The whip lashed across Ji Shihuan's back.
When the pain reached its peak, Ji Shihuan still thought of Jianxue in Dream Garden.
He used to be extremely afraid that his family would find out he had imprisoned Jianxue.
But now, he somehow hoped they would.
The pain couldn't get any worse; it was just a few more lashes anyway.
But enduring these lashes could earn Jianxue a proper name in the family. It was worth it.
After today, he would be able to give her that.
"Tell me, will you let Jianxue go?"
Ji Shihuan didn't know where he got the courage from. Even after being beaten like this, he still straightened his back and answered loudly.
"Only if grandma, father, and mother agree to let me marry her. Otherwise..."
The saying goes, if a son does wrong, it's the father's fault. Guilt, disappointment, and anger flared up in Ji's father, making him even more furious.
Without hesitation, he whipped Ji Shihuan three more times. These three lashes were even more brutal, tearing the flesh and blood, and blood started to flow from the wounds.
Some female relatives began to persuade Ji Shihuan, but he was so stubborn that he refused to change his words.
The more stubborn Ji Shihuan was, the more fiercely Ji's father whipped. In total, he was whipped about thirty times.
It wasn't until Ji's father's arm was sore from whipping.
And Ji Shihuan's back was already covered with wounds of varying depths, bleeding non - stop.
Ji Shihuan was stubborn. Even at this point, he didn't utter a single sound. He just gritted his teeth tightly, straightened his spine, and endured the thirty lashes one by one.
The onlookers around couldn't bear to watch.
Zhao Luoyu, holding her one - year - old son, also couldn't bear it. She covered the child's eyes while quietly wiping away her tears.
Ji Shijun frowned deeply. Looking at Ji Shihuan, who was kneeling on the ground, enduring so many lashes without changing his words, he also felt a twinge of pity.
Was Ji Jianxue really that good, worthy of him doing this?
Actually, Ji Shihuan wasn't wrong.
If Ji Jianxue was removed from the family genealogy, she would no longer be a descendant of the Ji family. Naturally, marrying Ji Shihuan wouldn't be considered incest.
Unfortunately, Ji Shihuan was still young and thought things too simply. He didn't understand the real reason why the Ji family would rather raise someone else's grandson than accept Ji Jianxue.
The old matriarch didn't keep Ji Jianxue out of kindness back then.
She just didn't want to be gossiped about. She didn't want people to know that the concubine of the Ji family had been defiled by bandits, and she didn't want people to know that the Ji family couldn't even protect a woman.
Mrs. Ji Er sobbed as she tottered forward, protecting Ji Shihuan in her arms. She wouldn't allow Ji's father to beat him anymore. She called him "darling" and pleaded with all her heart.
"Shihuan, just listen to your mother. If you keep getting beaten like this, you'll surely be beaten to death."
Finally, Ji Shihuan opened his mouth. Along with his words, the blood he had been biting back in his mouth flowed out, which shocked Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoyu.
They only knew that Ji Shihuan was seriously injured this time, but they didn't expect it to be this bad.
Mrs. Ji Er didn't care if Ji's father was still angry. She rushed over and snatched the whip from his hand. While crying, she scolded him.
"How can a child withstand such beating? Even if he has made a thousand mistakes, you can't take his life!"
Seeing Ji Shihuan in such a state, Ji's father was also greatly shocked. He had expected that his son would be seriously injured this time, but being in a fit of anger, he hadn't thought much about it.
He never expected to beat him like this. So he just let Mrs. Ji Er scold him and forgot to retort.
"Father, Shihuan... Shihuan really loves... loves Jianxue... Second brother and mother and father, please fulfill Shihuan's wish."
Ji's father was at his wit's end. Why did the children of the Ji family act like this when it came to matters of the heart?
They were so reckless, as if they all wanted to be moths flying into the fire.
Zhao Luoyu couldn't hold back her tears when she saw this scene.
Everyone surrounded them. Mrs. Ji Er hugged Ji Shihuan and sobbed loudly.
Ji Shisu didn't expect such a consequence. His original intention was just to make Shihuan let Jianxue go, but he didn't expect that Shihuan had really fallen in love with his niece.
Actually, thinking about it, if it were him and Luoning today, he might do something even more extreme than Ji Shihuan.
Although he was still angry, looking at Ji Shihuan in this state, he finally felt pity.
Ji's father was at a loss as to what to do with this son, and his eyes also turned red.
Although the reputation of the Ji Mansion was important, he couldn't bear to lose this child's life.
They say a strict father loves his youngest son.
Ji Shihuan, his youngest son, had been doted on by him since he was born.
Ji Shihuan was like a piece of flesh on his heart. Beating him was like beating his own heart.
"You... You really must marry Ji Jianxue?"
"I must marry her."
"You... Fine, fine."
Ji's father vaguely remembered that he had also confronted the old matriarch like this when he didn't want to marry Mrs. Ji Er back then.
Later, as the number of women increased, all the vows of eternal love were forgotten.
Shihuan was just young. Let him play for a few years. He would get tired of it eventually.
"I promise you. You can marry Jianxue into the family, but you must promise me two conditions."
Ji Shihuan had already made up his mind to die. He thought he would bet on this one breath. Even if he died here today, he had to make his father agree.
Unexpectedly, his father really changed his mind. Everyone was greatly puzzled. Although they felt sorry for Ji Shihuan, they still couldn't understand why Ji's father changed his mind so easily.
"Father, please say. Even if there are a hundred or a thousand conditions, Shihuan... Shihuan will agree."
Afraid that his father would regret, Ji Shihuan kowtowed repeatedly. Ji's father sighed and helped him up, only to find that he could hardly stand.
Ji's father had to order someone to carry him to the bed. He could only lie on his stomach and couldn't lie on his back to avoid pressing on the wounds.
"First, when Ji Jianxue enters the family, she can only be a concubine, not a wife."
Ji Shihuan wanted to argue a bit more. After all, it would be too unfair to Jianxue if she could only be a concubine.
Ji Shihuan opened his mouth, but Zhao Luoyu, sitting beside the bed, gently nudged him, signaling him not to defy his father anymore.
It was already quite rare for his father to make such a concession.
Ji Shihuan then nodded silently.
A concubine it is. He would just never marry a wife in his life.
Seeing Ji Shihuan nod, everyone finally let out a sigh of relief. They were all afraid that Ji Shihuan would cause any more trouble.
"Second, you must take good care of your body and never do such life - threatening things again."
Ji Shijian was gone, and Ji Shisu was at odds with him. Although the Ji family's business was booming, the family was short of descendants. He couldn't afford to lose either of his remaining sons.
Unexpectedly, even at this point, his father still loved him so much. Ji Shihuan's eyes were filled with tears.
Ji Shihuan, who didn't shed a tear even when beaten so brutally by his father, was now sobbing uncontrollably...