Chapter 12: 12

Anger (1)

At the pavilion, Chu Ning’s heart constricted. She forcefully pulled her arm from Xiao Kezhi’s grasp and turned away, looking down as she walked to Xiao Yu.

The delicate silk of her sleeves were wrinkled from being pressed. Only now did she realize how much force he had used, causing her arm to swell slightly.

Xiao Yu looked sullen as he pushed her behind him. Then, he smiled coldly at Xiao Kezhi and said, “It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave first, uncle.”

He turned around and left without waiting for Xiao Kezhi to reply.

Chu Ning could tell from a glance that he was furious, so she followed him quickly, and they walked back to the Palace of Eternal Spring.

The journey back was tense. The maids and palace attendants kept their heads down as they followed behind her and Xiao Yu. Everyone feared to anger the Crown Prince at this time.

“Leave!”

Xiao Yu shouted the moment they entered the hall. The servants backed away quickly, but right before they closed the door, Xiao Yu suddenly pointed at a trembling maid and said, “Drag her out and flog her twenty times.”

Chu Ning saw the maid go limp from fear before being dragged away. This was the maid Xiao Yu had scolded when she tried to take off his boots. 

“Do you pity her?” Xiao Yu said beside her ear.

He stood behind her and followed her line of sight to the maid who was being dragged out and gagged. “I had no intention to punish her, but I’m furious now. Tell me, Ning, what should I do?”

Chu Ning looked at the slowly closing door and couldn’t help but close her eyes.

Soon, she could hear the sound of a whip hitting flesh and felt light-headed.

She pushed back the waves of fear in her heart and turned around slowly, meeting Xiao Yu’s probing gaze.

“Your Highness, I was frightened by a wolf at the pavilion just now. The Prince of Qin was concerned that I would faint, so he supported me…”

Her tone was gentler than usual and carried a hint of plea.

However, Xiao Yu pressed his lips firmly and said without a hint of warmth, “Strip now.”

Chu Ning bit her lip and glanced away. She undid the bindings on her clothes slowly. She shed the thick and formal attires of a Crown Princess layer by layer, revealing her curves and slender figure, and her smooth and unmarred skin.

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Xiao Yu walked closer and trapped her in the cramped space before the door. He reached out to stroke along her jaw, causing her to tremble.

“Ning, you shouldn’t have let anyone touch you.”

He leaned close and whispered as he caressed her body as though examining her.

She did not reply but gritted her teeth to bear her discomfort and indignity.

Ministers thought that Xiao Yu was a gentle, sincere, and humane crown prince. He put up the best front to solicit support from them but exhibited his unsuppressed violence and cruelty before her.

She would always remember what happened a year ago.

It was on the anniversary of her father’s death. She brought Cui He with her to the temple to pray for her father’s soul. On the way back, while stopping in the East District, she came across a disheveled boy beggar.

The boy was around seven to eight years old. Perhaps he was delirious from starvation, for the moment she stepped down from the carriage, he immediately rushed forward and hugged her leg, begging for scraps to eat.

She pitied him and ordered Cui He to buy him three loaves of bread and sent him away.

However, she did not expect that her small good deed was noticed by Xiao Yu, who was busy with official matters.

That evening, after having dinner together as usual, he ordered the beggar boy to be dragged in and broke his arms before her eyes.

The sight caused her to break out in cold sweat from shock, and she nearly vomited. However, Xiao Yu had held her hand and spoke gently as if nothing had happened, “Ning, I hate men touching you, even a child is not allowed.”

Today, the man who touched her was not someone as powerless as the boy beggar. Since Xiao Yu was unable to let out his fury on the Prince of Qin, he could only direct it on the pitiful maid.

Soon, twenty flogs were completed and the surrounding returned to its initial quiet.

Xiao Yu caressed her smooth skin with satisfaction and pointed to a table nearby. “Get on the table.”

Chu Ning felt waves of embarrassment from the request, and her face turned red.

“Your Highness, we are still mourning for the late emperor…”

……

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