A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Extremely Humiliating

After sending Wen Yu away, Old Master Wen turned his gaze to Wen Feng.

He motioned towards Wen Shuo with his chin. “You, go down first!”

Wen Shuo glanced at Wen Feng from the corner of his eye, a hint of mockery unconsciously playing on his lips. He stood up, bowed, and retreated.

“Wen Feng, kneel.” Old Master Wen said calmly.

Wen Feng’s heart was filled with trepidation, his face gloomy. But he didn’t move, nor did he speak…

“You unfilial son, kneel before your father!” Old Master Wen slammed the table, his anger exploding.

Old Madam Wen sighed inwardly. This old man had finally found out.

Wen Qian’s face also darkened, but he remained silent with his head lowered.

Suddenly, Wen Feng decided to act like a scoundrel. He abruptly stood up, then dropped to his knees with a thud. But his neck remained stiff, a cynical sneer on his face.

The Old Master pointed at him, looking as if he was about to have a stroke. “To think that such a filthy and despicable person exists in this world! If it weren’t for Feng Ge’er’s wedding and the need to preserve the Wen family’s reputation, I would have convened the ancestral hall upon my return and expelled you from the family!”

This was a matter that Old Madam Wen couldn’t refute in the slightest. She couldn’t help but feel both hatred and resentment. She had been strong and assertive all her life, battling with this old man for many years, but she had never felt so stifled.

And this scoundrel had to get caught for his debauchery, be scolded and humiliated, and she couldn’t even retort!

“All these years, haven’t you caused enough trouble inside and outside the family?! And you still have to reach into your brother’s household?! What kind of creature are you? Huh? Fourth Brother is an upright official, and because you can’t compare, you try to humiliate him by stealing his wife? Huh?!”

The old man grew more and more agitated as he spoke, his face flushed red. He spat fiercely at Wen Feng. “Pah! You vile thing! How old is that Liu Shi? Huh?! If she had children earlier, she could be a grandmother now, and you still went for her?! You good-for-nothing, you disgust me!”

As he cursed, he poked Wen Feng’s head hard with his finger, spraying tobacco-tinged saliva onto his face.

Wen Feng’s head bobbed back and forth from the pokes. He only managed to suppress his anger and prevent himself from jumping up and kicking this old man to death!

When his parents were fighting, he was still young and didn’t understand things. His eldest brother, Wen Qian, had endured more; he hadn’t really suffered.

In recent years, with his father absent, his mother indulgent, and his elder brother busy with his own affairs, he had become conceited due to his good looks, talent, and wealth. Everywhere he went, people flattered him. He spent his days surrounded by beautiful women, living a carefree life.

This was truly the first time in his life he had been scolded and humiliated like this…

His fiery temper couldn’t take it anymore. He glanced at his elder brother. Wen Qian looked back at him with a grave expression, his lips pursed, shaking his head firmly.

Unable to vent his anger, he lowered his head again.

After the old man finished his tirade, he turned to the Old Madam, his eyes filled with malice. “Song Shi, how did you raise such a son? You vile woman! After my mother passed away, I should have confined you to the ancestral temple! And you dare sit there so brazenly? Come here! Kneel here!” He stormed towards the Old Madam.

Old Madam Wen remained motionless, her face grim, but her body trembling with anger.

Wen Qian immediately stood up and calmly called out, “Father!”

Old Master Wen instantly pointed angrily at Wen Qian’s face. “You shut up! Don’t think that just because you’ve been promoted, you have the right to lecture me! You dare interfere in my affairs? Let me tell you, even if you become a Grand Secretary, don’t even dream of it!”

“Father! Please calm down and allow your son to say a few words!” Wen Qian stood before Old Master Wen, unhurried and composed. “This matter is indeed Second Brother’s fault. He has wronged the ancestors of the Wen family. You have every right to punish him, even expel him from the family.

However, although he hasn’t been particularly disciplined when it comes to women, he hasn’t committed any truly evil deeds. That Liu Shi refused to accompany Fourth Brother to his official posting and wouldn’t bear him children. Her sole focus was seducing Second Brother… He merely took the bait.

For the sake of the Wen family, your son has endured over a decade of arduous studying. In the years since I entered officialdom, I haven’t had time for family matters, toiling tirelessly on the river and in the mountains, never resting for a single day. Mother felt sorry for me, seeing how much I’ve suffered, so she’s been more lenient with Second Brother, which has led to his current willfulness.

Father, your son was also raised by Mother, yet I passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi at the age of twenty-one! In that year, I was considered one of the most outstanding scholars in the land. ”

As he spoke, Wen Qian’s expression was confident and composed.

Old Master Wen watched, unable to find a rebuttal.

“Therefore, Father, if you blame Mother for not raising her son well, I must speak up for her: that accusation is biased. ”

Wen Qian was even taller than Old Master Wen, and he was in his prime, his demeanor impeccable. He had been tempered by years of experience, his official career flourishing, possessing the authority of a leader.

He looked at his father calmly, his stance clear: he would protect his mother!

Old Master Wen’s heart faltered. He really couldn’t confront him directly.

“Haha… good, good, good! Since I can’t blame your mother, someone!”

At the door stood the Old Master’s trusted aide.

✿✿✿

“Master.”

“Drag this beast out and administer the family punishment!”

“Yes! Drag this beast out!” Old Madam Wen added coldly.

“You!” Old Master Wen realized that he was the “beast” they were scolding…

The Old Madam said, “Just now, Wen Qian was right. I have indeed been too lenient with this beast. But it shouldn’t be that different from Wen Qian, right?! It seems that how a son turns out depends on whose genes he inherits! In my opinion, these two sons have somehow taken the flaws in your character and magnified them!”

Old Master Wen had been a successful candidate in the imperial examination, while Wen Qian was a Jinshi who had placed first in both the provincial and metropolitan examinations!

And one of the major conflicts between the old man and the Old Madam was his tendency to favor his concubines over his wife!

In that regard, he wasn’t much better than Wen Feng!

Old Madam Wen looked at the old man before her and felt a twinge of regret. Where were all the little vixens he had once fought tooth and nail to protect?

Why had she bothered to deal with them herself back then? She had caused so much trouble and wasted so much energy! Now, she looked even older than that good-for-nothing!

Wouldn’t it have been better to let time, the butcher’s knife, slowly torment him?

But… she didn’t regret it!

At least she didn’t have to face his ugly mug every day and carefully serve that scoundrel!

Old Master Wen’s face turned pale with anger. He trembled as he spoke. “Someone like you should have been divorced long ago!”

“Ha!” The Old Madam sneered. “I served your parents until their passing, and I bore you a capable son. Now, even his son and wife have entered the family. You want to divorce me? You need the ability to do so! If you’re not afraid of losing face, let’s go to the clan elders right now and argue our case!”

When the Old Madam resorted to her tyrannical ways, even the furious Old Master was helpless. Divorcing his wife was just talk; he couldn’t do it before, and he certainly couldn’t do it now.

Besides, he still needed the support of the Song family.

“Hmph! I don’t even want to talk about you two, lest I dirty my mouth! Hold him down and give him thirty lashes. ”

The Old Master’s personal attendant stepped forward, holding a wooden paddle in his hand. It seemed he had come prepared. Wen Feng’s neck stiffened instantly, and he glared at the attendant as if he was about to attack!

“You dare?! If you dare move a muscle, I’ll swallow my pride and shame and expel you from the Wen family! Your elder brother has just been promoted to the capital. Let’s also give his superiors and colleagues a chance to get to know him through this little scandal!” Old Master Wen actually displayed a kind of desperate determination.

In fact, this was just a matter of mutual restraint.

The Old Master had his fears, and the Old Madam had hers.

There was no other way…

Wen Qian quickly gave Wen Feng a meaningful look. Since they were still in the room, it was better to let the old man vent his anger. “Father, Second Brother just became a father-in-law. Please show him some respect. Just ten lashes, let him learn his lesson.”

“Heh…” The Old Master wanted to object, but seeing Wen Qian’s serious face and dark, determined eyes, he hesitated. He couldn’t push things too far.

“Fine! In consideration of your recent promotion, I’ll give you some face. But keep him in check. If there’s a next time, just you wait!”

In the end, Wen Feng received ten lashes from the attendant.

It must be said that the beating wasn’t severe, but it was extremely humiliating.

Wen Feng didn’t utter a sound, his face turning purple with anger.

The Old Master, watching this, felt much better. He glanced at Old Madam Wen with a mocking smile. “Now that this matter is settled, I’m leaving!” He then actually turned and left, hands clasped behind his back.

Wen Qian, with a gentle expression as if nothing had happened, escorted the Old Master out. He had already prepared his carriage and left directly.

Wen Feng got up and limped over to the Old Madam’s side. “Mother…” he called softly.

“Get out!” The Old Madam hissed through gritted teeth.

Wen Feng, feeling ashamed and awkward, paused for a moment, then turned and limped away.

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In the evening, Wen Yu looked at the plump girl before her. Her little, fleshy lips were opening and closing, recounting the events that had transpired at home that day…

She felt that ever since her rebirth, today was the most satisfying day!