Chapter 53: A Brutal Beating for Scumbag Ye Anzhi

“Tsk tsk, isn’t that a dog leash? The eldest son of the Ye family really doesn’t see maidservants as human, huh?”

“More than just dehumanizing—those two maids are covered in wounds! What a tragedy!”

“With such a scandal, it’ll be tough for the Ye family’s eldest son to find a match now.”

“Tough? Please. Minister Ye is a favored court official—there are plenty of families throwing their daughters at him.”

“Don’t count on it. Lord Ye’s failure to raise his son properly is sure to bring criticism from the censors.”

“…”

In no time, it felt like all of the capital was gossiping about the Ye family—especially Ye Anzhi.

He toyed with his maids, forcing them to become his concubines. Though it wasn’t against the law, it violated propriety and decency.

His reputation was utterly ruined. His future, destroyed. Wherever he went, people would whisper behind his back.

But truthfully, Ye Anzhi was already a good-for-nothing. A complete scumbag with no prospects to speak of.

Still, he didn’t see himself that way. He stayed in his room, ranting furiously about the two maids who had “ruined” him.

“Where’s Hongxiu? I’m going to kill her!”

Hongxiu was the one who ran from the Ye household and tossed evidence in front of the gates of other mansions.

She’d since been captured and locked in the woodshed.

A servant quickly tried to soothe the raging Ye Anzhi.

“Young Master, you’ve been grounded. You can’t do anything that would displease the master of the house.”

Ye Anzhi grabbed a purple clay teapot from the table and hurled it at the floor with a crash.

“That wretched wench ruined me—she deserves to die!”

Just as he finished speaking, Ye Chutang appeared.

“Who deserves to die?”

She wasn’t alone—Dan’er was with her.

The moment Ye Anzhi saw the elegant and beautiful Ye Chutang, his hostility disappeared, and he forced a smile.

“Elder Sister, you’re the only one who cares about me. You came to see me!”

“You wish. I came to laugh at you—and to give you a good beating.”

Ye Anzhi was momentarily dazed by her dazzling smile and didn’t fully process what she meant.

“Elder Sister, what are you saying?”

Ye Chutang ignored him and turned to Dan’er, whose eyes were filled with hatred.

“Go. Return the pain you endured.”

Dan’er nodded and pulled out the whip she’d been hiding behind her back, slowly approaching Ye Anzhi.

She’d always been the one getting beaten, and had developed an instinctive fear of Ye Anzhi.

With every step closer, the fear in her heart grew stronger.

But she knew—only by conquering that fear could she begin a new life.

So, she stepped forward with determination, without a trace of hesitation.

Ye Anzhi saw the whip in her hand and roared, “Mingyue, what do you think you’re doing?!”

“Mingyue” was the name she’d been given when she served as Ye Anzhi’s maid.

Her answer came in the form of a loud crack—the whip struck his arm.

Smack!

Flesh split open.

“AHH!”

Ye Anzhi screamed in pain, clutching his bleeding arm, drenched in cold sweat.

A servant snapped out of it and lunged at Dan’er.

“You shameless bitch! You’ve gone too far!”

Ye Chutang flicked her foot, sending a stool flying—knocking the servant out cold.

Dan’er didn’t hold back. Every lash was filled with hatred and delivered with full force.

Ye Anzhi’s screams rang out without pause.

He tried to fight back.

But Dan’er’s eyes were red with fury, her whip fast and fierce—he never had a chance.

Within moments, Ye Anzhi was on the ground, the screaming dying down to whimpers.

Dan’er finally stopped, panting heavily.

She squatted down, coldly staring at Ye Anzhi’s face, now covered in whip marks.

Ye Anzhi met her murderous gaze and trembled uncontrollably, losing control of his bladder and bowels.

Overwhelmed with humiliation, he turned his head away. “G-Get away from me!”

Dan’er prodded the wounds on his face with the whip handle.

“See? Pain only registers when the whip lands on your own body. We’re even now, Young Master.”

She was just a lowly maid sold by her father—abused and tormented to the point of losing her will to live.

Thankfully, she met the Eldest Miss—who treated her with kindness, helped her take revenge,

…and gave her a new start in life.

Dan’er turned to Ye Chutang and knelt, her red eyes shimmering with tears.

“Eldest Miss, from this day on, I will follow you to the death!”

Ye Chutang helped her up.

“Don’t worry, following me won’t kill you. You’ll eat well, drink well, and live even better.”

Then, she nudged the half-dead Ye Anzhi with her foot, her eyes turning ice-cold as she looked down at a certain area.

“If you dare to violate another woman, I’ll make sure you become a eunuch.”

She couldn’t change the deeply rooted hierarchy of ancient times—nor did she want to. After all, she benefited from the privileges.

But reining in a few individuals? That she could do.

Ye Anzhi felt a chill between his legs and clamped his thighs together. “U-Understood…”

After Ye Chutang and Dan’er left, they headed toward the Liuli Courtyard.

There, they ran into Shuang’er, who had just stepped out.

She froze in place, panic written all over her face.

“Eldest Miss, this servant… I…”

She wanted to explain, but her mind went blank.

Fortunately, Kong Ru heard the commotion and came out to smooth things over.

“Ling’er’s wedding is approaching, and there’s a lot to prepare. We’re short on maids and servants, so I’m reassigning people from other courtyards to help.”

Shuang’er quickly picked up the excuse. “Eldest Miss, I won’t be able to serve you personally for the next ten days. I hope you’ll understand.”

Ye Chutang looked at the unrepentant Shuang’er and gave her a sly smile.

“Did you forget? I’m still holding your contract of sale.”

Terrified that Ye Chutang might sell her off to the lowest brothel, Shuang’er dropped to her knees at once.

“This servant would never forget. If you are displeased…”

Ye Chutang cut her off. “Since you’re so eager to work, I’ll grant your wish. All the chamber pots in the Minister’s estate are yours to clean.”

“Eldest Miss, my injuries haven’t healed yet. I can’t do heavy labor…”

Shuang’er had the nerve to talk back because she thought Ye Chutang was kind-hearted and sympathetic.

The lunch she served earlier had reinforced that illusion.

Ye Chutang squatted in front of her and lifted her chin.

“When did I ever give you the impression that I’m some kind of saint?”

Then, she leaned in close and whispered coldly into her ear, “Do I need to tell Kong Ru why you weren’t sold to a brothel after betraying me?”

Once again, Shuang’er felt like she was suffocating, as if an invisible hand was wrapped around her throat.

Her face went ghostly pale. “This servant will clean all the chamber pots in the estate.”

Ye Chutang stood up. “Good. And once you’re done, make sure you clean yourself up before returning to Ningchu Courtyard.”

She hadn’t exposed Shuang’er in front of Kong Ru because she wanted to use her as an informant—make her betray Kong Ru again.

Shuang’er slammed her head to the ground. “This servant obeys.”

Then she stood up and hurried off.

Kong Ru already knew that her eldest son’s public disgrace was Ye Chutang’s doing. She wished she could tear her to pieces.

But with both her and her younger son’s fates in Ye Chutang’s hands, she had no choice but to swallow her rage.

“Chu’er, is there something you need from the Liuli Courtyard?”

“Give me the sales contracts for Hongxiu and Chunlan, and I’ll let you live until Su Ling’er’s wedding.”

Hongxiu was locked in the woodshed. Chunlan had hanged herself.

Kong Ru wanted to live more than anything. Her voice trembled. “And after the wedding?”

Ye Chutang didn’t answer. “The contracts.”

“…Wait here.”

Kong Ru found the contracts for Hongxiu and Chunlan and handed them to Ye Chutang.

As Ye Chutang turned to leave, she was blocked at the courtyard gate by the Old Madam, supported by Granny Gui.