Chapter Eleven

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Gu Huaisheng sat there in silence, looking at him with cool, distant eyes. After saying those words, he seemed to have no intention of speaking again, retaining that same indifferent air, as though nothing concerned him. Even the words he had just spoken seemed not to have come from his lips.

And yet, the chill emanating from him was impossible to ignore.

Song Xuan'an immediately understood: this Gu, the young marquis who was pure of heart and desire and had always kept his abilities hidden, did not like him.

Song Xuan'an was not particularly sensitive, but he had still easily sensed the hostility radiating from the other man.

He began to recall when he might have offended him. As far as he could remember, there was nothing.

The only thing that could perhaps count was the fact that he had taken Jiang Jingchun along with him and dragged her all over the place.

At last, Jiang Runchu spoke first, breaking the strange atmosphere between the two.

Frowning, he walked over to Song Xuan'an and said, “Enough. This is a private matter of the Jiang family. Young Master Song, you should return first. If you go back too late, I’m afraid Madam Song will worry.”

His intention to send him away was unmistakable.

Song Xuan'an had come to the Jiang residence with Madam Song that day, but she had known long ago that he had slipped out. Otherwise, she would not have left by herself.

He was not worried about matters at home. He was more concerned about Jiang Jingchun.

He had been about to say something, but when he saw Jiang Runchu’s furrowed brows, another thought occurred to him.

That was right. No elder brother would like another man dragging his younger sister all over the place. Jiang Runchu certainly would not, and Gu Huaisheng was, in a sense, Jiang Jingchun’s elder brother as well. Perhaps that was where Gu Huaisheng’s hostility came from.

But Song Xuan'an did not want to leave. He stubbornly remained where he was. Jiang Runchu’s brows drew together even more, and he was about to speak when an abrupt cry of pain came from outside.

The few of them fell silent and turned to look.

Jiang Jingchun had been struck across the hand by Jiang Nan.

Jiang Nan brought the board down again and again, the sharp smacks making everyone’s brows twitch. Madam Li tried to restrain him from the side, but once Jiang Nan’s temper flared, how could she possibly hold him back?

“Two strikes would have been enough! Why are you doing this?” The pain Jiang Jingchun suffered pierced Madam Li’s heart. Unable to stop Jiang Nan, she was so furious that tears nearly spilled from her eyes.

That iron board was meant specifically for punishment, and he was wielding it with such vicious force. Did he mean to cripple her?

Jiang Nan shook her off. “Everything is ‘just scold her a little,’ ‘just strike her twice.’ You want everything done in moderation. That is how you raised her into uselessness. Since you cannot bring yourself to discipline her, then if I, her father, do not beat her now, all we can do in the future is watch her disgrace the Jiang family outside.”

Though Jiang Jingchun was being beaten, she did not dare dodge, afraid of making her father angrier. She did not even dare cry aloud. Aside from that first cry of pain, she could only hunch her head and whimper softly.

Her tender palms soon turned completely red.

Even so, she kept saying, “This was all my fault, Father. Please don’t blame Mother…”

Jiang Jingchun did not want Madam Li to go on watching, and she was also afraid that the commotion would disturb the old madam, who had already retired inside. Turning her head toward Madam Li, she said, “It’s already late. Mother, please go back and rest. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me anymore…”

She was still trembling with pain as she spoke, yet she insisted that she was fine.

Madam Li refused to leave, so Jiang Nan forcibly had people drag her away. Her sobs and cries gradually faded into the distance, and the courtyard grew much quieter.

Gu Huailang had never witnessed such a scene before. Frightened, he shrank behind Madam Gu, not daring to make a sound, his little hands clutching his mother’s clothes tightly.

Anyone would have found the sight unbearable. Even Jiang Runchu, who had never been particularly fond of his younger sister, could hardly bear to watch. He hesitated over whether he should intervene.

Song Xuan'an could endure it no longer. He took a step toward the outside, but before he had gone more than a few paces, Gu Huaisheng’s voice came from behind him.

“If you go over there now, it won’t be only her hands that are beaten.”

Gu Huaisheng had already risen. A trace of coldness colored his voice, carrying an unmistakable warning.

Song Xuan'an did not dare move for the moment. Before he could react, Gu Huaisheng turned to Jiang Runchu and said, “Take him out first.”

There was no point in Song Xuan'an remaining there. Since he refused to leave on his own, someone could only escort him out.

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Jiang Runchu nodded, then walked over to Song Xuan'an with a grim expression.

“Come, Young Master Song.”

Though Song Xuan'an was deeply unwilling to leave, he had no choice. He followed Jiang Runchu and departed through the side entrance. Just as he was about to cross the threshold into the darkness, he inexplicably turned back.

He saw Gu Huaisheng walking toward Jiang Jingchun and the others.

Several days earlier, there had been a few spells of rain. In the depths of spring, the air was heavy with moisture, and by midnight even the wind seemed to carry a dampness that clung unpleasantly to the skin, stirring an inexplicable restlessness.

Gu Huaisheng stopped in front of Jiang Nan. He glanced at Jiang Jingchun’s palms, which had been beaten until they were nearly mangled.

“Uncle, if you continue, her hands will be ruined.”

His voice held no discernible emotion, sounding like nothing more than a simple reminder.

Jiang Nan had naturally seen it himself, but he was still unwilling to let his anger go. Gu Huaisheng could tell that he had no intention of stopping, so he continued, “A mistake should indeed be punished, but both reward and punishment must have their limits. You have already punished her and struck her enough. It seems my cousin has realized her mistake. If you continue, I’m afraid she truly will never recover properly.”

Punishment for wrongdoing should still have its bounds. It should not be administered with such brutality.

The implication of his words was clear: Jiang Nan had gone too far.

Seeing that Jiang Nan still seemed ready to argue, Madam Gu came over to persuade him as well.

“Eldest Brother, you truly cannot go on beating her.”

She tugged at Jiang Jingchun and said, “Quickly, tell your father that you know you were wrong. Promise him you won’t do it again.”

Jiang Jingchun’s hands were in terrible pain, and she no longer dared to resist. Having been beaten to this state, she truly understood her mistake.

Following Madam Gu’s words, she sobbed, “Father, I really do know I was wrong. I’ll never run off recklessly again.”

Madam Gu immediately gave Gu Huaisheng a meaningful glance, signaling him to take Jiang Jingchun away. Then she went forward and held Jiang Nan back.

“She’s a child, and you’re an adult. Look, even the child knows she was wrong. Why keep arguing with her?”

By the time Jiang Nan realized what was happening, Gu Huaisheng had already taken Jiang Jingchun away.

*

The moon shone like frost beneath a veil of thin clouds. By the time the commotion had ended, it was nearly the third watch of the night, and the world was utterly silent.

The two of them walked along the path, Gu Huaisheng in front and Jiang Jingchun following behind. Neither spoke first. In the stillness of the deep night, there was nothing but the sound of their footsteps and Jiang Jingchun’s faint, intermittent sobs.

Her wounds itched unbearably. Unable to stand it any longer, Jiang Jingchun brought her battered palm to her lips and gently licked it.

The taste of blood spread across her tongue, filling her mouth with the heavy tang of rust. As her tongue brushed over her palm, wave after wave of sharp pain attacked her, twisting her delicate brows into a tight knot.

Yet the maddening itch of torn flesh did indeed ease somewhat.

The footsteps ahead suddenly stopped. Jiang Jingchun raised her eyes and found Gu Huaisheng staring at her.

Caught secretly licking her wound, she flushed with embarrassment and awkwardly lowered her hand.

Looking at her, Gu Huaisheng suddenly asked, “Does it hurt?”

Beneath the clear moonlight, his pupils appeared all the deeper.

Jiang Jingchun had not expected him to ask that and was stunned for a moment. Once she recovered, however, her thoughts began wandering in all directions.

Her cousin did not like children. Surely he liked children who complained of pain even less, and crying, whimpering children least of all.

Besides, she had been the one in the wrong. Being punished was only right.

That was what her grandmother had taught her. When one made a mistake, one had to be punished. It was only natural, and there was nothing to complain about.

Jiang Jingchun was in so much pain she felt she could die, yet she still shook her head.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

The night wind swept past, lifting her hair and plastering it against her cheek. Her eyes were still clouded with tears, the corners rimmed red, like an oleander by the roadside, drenched by rain and drooping lifelessly…

And yet, there was something delicate and enchanting about her.

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The rains of the past few days had washed the Jiang residence from top to bottom. The floating dust had been cleansed away, though the air along the paths still carried a faint scent of damp earth.

Hearing her say that it did not hurt, Gu Huaisheng seemed to let out a low laugh, the sound rising from his throat with a deep resonance.

She had been injured to this extent, and yet she still said it did not hurt.

Gu Huaisheng drew his brows together. “If it hurts, then say so. Why lie?”

He had thought he understood children well enough. With Gu Huailang, for instance, he could tell what the boy was thinking before he even opened his mouth. In his eyes, Jiang Jingchun should have been no different from Gu Huailang. Yet now he could not understand her at all. She was clearly in unbearable pain, so why did she insist that she was not hurting?

He did not wait for her answer, nor did he have much interest in analyzing the reason. Seeing her swallow her words and hesitate, too afraid to speak, he did not press her. Instead, he turned away.

“Come. I’ve already sent for the household physician.”

They went to the front hall, where the physician was already waiting.

After examining Jiang Jingchun’s palms, the physician could only sigh and shake his head. He did not know which master had wielded such a merciless hand, seemingly determined to beat the flesh from the bones.

He had a maid fetch hot water, then began tending to Jiang Jingchun’s wounds.

Her palms were badly injured, and every touch sent pain drilling into her heart. Seeing Gu Huaisheng beside her, Jiang Jingchun endured in silence. She bit her lips until they nearly split, yet not once did she make a sound.

At the third watch of the night, all was silent; even the horseflies and leeches should have fallen quiet. Yet she endured such torment without uttering a word.

Gu Huaisheng turned around. The curtains rustled as he stepped outside.

After he left, Jiang Jingchun could no longer hold herself back. Unable to bear the pain, she began to cry. At first she was still able to restrain herself, but later, as the agony overwhelmed her reason, her sobs grew louder and more violent.

Even Gu Huaisheng, standing outside, heard her cries.

His gaze unconsciously settled on the window, from within which her weeping emerged.

No one knew how much time passed before the sound gradually faded away. The household physician came out, having already explained to Jiang Jingchun how her dressings were to be changed. Even so, Gu Huaisheng asked again, intending to relay the instructions to the maid who attended her.

After the physician departed, Gu Huaisheng entered the room.

Jiang Jingchun’s hands had already been bandaged. She sat on a chair with her head lowered, saying nothing, and no one could tell what she was thinking. Only a single candle burned in the front hall. Its light fell across her profile, and because she was lost in thought, her eyes appeared somewhat vacant.

Gu Huaisheng walked up to her.

A shadow fell over her. Jiang Jingchun lifted her head to look at him.

“Does it hurt?” He had already asked her outside, but now he added, “A good child does not lie.”

For some reason, those words struck a nerve. Once Jiang Jingchun understood what Gu Huaisheng meant, a trace of indignation appeared in her eyes. Even the piercing pain in her palms was momentarily forgotten.

She raised her heavily bandaged hands for him to see.

“Do you think I’m a child, Cousin? A child just like Huailang?”

Before Gu Huaisheng could answer, she continued, “I’m not. If Huailang were injured like this, he would certainly cry and run to his mother. He would—but I won’t.”

“So, Cousin, I really am not a child anymore.”

“Could you please stop treating me like one?”