Chapter 26 : Punishment
26: Punishment
"My grandmother is seriously ill, doesn’t have many days left to live?"
Yue Ning wore a moon-white martial attire, her jet-black hair tied into a ponytail with silk. She had an oval face very similar to Jiang‑shi’s, with delicate features, almond-shaped eyes, and white teeth. Yet a pair of sword-like brows extending toward her temples, combined with martial training since childhood, gave her an exceptionally heroic air.
Add to that the noble aura cultivated growing up in a marquis’s household, Yue Ning’s mere presence was intimidating.
Now, she narrowed her eyes, her voice dangerously low.
She knew these Qin household people were somewhat ignorant, but she never expected this Qin household concubine-born daughter would dare utter such words cursing her grandmother. Yue Ning clenched her fist. If she weren’t a girl, she would have already thrown a punch!
Qin Shuang was terrified out of her wits. She had accumulated resentment over many days, only wanting to humiliate Qin Wan, to say that gaining the Grand Princess’s favor was nothing special. But she had been too carried away, actually saying the Grand Princess didn’t have many days left…
This was even more serious than cursing Jiang-shi. More terrifyingly, Young Princess Yue Ning had heard it with her own ears!
With a thump, Qin Shuang knelt. "Prin… Princess, this common girl, this common girl only…"
Qin Shuang was so terrified she couldn’t form a complete sentence, cold sweat streaming down her cheeks. Meanwhile, Qin Wan also hadn’t expected Yue Ning’s sudden appearance. She stood up and knelt on the ground as well. Moshu and Qin Xiang also knelt.
Yao Xinlan reacted, hurriedly trying to get up. Her condition made it difficult; kneeling on the cold floor made her whole body tremble.
Yue Ning looked at no one else, only stepping forward to stand before Qin Shuang, a cold smile curling her lips. "No one in the entire Great Zhou dares curse my grandmother. What are you, to dare say her elderly self doesn’t have many days left to live?"
Qin Shuang trembled with fear. "This common girl… this common girl spoke wrongly. This common girl only…"
"Spoke wrongly?" Yue Ning gave a cold laugh. "One must pay the price for wrongdoing. Otherwise, anyone in the world could just ‘speak wrongly.’ Do you know, in the Yue family army, anyone who speaks like that would have their tongue cut out!"
Qin Shuang shuddered violently, almost collapsing onto the floor. "Begging the Princess for mercy, this common girl…"
"Princess." Jiang-shi, her face pale with anger, also knelt. Jiang-shi held no imperial title; her status was indeed far below Yue Ning’s. But when Yue Ning saw her earlier, considering her seniority, Yue Ning hadn’t made her kneel.
"Begging the Princess for mercy. This humble woman failed in discipline, allowing such treasonous words to be spoken. Please hand her over to this humble woman. This humble woman will certainly punish her severely to serve as a warning!"
Jiang-shi’s voice was sincere, pleading. Yet for many years, she hadn’t had to humble herself like this.
Her sidelong glance at Qin Shuang held knives, as if she wished to skin Qin Shuang alive.
Yue Ning turned to look at Jiang-shi, narrowing her eyes. "Then, Old Madam, tell me, how will you ‘serve as a warning’?"
Jiang-shi pressed her lips together tightly, steeling her heart. "According to household rules, first twenty strokes of the cane, then confinement. Grounded for two months, copy the Qin family precepts until she mends her ways…"
Qin Shuang’s eyes widened. Though a concubine-born daughter, Lin-shi had never treated her harshly. Since childhood, she’d had maids and servants attending her, never even suffered a scrape, let alone a caning.
Twenty strokes… a grown man would lose half his life, let alone her?
Qin Shuang’s tears flowed uncontrollably. She didn’t want her tongue cut out, nor did she want to be caned.
She couldn’t help but look pleadingly at Lin-shi. Lin-shi had come with Jiang-shi. Now, kneeling on the ground with a large group of servants behind her, she didn’t even glance at Qin Shuang. Qin Shuang gritted her teeth, then turned to look at Qin Xiang.
Her Fifth Sister had been doted on by Jiang-shi since childhood. If she could speak up…
Qin Shuang looked at Qin Xiang. Qin Xiang clearly felt her silent plea, but Qin Xiang only lowered her head further.
Qin Shuang wept silently. Thinking of the impending twenty strokes, her whole body went limp.
"The Old Madam is quite reasonable." Yue Ning responded lightly. "Then, this time, I’ll give the Old Madam some face. Your household’s Sixth Young Miss is left to the Old Madam."
Jiang-shi was about to express gratitude when Yue Ning added, "However, the Old Madam’s face won’t be useful many times. I hope your household will value it."
Jiang-shi’s face felt as if slapped; it was painful. Her voice stiff, she replied, "Yes. Thank you, Princess, for your mercy."
Yue Ning gave an indifferent laugh, swept her gaze around the room once more, then looked at Qin Wan. "Ninth Young Miss, I am here on my grandmother’s orders to fetch you. Last night, Grandmother took a turn for the worse. Today, I’m taking you to the estate. I must trouble you to examine Grandmother again."
After what happened at the Anyang Marquis’s estate last night, the Grand Princess, being ill, was indeed in danger. Qin Wan lifted her head, meeting Yue Ning’s bright almond-shaped eyes. Yue Ning raised her chin slightly. "Let’s go. The carriage is waiting at the estate gates."
Qin Wan pondered briefly, then looked at Jiang-shi.
Jiang-shi didn’t even glance at her, only said sternly, "Go. The Grand Princess esteeming you is your good fortune. Be careful."
Qin Wan nodded, then stood up.
Yue Ning paid no attention to the room full of kneeling Qin household members, turning to leave.
Qin Wan stepped forward to follow. Before she left the door, Qin Shuang’s uncontrollable sobs reached her ears.
Fuling, waiting outside, had heard everything inside clearly. Following Qin Wan, she couldn’t help but show a hint of satisfaction in her eyes, whispering, "Young Miss, Sixth Young Miss has finally tasted bitterness this time…"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yue Ning, walking ahead, turned around. "It’s not wrong to be kind, but not to be bullied."
Qin Wan curved her lips. "Does the Young Princess think this common girl will be bullied?"
Yue Ning had grown up with the Yue family army since childhood, not only learning martial arts but also developing a strong, competitive personality. She always looked down on overly weak women. She had said this to encourage Qin Wan to be stronger, never expecting Qin Wan to reply like this.
She raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t it?"
Qin Wan then smiled. This young princess, though female, was straightforward and forthright.
"Princess, please rest assured. That was all in the past. From now on, it won’t happen."
Yue Ning raised her eyebrow again, turned, and strode ahead. Her entire being exuded a vibrant spirit. Though it was a cloudy day, when Qin Wan looked at her, she seemed to radiate her own sunlight. Recalling how Yue Ning had punished Qin Shuang with a few words moments ago, Qin Wan couldn’t help but feel admiration. Yue Ning was young, yet she possessed an air of decisive authority.
Though Qin Shuang would suffer this time, those administering the household punishment were Qin household members. They would naturally know the appropriate severity. Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, hoping Qin Shuang would restrain herself a bit after this.
They headed straight out of the estate. Yue Ning walked in front but, unknowingly, took a wrong turn. Qin Wan, following behind, noticed and was about to remind her when, around a corner, two servant women appeared. The two women were carrying basins of laundry and collided with Yue Ning unexpectedly. With a clatter, the basins and the clothes inside fell to the ground.
Yue Ning was knocked back a step, raising a hand to cover her arm.
Seeing this, Qin Wan hurried forward. "Princess, are you alright?"
Yue Ning shook her head, lowering her hand. "It’s nothing."
The two servant women, hearing the word "Princess," were terrified and immediately knelt. "Princess, spare us!
Yue Ning waved a hand, looking at the increasingly wrong path with a helpless frown. "Why is this path wrong?"
Qin Wan couldn’t help a slight laugh. "Because the Princess took a wrong turn."
As the words left her mouth, Qin Wan’s gaze fell on the scattered pile of clothing.
Among the clothes strewn on the ground was a pair of gray boots. On the boots, a layer of black, sticky soil was clearly visible. Qin Wan’s eyes narrowed instantly. This was the flower soil from the orchid nursery, fermented with plant ash!
"Whose clothes are these?" Qin Wan looked directly at one of the servant women and asked.
The servant woman was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly replied, "These are all Steward He’s clothes. We servants were just about to take them to wash."
Qin Wan pressed her lips together slightly. Turning her gaze, she saw Yue Ning looking at her thoughtfully. Qin Wan curved her lips slightly. "The Princess doesn’t know the way. Let Qin Wan escort you out of the estate!"
Yue Ning nodded, also glancing at the clothes on the ground before walking out.