Jiang Ying had originally wanted to avoid Xi Jin, so he left early. But he didn’t expect to run into him just in time. It became somewhat awkward in a split second. Once he conjured up the image of Ya’er’s humiliation, he was quite indignant and could not contain his anger. He said, “Yes, your humble subject has a matter to attend so I will take my leave first.”
Then, he did not wait for Xi Jin to speak before he turned sideways to leave.
“Stop!” Xi Yu shouted in a deep voice. Then he walked up to Jiang Ying, peered down coldly at him, and said, “That’s how you talk to your Crown Prince?”
Jiang Ying looked up in surprise at Xi Jin and opened his mouth, baffled, “Crown Prince…”
What was the matter with the Crown Prince? They had gotten along for more than ten years and had always been like this. They never paid attention to the protocol.
“Guards.” As soon as Xi Jin spoke, a legion of palace guards surrounded him and answered, “Crown Prince.”
Xi Jin stared coldly at Jiang Ying and ordered in a deep voice, “Jiang Ying has trespassed the chambers of imperial concubines and disrespected his superiors. The punishment is 100 strikes with the plank.”
“Yes!”
Jiang Ying finally recovered from his surprise and quickly shouted, “Crown Prince…”
“Say one more word and I’ll add another 100 strikes.”
Once Xi Jin said this, Jiang Ying dared not breathe another word and just let the palace guards take him into custody. Then his robe was pulled up and his pants were taken off, leaving him bare-bottomed. And in front of the crowd, he was struck heavily by that raised plank which weighed 20 pounds.
Jiang Ying gave a muffled groan. The shame and hatred of having his own love snatched away from him made his eyes red. He looked at Xi Jin, who was standing to the side, and noticed that his gentle and elegant aura had disappeared without a trace by now. He was having the aura of a monarch instead.
When the second strike from the plank came down heavily, Jiang Ying gasped, and his face instantly turned white with cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.
Xi Jin stood, doing nothing. Only chill was left in his gentle eyes as he said, “A king is always the king and a subject will always be that. Even if we are good friends, do not ever forget the difference in our status. Otherwise, it won’t be as simple as a corporal punishment the next time.”
After saying this, Xi Jin turned around and entered the palace.
Jiang Ying only felt shame and anger. He glared at the back of Xi Jin, full of hate. The Crown Prince seemed to be somewhat different. Perhaps the formerly gentle Crown Prince was just his disguise?
The thought had just crossed his mind when his buttocks were severely struck by the plank again. Jiang Ying yelled out in pain, “Ah!”
Xi Jin went to the East Partial Palace and saw Shen Yunya come out. Her face still did not improve. He asked, “Why did you come out?”
“I heard Jiang Ying yelling, I wonder…”
“Are you very concerned about him?” Xi Jin raised his eyes and coldly looked at Shen Yunya. His gaze fell upon her belly. That area still required some time before he could execute his plan.
Shen Yunya somewhat shrank from seeing the chill in Xi Jin’s eyes. She said, “Jiang Ying came to ask me if there is any way to win Big Sister back. That was all.”
Hearing her words, Xi Jin snorted coldly and said, “You can dine by yourself in a while. I will keep Yun’er company today. She is still not feeling well.” With that, he turned and left.
He was not in the mood at all to deal with Shen Yunya today.
Shen Yunya looked at the departing Xi Jin and was dumbfounded. She had never seen this side of Big Brother Jin. There was no gentleness and warmth. There was only chilliness and traces of a sovereign king’s energy. She seemed to have glimpsed the things to come in the future.
He was the king, and she was the queen. However, the consequence was that she stayed in her quarters while she waited day and night for him. But he would no longer show up.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince is jealous.” Her trusted aide reminded her on the side.
“Jealous?” Shen Yunya was a little stunned. She could hardly believe such a thing. Would Big Brother Jin be jealous over her?
Her trusted aide nodded and said, “The Crown Prince must have run into Jiang Ying, so he got jealous. This is a good thing.”
