Uncle Gu's heart clenched as he watched his two sons rolling on the floor in agony.
The old man finally could not bear it anymore. He rushed out from the side and dropped to his knees before Judge Lu with a thud.
"My lord, my lord, stop beating them! Please, stop!"
Judge Lu looked down at Uncle Gu kneeling on the floor, his brows drawing together.
"Gu Xiaoyi, have you thought this through? You would still plead for such unfilial sons?"
Uncle Gu knelt on the floor and bowed his head to the ground.
"My lord, however wretched they are, they're still my sons. I raised them. Seeing them beaten like this, I just... I just can't bear it. Please have mercy, my lord. Stop beating them."
When Gu Jianguo and Gu Jianming, still writhing on the floor, heard their father pleading for them, they seized on it like a lifeline. Forgetting their pain, they scrambled over, each clutching one of Uncle Gu's legs as they wailed.
"Dad, Dad, I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Save me! Put in a word for me!"
"Dad, I'll be a good son from now on! I'll visit your grave every year and burn offerings for you on every holiday! Dad, ask his lordship to stop!"
Uncle Gu looked down at his two sons clinging to his legs, their faces smeared with tears and snot.
His eyes reddened at once. He reached out to stroke their heads, but his hand stopped halfway. He lifted his head toward Judge Lu, his eyes full of pleading.
"My lord, they know they were wrong. They've taken their beating and learned their lesson. For my sake as their father, please spare them this once."
Judge Lu fell silent for a moment. His gaze shifted from Uncle