Chapter Thirty-Three: She Whipped Jiang Xiushu Herself

Jiang Lingyao raised the whip without hesitation and brought it down hard.

“Crack—”

Jiang Xiushu let out a howl of pain. Had he not been strapped to the long bench, he would have leaped straight up.

The whip had been soaked in oil. It looked soft, yet each strike hurt worse than iron. With enough force, it might leave the skin unbroken while mangling the flesh beneath.

“Lingzhu!”

Jiang Xiuyuan cried out in alarm and moved to stop her. Jiang Lingyao pointed the long whip at him. The moment he took another step, it lashed down onto the bluestone slab before him.

With a single strike, it left a white mark across the stone. It was clear just how much strength she had used.

“He is your brother. If word gets out that you beat him yourself, what will become of your reputation?”

Jiang Lingyao gave a cold laugh. “What reputation do I have left?”

All his remaining words were silenced by her icy gaze, and sudden panic twisted painfully in his heart.

He wanted to stop her, yet he could not help remembering that she had spent an entire year at the temple. His confidence faltered.

Jiang Lingyao brought the whip down again and again. At first, Jiang Xiushu cursed her with extraordinary viciousness, but before long he no longer had the strength even to curse. His hands hung limply at his sides, and his outer robe was drenched in cold sweat.

Watching him, she felt no pleasure at all. She merely thought he deserved it.

After the final five lashes, Jiang Xiushu had to be carried away by servants.

Jiang Lingyao’s gaze remained cold and heavy. Once he had been taken away, she lifted her eyes to Jiang Xiuyuan.

“I trust you will keep your word, Big Brother, and not forget the rest of the punishment.”

Jiang Xiuyuan stared at her as though she were a stranger. His voice was hoarse when he said, “Jiang Lingyao, you used to be the kindest and most innocent of girls. How did you become so…”

“So what? Vicious?”

Jiang Lingyao found his words laughable. Her tone grew even colder.

“What I’ve become is none of your damn business!”

Jiang Xiuyuan recoiled in shock. Pointing at her, he cried, “Who taught you such filthy language?”

Jiang Lingyao still held the long whip. At his words, she raised her hand and struck his pointing finger aside with it before turning and walking away.

Jiang Xiuyuan stared fixedly at her, bewilderment rising in his heart. He could not believe that his formerly delicate and gentle little sister had become like this.

She had once loved clinging to them. Whenever he felt unwell during the change of seasons, she would keep watch by his bedside day and night, making him nourishing soup. Only after seeing him recover would she rub her red, sleepless eyes and return to bed.

Yet today, she had been ruthless enough to lash Jiang Xiushu with her own hands.

His anger deepened. At last, he turned and ordered a servant, “Send medicine to the Third Young Master. Then have someone keep a close watch on Jiang Lingyao. Also send people to the temple and find out exactly who she became acquainted with there.”

Just who had taught Jiang Lingyao to become like this?

He would never let them off.

…

As she stepped through the door, Nanny Li, who served the Old Madam, came forward to greet her and poured her a cup of warm tea.

“Fifth Miss!”

Nanny Li cried out when she saw the drops of blood falling from Jiang Lingyao’s hand. She hurriedly said, “Quickly, bring the medicine!”

Jiang Lingyao froze. Only then did she follow Nanny Li’s gaze downward. Bloodstains marred the white cup, while a drop of blood trembled at the brink of her wrist.

She had injured herself from gripping the whip too tightly while striking Jiang Xiushu.

“The Old Madam will be heartbroken when she sees this.”

Nanny Li took Jiang Lingyao’s hand and sighed heavily, her eyes filled with concern.

“Fifth Miss, I watched you grow up. Even I felt heartsick hearing what the Third Young Master said today. How much more so will the Old Madam?”

Jiang Lingyao pressed her lips together. “Nanny, what are you trying to tell me?”

“Miss, in the Old Madam’s heart, you are the most important person of all. Do not hide anything from her.”

Jiang Lingyao stood there stunned. Her nose suddenly stung, and tears welled in her eyes as she lost herself for a moment.

Nanny Li took her hand and rolled up her sleeve. Jiang Lingyao abruptly came to her senses and quickly pulled her arm away.

But Nanny Li had already seen her battered wrist. She stood rigid, her voice trembling.

“Miss!”

Jiang Lingyao calmly shook her head. “There is no need to say anything more, Nanny. Just apply the medicine.”

Nanny Li wiped away her tears. Jiang Lingyao turned to look at the Old Madam lying on the bed with her eyes closed. Her heart aching, she let out a deep sigh.

How was she supposed to tell her that she would soon be leaving?

After the medicine had been applied, Jiang Lingyao leaned against the bed, her gaze fixed tightly on the Old Madam. She did not dare rest for even a moment.

Only after Nanny Li came to persuade her did she close her eyes and rest against the bed for a short while, just before dawn on the third day.

Suddenly, she felt as though a pair of large hands had come to rest upon her head.

Jiang Lingyao opened her eyes sharply. The Old Madam was looking at her, tears filling her eyes.

“Grandmother.”

Her eyes were bloodshot after an entire night without sleep and painfully dry.

“Do you feel any better?”

The Old Madam gave a faint nod. When she saw Jiang Lingyao sit up, she said, “Lingzhu, do not call anyone. Let Grandmother speak with you for a while.”

Jiang Lingyao struggled to hold back the tears rising in her chest and nodded through a sob.

“Grandmother has failed you. These old bones are useless now—I could not even protect you.”

Tears streamed down the Old Madam’s face. With trembling hands, she touched Jiang Lingyao’s cheek and wiped away her tears.

“Your father and that man are cut from the same cloth—both cold-blooded to the bone. Lingzhu, I know I do not have much longer to live. Let me send you away. Will you?”

Send her away?

Jiang Lingyao raised her head in astonishment, trembling in disbelief.

“What… what did you say?”