"Besides, we're brothers. Brothers are one. When you're hurt, my heart aches, but for your sake, I'm willing to do it."
"After all, this Crown Prince doesn't want things to be this way either. But you know that even a palace maid has to be punished. Shouldn't you, the Fourth Prince, set an example? Sigh... You've really put me through the wringer."
Hearing those words made Xue Beng's scalp tingle, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Big Brother, since when did you become so shameless?
Now even he could see that Xue Qinghe had clearly knocked over the teacup on purpose, so he'd have an excuse to punish him.
But what could he do? Xue Qinghe was the one in the right, not him. Even if their father were summoned, he wouldn't find anything wrong with it. He could only take it.
"All right, Fourth Brother. Bear with it; it'll be over soon. Don't worry, I won't hit you too hard." After delivering those formal words, Ye Yang spoke to Xue Beng with reluctance written all over his face.
Seeing Ye Yang's expression, Xue Beng seemed to be affected by the acting as well. He wondered if perhaps he really had been overthinking things. Xue Qinghe was renowned for his benevolence. Would he really punish his own younger brother so harshly?
Of course not! Xue Beng immediately relaxed. He knew Big Brother wouldn't be so cruel. He was surely only putting on a show for the servants.
Come to think of it, he was the Crown Prince, after all. He had to set an example. The unspoken rule that punishments didn't apply to nobles obviously couldn't be said aloud.
"Big Brother, I understand!" Xue Beng looked at Ye Yang with a solemn expression, as if he'd finally seen the light. "Go ahead. Your younger brother is willing to accept his punishment."
Seeing Xue Beng suddenly act like a different person left Ye Yang at a loss. Seriously, man, he'd only said that for show. You didn't actually believe him, did you?
But with Xue Beng being so cooperative, Ye Yang forced himself to look reluctant. "Mm, as long as you understand, Fourth Brother. Here I go."
If one could ignore the thorny switch in Ye Yang's hand, this truly would have been a heartwarming scene of brotherly affection.
Xue Beng took a deep breath and shut his eyes, ready for the expected light, airy, symbolic smack.
He was even planning how to cry out "Ouch!" a couple of times to make it sound convincing.
But then—
Whoosh—CRACK!!!
A shrill, distorted scream instantly tore through the quiet of the bedchamber!
That was no light, airy smack! It was a vicious, forceful blow, infused with some of Ye Yang's Soul Power!
The luxurious prince's robe was as fragile as paper before the thorn-covered switch!
With a ripping sound, the fabric tore open in several places!
Then the thorns dug viciously into his flesh!
"AAAH!!!" Caught completely off guard, Xue Beng felt pain surge through his body like an electric current. The blow sent him stumbling forward, and he nearly pitched face-first onto the carpet.
His back burned as if countless red-hot needles were tearing into it all at once!
[ Ding! Whipping Xue Beng, Force +1 ]
He jerked his eyes open, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks from the pain and sheer shock!
"B-Big Brother?! You... you..." Xue Beng trembled all over from the pain, his voice warped beyond recognition and full of disbelief.
He turned his head and stared fixedly at Ye Yang. There wasn't a trace of that "I understand you" look in his eyes anymore.
All that remained was the fury of being deceived and the fear brought on by the pain!
This wasn't an act at all! He was really hitting him—and hard!
Seeing the beads of blood well up on Xue Beng's back and stain his torn clothes, and hearing his pig-like squeals, Ye Yang's expression of "anguish" and "reluctance" only grew more pronounced.
He raised the switch high again, his voice "earnest and heartfelt."
"Fourth Brother! Bear with it! Big Brother is doing this for your own good! As a prince, being arrogant and domineering and bullying the weak is a grave taboo!"
"If I don't make you suffer a little today, if you don't remember this pain down to your bones, how can you become a pillar of Heaven Dou in the future? How can you live up to Father's expectations and the spirits of our Xue Family ancestors?!"
"Can't you really see that Big Brother has your best interests at heart?!"
Before he'd even finished speaking, the second lash came down with an even fiercer whoosh!
CRACK!!!
"YAAH!!!" This time, the blow sent Xue Beng straight to his knees. He caught himself with both hands before he could collapse completely onto the floor.
[ Ding! Whipping Xue Beng, Force +1 ]
The new wound overlapped the old ones, and the pain made his vision go dark. Tears and snot instantly streamed out of him uncontrollably.
All thoughts of a prince's dignity and his playboy's mask were torn to shreds by the piercing pain!
"No! Stop hitting me! Big Brother! I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!"
Xue Beng completely broke down. Forgetting all about his image, he wailed and begged like a stray dog. "Please, spare me! I'll never do it again! Never!"
Ye Yang seemed not to hear his pleas. With a frighteningly "resolute" gaze, he raised the switch again. "You know you were wrong? So what if you know? You have to remember! Remember it to the marrow!"
"Today's pain will be your warning tomorrow! So you remember, for your future, I, your Big Brother... have to hit you, no matter how much it hurts!"
CRACK!!!
The third blow!
Xue Beng could no longer hold himself up. He collapsed onto the carpet, curled into a ball, and let out pained whimpers and groans.
[ Ding! Whipping Xue Beng, Force +1 ]
Three savage bloody welts stood out on his back. His torn clothes were stained with blood, which mingled with the water from the spilled drink, leaving him in a particularly wretched state.
A faint smell of blood filled the air.
Only then did Ye Yang slowly lower the switch. He looked exhausted, as though the blows had landed on him instead.
"Fourth Brother... now you understand Big Brother's good intentions, don't you?"
"Every lash was filled with Big Brother's hopes for you, and... love! Remember this pain, break those bad habits, and become a good person! Big Brother... truly feels heartbroken!"
He reached out, seemingly to pat Xue Beng on the shoulder in consolation. But when he saw the bloodied back, he withdrew his hand without a trace and looked down at Xue Beng on the floor, his gaze pained.
Xue Beng lay facedown on the floor, his body trembling, his eyes full of fear. Looking at Xue Qinghe's handsome face, he felt no gratitude at all—only terror.
How was Xue Qinghe benevolent? He was clearly a smiling tiger. The next time anyone said Xue Qinghe was benevolent, Xue Beng would pick a fight with them.
While Ye Yang was "educating" Xue Beng, Qian Renxue had begun taking action elsewhere.
After cleaning all the black sludge off her body, Qian Renxue stared at the impossibly handsome face reflected in the rippling water and froze.
His damp black hair fell across his forehead in tousled strands. With his sharp brows and bright eyes, and his chiseled features from years of hard labor, he looked impossibly handsome, yet still had a rugged air about him.
It was the first time Qian Renxue had ever been this close to a man. Gazing at the reflection in the water, she murmured, "So this is what he looks like?"
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