Volume One, Chapter 10: The Narrow-Minded and Resentful Prime Minister
Watching his father steadily approaching, Meng Yuhong involuntarily took a few steps back. “Father, please listen to me, I…”
Before he could say more, Meng Lan abruptly grabbed the tightly bound end of his hair and thundered, “Ungrateful son, kneel down at once!”
This was the first time Meng Lan had rebuked him with such fury.
He stood stunned, feeling as if everything around him was drifting away.
Seeing his dazed expression, a flicker of pity crossed Meng Lan’s eyes, but he still raised his hand.
At this moment, Meng Xueyi, always protective of her younger brother, rushed forward without hesitation, shielding him.
“Father, what are you doing?”
Even the servants involuntarily gasped.
Within the Meng household, this was the first time such a tense confrontation had occurred.
Yet, as Shi Jing’s smile gradually faded, Meng Lan gritted his teeth, harshly pushing aside his daughter who stood before him, and swung his arm in a wide arc, striking a sharp slap.
“Smack!”
A bright red handprint blossomed on the side of Meng Yuhong’s face.
The slap carried about seventy percent of his strength; Yuhong felt a ringing buzz in his ear.
Meng Tingfeng, who had also wanted to rush forward and stop Meng Lan, stood rooted to the spot, his lips curling faintly before his expression shifted to one of shock and distress.
Shi Jing calmly sipped his tea, taking in the scene before him.
Watching Meng Lan raise his hand again after the first slap, Meng Xueyi could no longer hold back.
“Father, brother’s mistake was unintentional! Please don’t hit him anymore!”
But Shi Jing remained silent, and how could Meng Lan dare to stop?
Another slap followed.
After two strikes, Meng Yuhong’s face slowly swelled.
Listening to his sister’s desperate pleas beside their father, his heart brimmed with grievance and growing resentment.
Why did the father who usually adored him now strike him so mercilessly?
His Black Lion hadn’t harmed a single soul, yet he had to bear such a heavy price!
He refused to accept it!
With this thought, Meng Yuhong’s gaze locked onto the slender girl, tears of humiliation and unwillingness streaming down his cheeks.
It was all her fault! It was all because of that wretched woman!
Meng Lan looked at his son’s tears, feeling a pang of unease.
He withdrew his hand and turned to Shi Jing. “Lord Shi, since this was my son’s fault, I have already punished him. I have no intention of sheltering him.”
Everyone in the Meng household silently hoped the Lord of the Underworld would show mercy and end the matter here.
But Shi Jing, known for his grudges, would not let it go so easily. His brow lifted slightly. “Lord Meng is just and clear-sighted; I quite admire you.”
The brief gleam of joy in Meng Lan’s eyes vanished within a moment as Shi Jing’s tone shifted.
“However, Lord Meng, have you forgotten something?”
---
“What?” Meng Lan was confused.
Shi Jing gently blew on his hot tea, then looked up and said,
“Of course, that vicious beast.”
“Lord Meng, do you not intend to deal with such a ferocious creature?”
At once, Meng Yuhong, still kneeling, sprang to his feet, his face flushed with anger.
“No!”
His Black Lion was no vicious beast!
Why, after being punished by his father, must this man demand his Black Lion’s life as well?
Why should that be?
Anger surged wildly within him, and Meng Yuhong spoke without hesitation:
“I never intended for Black Lion to harm you! Why must you push your demands so far?
“Is the prime minister, who serves the country and its people, truly such a narrow-minded man?”
Though Yuhong’s true intention was not to injure Shi Jing, Shi Jing clearly understood his motives.
Releasing the dog on the day the Second Miss Meng returned home was deliberate; the intended victim was likely that very Miss Meng.
Yet, even the magnanimous Shi Jing was now truly angered.
He despised above all those who openly pointed out his faults.
The hall fell so silent one could hear a swallow, the storm brewing visibly in Shi Jing’s eyes.
“I see.
“This is the first time I’ve heard someone call me narrow-minded, and it comes from young Master Meng.”
“Very well, then let this matter end here.”
Meng Yuhong, whose knees had been weak, could not help but rejoice.
Hidden in the shadows as if invisible, Meng Tingfeng shook his head quietly.
Meng Lan sensed trouble. He recalled a man who once called Shi Jing a beast-faced villain to his face; that man’s corpse was later found in a desolate place, hollowed out with a beast’s heart stuffed inside!
Shi Jing was clearly petty and vengeful.
Avoiding looking at Meng Yuhong, he commanded his servant in a deep voice:
“You, go to the backyard and kill that vicious dog. Then present its head to Lord Shi.”
“Father!”
Meng Yuhong looked at his most trusted father in disbelief, unable to accept these words.
Even Meng Xueyi was helpless now, her gaze sweeping over the uneasy girl.
How fortunate she was.
Just by saving Miss Shi, she had shattered Yuhong’s plan, broken the lady’s hopes, and lost their advantage.
The servants swiftly restrained the frenzied Meng Yuhong as he tried to flee, forcing him to watch helplessly as his beloved dog’s head was brought before Shi Jing.
---
“No…”
Heartbroken and despairing, he shook his head, eyes full of anguish.
A mournful expression crossed Meng Tingfeng’s face, though inside he sneered bitterly.
Heartbroken? Despairing?
Your pain is but a fraction of what she endured that day when she was burned alive!
This is only the beginning; greater suffering awaits you.
The bloodied head lay before Shi Jing, who languidly raised his eyes. “Lord Meng is true to his word, the most trustworthy among the court ministers.”
Shi Jing’s praise was not careless, but perfunctory at best.
Knowing Shi Jing’s entrenched power within the court, Meng Lan could only express his thanks repeatedly.
Meng Tingfeng nearly laughed aloud.
This lord was truly cruel—beating someone’s son, killing their dog, and then offering hollow compliments.
Suddenly Shi Jing remembered her. “Second Miss Meng.”
Meng Tingfeng immediately looked at him with apprehension.
Shi Jing said,
“WhenI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.