Screams echoed from the second floor of Jingyaxuan. Mo Yan showed no mercy to women when he lashed out with his whip, especially not to the woman who had framed his princess. Yu Aiwei was beaten until her skin was torn and bleeding. After only a few lashes, several shocking bloody welts were already left on her back.
Wei Baifeng was usually a playboy who only knew how to linger among women. He was uneducated, only knew a smattering of martial arts, and wasn't particularly strong. After being trampled on by the Prince of Yan, his current situation was even worse than Yu Aiwei's.
Wei Junyan's concubine tugged at his sleeve, hoping he would speak up for him, "Master, if this continues, Bai Feng will be beaten to death."
The Duchess of Zhenguo gave a mocking smile. "Aunt Shen, it's time for Bai Feng to learn his lesson, lest he cause trouble in the future."
Wei Junyan glared at her, because he had always doted on Shenniang, his second son, and now that she had been beaten like this, he couldn't bear it.
He then said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Bai Feng was also deceived and did not harm the princess. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and spare my son's life." At this rate, Bai Feng would probably die before even fifty lashes.
Madam Yu hurriedly pleaded, "Your Highness, please forgive me! Wei'er is innocent too!"
Chu Tianze remained calm. "They all claim innocence, yet they can't offer any concrete explanation. Whom do you, Duke Zhenguo and Lady Yu, think I should approach?"
The head of the Yu family, his face grim, turned to Chu Tianling and cupped his hands, saying, "This matter did occur in the Qi Prince's residence after all; we humbly request Your Highness Qi to uphold justice."
He knew his daughter's personality well. She must have been holding a grudge against Bai Chuxiao because of what happened some time ago. He didn't believe that Aiwei had nothing to do with this matter. But this was in the Qi Prince's mansion. If it wasn't authorized by someone from the Qi Prince's mansion, how could Aiwei have plotted this? Now that things have fallen apart, the Qi Prince's mansion wants to use his daughter as a scapegoat to sever ties. How can that be allowed?
Chu Tianling remained calm. The Yu family was indeed clever; if he hadn't spoken, the investigation would have led to the Qi Prince's mansion being implicated as well. They couldn't even handle this simple matter; he shouldn't have trusted that good-for-nothing Yuwen Minke.
"Seventh Brother, you've vented your anger enough. Tell your men to stop. Do you really intend to kill someone in the Qi Prince's mansion?"
Chu Tianze raised an eyebrow slightly, "Sixth Brother, you can rest assured, Mo Yan and Mo Wen are careful with their strength, fifty lashes won't kill anyone."
Seeing the two half-dead figures on the ground, everyone broke out in a cold sweat. Could they really not die? Even if they didn't die, they would probably only be half-dead. Princess Changning was indeed not someone to be trifled with!
Madam Yu bit her lip, then suddenly bowed respectfully to Bai Chuxiao, pleading, "Please, Princess, spare Wei'er's life." Wei'er, a frail woman, would be crippled if the beating continued; what would become of her for the rest of her life?
Bai Chuxiao maintained a smile throughout. Although Madam Yu wasn't much to talk about, she genuinely loved her daughter and was even willing to lower herself to beg her.
Looking at Yu Aiwei's miserable state on the ground, Bai Chuxiao pondered for a moment. Letting her go wasn't such a bad idea, was it? A lively and energetic fourth young lady of the Yu family marrying Wei Baifeng would certainly make the Zhenguo Duke's mansion very lively in the future. It wouldn't be fun if she were crippled.
"Mo Yan, stop."
Mo Yan, who was about to crack the whip, immediately stopped without hesitation and respectfully retreated to stand behind Chu Tianze. The princess's orders were the same as the prince's; even the prince obeyed the princess, let alone them.
Chu Tianze remained composed, but the Qi King and Xiang King saw things differently. Ling Xiang also frowned slightly. They were familiar with Mo Yan and Mo Wen, Chu Tianze's two right-hand men, and now they were listening to Bai Chuxiao so respectfully, without even needing the Yan King's approval. It seemed that the Changning Princess's influence in the Yan King's residence needed to be reassessed.
The fact that pleading with Princess Changning actually worked surprised Consort Shen. She couldn't worry about anything else, as her son was the priority. She was about to step forward when Wei Junyan stopped her. How could he plead with Bai Chuxiao? Did he have no shame?
Bai Chuxiao raised her delicate eyebrows as she watched this scene. Very good. She hadn't planned to let Wei Baifeng go anyway. What an interesting story it would be if a legitimate daughter of a noble family married a disabled illegitimate son.
Mrs. Yu stepped forward and held the unconscious Yu Aiwei, silently shedding tears. Fortunately, she stopped in time; with proper rest and recuperation, her health should gradually improve.
But Wei Baifeng wasn't so lucky. Because Wei Junyan couldn't bring himself to do it, he had no choice but to endure fifty lashes. His entire body was covered in bruises, and he lay sprawled on the ground like a boneless dead dog. Little did he know that his nightmare was yet to come. Chu Tianze wasn't so kind; those initial kicks weren't just about spitting blood...
The fight is over, but the farce is far from over. However, the Yu family and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will settle this privately.
The head of the Yu family, too ashamed to stay any longer, took his leave first. Madam Yu then summoned maids to carry Yu Aiwei and her entourage away in a grand procession. The ladies who had witnessed everything also left as well. Were they joking? Did they think the joke about the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the Yu family was something to be enjoyed?
The Crown Prince Wei, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up, "Your Highness Prince Qi, it is really not advisable to move my second brother in this condition."
He had never liked this half-brother. Today's events were a deliberate scheme by him and Chu Tianling to mislead Wei Baifeng. Otherwise, how could Yu Aiwei, a mere mortal, have connected with the Wei family's young master and conspired against him? He only had himself to blame for his own stupidity in ending up like this.
Chu Tianling slowly spoke, "Bai Chuan is right, Uncle. Bai Feng should stay at the Qi Prince's residence to recuperate for now. I will invite Imperial Physician Zhang over. I believe Bai Feng will be fine."
Wei Junyan nodded with a stern face, but he knew in his heart that his second son was probably ruined from now on.
After this commotion, Bai Chuxiao and the others naturally wouldn't stay to drink any more wedding wine.
As they exited the gates of Prince Qi's residence, Yu Fengyang cupped his hands in apology, saying, "Princess, I apologize. Today, the Yu family has wronged you."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and shook her head, "It has nothing to do with you."
Chu Tianze glanced at him and said indifferently, "Useless! You can't even manage the Yu family."
Yu Fengyang gritted his teeth, "Chu...Tian...Ze...who are you talking about!"
Chu Tianze slowly spoke, "I'm talking about you."
Bai Chuxiao shrugged helplessly, "Are you two elementary school students?"
A hint of confusion appeared in Yu Fengyang's originally angry eyes. "What is a primary school student?"
Prince Yan, who often heard Xiao Xiao throw out a new word or two, understood the meaning of "primary school student" after a moment's thought. He looked down at Bai Chuxiao and said calmly, "He is, but I am not."
"Okay, okay, you're not," Bai Chuxiao said with a light laugh.
Left standing to the side, Yu Fengyang scratched his head and said angrily, "What do you two mean by this?"
Chu Tianze turned and glanced at him indifferently. "Yu Fengyang, I don't want any changes to your sister's marriage to Wei Baifeng, understand? If you can't even handle this simple matter, you shouldn't be coming to the Yan Prince's residence."
Without even glancing at Yu Fengyang's expression, he took Bai Chuxiao's hand and leisurely boarded the carriage.
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