Soon, the people below brought the corporal punishment rods, standing behind Nan Zhiyun on either side. Nan Zhiyun trembled in fear, but dared not utter a single word of plea.
Xing Lai also felt a pang of anxiety for Nan Zhiyun. With this display, it seemed His Majesty was serious... He had not expected it to be this grave. He found it increasingly difficult to fathom His Majesty's thoughts.
Yu Jingchen noticed Nan Zhiyun's fear, but the fact that she still wouldn't beg for herself only fueled his anger.
"Nan Zhiyun, count for yourself, what have you done wrong today?" Yu Jingchen prompted her to confess.
"I... I shouldn't have ridden alone; I shouldn't have listened to those people, knowing the danger and venturing in; I shouldn't have hidden the fact that you were bitten by a snake; and just now, I shouldn't have refused the medicine..." Nan Zhiyun recounted the day's transgressions.
"Disregarding your own safety is a grave offense, deceiving me is a grave offense, and disregarding my words, turning a deaf ear, is still a grave offense. Nan Zhiyun, have you thought about how you wish to be punished?" Yu Jingchen intentionally posed the question.
"I'm sorry... I know I was wrong, I caused trouble, and I am willing to accept punishment..." Nan Zhiyun cried, her words becoming increasingly disjointed.
But Yu Jingchen became even more incensed by her reply. Willing to accept punishment? Did she not know how to beg for mercy?
"You've endured these corporal punishment rods before, you should know their sting. How many do you think you can withstand now?" Yu Jingchen asked, suppressing his rage.
"I..." Nan Zhiyun's tears made it impossible for her to speak, or perhaps she simply didn't know what to say. She dared not look up, nor glance at the rods held by her side. She was terrified; even a sidelong glance made her tremble. The sensation of the rods falling upon her was something she desperately wished not to recall.
Yu Jingchen slowly descended from his elevated position. Seeing Nan Zhiyun trembling incessantly, he felt a surge of pity, but having reached this point, he naturally could not back down.
Yu Jingchen reached out and lifted Nan Zhiyun's chin. "Thirty strokes, fifty strokes, or a hundred strokes? Nan Zhiyun, you can plead for others, but for yourself, you don't know what to say? Do you truly wish to be beaten? Do you think you are made of invulnerable steel?" Yu Jingchen's grip was not forceful, but Nan Zhiyun dared not pull away.
"Speak!" Yu Jingchen roared again.
Nan Zhiyun shivered like a leaf, yet not a single soft word escaped her lips, let alone a plea for herself. Yu Jingchen's fury burned intensely.
"Nan Zhiyun, do you absolutely insist on enduring these corporal punishment rods today? Is your mouth sewn shut?" Yu Jingchen, having realized his feelings for Nan Zhiyun, was uncharacteristically stern.
Nan Zhiyun, truly frightened, understood that Yu Jingchen was genuinely enraged by her this time. She immediately moved to kneel, but Yu Jingchen grabbed her hand.
"Is it like before again? Do you enjoy kneeling so much?" Yu Jingchen had never imagined Nan Zhiyun could be so exasperating. Pulled by Yu Jingchen, Nan Zhiyun felt flustered.
"I see you won't remember unless you suffer a bit today." Yu Jingchen was truly angry and genuinely wanted to teach Nan Zhiyun a lesson.
Xing Lai fretted from the side. Noble Consort, if only you would say a word for yourself, His Majesty wouldn't be this furious! Why are you so stubborn?!