Chapter 2: Served by the Whip

Yidu Dynasty

Yidu Capital

The carriage came to a halt. Ji Kece, who had been sleeping soundly leaning against the inner wall of the carriage, was startled awake by the continuous tapping on the wooden panels. Mansui pulled back the curtain inside the carriage, "Young Mistress, we have arrived at the Ji Estate. Let us return home!"

Ji Kece lifted the small curtain inside the carriage, only then realizing they had already returned to the Yidu Dynasty. She gave a soft "mm," glanced at Yin Xi and Fei Qingyan, and stepped down from the carriage.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Ji Estate. After the carriage departed, one of Ji Kece's personal guards suddenly held an exquisite box in his hands. Ji Kece raised her eyes and looked toward Pian Fu, "A gift from whom?"

Pian Fu lowered his head slightly, and the maid Mansui spoke up, "A gift from His Highness, Young Mistress..."

Ji Kece waved her hand to interrupt Mansui's words, saying somewhat impatiently, "Enough, let's go inside."

Upon entering the main gates of the Ji Estate, Pian Fu passed the item to a servant of the Ji family, who promptly delivered the Young Mistress's belongings directly to her private chambers.

Bypassing the exquisite gardens, they entered the main hall of the Ji Estate.

A slender figure stood with their back to Ji Kece, motionless beside the central seat of the hall. The figure wore camel-colored martial attire patterned with cloud-soaring talisman bats, with a rhinoceros horn belt cinched at the waist. Through the sleeves, hands could be faintly seen clenched tightly.

Ji Kece lowered her head and walked slowly toward the center of the hall. The subordinates who had been following closely by her side promptly retreated to the side.

That slender figure turned around to look at the head-bowed Ji Kece. Beneath a handsome beard, a mouth parted slightly, "You still remember to come back?"

Terrified, Ji Kece knelt down. Pressing her lips together, she spoke submissively, extending both hands to allow her father to strike her, "Fa... Father, your daughter knows she was wrong!"

General Ji took a large stride toward Ji Kece. He lightly pinched the fabric of her clothes and said with furrowed brows, "Ci'er, as a woman, you wear men's clothing. You've been out wandering for several years; your wings have grown quite strong, haven't they!"

Releasing her clothing, he flicked his sleeves and sat in the central seat, shouting, "Someone, bring the family discipline!"

Mansui wanted to stop General Ji's actions, but just as she took a step, the two personal guards behind her each grabbed one of her arms. Seeing the two guards, Mansui shook her head slightly and stomped her feet in anxiety.

The butler held the whip of the Ji family discipline. He glanced sideways at his Young Mistress and bowed respectfully as he presented the whip.

The butler muttered inwardly, *Young Mistress, look after yourself.*

Mansui and the two personal guards stared intently at the whip on the tray. It was a blue-brown hemp whip with very sharp spikes embedded along the edges. The handle was inlaid with green mountain jade, and the edges of the inlay were wrapped in a unique hard leather strap, with about an inch of tassel hanging between the whip and the handle.

If this whip were to strike even once, the Young Mistress's body surely would not be able to endure it! The three of them gripped their hands tightly but refused to utter a word.

The Ji Estate was a tradition built upon combat prowess and military merit for generations; they held only military discipline in their hearts, and there was no room for insolence.

Ji Kece knew that once her father ordered the butler to bring out the Ji family discipline, it meant the bone-eroding, soul-shattering whip.

General Ji raised the whip and swung. With a "crack," it struck heavily against the six layers of clothing Ji Kece was wearing. Ji Kece let out a muffled groan and bit her teeth hard. She knew that as the daughter of a General's household, she could not be so cowardly. Fine beads of sweat slowly rolled down from her forehead.

Then came the second strike, and the third. Crimson blood seeped from the corners of Ji Kece's mouth, and her face turned quite pale, yet she refused to make a sound. The six layers of clothing were already torn, and the second layer of skin on her body had been violently ripped away, leaving her bloodstained.

General Ji continued with the fourth strike, the fifth, and by the time the final sixth strike arrived, Ji Kece had already lost consciousness. Desperate to protect their mistress, Mansui and the two personal guards knelt down, bowing their heads repeatedly, and cried out in unison, "We beg the Master to show mercy! The Young Mistress has already fainted!"