In the face of Caiyu's straightforward admission of mistakes, the anger in Song Yinghuai's heart not only showed no sign of subsiding but even seemed to be rising inexplicably.
"Fine. Since you've admitted your mistake, you shall receive your punishment!"
Song Yinghuai raised his ruler.
Although Caiyu had mentally prepared herself for the punishment, when she saw the vermilion - yellow ruler being raised, she couldn't help but flinch, and even the tips of her fingers in the air trembled slightly.
Song Yinghuai noticed all her reactions. The next moment, the long - suppressed desire to conquer within him welled up inexplicably.
He didn't know why, but seeing Caiyu looking so aggrieved and pitiful, all the countless Buddhist scriptures he had chanted for six years seemed to burn away completely in his mind.
He suddenly had a strong urge to punish her in a more amorous way, to teach her a harsh lesson.
As a slave who had sold herself into servitude, Caiyu should have been his exclusive little slave.
He wanted to make her hoarsely shout that the slave was wrong, torturing her body and crushing her spirit again and again.
He wanted to make her cry, keep crying.
Cry until she was hoarse and her legs were weak...
He couldn't think about it. The more he thought, the harder it was to suppress the dark and evil devil in his heart.
It was as if the sins he had committed during the years when he led the Yan army in battles had resurfaced from hell.
Song Yinghuai almost crushed the ruler in his hand into pieces before he managed to suppress that morbid thought. Then he brought the ruler down hard!
"Smack!" A crisp sound rang out.
Everyone's hearts skipped a beat.
Caiyu let out a muffled groan. Her red lips quickly lost their color, her jawline tightened, and her arm involuntarily trembled.
A red mark as wide as two fingers immediately appeared on her fair and tender palm. It quickly swelled and became congested, soon puffing up. The purplish - red ridge was clearly visible, and a burning pain quickly spread across her palm.
Song Yinghuai saw the pain in her eyes and waited for her to yield and plead for mercy.
For a moment, Caiyu did want to use the tactic of softness overcoming hardness as before to plead with Song Yinghuai.
But the next moment, she realized that everyone in the Lianyin Pavilion was watching. If she was immodest, it would be regarded as deliberately seducing if the news reached Concubine Yao's ears.
Even if she could avoid Song Yinghuai's punishment, she might not be able to escape Concubine Yao's pursuit.
Moreover, being overly coquettish would only make her seem cheap. Instead, it would be better to be brave.
Song Yinghuai came from a military background. He would surely appreciate a stubborn and perseverant person.
So, Caiyu endured the strike of the ruler. Her face was deathly pale, and there was mist in the corners of her eyes. She bit her lips tightly and refused to cry out.
Song Yinghuai was a bit stunned. He didn't expect this girl to be so tolerant.
Just now, he had used 30% of his strength with this ruler.
Don't underestimate this 30%. As a martial artist, with his internal energy infused into his palm, even 30% of his strength would be enough to make a grown man cry out in pain.
But this girl would rather bite her lips until they bled than cry out in pain!
While annoyed, Song Yinghuai also felt a hint of appreciation from the bottom of his heart.
He lowered his eyes and looked at Caiyu. Speaking slowly and in an extremely cold tone, he said:
"Hold back your tears. It's too early to cry now."
There was ice and haze in his eyes, and he was extremely cold. "I only used 30% of my strength just now. There are still nine more strikes. I will not show any mercy. You'll have plenty of time to cry. If it really hurts, don't hold it in. Cry like Bailu. Maybe I'll hit a bit lighter."
If 30% of the strength could cause such pain.
If he used his full strength...
Caiyu thought that after her hand was beaten, it would probably end up in a state similar to Bailu's.
However, she wanted to take a gamble, betting that Song Yinghuai wouldn't really deliver all ten strikes.
She lowered her eyes and tried to flatten her palm as much as possible, like a young animal showing its most vulnerable belly to its master. Enduring the pain, she said:
"The slave has failed the lord's trust and disappointed the lord. It is only right for the slave to be punished with the ruler. The slave dare not cry out in pain!"
She's quite stubborn!
Song Yinghuai snorted and didn't ask any more questions. He quickly brought down the second strike of the ruler!
This strike was even more powerful.
The palm was only so big. This strike of the ruler landed on the same spot as the first one, doubling the pain.
The intense pain pierced to the bone!
Caiyu bit her lips tightly. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. This time, she even swallowed the muffled groan before it could escape.
At the same time, the sobs of Taoyao and the others rang out one after another on the other side.
Punishing with a ruler on the hand was different from military punishment with a rod. So Han Fen was too lazy to control the strength carefully.
Each strike was delivered hard, determined to give these insolent maids a lifelong memory.
Just as Song Yinghuai was about to raise the ruler again, a deep male voice came from outside the courtyard:
"Wait, wait! Show mercy, show mercy!"
Song Yinghuai's eyes flickered slightly. He put away the ruler and saw Zhu Xiao rushing in like a gust of wind.
"What are you doing here?" Song Yinghuai asked knowingly, his gaze lingering casually between Han Fen and Zhu Xiao.
"My lord, why are you so angry all of a sudden?" Zhu Xiao looked at the servants kneeling on the ground. His soft - heartedness towards beautiful women was aroused.
"What great mistake did they make to make you, who hasn't been angry for years, suddenly lose control?" Zhu Xiao had heard the reason on his way here and couldn't help but persuade.
Song Yinghuai said with a cold face, "Isn't it a big deal that they sneaked into the Qingjing Spring to peek at the lord bathing without the lord's permission?"
Zhu Xiao said, "Cough! What's so big about this?"
"Everyone has an appreciation for beauty. The lord has outstanding looks and a superb figure. It's only natural for these young girls in the bloom of youth to be infatuated with you."
"Old Zhu here would be happy if a young girl wanted to look at me a few more times, but no one wants to. They all think I'm ugly. Even if you don't like them looking at you, there's no need to be so angry!"
"Eyes are for admiring beautiful people and things. You can't stop them from admiring you!"
Song Yinghuai's pupils were cold, and his tone was flat. "According to you, should I even thank them for peeping?"
If it were anyone else, they would have been scared into silence by his appearance. But Zhu Xiao was fearless. He waved his big hand:
"Well, that's not necessary. You just stop punishing them. The main culprit has already been taught a lesson. Among those kneeling here now, some were unaware, and some were just keeping watch under coercion. Hitting them two or three times with the ruler is enough. Don't tell me you're going to treat them like soldiers in the military camp!"
Seeing Song Yinghuai with a gloomy face and not saying a word, Taoyao and the others felt their hearts sink. They held their palms, feeling that their hands were no longer under their control. Tears streamed down their faces.
Zhu Xiao sighed again. "I recently went to the Dabaoen Temple to chat with that bald monk Guang'en. I always heard him chanting a song called 'Don't Get Angry'."
He started singing right away. "Don't get angry, don't get angry. If you get angry and fall ill, no one will take your place. Don't get angry, don't get angry. Your son will belong to your daughter - in - law in the future, and your daughter will belong to your son - in - law. Those who make you angry are just temporary..."
Caiyu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The next moment, she quickly raised her swollen palm like a pig's trotter to cover her lips, composed herself, lowered her head, and knelt obediently.
Song Yinghuai raised his eyebrows and stared at her face. "You seem quite happy?"
"The slave doesn't dare." Caiyu quickly replied. "The slave was just thinking that the version of the 'Don't Get Angry' song chanted by the master in the Dabaoen Temple should not be like this."
"Oh?" Song Yinghuai was a bit surprised. "Why do you think so?"
"The lyrics of the song General Zhu sang are all about mundane matters. The master is a saint who has transcended the three realms. How could he chant lyrics about children, daughters - in - law, and such? I guess General Zhu made up the lyrics himself!"
Zhu Xiao laughed heartily. "I knew you were the smartest girl. You could tell the difference right away. I can't remember a single word of the lyrics that bald monk chanted. I just thought it was interesting, so I made up a few lines myself. But I couldn't come up with any more."
Song Yinghuai said, "You're the one in the pavilion who likes to show off your cleverness. Since General Zhu has pleaded for you today, I'll give you a chance."
"If you can also compose a 'Don't Get Angry' song, I'll spare you!"