"How, can't you speak?"
Chen Mo's silence made Chen De Wang could not help laughing coldly, and his pair of sharp eyes carried a bit of mockery.
You're feeling proud of yourself again... Chen Mo was somewhat speechless and then serious, saying, "Father, your words are incorrect. According to what you said, my elder brother is shaming me for my own good."
If I beat him, it's also for his own good... don't think just because you've become a scholar that you can act without considering others. Once he makes a mistake and gets caught, his status as a scholar will no longer be valid."
"Evil beast, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Chen De Wang slammed the table, raging to his feet, his eyes fixated on Chen Mo like a beast's, glare piercing through.
Xu Cheng on the side was already too frightened to speak.
Chen De Wang was an official from the time of the first emperor, chosen by virtue for service. He has been serving for twenty years and is now the Assistant to the Director of the Great Court, ranking at the fourth tier. If he continues to perform well, there may be more opportunities for him to advance in his career.
But unfortunately, he encountered the passing of the former emperor and the succession of a new one.
As soon as the new emperor took power, he abolished the recommendation system and adopted the imperial examination system. All officials are selected for their posts through the imperial examination.
The new policies were implemented, and the old ministers trembled with uncertainty.
The recommendation system, in essence, relies on being recommended by others. Those who have the qualifications to make recommendations are mainly those in office or people of great reputation.
They can recommend whom? It's basically a matter of nepotism. Even if the court doesn't allow recommendations for relatives, it's just a matter of going around in circles. You recommend my son, I recommend yours.
And it is through this recommendation system that Chen De Wang rose to his position.
Average qualifications, served as an official for many years, no significant achievements, and among his peers, new groups of officials were replaced one after another after the new emperor took power.
Although he hasn't been dismissed yet, Chen De Wang is now on edge, navigating the official world with extreme caution, fearing to make any mistakes that could be exploited by others.
Chen Mo's words seemed to be about Chen Jin, but between the lines, Chen De Wang discerned an undercurrent of criticism and sarcasm. He could not help but burst into anger, pointing his finger at the former and cursing him as an ungrateful son, and a great rebel, with many such phrases flying.
Chen Mo lowered his head without speaking, and Xu Cheng trembled with fear. He had never seen the patriarch so angry before. This third son must be quite brave, to offend the eldest son and dare to anger the patriarch as well.
"Rebellious son, you have now become something great, and you dare to mock me in secret? Do you have no respect for me as your father anymore? Today, I'll beat you to death..."
Since the new emperor took the throne, Chen De Wang had always been wary of being hinted at as someone who might lose his official position. Now that Chen Mo mentioned it, he was so angry that he started looking around for something to hit with, something he could use to beat.
As Chen Jin, who had just rushed in, heard Chen De Wang's angry words outside the great hall, he was overjoyed. He didn't wait for the latter to react and stepped forward first to summon the family law of the Chen family.
whip
The pain from being whipped with a vine is the worst; a single strike can cause the skin to split open and bleed. To this day, Chen Jin still shivers at the sight of a vine.
However, today Chen De Wang is going to scold Chen Mo, so he has less fear and respectfully hands the whip over.
Chen De Wang nodded slightly, feeling relieved at Chen Jin's understanding, but as soon as he turned his head, he was filled with rage towards Chen Mo's big insubordination. He waved the whip in his hand and was about to strike.
"Hold on..."
Chen Mo stopped Chen De Wang.
"Chen Mo, what else do you have to say? You not only disrespect your elders, beat me, but also dare to mock your father disrespectfully. You really deserve a beating, and the family law must be used to teach you a lesson."
Chen Jin roared with anger.
"Since my eldest brother considers me to be so disrespectful and rebellious, a mere whip is too insignificant."
Chen Mo's face was solemn, looking around on both sides, he quickly left the great hall, grabbed the guard's long sword at his waist, and rushed back in a hurry.
"Chen Mo, you are being impudent!"
Chen Jin was somewhat panic-stricken, thinking that Chen Mo, who had been bullied for too long, might suddenly snap and commit incestuous acts like killing his brother and father.
Xu Cheng was also surprised, quickly moving towards Chen De Wang's side, ready to intervene in case something unexpected happened.
Seeing this in his fit of anger, Chen De Wang's fury lessened slightly, but he still glared at the other party coldly, asking, "What do you mean by this?"
"Since both father and eldest brother think I am disrespectful and rebellious, I might as well be cut today to show that I am obedient."
The guy, does he have a problem... Xu Cheng backed up three steps and was really scared. This Chen Mo was behaving strangely today, always wanting to die, and he didn't want to be involved again.
He's good at killing others, but Chen Mo is the third son of the patriarch. Even if he wants to, he dares not do so.
Chen Jin was taken aback, is Chen Mo really that crazy, could he deceive Xu Cheng and his father with this?
Soon, Chen Jin turned his head and saw Chen De Wang puffing out his mustache and glaring with an unfriendly expression.
He entered the civil service through the examination of filial piety, with average abilities and ordinary achievements as an official. The only thing he could point to was his reputation.
It's only this reputation that can protect his current official position.
If today's reputation of killing his son were to spread, not only would he lose his official position, but he might even have to consider his own life.
Chen De Wang dared not pick up the conversation. Chen Mo pondered for a moment and then said, "Since father is unwilling to kill me, then let's sever our father-son relationship and expel me from the family..."
Chen De Wang still didn't dare to speak up.
Breaking off the father-son relationship is not as serious as the accusation of killing one's son, but it will still tarnish his reputation. Chen Mo has not done anything heinous; he just beat his brother.
Moreover, he had a valid reason for beating his brother.
Chen De Wang raised the whip and struck it down heavily.
Slap
"Aah, father, why are you hitting me? Hit him instead! It was I who handed over the family law to you."
After one stroke, he was directly beaten until his skin split open and bled. He was immediately stunned, how could it be that I got hurt the most.
"It's you this rebellious son, who has forced your younger brother to seek death, I'll see to it today that I give you a good lesson"
Chen De Wang raised the whip again, beating Chen Jin who cried out in pain, covering his buttocks and running faster than a rabbit. He directly fled the great hall.
Now, where would he dare to stay? He had thought he could use his father's hand to discipline Chen Mo, but he hadn't expected that he would end up being disciplined instead.
After two strokes, Chen De Wang's anger dissipated somewhat, and his mind became clearer. He looked at this son he had known so well, but today, he found him hard to read.
"If father is unwilling to kill me or sever our father-son relationship, then can I leave?"
Chen Mo threw the long sword beside him and bowed, asking politely.
"Today I won't discipline you, but that doesn't mean you're in the right. Chen Mo, it's time for you to grow up and try your luck outside."
Try? Is it about driving me out of the family? Chen Mo understood without saying.
In Chen Mo's memory, after he awakened the garbage spirit veins, Chen De Wang had completely lost hope in this third son of his. Forced by the reputation of selecting filial piety for civil service, the latter dared not drive him out of the family. But he made up a reason and sent him to the outskirts of the city to fend for himself.
Out of sight, out of mind.
