SBCEJM -Chapter 236 This Beauty’s Taste Is Truly Unique: She Just Loves Watching Tough Men Cry!

Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, Wang Jufang.

Ordinarily, his name wasn’t especially prominent in the imperial court.

His rank was neither high nor low, and he appeared to be an honest, steady man. Broad-shouldered and well-built, with a handsome face carrying a trace of righteous dignity.

Yet the moment the system delivered its verdict—

“actively seeking death and getting brutally bullied by his wife every single day”—

Wang Jufang’s broad back instantly stiffened.

It felt as though an icy wind had drilled straight into his kneecaps, forcing his tall frame to shrink by half an inch.

He was finished.

At long last, it was his turn.

【This Lord Wang is actually quite the inspirational figure. Born poor, studied hard for years, finally passed the imperial examinations, and even married Miss Kong Mengqi—the least favored legitimate daughter of Grand Tutor Kong.】

【On the very same day, he got both “first place on the honor roll” and “wedding night in the bridal chamber.” The two greatest joys in life, all at once!】

Every official in court turned to stare at Wang Jufang, their expressions complicated.

Being able to marry Grand Tutor Kong’s legitimate daughter really was absurdly good luck.

Grand Tutor Kong had disciples all across the empire. He was a titan among the civil officials.

For Wang Jufang, this marriage was practically a carp leaping through the dragon gate—a meteoric rise to the heavens.

Feng Zexuan smacked her lips.

【That’s actually a pretty solid starting setup. A classic poor scholar’s rise-to-glory storyline.】

【So how did he end up becoming the poster child for “actively seeking death”?】

The system chuckled.

【The problem started on the wedding night!】

【That night, with red candles glowing and a beauty by his side, our Lord Wang hadn’t even picked up the ceremonial wine cup yet before clearing his throat and laying down rules for his talented and beautiful new bride!】

Rules?

Everyone’s ears perked up instantly.

【He said this: “Mengqi, now that you’ve married into the Wang family, you are one of us. There are some things I feel I must make clear today.”】

【“First, my mother is advanced in age and bedridden year-round. As a daughter-in-law, you must fulfill your filial duties. Starting tomorrow, you are to personally wipe her body, serve her tea and medicine, and attend to her every need without fail.”】

【“Second, my elder brother died serving the nation, leaving behind a widowed sister-in-law and a young nephew. You are to respect my sister-in-law and treat my nephew as your own child, caring for them diligently.”】

【“Third—and most importantly—the Wang family is poor. My salary is meager. Your dowry shall therefore be added to the family funds to help relieve our urgent financial difficulties.”】

The moment these words were spoken, even the discussions in the hall quieted noticeably.

Countless gazes converged upon Wang Jufang.

No longer sympathetic.

Instead, everyone looked at him like…

…a warrior whose brain had been crushed by a door.

Even Xiao Juechen on the dragon throne felt his molars ache.

Was this man… an idiot?

A legitimate daughter of Grand Tutor Kong—even if unloved—was still raised like nobility. And he expected her to personally wash his bedridden mother?

And on the wedding night itself, he wanted to swallow up her enormous dowry?

That was far too ugly a display.

Wang Jufang felt blood rush to his face, burning so fiercely he wished he could dig a hole into the golden floor tiles and bury himself alive.

Back then… he truly had thought that way.

He had only recently risen from rural poverty and entered the capital. He knew very little about the customs of noble households.

His mother had endlessly lectured him that daughters-in-law had to be disciplined this way, or else they’d eventually climb onto his head.

So he believed her.

Besides, he genuinely thought he wasn’t wrong!

Wasn’t filial piety toward one’s mother-in-law and kindness toward family perfectly natural?

His salary was low, so using his wife’s dowry to support the household seemed reasonable. Once he earned promotions, he could simply repay her many times over.

How had that become “seeking death”?

【How do you think Miss Kong reacted to Lord Wang’s “husbandly authority lecture”?】

Feng Zexuan grew interested.

【Did she cry? Throw a tantrum? Go straight back to her parents’ home?】

【None of the above!】

The system’s tone rose dramatically.

【She smiled with utmost gentleness and refinement, gave Lord Wang a graceful curtsy, and softly replied: “Husband’s teachings are correct. I shall remember them well.”】

【Lord Wang was delighted, thinking his mother’s wisdom truly knew no bounds.】

【Then Miss Kong turned around. Her smile remained, but her eyes grew colder inch by inch.】

【To the two maidservants waiting outside, she calmly ordered:】

【“Throw him into the water vat.”】

【Lord Wang was dumbfounded. Before he could even react, two powerful arms seized him from both sides. His feet left the ground as he was hoisted up bodily. Struggling desperately, he shouted: “Kong Mengqi! What are you doing?!”】

【Miss Kong strolled over leisurely, lifted a delicate hand, lightly patted his face, and smiling sweetly, uttered several words.】

【“Trash. Are you teaching me how to do things?”】

“Pfft—”

Someone in court finally failed to hold back their laughter.

That single sound ignited the entire hall.

Sharp intakes of breath echoed one after another as countless officials trembled violently from suppressed laughter.

Too… too domineering!

Another terrifyingly ruthless woman!

Even more direct than the black-hearted wife from before!

Wang Jufang had completely abandoned all expression management. His face scrunched up like a bitter melon.

Yes.

That sentence became the beginning of a nightmare spanning more than ten years.

【And it gets even better! After the maids tossed him into the vat, Miss Kong still wasn’t satisfied. She personally directed them to fetch a heavy wooden lid and slammed it shut with a bang.】

【Then, feeling that still wasn’t secure enough, she had them carry over a massive stone weighing dozens of pounds from the artificial hill and place it firmly on top with another heavy thud.】

A chorus of horrified gasps filled the hall.

This wasn’t punishment anymore.

This was attempted murder of one’s husband!

Wang Jufang’s nose stung as the freezing darkness and despair of that night flooded back into him.

He would never forget that night inside the water vat for the rest of his life.

At the time, he had genuinely believed he was going to die on his wedding night.

【Fortunately, it was summer, and there happened to be a crack in the lid, allowing him to barely breathe.】

【The next morning, his five-year-old nephew woke up needing to pee and ran into the courtyard. Seeing the giant stone on top of the vat, the child became curious and decided to imitate the heroic tale of Sima Guang smashing the water vat. He grabbed a small rock and, using every ounce of strength in his tiny body, smashed it against the vat with a loud bang…】

【That’s how Lord Wang’s life was saved. Otherwise, someone else would’ve long since taken his position in the Ministry of Personnel!】

The officials’ expressions had gone far beyond description.

Inside her head, Feng Zexuan was slapping her thigh wildly.

【Beautifully done! Men like this deserve physical therapy—beat the stupidity right out of them!】

Then she suddenly became curious.

【System, are you sure Kong Mengqi was really the unloved legitimate daughter? The way she acts doesn’t resemble some pitiful bullied girl at all.】

【Host, you’ve uncovered the truth!】

The system revealed the answer.

【That whole “unfavored daughter” thing was smoke and mirrors she released herself!】

【As the capital’s number one talented lady, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—and also Grand Tutor Kong’s legitimate daughter—she had long since attracted attention from the palace.】

【To avoid being selected for the imperial harem, she deliberately ruined her own reputation and even staged a drowning incident, conveniently allowing Wang Jufang to “save” her. That way she could logically marry the man she believed had “simple family circumstances, a weak personality, and would be easy to control.”】

So that was it!

The officials suddenly understood.

And when they looked at Wang Jufang again, their eyes carried even more…

…pity.

Turns out he hadn’t “married above his station.”

He’d been the target of precision poverty alleviation—with ulterior motives attached.

Feng Zexuan’s gaze swept across the handsome emperor seated upon the dragon throne, then over to the tall and robust Wang Jufang standing among the officials.

【Mm… these two really aren’t the same type.】

【Looks like even His Majesty’s peerless beauty couldn’t win this beauty’s heart!】

On the dragon throne, Xiao Juechen’s eyelid twitched.

【Of course not!】

The system added:

【This system has already scanned Miss Kong’s standards for choosing a partner. They’re extremely clear.】

【First: the man’s body must be “clean”—no experienced playboys allowed.】

【Second: he has to have a great physique. Slim in clothes, muscular without them. Especially the chest muscles—there has to be serious substance there!】

Several military generals subconsciously puffed out their chests.

But after glancing at Wang Jufang’s sturdy build, they awkwardly relaxed again.

Everyone’s eyes drifted in unison toward Wang Jufang’s chest.

Indeed…

…it was quite impressive.