Chen Jingyu had already endured fifteen strokes of the military cudgel.
His face was utterly bloodless, his eyes wide open but devoid of life. His mouth still stubbornly opened and closed.
"This commoner... is innocent... this commoner... requests an audience with His Majesty..."
His back was a mangled mass of flesh and blood, too ghastly to look at.
Even if Chen Jingyu was lucky enough to survive this time, he would likely suffer pain and illness for the rest of his life.
"Chen Jingyu, we'll ask you one more time. Do you still want to strike the Grievance Drum?"
The two soldiers administering the punishment could not bear it any longer, hence their question.
In Chen Jingyu's current condition, another beating would surely cost him his life.
Chen Jingyu's lips moved, and he forced out two words with difficulty. "Still... do..."
But his voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, and no one heard him clearly.
Before he could repeat himself, Jiang Zhizhou had already raised his hands to part the crowd and squeezed through.
"My apologies, sirs. Chen Jingyu is an old acquaintance of mine and has long suffered from an ailment."
"He devoted himself to his studies, but failed to achieve a satisfactory result in this Spring Examination. That triggered his old ailment, and he came here to make a scene. I'll take him back right away."
Then he turned to the people around him. "Good people, as the saying goes, at home you rely on your parents; away from home, you rely on your friends. Would any kind soul help me take this old acquaintance to the Medical Hall?"
"Saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. Please lend me a hand." With that, Jiang Zhizhou cupped his hands in salute to everyone