruthless character! He even dared to beat Second Master Bao!"

"That's right! I heard they were fighting so fiercely it was like the ghosts were howling; even the madam and the old lady couldn't stop them!"

"Tsk tsk, this guy is knowledgeable, resourceful, and ruthless! We won't dare mess with him again..."

The news naturally reached Jia Zheng's ears as well.

Lady Wang was heartbroken, and she cried in front of Jia Zheng, saying that Jia Yun was ruthless and cruel, taking revenge for personal reasons, and how he had beaten Baoyu badly. Her words were full of resentment.

Unexpectedly, Jia Zheng, upon hearing this, did not fly into a rage as Lady Wang had anticipated. Instead, he darkened his face and rebuked Lady Wang, saying, "Foolish! A doting mother spoils her son! That wretched boy Baoyu is so unruly and hates studying because you have indulged him too much! Yun'er did the right thing! As his teacher, he has a responsibility to discipline him! If everyone were as protective as you, what kind of person would he become? I think the beating was too lenient! He needs to be this strict so that he can learn to behave properly and understand hierarchy!"

Lady Wang was rendered speechless after being reprimanded by Jia Zheng.

Although she felt extremely wronged, she dared not argue any further and could only weep silently, which deepened her resentment towards Jia Yun.

The atmosphere inside the school was unusually heavy the day after the beating.

Before Chenshi (7-9 AM), Jia Lan and Jia Huan were already sitting upright in their seats, with ten copies of the "Xue Er" chapter neatly arranged in front of them.

The handwriting was neat and meticulous, truly impressive.

Even Jia Huan, who usually dreads writing, managed to write characters that were barely legible, clearly the result of staying up all night to practice.

Jia Yun strolled in, his gaze sweeping over the two men before settling on the empty seat with a slightly cold look. Jia Lan quickly stood up and respectfully presented his homework. Jia Huan also unusually stood up, his movements still a little awkward, but his attitude was much more obedient.

Just then, a noise came from outside the door.

Jia Baoyu, accompanied by Xiren and Sheyue, limped in.

His face was still somewhat pale, but the anger and arrogance of yesterday were gone.

What's even more surprising is that he was holding a formal apprenticeship gift in his hands—a set of fine writing implements and ten strips of dried meat wrapped in red cloth.

Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, Jia Baoyu walked up to Jia Yun and placed the apprenticeship gift on the table.

Then, Baoyu lifted the corner of his robe and knelt down properly, bowing three times: "This student, Jia Baoyu, was naughty and disrespectful to you yesterday, and I know I was wrong. Today I have come to make amends for my mistake and pay my respects to you. Please accept me as your student and discipline me strictly!"

This surprised not only Jia Lan, Jia Huan, and all the maids and servants in the room, but also Jia Yun.

He never expected that Jia Baoyu, after being beaten, would not hold a grudge or back down, but instead would pull this stunt!

Baoyu also had his own plans.

He knew full well that he was impulsive and disliked economic articles, and that being beaten and punished under this strict teacher would likely be a regular occurrence in the future.

If I am forcibly pinned down and beaten every time like yesterday, how can I save face?

Why not just formally become his apprentice and solidify his status?

In this way, it is only natural for a master to discipline his disciple.

Even if he was beaten, it would only be said that "a strict teacher produces outstanding students," that he was sincere in his pursuit of knowledge and was willing to accept punishment for the sake of learning, which would save face for his teacher and even earn him a reputation for "respecting teachers and valuing the way."

This idea of ​​"sacrificing minor details for the greater good" is in line with his occasional insightful nature beneath his mischievous exterior.