Shen Zhen stared at Lord Ji in full panic. She had never seen such a powerful rattan whip before. If it were to land on her, she could well imagine how much it would hurt.
"Don't! Lord Ji, please spare me!"
"Hehe! Pretty lady, you're really naive! Do you think I brought you here with great effort just to let you go because of a few words from you? Stop daydreaming!" As Lord Ji spoke, he raised the whip in his hand and gave it a hard flick. The whip cut through the air with a sharp "snap".
Seeing this, Shen Zhen couldn't help crying out "Ah!" "Lord... Lord Ji, please spare me!"
"Humph! Pretty lady, it's too late! You've ruined my good mood just now! Now I just want to beat someone!" After Lord Ji finished speaking, he whipped again. This time, the whip landed on Shen Zhen.
"Snap!"
"Stinky woman! I was nice to you, but you didn't appreciate it. You just wanted me to beat you, right?"
"Wuwuwu! Spare me!"
"Snap!"
"Humph!" Lord Ji wore a mocking smile on his face. "It's too late to plead for mercy now, pretty lady!"
"Snap! Snap!" Two more whip sounds rang out!
Shen Zhen was in such great pain that she struggled violently on the bed. But since her hands and feet were tied, she couldn't hide as she wished. "Lord Ji, I've already agreed to marry you! Please spare me!"
Lord Ji didn't stop whipping as Shen Zhen wished. "Ungrateful thing. I was nice to you just now, but you ignored me. Now, after just a few whips, you're so eager to agree!"
"Women are really all sluts. They just need a good beating!"
At first, Lord Ji had held back a bit. The whip made a loud sound in the air, but it didn't hurt as much when it landed on people. But now, his excitement had been aroused by Shen Zhen's crying and pleading for mercy, and he gradually stopped showing any mercy.
Shen Zhen had already been whipped several times. Her clothes were torn in some places by the whip, revealing several whip marks, which looked rather shocking. But seeing this, Lord Ji didn't stop. He laughed twice and raised the whip again.
"Miss... There's something going on inside... Is Third Miss in there?" Chun Nuan, standing not far outside the room, heard the noise inside. She shrank her neck in fear and looked up at Shen Miao.
"What's going on inside? Do you want to go in and save that bitch?" Hearing Chun Nuan's words, Shen Miao withdrew her gaze from the room and looked at Chun Nuan behind her. There was a hint of warning in her eyes.
"Miss, I didn't mean that..." Chun Nuan didn't dare to look up at Shen Miao. She lowered her head and explained in a flurry. Then, feeling that she was trying to cover up but actually making it worse, she simply said, "I wouldn't dare!"
Hearing this, Shen Miao sized Chun Nuan up and down again. She was satisfied to see Chun Nuan shiver under her gaze. Then she withdrew her gaze. "It's good that you know you wouldn't dare! Otherwise... I don't mind sending another person in to accompany her!"
After Shen Miao finished speaking, she ignored Chun Nuan. She flicked her sleeves and walked away. Chun Xi, who was beside Shen Miao, quickly followed. Chun Nuan glanced at the tightly closed door, gritted her teeth, and followed.
She just kept praying in her heart that the eldest lady would see the note she had sent before and come to save the third miss earlier.
Shen Li didn't receive the message from Chun Nuan, but she still met Concubine Su who came to ask for her help to find someone.
After listening to Concubine Su's story, Shen Li was even more certain of her previous guess. Shen Miao was indeed planning to use Shen Zhen as a stepping - stone to curry favor with the Prince of Pingnan.
Shen Li immediately called the people from the Night Shade Division and sent them to find out about Shen Miao's whereabouts today.
"Thank you so much, Eldest Lady, for everything today!" Concubine Su sincerely thanked Shen Li after she finished giving her orders.
"Concubine Su, you're welcome. Zhen'er is also my younger sister. I'm very worried about her now that she's in trouble. It's just a small effort on my part."
Concubine Su placed her hands on her legs. Hearing this, she lowered her head and glanced at her tightly clasped hands. When she looked up again, her eyes were firm.
"Eldest Lady, I know I've said this many times, but I still want to say it one more time! In the future, as long as you need our help, we'll do our best to repay your kindness!"
Hearing this, Shen Li slightly raised the corner of her mouth. She looked at Concubine Su and didn't refuse. Instead, she said, "That day won't be far away. I just hope you can remember what you've said just now!"
"Eldest Lady, please rest assured. Whether it's me, the second young master, or the third miss, as long as you need us, we'll never decline!"
Hearing this, Shen Li just nodded and picked up a cup of tea beside her and took a few sips.
Seeing Shen Li's calm and composed look, Concubine Su forced herself to suppress her anxiety. She believed that Shen Li would surely find a way.
"Miss! There's news!" Jiao Yue's somewhat excited voice came into the room.
Shen Li put down the teacup in her hand and slowly picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth. "Speak!"
"This afternoon, the second young lady took the third young lady to the silk and satin shop to buy cloth and clothes first. Then, after they went out, they went to the jewelry store to pick out jewelry. And they haven't come out until now. Just now, our people went to check the situation in that jewelry store, but found that the store had already closed!"
Since Jiao Yue started speaking, Concubine Su had been full of expectation. But now that Jiao Yue had finished speaking, she only felt more panicked. "They haven't come out? The store is closed! Where's Zhen'er!"
Unlike Concubine Su, who was too worried to think clearly, Shen Li was also worried about Shen Zhen's safety, but as an outsider looking at the matter, she was more rational. "Which store is it?"
"The Ruyi Pavilion!"
"Is there anything wrong with that place?" Shen Li knew that many people would use some stores to gather information, just like there were many gambling houses, restaurants, and brothels under the Night Shade Division, which were specifically responsible for gathering intelligence.
Jiao Yue hesitated for a moment, glanced at Concubine Su, and still said, "Our people also found out that Lord Ji left the mansion this afternoon and didn't go back. He also entered the Ruyi Pavilion before the two young ladies, and he... hasn't come out yet either!"
Hearing this, Shen Li stood up without any hesitation and said, "Let's go! To the Ruyi Pavilion!"
Concubine Su also forced herself to calm down. She stood up and followed behind Shen Li. At the same time, she called the old nurse who had come with her from the village and asked her to find Shen Zhang and go to the Ruyi Pavilion too.