Adhere to the gentleman's principles

Chapter 169 Kneeling on the Washboard

After returning to the mansion, Li Ziyan hurriedly got off the carriage, then quickly stretched out his hand, ready to help Zhao Junning get off.

However, when Zhao Junning stepped out of the carriage and saw Li Ziyan's hand, she did not linger for too long, but just gently put her hand on it so that she could get off the carriage smoothly. Then, as if deliberately avoiding him, she quickly withdrew her hand and walked straight into the mansion, leaving Li Ziyan standing there in shock.

Seeing this, Mo Yu and Fei Zhou at the side could not help but lower their voices and said to Li Ziyan, "Sir, the young mistress must be really angry this time. You should go and apologize." At this time, Zhou Aoyang also happened to arrive. He saw Li Ziyan standing at the door in a daze and scolded him, "Oh, this is troublesome! I told you a long time ago that this kind of thing can't be used for betting or joking."

Lin Muchen tried to comfort Li Ziyan and said softly: "Ziyan, we have persuaded you before. Look at the situation now, Jun Ning is obviously really angry. As the saying goes, don't hit a smiling person..."

Li Ziyan straightened his clothes and cleared his throat before walking into the mansion. The four people behind him saw him and hurriedly followed him in.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Zhao Junning sitting on a chair with a gloomy face, obviously very angry. Li Ziyan closed the door carefully, and then walked towards Zhao Junning quietly.

"Madam, are you thirsty? How about I pour you a cup of tea?" Li Ziyan said as he reached out to take the teapot on the table. However, before his hand touched the teapot, Zhao Junning suddenly stood up. Li Ziyan was so scared that he trembled all over, and hurriedly stepped back, covering his head with both hands.

Zhao Junning looked at Li Ziyan's frightened expression. Although she felt a little sorry and distressed, she was more angry. She slammed the table and shouted, "Gancao, bring the washboard over here!"

Not long after, Gancao came in with a washboard and handed it to Zhao Junning. Then, Gancao quietly left the room and closed the door. "Oh, it looks like Li Ziyan will have to kneel on this washboard all day today." Zhou Aoyang couldn't help but sigh. Yuan Xinghui on the side shook his head and said, "I don't think so."

Without saying anything, Zhao Junning threw the washboard to the ground and said to Li Ziyan coldly, "My dear, you are strong and healthy, so you won't be hurt at all. In that case, let me practice my martial arts on this washboard tonight."

Li Ziyan stared at the extremely hard washboard in front of him with wide eyes, sweat on his forehead, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he swallowed hard, and said in a trembling voice: "Kneel... Kneel on the washboard."

Zhao Junning stared at Li Ziyan with her beautiful eyes, her eyes flashing with cunning and expectation. She opened her red lips and said softly, "My husband, are you unwilling? When you married me, you promised me that you would obey me. Now I am just making a small request, are you making it so difficult for me?"

Li Ziyan was flustered by Zhao Junning's sad eyes. He couldn't bear to see his beloved sad. So he gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and replied calmly: "Okay, I'll kneel." Before he finished speaking, he bent his knees and knelt on the ground.

Immediately afterwards, a pig-slaughtering scream was heard: "Ah...my knees!" Li Ziyan covered his knees tightly with both hands, his face was as pale as paper, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead.

Zhao Junning's heart softened when she saw this, but she still pretended to be calm and asked softly, "My dear, does it hurt?"

Li Ziyan endured the severe pain, shook his head and waved his hands, and stammered, "No...it doesn't hurt, not at all. Hehe, don't worry, my wife, I'm in good health." However, his distorted face and painful expression had already betrayed him completely.

At this time, Zhao Junning's eyes were moist and the corners of her eyes were red, and her voice was choked: "You don't feel pain, but I do. It hurts here." As she spoke, she pointed to her heart. Li Ziyan looked at Zhao Junning like this, and he also felt distressed. He moved the washboard to Zhao Junning's side and knelt down. He put his hand on Zhao Junning's face and wiped away the tears on her face.

"Zi Yan, you are not a child anymore. Not everything can stand the test of time. If the arrow misses today, what will you let me do? What will you let your parents do? Have you ever thought about it?"

"Jun Ning, I was wrong. Please stop crying. It makes me sad to see you crying."

Zhao Junning looked at Li Ziyan with tears in her eyes. "I feel bad when you feel bad. Ziyan, I can't afford to take that kind of gamble, you know? I know you don't do things you're not sure of, but I can't afford to take that gamble."

Li Ziyan lowered his eyes and held Zhao Junning's hand. "This is the last time. I won't gamble again. I won't make you worry again. I had no choice this time. There won't be a next time." Zhao Junning looked at Li Ziyan kneeling in front of her. Her heart softened. She reached out and touched Li Ziyan's face. "I haven't seen you for a few days, but your beard has grown back."

Li Ziyan held Zhao Junning's hand that was caressing his face, and with his other hand he touched the wound of Zhao Junning, and said in a harsher tone: "Junning, I know my uncle has a way to let Qian Runzhi take the blame for me, but I must let him die. The perfect way is to use myself as bait. He hurt you and I can't let him go."

Then he said gently, "Does it still hurt?"

"I'm much better now. I've been resting well these past few days and my wounds are almost healed."

Zhao Junning stood up and pulled Li Ziyan up and hugged him. Li Ziyan also hugged Zhao Junning, "Ziyan, promise not to be so reckless in the future, okay?"

Li Ziyan patted Zhao Junning's back and said, "Okay, I promise you, the real villain will die tomorrow. I will personally watch him beheaded tomorrow and make him atone for what he did to hurt you."

Then Zhao Junning let go and took a step back, "Okay, we've finished talking. My dear, go to the study and reflect on yourself. You should know what reflection means, right?"

Li Ziyan's eyes widened, "Zhao Junning, you change your expression too quickly!"

Zhao Junning lifted Li Ziyan's chin and said, "My dear, we have been married for two years and we have even consummated our marriage. Don't you know me well?"

Li Ziyan forced a smile and said, "I understand. I understand too much. But your expression changed too quickly and too suddenly. You were fine just now."

"Those were candied dates just now."

Li Ziyan looked at Zhao Junning: "Now this is a slap!"

Zhao Junning touched Li Ziyan's face and said, "My dear, you are smart." She walked to the door, opened it, and said to Mo Yu and Fei Zhou, "Mo Yu and Fei Zhou, help your young master wash and change his clothes, and then watch him go to the study."

Mo Yu and Fei Zhou looked at each other. The last time their son was punished like this was when he had just gotten married and was preparing to take the provincial examination. The two looked at Li Ziyan with distressed eyes. Li Ziyan stretched out his hand: "Jun Ning, let's change the punishment."

Zhao Junning thought for a moment and said, "Sure, kneel on the washboard." Li Ziyan took his hand back and said, "I'd better go to the study."