Cut off my tendons in my hands and feet to make me marry? Prepare to die!

Yue Zihuan received the Emperor Shengwen's decree and the news of Prince Dingbei's personal letter at the same time.

At that time, he was angrily scolding Pei Du, the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, for removing the cushion in his cell, forcing him to rest in a pile of weeds, which made him feel sore all over.

"I've long said that you guys are always looking down on others, and today it really came true!"

Yue Zihuan snorted coldly while scratching his back. After sleeping on straw all night, he was now covered with fleas.

It was just because Yue Ran came to the Dali Temple dungeon that the jailer removed even the mats.

Just because Yue Ran is so high and mighty, he can only be bullied by others in plain sight.

Even in his prison uniform, he kept his back straight; he could not lose his dignity at any time.

Yue Zihuan looked at Pei Du coldly, with disdain on his lips.

He can afford to wait. The prince has great ambitions, and Xiaolou is by his side to give him advice. It won't be long before the entire Chu changes its ways.

By then, all the grievances he had suffered for the prince would surely be compensated tenfold or a hundredfold.

When the day comes when he is proud of himself, he will make villains like Pei Du kneel before him and make them pay the price for their current flattery!

Pei Du stood in front of Yue Zihuan, pinching his nose helplessly.

He now somewhat understood Yue Ran's feelings.

This Yue Zihuan, not only has high expectations but also has a high opinion of himself. He looks cynical all day long, as if the whole world owes him money.

But the person who stood up to falsely accuse his own biological father was himself, and no one was seen holding a knife to his neck.

Even at this point, Yue Zihuan never showed any guilt for framing King Dingbei.

Instead, he keeps his chin up in the air the whole day long. I wonder what he is so confident about?

Someone behind him said in a deep voice:

"Since you are in the Dali Temple dungeon, you should be treated the same as ordinary prisoners. Giving you a mat is already a privilege. Since you don't like it, it should be removed."

Pei Du turned around and bowed to Zhou Wenzhen.

Zhou Wenzheng walked to Yue Zihuan's cell and looked at the latter's arrogant face. He couldn't help but shook his head:

"Yue Zihuan, His Majesty asked about your case during the morning court today. He was furious and decided to sentence you to three years of hard labor in the capital. You are not allowed to engage in other occupations, and your descendants for three generations are not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations!"

The expression on Yue Zihuan's face suddenly froze, and his chest was filled with depression.

How could Your Majesty treat him like this? Punish him to do hard labor in the capital?

He would accept it even if he was sentenced to exile three thousand miles away, but why did he have to suffer such humiliation in the capital?

He has grown to this age and has never even made a cup of tea for himself. Now he is asked to do hard labor for those people in the capital who once bowed and scraped to him?

Scholars can be killed but not humiliated!

Zhou Wenzheng didn't wait for him to recover and continued:

"There is another thing. The Prince of Dingbei wrote a letter of severance yesterday and sent it to the government office for filing. From now on, he and you, Yue Zihuan, no longer have any father-son relationship, nor are they in name. From now on, there is only one son, Yue Ziyu, in the Prince of Dingbei's mansion."

If Emperor Shengwen's sentencing him to hard labor in the capital was a bolt from the blue, then Yue Yuan's personally written letter of severance of the relationship made Yue Zihuan's mind go blank.

His heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and an indescribable chill rushed from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

His eyes were filled with shock, disbelief and bitter pain, as if he was suddenly thrown into an endless cold night, and everything around him became blurry and distant.

Yue Zihuan's cheeks lost their color in an instant, and his lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something to save this sudden break, but all the words rolled around on his tongue and eventually turned into endless grief and indignation.

How could my father be so heartless!

He had no idea how much he had paid for the palace!

As long as he is there, the Dingbei Palace will be safe when the prince ascends the throne in the future.

Father, you are really getting old and confused.

Severe pain spread from his chest. Yue Zihuan could not help but open his mouth. Warmth flowed out from his throat, and bright red dripped from the corners of his lips onto his prison uniform.

Zhou Wenzheng glanced at Yue Zihuan expressionlessly and winked at Pei Du.

Pei Du waved his hand, and the jailer hurried over to unlock Yue Zihuan's cell door.

"Yue Zihuan, you can leave now. The villa you used to live in has been taken back by King Dingbei. Before it gets dark, quickly find a hard labor job. If you can sign a contract to sell yourself, at least you won't starve or freeze to death."

Pei Du stood outside the door and spoke seriously.

Yue Zihuan glared at Pei Du fiercely.

They actually asked him to sign a contract to sell himself?

He would rather freeze to death or starve to death than accept humiliation!

He straightened his back and stepped out of the cell, snorted coldly, and walked out without looking back.

Pei Du seemed to remember something and raised his voice to remind:

"Yue Zihuan, in your situation, your portrait has been left at the four gates of the capital. You cannot leave the capital at all until the three years of hard labor are completed!"

Yue Zihuan paused, then walked even faster.

Even if he fell to this point, he at least still had his small building.

Xiaolou won't ignore him.

............

In Lihua Lane, there were several carriages parked outside the Lu family’s gate, making the place particularly lively.

Yue Ziyu was waiting outside the Lu's house, leading the horse, with his head lowered, a little absent-minded, and his toes rubbing the ground uncomfortably.

Today is the day when the Lu clan members will visit the Dingbei Palace.

Yue Yuan knew about this a long time ago. As his broken leg made it inconvenient for him to travel, he asked Yue Ran and Yue Ziyu to come to Lihua Lane to pick up the Lu family in person.

However, Yue Ziyu looked even more depressed today.

After learning from his father what his mother and elder brother had done, the little familiarity he had developed with the young men of the Lu family on the road might not be able to withstand the anger they would feel after they knew the truth.

If it were him, he would definitely not have any good expression.

"Stand up straight and hold your head up!"

Yue Ran whispered beside him.

Yue Ziyu's heart trembled, and he quickly did as he was told, but his expression could not brighten up no matter what.

"He is him, and you are you. If you think you will follow the same path as him in the future, then get out of here and go back to the palace now."

Yue Ran didn't look at him, but there was already a hint of coldness in her voice.

Upon hearing this, Yue Ziyu immediately raised his head, his anger rising straight to the top of his head, and he unconsciously clenched his hands into fists:

"I won't, even if I die!!"

Yue Ran's expression softened a little:

"I hope you remember what you said."

If he didn't remember, she wouldn't mind making him look decent herself.

As they were talking, Lu Changhuai had already walked out of the door with Lu Changqing and his family:

"Ranran, let's go now."

Lu Qinya and Lu Qinxiu helped Qi onto the carriage. Lu Qinxiu smiled and waved to Yue Ran:

"Sister Ranran, come on, let's take a carriage together."

Lu Qinlin had already climbed onto the horse's back.

Lu Qinlun walked up to Yue Ziyu and nudged him with his elbow:

"Why are you just standing there? I'm counting on you to lead the way."

Yue Ziyu was stunned for a moment, then quickly got on the horse, his voice sounding a little choked up for some reason:

"Then I'll step forward."

The group had not walked a few steps when a gloomy figure slowly walked towards them in the cold wind at the entrance of the alley.

Yue Ziyu, who was riding in the front, couldn't help but open his eyes wide.

Across from him, the ragged Yue Zihuan looked at the luxurious Lu family carriage, the dignified Lu Changhuai brothers, and then at his younger brother whom he had just met yesterday.

He stood there and slowly revealed a sarcastic smile.