Chapter 27: Unreasonable Trouble

"I was ill before, but I have recovered, so you could not detect it," Lin Qingyu argued anxiously.

"Lin Qingyu, I have already brought the physician you colluded with last time to fake your illness and deceive the Heir. The facts are right before you—what else do you have to say for yourself?"

The Princess Consort had Doctor Wang, who had conspired with Lin Qingyu, brought forward. Upon seeing him, all of Lin Qingyu's excuses died in her throat.

"Nothing left to say, are you? You have repeatedly feigned illness to deceive those above and below, fooled the Heir, and showed no respect to the Heir's wife. If I do not discipline you properly this time, you will never repent."

"Guards, drag Lin Qingyu to the courtyard and administer thirty strokes of the cane."

Hearing this, Lin Qingyu’s legs turned to jelly, and she collapsed to the ground.

As two servants dragged her into the courtyard and forced her onto a bench, preparing to strike, Lin Qingyu screamed, "You cannot strike me! If the Heir finds out, he will not let you off!"

Everyone in the residence knew that the Heir, Qi Yunyan, doted on Lin Qingyu excessively. Her words caused the servants to hesitate, afraid to proceed.

"Even if the Heir himself were here, it would be of no use. Guards, strike her!" the Princess Consort commanded sternly.

The two servants raised their canes and began to rain blows down upon Lin Qingyu’s backside. With every strike, her flesh began to tear and bleed.

Piercing screams echoed over the Hibiscus Courtyard, and the servants standing nearby could not bear to watch, turning their faces away.

***

"Stop!"

Halfway through the punishment, a figure in white robes rushed through the gate and threw himself over Lin Qingyu to shield her.

It was Qi Yunyan, the Heir of Prince Duan.

He had been working in his study when Biyu, a maid serving Lin Qingyu, ran to him, claiming that Lin Qingyu had been taken away by the Princess Consort’s men. Sensing trouble, he had rushed immediately to the Hibiscus Courtyard.

To his dismay, he had arrived too late. Lin Qingyu had been beaten until her flesh was mangled, and she was barely breathing. The sight of her broken state shattered his heart.

"Mother, how could you let them beat Qingyu like this?" Qi Yunyan demanded, glaring at the Princess Consort.

"She committed a fault first and broke the rules; she must be punished," the Princess Consort said, taking a sip of tea without even glancing at him.

"What fault did she commit that warrants such a beating?"

"Habitual lying, lack of respect for hierarchy, and disregard for propriety—is that not enough?"

"Mother, you are merely inventing excuses to justify your actions. You have fabricated so many crimes against her simply because you dislike her."

"You have eyes only for this woman and see no one else. How do you expect me to like a vixen like her?"

"Qingyu is no vixen; she is a good woman."

"If she is not a vixen, then how has she bewitched you to the point where you don't even want to return home, or even marry your betrothed? You think only of her, and for every word I say, you have three to retort. Do you even hold me as your mother in your eyes?" The Princess Consort’s voice trembled with sorrow.

"Mother, you are being completely unreasonable. There is no point in talking to you."

"Yunyan, I am so afraid... I am in so much pain..." Lin Qingyu wept, curled in his arms.

"Do not be afraid, Qingyu. I will take you to see a physician," Qi Yunyan comforted her tenderly.

As he moved to lift her and depart, the Princess Consort blocked his path.

"She cannot leave yet. The punishment is not finished." The Princess Consort was determined to discipline Lin Qingyu thoroughly today and would not let her go until the strokes were complete.

"Mother, Qingyu is a delicate woman. If you continue, she will die. If she dies, I have no desire to live either."