the rise of the useless son-in-law of a wealthy family

a secret

Lengyi appeared in the doorway, her eyes immediately focusing on the commotion in the living room. Su Jian looked at her with great hope. Maybe Lengyi could fix this situation.

However, Xia Yao interrupted immediately, "Lengyi, this cousin of ours has stolen the family's jewelry! I found it in his room, and now he has no defense left!"

Lengyi stared at Su Jian sharply, feeling torn, unsure whom to believe. Although she wanted to give Su Jian a chance to explain, the evidence was too compelling. "Su Jian, what really happened?" she asked in a low voice, full of doubt.

Cornered, Su Jian could only remain silent. He didn’t know how to explain. He felt desperate, as if everyone had already decided to believe the accusations.

“This is a family decision,” Xia Yao said firmly. “We’ll deliver a fitting punishment.”

Although Lengyi didn’t want to hurt Su Jian, she knew family traditions had to be followed. “Su Jian, you’ll face punishment,” she said, her eyes filled with pity. “But I’ll ensure it won’t be too severe.”

Su Jian lowered his head, devastated. He didn’t know how the jewelry ended up in his room, and no matter how much he wanted to explain, no one seemed willing to listen.

A loud voice echoed a moment later. “The punishment is flogging!” Xia Yao declared triumphantly. “The Xia family won’t tolerate such actions without consequences.”

Su Jian felt his body weaken. He knew what that meant—a punishment not only physically painful but also mentally scarring. Yet, he couldn’t resist. Everything felt like an unending nightmare.

Quickly, several servants led Su Jian to the backyard, where the punishment would be carried out. Each step felt heavier as he walked. Every second stretched unbearably.

Lengyi followed closely, her face full of anxiety. She didn’t want to see Su Jian suffer, but what could she do? The jewelry was found in Su Jian’s room, and the evidence couldn’t be denied.

As Su Jian stood before the post where the punishment would be delivered, Lengyi suddenly moved. She approached Xia Yao, her voice trembling. “Wait! I’ll treat his wounds after this,” she said, her eyes filled with concern. “But I want to speak with Su Jian first.”

Xia Yao looked surprised but gave permission. “Fine, do what you need to, but this punishment will not be stopped.”

Lengyi stepped toward Su Jian, who was positioned before the post, his body slightly trembling. She held his hand, her eyes full of sympathy. “Su Jian, I know this isn’t your fault. I’ll make sure the truth comes out, but for now, endure this.”

Su Jian could only nod, tears welling in his eyes. He felt hopeless, but when Lengyi held his hand, a small sense of calm surfaced.

The punishment was carried out. The first lash was agonizing, causing Su Jian to lurch forward. However, he bit his lip and tried to stay strong. He knew Lengyi was there for him, even if she couldn’t stop the punishment.

When it was over, Su Jian’s body was weak. The wounds on his back were excruciating, and he could barely stand. But when Lengyi approached him, warmth filled his heart.

“Su Jian, I’ll take care of you,” she said softly. She helped him back into the house and began treating his wounds with care. Su Jian looked at her with deep gratitude, even though his body ached all over.

Lengyi carefully cleaned his wounds, applying ointment to ease the inflammation. Su Jian closed his eyes, feeling the gentle touch of her hands. Despite everything, he realized one thing—Lengyi cared for him.

“I won’t let this slide,” Lengyi said firmly. “I’ll find out how the jewelry ended up in your room.”

Su Jian looked at her with hope. “Thank you,” he whispered, deeply grateful even after enduring such a painful punishment. With Lengyi’s help, maybe there was a way out of this.

---

Su Jian let out a heavy sigh as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. The punishment of cleaning the entire Xia family residence was no easy task, especially for someone unaccustomed to physical labor. Every corner had to be swept, every surface wiped clean, and the neatly arranged furniture had to remain pristine.

“This is unfair,” Su Jian muttered, dragging a mop into one of the house’s secluded hallways. “I don’t even know what I did wrong.”

Lengyi had pleaded with the family to lighten Su Jian’s punishment, but Xia Yao insisted this was the price for his supposed "crime." Even so, Su Jian endured it, knowing Lengyi had done her best to help.

While cleaning an old, rarely used hallway, Su Jian felt an odd chill creep across his skin. This part of the house seemed far more ancient than the rest. The walls were lined with old wooden carvings, and the floors creaked with every step. The silence was so profound it felt like stepping into another world.

As he dusted around a large wooden shelf, his mop snagged on something on the floor. “Huh, what’s this?” he muttered, looking down. He noticed a small gap in the floor, almost invisible unless closely inspected.

Curious, Su Jian tugged at the protruding object. After some effort, a wooden panel lifted, revealing a small door leading to a basement. A cold draft wafted up, carrying a faint metallic scent.