Chapter 45: Thirty Strokes of the Rod

Shen Ning sneered coldly, “You want to say that the person who sullied my virtue wasn’t the Regent, but you?”

Qin Yanshu was shocked and looked at her in disbelief.

“Qin Yanshu, do you really think that no one knows about the despicable things you’ve done?” Shen Ning’s gaze was like a knife, sharp and chilling. “But since you’ve come knocking on my door, I can’t pretend that nothing happened.”

With that, she turned and commanded, “Someone!”

The guards outside the Jade Hall quickly entered the courtyard and knelt on one knee, “Princess Consort.”

Qin Yanshu turned to look at these guards.

Shen Ning had only been married for a few days, and they were already this respectful to her?

“Qin Yanshu has repeatedly shown disrespect to this Princess Consort, not only calling me by my name but also plotting to ruin my virtue in the countryside. Take him away and give him thirty strokes of the rod.” Shen Ning commanded coldly. “After the beating, send him back to the Qin residence, and say that it was my order.”

“Yes!”

After Shen Ning finished speaking, she rose and walked out of the pavilion, no longer paying attention to Qin Yanshu, who was being dragged away by the guards. She walked straight to the door of the bedroom.

Pushing the door open, she saw Ji Yucang standing by the window. Shen Ning frowned slightly, “Weren’t you supposed to be resting?”

“There’s a good show to watch, so naturally, I watched the show first.” Ji Yucang said with a faint smile. “The guards of the residence are very respectful to you.”

Shen Ning was silent for a moment, then guessed, “Maybe it’s because they were intimidated by my martial arts when I practiced with them?”

Ji Yucang chuckled, “It should be because of your talent.”

After all, martial arts can be learned by anyone, but there aren’t many who can make rapid progress in just a few days.

Shen Ning’s performance on the training ground for that half-month was enough to be called a meteoric rise, enough to win the sincere admiration of all martial artists.

Shen Ning looked at him seriously, examining the face before her that, despite its pale and sickly appearance, still couldn’t hide its handsome and elegant features.

Ji Yucang was looked at by her to the point where he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Ning asked indifferently, “Were those rumors spread by your people?”

Ji Yucang replied, “Why do you think so?”

“Outsiders say you’re cruel and heartless, killing without batting an eye. Without your permission, who would dare to spread rumors about you without evidence?”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yucang fell silent for a moment.

“Actually, there’s no need.” Shen Ning turned to look out the window. “I’ve never cared about things like reputation. How outsiders gossip and view this marriage is their business. The more you care about others’ opinions, the more pain you’ll feel inside.”

“I was only considering myself.” Ji Yucang said. “I don’t want people to look at me with pity, saying I married a woman who wasn’t chaste. If they know I’m the one who sullied your virtue, they’ll think it’s only natural we should be together, because I ruined your virtue, and you can only marry me.”

Shen Ning shook her head, “If that’s the case, those dozen lives will also be counted against you.”

“So they only gossip, without evidence.”

Shen Ning quietly watched the scene outside the window where Qin Yanshu was being beaten with the rod: “Qin Yanshu came tonight to clarify. He said everything that happened on the mountain in the countryside was his doing.”

Ji Yucang’s voice was cold, “So he deserves thirty strokes of the rod.”

Shen Ning didn’t speak, thirty strokes were far from enough.

Everyone thought that Shen Ning had only lost her virtue, but only she knew that the real Shen Ning had lost her life.

Therefore, Qin Yanshu must also pay with his life.

As for the dozen or so innocent maids and guards who died tragically, their lives should be repaid with the lives of the entire Qin family.

The Qin family must be completely wiped out to repay this debt of lives.

In the courtyard, the sound of the rod beating was dull and heavy.

Qin Yanshu’s face was deathly pale, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

He clung tightly to the bench, looking up at the door of the bedroom, as if trying to see the person he wanted to see through that door.

But until the thirty strokes were over and he was dragged out by the guards of the residence, Shen Ning still did not show her face.

“Ning, Ning! I was wrong!” Qin Yanshu struggled to speak, his voice filled with pain and pleading, “Come out and see me, Ning, you… forgive me! I like you, Ning!”

Two guards dragged him out, pulling and pushing him along.

Shen Ning remained silent for a while: “How many generations has the Qin family been in Shengjing?”

Ji Yucang raised an eyebrow: “Why?”

“Qin Yanshu doesn’t seem like a noble son raised by a century-old family.”

“There are no century-old families in Shengjing. Those people just like to flatter themselves and call themselves that to sound nice.” Ji Yucang said indifferently. “The founding of the Yong Kingdom is less than a hundred years old, and it’s only been three generations of Emperors up to the current one. The founding Emperor killed and demoted many of the meritorious officials, and none of the daughters of the meritorious officials who entered the three palaces and six courtyards gave birth to any heirs. Instead, it was some officials of lower rank who successfully gave birth to princes and princesses. My mother was the daughter of a small county magistrate.”

Shen Ning’s forehead furrowed in deep thought: “Then after the late Emperor ascended the throne, were the three palaces and six courtyards also filled with daughters of low-ranking officials?”

“No.” Ji Yucang’s voice was indifferent. “The founding Emperor was too harsh in his killings, but he also needed to select a large number of talents. The Imperial Uncle of the Qin family was the top scholar in the imperial examination thirty years into the reign of the ancestor, and he smoothly entered officialdom. In a dozen years, he became the Vice Minister of Personnel, and another ten years later, his daughter entered the palace for the selection, and that’s how they got to where they are today.”

Shen Ning understood.

So the Qin family could also be considered of lower-class origins, and the Imperial Uncle of the Qin family was the first generation to establish the family’s fortune.

“Are you interested in the history of the Yong Kingdom?”

Shen Ning shook her head: “No interest. I just felt that Madam Qin doesn’t seem like a noble lady from a century-old family, and Qin Yanshu doesn’t seem like a noble son raised by one, so I asked casually, without any other intention.”

Ji Yucang hummed in acknowledgment and said no more.

“How did you endure the poison’s onset before?” Shen Ning turned to look at him, “Just staying in the room alone, enduring it?”

Ji Yucang nodded: “Before finding the real antidote, I could only endure it.”

“Do you think you can find the antidote?”

“Do my best and leave the rest to fate.” Ji Yucang said. “If heaven wants me to perish, there’s no reason not to comply.”

Shen Ning looked at him strangely: “I didn’t take you for someone who accepts fate.”

Ji Yucang was stunned, as if he suddenly remembered something, and remained silent for a long time before saying: “If you encounter trouble, would you accept your fate?”

“No.” Shen Ning answered without hesitation. “There’s nothing in this world that can make me accept my fate. As long as I’m alive, I won’t give up on turning the situation around.”