Chapter 633: Did You Wear Iron Underwear?

"Speaking of that, you kid, isn't this what you expected to see?"

Li Shimin calmly said: "If it weren't, you wouldn't have given no warning and just brought the entire Ministry of Revenue officials to shout for the extermination of the Buddhist Establishment."

"Since it's what you yourself wanted to see, how can I satisfy you?"

Chen Yan waved his hands repeatedly: "Your words sound as if I'm the one who dragged you into the water."

"I merely gave you a choice; you could have chosen not to act against the Buddhist Establishment's privileges as I expected. You could have simply established some regulations to limit the Buddhist Establishment. Weren't the people who shouted for anti‑Buddhism a few times thinking the same?"

"Now it looks as if I'm the one who dragged you into the water; that accusation is too great for me to bear, so please don't say that."

"Isn't that so?" Li Shimin lifted his eyes and said: "If it weren't for your mouth, telling His Majesty about the Dynastic Cycle Law, about Land Annexation, about the people being in distress, and then shouting to exterminate the Buddhist Establishment, at this moment I would still be in the palace admiring flowers and listening to music."

"How did we end up in this place where even birds don't defecate, having hot pot with you."

Chen Yan gave no reply, let out a light laugh, and said nothing.

Li Shimin sighed: "But you're right, I admit it. I became this emperor not to idle and await death. Since Heaven placed me on this throne and also brought me to you, I must do something real."

"As for the southern wall you mentioned…" he paused, "just crash into it. If we break through, we keep moving forward; if we don't, future generations will still remember that there was an emperor named Li Shimin who, with a foolhardy youth named Chen Yan, tried to crash through this wall."

"Fine!" Chen Yan raised his wine cup solemnly: "Since even you say so, I'll accompany you in crashing this time!"

"If we break through, our names as ruler and minister will be recorded in history; if we don't, the two of us will just have each other as companions, even if people sneer, we'll stay together thereafter."

"Heh......"

According to Chen Yan's expectation, Li Shimin at this moment should be emotionally stirred, perhaps even dropping his airs to speak his heart to him.

What Chen Yan didn't expect was that Li Shimin only sneered, completely ignored the wine cup Chen Yan raised, set down his chopsticks, stood up, and walked out of the cell.

"Someone, come."

"I am here."

Wushe appeared at some point, unannounced.

"Duke of Wei Chen Yan, disregarding Court order, ignoring rites, inciting conflict with the Ministry of Revenue, even causing officials on opposing sides to brawl in the capital, trampling rites, neglecting Court authority, treating Heaven's principle and law as nothing, his sins are profound."

"However, considering his great merit and youth, strip him of the Duke of Wei title and demote him to Marquis of Weinan…"

Saying that, Li Shimin tilted his head slightly, laughed softly: "Again strike our Duke… oh, no, Lord Bo, Twenty Great Boards."

Chen Yan: "......."

"....... Yes, His Majesty."

Wushe forced his upturned mouth down, bowed his head and complied.

"No, you really came!?"

Chen Yan was dumbfounded.

Weren't we just having a pleasant chat?

The two of us, father‑in‑law and son‑in‑law, eating hot pot, sipping wine, discussing state affairs; you could just leave, demote my title, that's enough—why hit me as well?

"His Majesty, wait, His Majesty, let's chat a bit more? You… you probably aren't full yet? I still have lamb here… His Majesty!"

Chen Yan, agitated, grabbed the prison door and shouted.

But Li Shimin completely ignored him, leaving only a silhouette with hands behind his back disappearing.

"Duke… Lord Bo, do you consider coming with me, or would you like me to invite you over?"

Wushe, suppressing a smile, came to Chen Yan's side.

In fact, since earlier, the cell door had never been closed.

Chen Yan paused two breaths, revealed a brilliant smile: "Wushe, look, we've known each other so long; within this Dali Temple Prison, execution sites are everywhere, and there are Dali Temple officials present."

"You actually don't need to stay here; why not go back to attend to His Majesty? I don't need you here; later I'll go receive my punishment myself."

Wushe, fully understanding Chen Yan's intention, finally couldn't hold back, let out a light laugh: "Lord Bo, don't make it difficult for me; His Majesty personally gave me the order, and I can't return without seeing the execution process through."

"Twenty Great Boards aren't many; just clench your teeth and endure, it'll pass."

"The damned one says, bite the bullet and endure, it'll pass."

Chen Yan felt resentment in his heart.

"Are the Twenty Great Boards something you can just bite through?"

"If it's a real beating, I might lose half my life."

"....... Wushe." Chen Yan sighed: "Actually, I've always respected you, since you're a close attendant of His Majesty, it's not easy in ordinary times."

"I can understand your thoughts and difficulties, but how to put it… considering our past good relationship, could you wait a moment?"

"I'm still starving now; you have to let me finish this meal, right?"

"Even a death‑row prisoner gets a full meal before execution; my request shouldn't be excessive, right?"

Wushe stared steadily at Chen Yan, sighing helplessly: "Lord Bo, I'm here, what are you still afraid of? Some things, actually, aren't necessary."

That sentence was almost no longer a hint, but an explicit statement.

But Chen Yan persisted, stubbornly saying: "I don't understand what you say; anyway I'm hungry, I must finish this meal."

"When I'm full, you can beat me however you like; I'm at your disposal, okay?"

"If you don't feed me, I'll go tell Sizi how much suffering and hardship I endured here… a handful of bitter tears."

Wushe felt mentally exhausted, urged two more sentences, but Chen Yan completely ignored, insisting on eating first; helplessly, Wushe could only agree.

"......"

Dali Temple Prison, of course, is never short of places for punishment; punishments like flogging can be carried out by simply calling two people.

So Wushe didn't even intend to take Chen Yan away; he directly ordered people to bring a table and then summoned two executioners.

Chen Yan, indifferent, leapt up, shouting: "Beat me, any way you like; if I frown today, I won't even be named Chen!"

Wushe: "......"

He waved his hand, ordering the executioners to proceed.

However, the moment the two raised massive rods and struck, a crisp echo suddenly rang throughout the cell.

Thud~

The two executioners felt the recoil from the wooden stick and fell silent.

Isn't it?

What the hell did you put as a cushion?

To be honest, over the years, they've hit quite a few people.

Many are real blows, many are fake; they know all the ins and outs of this.

Coming across someone who puts a pad on their butt is also not uncommon.

But what is this "Thud~" of yours?

Is this sound right?

And this shaking feeling, is it right?

Did you come wearing iron underwear?

"........"