C29 The Young Lady with Methods

Yi Rui'er was taken aback. She hadn't even had the chance to regain her strength when another lash struck her back. Yi Haoen swung the whip with such force that the pajamas she was wearing tore open. Visible to the eye were several red welts on her back.

Crying out in agony, Yi Rui'er collapsed to the ground, her sweat mingling with tears as they streamed down her face, dampening her clothes and the floor. She gazed up at Yi Lanyou before her. She had intended to set up Yi Lanyou, but now she found herself kneeling at her feet, a humiliation far more excruciating than the physical pain she endured.

"Stop hitting her, Brother En!" Fang Fang stepped forward, seizing Yi Haoen's arm. "Brother En, Rui'er is just a child, merely acting out. She's never known hardship and can't withstand such pain!"

Yi Rui'er was her daughter, and Fang Fang couldn't bear to see her suffer like this.

"Don't worry, I'll heed your advice and avoid her face," Yi Haoen said, brushing Fang Fang aside. "As her father, don't I have the right to discipline my daughter when she misbehaves?"

Fang Fang was at a loss for words. Her earlier objections had been directed at Yi Lanyou, not her own daughter. Had she shown some compassion and spoken up for Yi Lanyou earlier, she wouldn't be in this embarrassing predicament, at a loss for how to beg for her daughter's mercy.

"Uncle, please don't hit Rui'er anymore! I'm begging you!" Fang Yuan hadn't anticipated the situation escalating like this and stepped forward to intercede. Surely her uncle would show some leniency to her, a guest, if not to her aunt.

"You said yourself that ten lashes would suffice, and there are still a few to go," Yi Haoen retorted, his eyes filled with anger.

Frightened, Fang Yuan retreated a couple of steps. She hadn't foreseen things turning out this way; it was all Yi Lanyou's fault! With this thought, she whipped her head around and glared at Yi Lanyou. "You wretch, are you happy now? This is all your doing!"

Yi Lanyou couldn't help but laugh. "You sneak into my room in the dead of night and then have the audacity to blame me for your wrongdoing?"

"Yi Lanyou!" Yi Rui'er bit down on her teeth, emphasizing each word. She was determined not to let this go.

She vowed to inflict a thousand times the pain she suffered today on Yi Lanyou. That despicable woman had betrayed her!

"Yi Rui'er, do you recognize your mistake?" Yi Haoen demanded.

Yi Rui'er, lips tightly sealed, remained silent, her gaze fixed on Yi Lanyou with an intensity that spoke volumes of her desire for revenge.

"Rui'er, apologize to Dad this instant, and to your sister as well!" Fang Fang pleaded, her heart aching for her. She realized that Yi Haoen was offering Yi Rui'er a chance, so she urged her to seize it.

Despite her burning desire to lash out at Yi Lanyou, Yi Rui'er feared the agony of the black vine whip even more. Clutching the cold floor, she glared at Yi Lanyou and said with a quivering voice, "I'm sorry, I was wrong."

"Brother En, Rui'er has admitted her fault," Fang Fang interjected quickly.

"I'm warning you, if there's a next time, expect a far more severe punishment!" Yi Haoen's voice was still laced with fury, his hand gripping the vine whip trembling. But Yi Rui'er was his own flesh and blood, and despite his anger, he couldn't bring himself to be too harsh. Her wounds were superficial and would heal with a few days of medication.

"Rui'er, stand up. I'll help you," Fang Fang said, reaching out to lift Yi Rui'er, causing her a twinge of pain.

"Father," Yi Lanyou spoke up again, "I need to know why they had a key to my room. Who gave it to them? Who is in charge of security at Yi's mansion? If I don't get to the bottom of this, I'll return to my mother's." Yi Lanyou might not understand Yi Haoen's motives for bringing her back, but she was certain that he wouldn't send her away. And even if he tried, Yi Weihai would never allow it.

As for the reason, she intended to investigate it thoroughly in due time.

"Zhou Li!" Yi Haoen was well aware that the keys to every room in the mansion were entrusted to the butler.

At the mention of his name, Zhou Li was instantly soaked with sweat. He had indeed given the key to Yi Rui'er, and he had not anticipated being implicated.

"Kneel," Yi Haoen commanded, his grip tightening on the black vine whip.

Witnessing this, Zhou Li shakily knelt down. "Sir," he began, "I have served in Yi's mansion for many years and have made some contributions!"

"I'll give you a choice," Yi Haoen said icily, eyeing Zhou Li. "Either pack your belongings and leave Yi's mansion, or take three lashes of the whip. Decide."

Considering his years of hard work to reach his current position, Zhou Li clenched his teeth. "Sir, I admit my negligence. I will willingly accept the three lashes as punishment."

"Very well," Yi Haoen said, and delivered three harsh lashes to Zhou Li's back, tearing skin and flesh to the point where he nearly passed out from the pain.

"Take the housekeeper back to his room," Yi Haoen ordered.

Once the servants had escorted the housekeeper away, Lv Zheng, who had lied earlier, was already paralyzed with fear on the floor.

"What is your name?" Yi Haoen asked, turning to Lv Zheng.

"I'm Lv Zheng," he replied, his voice trembling and weak, his face ashen.

"Leave now. I don't want to see you again," Yi Haoen said, his brow furrowed.

"I'll never dare again!" Lv Zheng pleaded, not wanting to lose his job at Yi's mansion, hoping that perhaps the lady of the house and Miss Rui'er would take notice of him. "Sir, please punish me instead. I'll take any number of lashes, just please don't make me leave!"

"Get out!" Yi Haoen snapped. "A person like you isn't worth the effort of punishment. Have him thrown out!"

At that, several robust servants dragged Lv Zheng away, his unpleasant cries fading into the distance outside.

"Any more troublemakers like this, and you can follow him out!" Yi Haoen warned the other servants who had gathered to watch.

For the first time in many years at Yi's mansion, they witnessed Yi Haoen's explosive temper. This experience completely deterred those who had initially intended to bully Yi Lanyou in hopes of gaining favor with his wife. They couldn't afford to jeopardize the excellent employment opportunity provided by Yi's mansion.

They no longer dared to underestimate Yi Lanyou. She was a young lady with considerable resourcefulness.