Soon, Lord Yuan was stripped off his minister's garb and flogged over a bench, screaming and howling as he met his punishment. Every other minister at court was sweating buckets in fear and appearing grave, with almost none of them becoming limp.
Even Sun Zichu, the minister of the right, the boldest amongst them was shivering slightly and sliding glances at the minister of the left, Qiu Ying'An. Noticing that the other man was shivering uncontrollably, as well, Sun Zichu promptly felt his mood evening out—his counterpart might often act as if he was much more senior and mature just because he was a few years older than him, it was delightful to find the man shaking like himself from fear.
***
The morning court eventually ended, with every minister almost fainting from sheer terror.
