Chapter 16: Flogged

  "Slap!" A solid and forceful slap landed on her body, the cold, hard, and numb pain of being struck, Xia Tian gasped for air, the cry of pain reached her throat but was forcibly suppressed by her. "Slap! Slap! Slap~~" One slap followed another, the pain swept over her like a tidal wave, she bit her lip tightly, sweat dripped from her forehead into her hair, tears gushed out of her eyes, and her whole body shook with silent sobs.

  "Miss! Don't hit Miss! Miss!" Feng Lian cried out and was about to rush over.

  Luo Ji frowned and gave a signal with her eyes to the little eunuch closest to Li Fengli. The eunuch understood, and quietly stretched out his foot.

  "Ah!" Feng Lian's foot slipped and she fell heavily to the ground. This fall was not light, she lay on the ground unable to move, and could only stare blankly as the thick and long stick repeatedly struck Xia Tian's body. "Your Highness spare my life," she struggled to turn around on the ground, crying out in desperation, "It's all this slave's fault, if you must hit someone, hit me! Your Highness, please spare Miss! Spare Miss! Your Highness!"

  Yuan Long glanced at Luo Ji lightly and his gaze returned to Xia Tian's body.

  Every time the stick comes down, summer trembles. Her lips have been bitten through, and fresh blood is trickling down from the corners of her mouth. It hurts, it really hurts! Tears and sweat mix together, she cries softly but doesn't make a sound.

  "Your Highness!" Xiu Niang murmured, her voice barely audible, and for the first time, a crack appeared on her usually expressionless face.

  The air seemed to solidify all at once, and even Feng Liu's voice was hoarse from crying.

  Yuan Long narrowed his eyes, with an unfathomable glint at the bottom. "Xiatian, as long as you say a word, I'll let them stop!"

  Unable to help himself, he took a step forward, and Zhou Song couldn't help but feel anxious for her.

  Her back ached to numbness, and her vision was getting increasingly blurry. Her mind was wandering, her consciousness was in chaos, and she could no longer feel the pain of summer. Tears fell one by one unconsciously, as if trying to shed all her grievances.

  "Your Highness, she... won't she really not speak?" Luo Qi looked at Xia Tian with some trepidation.

  The colors in his eyes were unfathomable, and when he focused, the center of his eyebrows would slightly furrow, and the tip of his heart would slightly fluctuate. Looking at the bloodstained lake blue dress on the stool, Yuan Longqiao finally raised his hand.

  Stick stopped.

  Xiu Niang rushed forward first, and Feng Lai also struggled to catch up. Xia Tian's eyes were tightly closed, his sweat-drenched face was pale with no hint of blood, and the bright red curve on his lips seemed even more striking.

  Yuan Longqiao left the Mo Li Pavilion with everyone, behind him was Xiuniang's soft call and Fengliu's low sobbing, but there was no sound of hers.

  What a strong-willed girl! He slightly curled up his lips and turned his head to look at Zhou Song behind him.

  "Huh?……Yes." Zhou Song was stunned for a moment, and then immediately ran towards Chun Chi Garden. He had been following the Lord's side since he was young, so he understood the Lord's intentions best. While running wildly, he thought to himself that today's events were too unbelievable. That Ling Wangfei, what kind of woman was she?

  "Your Highness... Your Highness?" Luoji followed behind Yuan Longqiao, biting her lip and calling out hesitantly. She hadn't forgotten the bet they made between them, it's just that she didn't expect to be the one who lost in the end.

  Yuan Long's feet didn't stop moving as he gazed deeply into the distance, saying lightly: "Luo'er, do you feel tired serving me every day?"

  Startled and frightened, Luoji hurriedly defended herself: "No...Luo'er...it's not true."

  "Should I attend to the king and also manage the trivial matters in the palace? The king thinks that Lian'er should take a good rest. With a sudden change of tone, sarcasm mixed with a few hints of coldness, "The king detests women who think they are clever!"

  "Whoa!" Behind her, a patch of people knelt down, Luo Ji's trembling body seemed like withered leaves that couldn't withstand the autumn cold.

  Yuan Longqiao slowly turned around, his slender figure merging with the moonlight as if he were a dark night Asura. His cold voice echoed in their ears like the reverberation of hell: "If anyone dares to utter another word about today's events, I will make sure they can never speak again. Did you all hear that?"

  "Yes." Everyone humbly prostrated themselves at his feet.

  "Luo'er, you lost." Yuan Longqiao stepped forward and helped Luo Ji up. "In the future, for a month, you will stay in Duo Zou Xuan to reflect on your mistakes. Do you understand what I mean?"

  Her eyes were filled with tears, Luojie cleverly bowed her body and said in a soft voice: "Luojie knows she's wrong, please forgive me, Your Highness."

  "Good." Yuan Longqiao's expression was slightly solemn, and he raised his hand to gently stroke her face. The Ling Wang Fu was his home, and he wouldn't allow anyone to use schemes to tarnish this place, no matter who it was.