Striking the Imperial Drum (2)
After hearing her reply —
The overseer's hand tightened on his sword hilt. "Teacher, you can't endure forty strikes. Moreover, you are Prince Rong's man. If something were to happen …"
He didn't continue.
Ji Yunshu's gaze sharpened as she looked at him. "Which part of the Great Lin's law states that I am Prince Rong's man?"
"This …"
"Milord, isn't the Great Lin's law stating that anyone who wishes to appeal can strike the imperial drum?"
"Yes."
"Since that's the case, you have no right to stop me from striking the imperial drum."
Using the Great Lin's law was indeed more effective than an imperial edict.
The overseer could only agree. "Fine. Since Teacher is so determined, then we can only follow the law."
However, Ji Yunshu's slender body seemed to be on the verge of collapsing in the breeze. How could she withstand forty strokes of the cane?
Was this a joke?
But Ji Yunshu had always been stubborn. Once she made up her mind, no one could change her mind.
The overseer could only order the two guards to carry out the punishment.
It had been a long time since the two guards had used their paddles to strike someone. It was strenuous for them to wield the paddles. They rubbed their hands together and spat a mouthful of saliva into their palms before rubbing the paddles again.
They raised the paddles.
At the overseer's signal, they swung the paddles down.
Smack!
There was a muffled and crisp sound.
The paddles landed on Ji Yunshu's body.
How could her small frame withstand such a blow? She lost her footing and stumbled forward, crouching forward.
Her back burned with pain, causing her to furrow her brows.
Ji Wanxin averted her gaze, not daring to watch.
The other guard raised the paddles again, but before he swung them down, he glanced at the overseer.
The overseer glanced at Ji Yunshu. "Teacher Ji, I see that you are a frail scholar. Let's forget about it. In previous years, there was a rough man who didn't even manage to withstand ten strikes before dying. If you have any problems, why don't you beg Prince Rong?"
That's right!
Aren't you Prince Rong's man? He's a prince, what can't he do?
Why do you have to be so stubborn and suffer like this?
Ji Yunshu pretended not to hear him and straightened her back.
He looked straight ahead without any intention of backing down.
Forget it, Yin Guan had said what he needed to say, so he could only retreat to the side and wave his hand at the guard.
Hence —
He swung the second board again.
Ji Yunshu's body was knocked forward, her knees bent, and she almost fell to her knees.
Behind her, Ji Wanxin couldn't stand it anymore. With tears in her eyes, she stepped forward and sobbed, "Yunshu, don't be like this. Why do you have to suffer like this? You won't survive forty strokes of the rod. "
Ji Yunshu's neck was tense, and her forehead was beaded with sweat.
She bit her lip.
"I can do it."
"Yunshu …"
"Apart from this method, I … have no other choice. This time, just treat it as me being willful for once." She said angrily.
Tears streamed down Ji Wanxin's sickly face. Her eyes were filled with anxiety and heartache.
Ji Yunshu couldn't hold on for much longer after these two strokes.
On the fourth strike, she knelt on the ground. The pain coming from her back was like a heart wrenching pain.
Her face was deathly pale, and she was sweating profusely.
Her back was cold.
It was clear that the flesh on her back had split open, and blood flowed out, staining her clothes.
Not far away, Jing Yi, who had already received the news, was sitting in his carriage. He lifted the curtains and coldly watched the scene unfold.
The corners of his lips curled up in satisfaction.
It was as if he was one step closer to his goal.
Dou Quan, who was beside him, asked, "Your Highness, will she be beaten to death?"
"No, Jing Rong won't leave her alone."
Jing Yi smiled.
He continued to observe.
The Yin Guan looked at Ji Yunshu on the ground. He couldn't bear it anymore and stepped forward to help her up.
Suddenly!
"Don't help her up!"
The voice was harsh.
When the Yin Guan saw who it was, he quickly withdrew his hand.
Jing Rong quickly walked over with a face full of anger. His eyes were bloodshot, as if they were filled with poison.
Indifference!
The Yin Guan quickly stepped forward. "Greetings, Prince Rong."
Jing Rong completely ignored him. He stopped in front of Ji Yunshu and coldly looked down at her.
In front of Ji Yunshu was a pair of boots made of high-quality fabric. Even though she lifted her heavy eyelids, she still couldn't meet Jing Rong's gaze.
"Is it worth it?" he asked.
Ji Yunshu gasped in pain. Her body trembled. After a while, she weakly spat out two words.
"It's worth it!"
"Fine. Since you want to die so badly, this Prince will fulfill your wish."
Finished speaking, he ordered the imperial guards. "Beat her. Beat her hard."
The imperial guards hesitated for a moment, but this was an order, so they didn't dare to say anything. They could only swing the paddle with trembling hands.
Slap!
The paddle landed heavily on Ji Yunshu's back. More blood flowed out, soaking her clothes.
"Beat her!" Jing Rong ordered again.
Ji Wanxin quickly stepped forward, crying. She knelt on the ground.
"Your Highness, I beg you. Yunshu can't take this anymore. She will be beaten to death."
"Isn't this what she wants?"
"Yunshu is like this because of the case. Your Highness, you can't beat her anymore. She will really die. I beg you."
The beauty cried like a pear blossom in the rain.
But her crying was really beautiful. The red mole between her eyebrows seemed to become even more beautiful.
Jing Rong looked at Ji Yunshu on the ground. How could his heart not hurt?
But his slightly furrowed brows were filled with heart-wrenching pain.
Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and ordered, "Beat her!"
Thereupon …
Ji Yunshu received six paddles in the end.
Her whole body was beaten to the ground. Her back was a mess of blood.
She looked very miserable.
She lay on the ground, gasping for breath. The pain on her back had almost numbed her. Her thick eyelashes were still faintly trembling. Her pale lips opened and closed, but she didn't say anything.
Jing Rong asked her again with a cold expression.
"Is it worth it?"
"…"
"This Prince will ask you again. Is it worth it?"
After a long time, Ji Yunshu pouted her lips and used her last breath.
"Worth … it!"
Her voice was hoarse and weak.
At that moment, Jing Rong's bloodshot eyes finally overflowed with tears.
The next moment, he picked Ji Yunshu up from the ground and hugged her tightly in his arms.
Not only Ji Yunshu's body was trembling, but he was also trembling.
He could feel that his hands were covered with the blood from Ji Yunshu's back. It was cold and wet.
And this woman was unbelievably light.
Ji Yunshu could no longer feel the pain. But her vision was somewhat blurred. She weakly leaned against Jing Rong's chest. The tip of her nose smelled a familiar scent. She tried to open her eyes.
She opened her mouth and squeezed out a few words. "The case …"
Jing Rong furrowed his brows.
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