Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 332: Punishment
“My things—don’t touch! Not even a single glance, do you understand?”
Li Shu’s words were heavy with meaning. After speaking, she deliberately—or perhaps unconsciously—cast a glance at the Sixth Miss of the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence. At that moment, the ones who could truly understand her words were probably only Hongjian herself and the Sixth Miss.
On the surface, Li Shu was talking about “things,” but in reality, she was still talking about Zhu Ping’an. “What’s mine—don’t touch it. My man—don’t even think about him.”
At hearing this, the Sixth Miss’s face flushed, a mix of red and white. Somehow, it felt as though Fifth Sister had spoken those words just for her…
“Every country has its laws, every family has its rules. Our residence has rules of its own, and theft is strictly forbidden. Anyone caught stealing is severely punished, regardless of the value involved. Let’s say one lash for every tael of silver… hmm, let me calculate… how many lashes should I give you?” Li Shu extended a delicate hand, hooked Hongjian’s chin with her fingernail, and put on a thoughtful expression.
Hongjian’s face instantly paled.
“However, considering Brother Zhu is about to take the palace examination, and seeing blood would be unlucky, I won’t have anyone whip you. We wouldn’t want to ruin Brother Zhu’s exam luck.” Li Shu pursed her cherry lips, smiling faintly at the frightened Hongjian as her fingernail lightly pinched Hongjian’s chin.
Relieved, Hongjian let out a small breath—only to hear Li Shu speak again.
“But I can’t simply let you go. The fact that you stole shows that you don’t know shame. Fine, then I’ll make sure you remember what shame is, so you’ll know it from now on.”
Li Shu smiled faintly, then turned to the older maids and ordered coldly, “Strip this shameless little wretch completely—don’t leave a single thing on her—and make her kneel in the open space by the Second Gate. Let her learn what shame is. Watch her carefully, and at noon tomorrow report the matter to Aunt for her decision.”
Oh, you like stripping, do you? Well, have at it! Li Shu sneered, looking down on everyone, then added,
“What’s mine is mine. Don’t get any foolish ideas. And remember, if anyone else dares act shamelessly in the future, this will be the lightest punishment!”
As soon as Li Shu finished speaking, the eager maids and older housemaids, who had been waiting for a chance to act, rolled up their sleeves. Within moments, they had stripped away every layer of Hongjian’s clothing, inside and out, leaving her not even shoes or socks.
Completely naked, Hongjian was dragged by the maids to the empty courtyard by the Second Gate. Her cries were useless. Once there, several strong housekeepers forced her to kneel on the ground.
No hiding, no shielding—she had to kneel properly.
One overzealous older maid even filled a bowl to the brim with water and set it on Hongjian’s head. If she spilled so much as a drop, she was pinched and scolded.
News of this punishment spread quickly throughout the mansion.
Even the young footmen and stewards from the front courtyard hurried over to look. They weren’t allowed through the Second Gate, but they could climb the wall; before long a row of them was perched atop it, curiously watching Hongjian kneel below.
Hongjian knelt there, a bowl of water balanced on her head, her mouth stuffed with a rag. In full view of everyone, she was exposed completely, inside and out, burning with shame. She wished she could crawl into an ant’s nest or smash herself against a wall to end it all. Though the wall was so close, she didn’t have the courage to run into it.
Meanwhile, Zhu Ping’an, fast asleep after drinking too much, was completely unaware of what had happened in the rear courtyard. His alcohol tolerance was low and his body produced relatively little alcohol dehydrogenase, so he sobered more slowly than a heavy drinker. By the time he woke, it was already noon the next day.
Opening his eyes, Zhu Ping’an saw Li Shu sitting at his desk, flipping through his previous notes, with the little maid Hua’er standing by her side.
His head still ached slightly, a lingering effect of his hangover. Rubbing his forehead, he pushed himself upright on the bed.
“Miss! Miss! Young Master-in-law is awake!”
Hua’er’s eyes curved like crescent moons, her chubby face alight with joy at the first sign of life from Zhu Ping’an.
Hearing this, Li Shu turned from her book to look at Zhu Ping’an, nodded slightly, and then instructed Hua’er, “Go fetch a bowl of honey water.”
“If you can’t handle alcohol, don’t show off. You’ll only hurt yourself,” Li Shu teased, tilting her mouth at Zhu Ping’an as Hua’er went to prepare the drink.
“I didn’t want to drink it either,” Zhu Ping’an said sheepishly, giving a faint smile.
Hua’er quickly fetched the honey, scooped two spoonfuls into hot water, stirred, and carried it over.
“I’ll take it myself, thank you.” Zhu Ping’an took the honey water, bowing slightly to Li Shu and Hua’er.
Headaches were one of the most common aftereffects of drunkenness. The honey water Hua’er prepared was well suited to easing them and sobering him up, far better than tea. Zhu Ping’an knew this, so he drank it in one go. Perhaps it was psychological, but the headache seemed to ease almost at once.
Setting the bowl on the table, he noticed Li Shu watching him with an unusually keen interest, as if his face had something on it.
Could it be that he had drunk enough to vomit like his old roommate once did?
Rubbing his face, he found it dry and clean. The bed was untouched. Nothing seemed wrong. So why was Li Shu staring so intently?
“Ugly!” Li Shu twisted her mouth.
What the—!
After all that buildup, those were the only two words she had to say? Zhu Ping’an stared at Li Shu speechlessly. Had this girl woken up spoiling for a fight?
“So ugly! I can’t believe someone would be blind enough to want to climb into your bed!” Li Shu bared her small canine teeth, giving him a playful glare and rolling her eyes.
Uh… a lot of information there. So some maid tried to sleep with me, and Li Shu caught her?
In ancient households, masters were not responsible for supporting maids for life. Once a maid reached a certain age, she might be assigned to a male servant, married off, or sold on, with little say in her own future. Some maids who were unwilling to leave their fate entirely to chance tried to change it by climbing into their master’s bed.
But wait—the maid tried to sleep with me, why am I the one getting blamed? Zhu Ping’an felt exasperated.
“Guess how I dealt with that shameless little wretch?” Li Shu’s eyes gleamed like a little fox as she watched his confused expression.
“Women’s chests are too thick for me to guess,” Zhu Ping’an replied flatly.
“You lecher!”
Li Shu flustered, her cheeks bright red, glaring at him.
Hua’er froze for a moment, then blushed even more, her chubby face redder than Li Shu’s. Poor thing…
Young Master-in-law, you’re so bad… how can you talk about a young lady like that…