Nanny Xu had always known Ziqiao to be proud and arrogant. However, a mother's love for her child was a powerful force. That's why, when selecting maids to accompany the third young lady as dowry, she had humbled herself and begged the Old Madam for Ziqiao to be assigned to Third Young Lady’s service. This would have given her the chance to become a concubine to the eldest young master of the Zhao family.
But she had never imagined Ziqiao would be so audacious!
To climb the social ladder by stepping on her own mistress…
Wasn't this courting death?
The two young masters of the Ji family, with their grandsons groaning from punishment, emerged. Seeing Ziqiao being pinned to the ground, her face contorted with hatred, they both stopped in their tracks, a silent understanding passing between them.
Having just had an unpleasant encounter with the Ji family, they were more than willing to watch the Ji family's drama unfold.
Soon after, Ji Zizhao walked out, accompanied by Qingzhu.
It was Ziqiao, who had pleaded with Nanny Xu, who trembled upon seeing Eldest Young Lady and timidly called out, "Eldest… Eldest Young Lady."
Ji Zizhao's gaze upon Ziqiao was both calm and cold.
Ziqiao looked up at the towering Eldest Young Lady and suddenly recalled the scene of her falling into the water that day.
Especially those dark and ice-cold eyes, which sent shivers down her spine.
Nanny Xu, fearing Ziqiao might utter more treasonous words, gritted her teeth and looked at Zhang Ji, the head of the guards, saying, "Please, Head Guard Zhang, take action."
The fate of a disloyal servant was self-evident to everyone in the Ji household.
Zhang Ji nodded to the guards behind him.
Shortly, the guards emerged from the mansion carrying planks five chi long and three chi thick.
Upon seeing the planks, Ziqiao frantically struggled. However, she was firmly held down on the ground by four people, their eight hands pressing her down relentlessly.
As the guards carrying the planks stood to Ziqiao's left and right, Zhang Ji sternly shouted, "Punish!"
As the command was given, two guards swung their planks high.
Then, the planks, raised in mid-air, struck Ziqiao's lower back, one after the other.
"Whack, whack, whack—whack, whack, whack—!"
The heavy planks landed repeatedly on the same spot on Ziqiao's lower back. Soon, blood began to seep through her clothing.
Ziqiao cried out in pain, "You can't do this to me! I am a member of the Zhao family now! The eldest young master of the Zhao family promised to protect me for life. How dare you mere servants of the Ji family disrespect me like this!"
Ji Zizhao listened and watched indifferently, her expression unreadable, betraying no joy or anger.
Nanny Xu was shocked that even facing death, Ziqiao dared to speak such audacious words. If she had harbored any thought of saving Ziqiao's life earlier, she now dared not.
"Beat her! Beat her hard!" Nanny Xu clenched her fists, wishing she could sew Ziqiao's mouth shut herself. If she didn't break free from Ziqiao today, she would be buried with her.
The twenty-jin planks soon turned Ziqiao's lower back into a bloody mess. Her clothes were matted with blood and torn flesh, a horrifying sight.
At this point, pain was no longer the primary concern.
Ziqiao could barely breathe. She looked at Eldest Young Lady again, her eyes pleading through tears, "Eldest Young Lady, I truly have no connection to the Third Young Lady's affairs. I beg Eldest Young Lady to grant my plea. The eldest young master of the Zhao family genuinely loves me."
Ji Zizhao looked at Ziqiao, who remained unrepentant even at the brink of death, and her burning anger gradually turned to ice.
Since Ziqiao was so fixated on the affection of the eldest young master of the Zhao family, she would let Ziqiao witness firsthand the depth and weight of that affection.
Ji Zizhao softly instructed Qingzhu, "Go to the Zhao family and invite someone over. Tell them Ziqiao has been speaking of the Zhao family incessantly."
Qingzhu took the order and turned to leave.
Seeing Qingzhu depart, Ziqiao's eyes once again sparked with hope.
Eldest Young Lady was indeed foolish, daring to summon someone from the Zhao family. Since that was the case, she would make Eldest Young Lady and these Ji family's hounds witness how the Zhao family cherished her.
As if fueled by anticipation, Ziqiao even felt the planks striking her waist no longer hurt.
Ji family's Third Master sneered, "Second Brother, do you think this General's Mansion deserves what's happening to it? Our eldest brother had barely departed, and these people from the General's Mansion turn their backs on us. It's fitting that even their own servants are disloyal."
Ji family's Second Master stroked his beard, "Why so many words? Watching the show is the main thing."
Ji family's Third Master nodded vigorously. He was right; one shouldn't miss an opportunity to witness the General's Mansion's drama.
Ji Zixiu and Ji Ziliang, their buttocks smarting from punishment, felt a sense of release as they recalled Ziqiao's insults towards the Ji family. They even wished Ziqiao could live a little longer to continue her tirades against the Ji family.
Qingzhu, who had left the Ji family, did not return for a long time.
Ziqiao, lying on the ground, was clearly gasping for breath, her life hanging by a thread, waiting for the Zhao family to fetch her.
Zhang Ji approached Eldest Young Lady and asked softly, "Eldest Young Lady, if the beating continues, her waist will break."
Ji Zizhao understood that Zhang Ji wanted Ziqiao to die with clarity, to avoid becoming a vengeful spirit haunting the Ji family later.
However, for such a traitorous servant, she had no intention of being merciful.
"The Zhao family is coming to fetch her soon, so we can't break her," she said.
Ziqiao heard this and breathed a sigh of relief.
But before she could fully relax, Ji Zizhao's next words pushed her directly towards the gates of hell.
"If her waist cannot be beaten, beat her back. If her back is a mess, then beat her legs."
Zhang Ji nodded, signaling the guards with the planks to continue.
Ziqiao, prostrate on the ground, widened her eyes in shock!
As the two guards stepped forward, aiming at Ziqiao's back, Ziqiao, filled with rage, blurted out, "Ji Zizhao, you are so wicked! I know you are simply jealous of my good fortune, but you cannot blame me for this. You can only blame your own third sister for being too foolish! Living a good life, she insisted on standing up for this rotten Ji family!"
Ji Zizhao's eyes narrowed, not at Ziqiao's curses, but at that last sentence.
If she remembered correctly, she had received news that Sun Tang had encountered Third Young Lady that day and there had been an unpleasant exchange. Could it be that due to Sun Tang, Third Young Lady had brought this death upon herself?
Sun Tang had indeed slandered the Ji family at the time, but what did this have to do with the Zhao family?
Ji Zizhao narrowed her eyes slightly.
Or perhaps…
The Zhao family was also involved in the Ji family's defeat at Luoyi.
Footsteps approached from a distance.
Everyone turned to look, it was Qingzhu, who had returned, followed by Qingyu, who served Zhao Liang personally.
Upon seeing Qingyu, Ziqiao struggled and reached out, "Qingyu, save me, save me…"