I stood fearlessly in the center of the room dressed in my pearl-white robe as everyone sat in their chair waiting for Empress Dowager to enter; Crown Prince Yan sat directly to my right with Consort Xue and Consort Fang behind him. A’Li stood near the pillars, closer to the entrance of the room along with the other maids. In the room was also Crown Prince Yan’s parents who patiently waited as they politely enjoy their teas showing little worries to my punishment. Shortly, Empress Dowager enters with the Chief of Justice following her as they sat in front of me. I naturally bowed in front of her so did everyone else.

“Everyone, be seated” Empress Dowager said gestures to everyone but me, “Everyone is gathered here on the behalf of Crown Princess Xiang Yun’s crime, harming Consort Fang’s unborn child. I have proof which has been reviewed and approved by the Justice Department; her punishment would have been death, but thanks to Consort Fang’s pleading for a lighter punishment I hereby sentence Crown Princess Xiang Yun to 5 lashes” Empress Dowager explained. At the same time, all the maids and male workers started to murmur among themselves. I glance over to Crown Prince Yan who’s staring somewhere else and turn my head back to the front when I sensed he wasn’t going to speak up in order to defend me.

As soon the Chief of Justice signaled for the whip, Empress Dowager got up to reach for the whip as she said,

“Consort Fang, if you would like you can personally lash Crown Princess Xiang Yun or have someone do it for you”

“Empress Dowager, thanks for the suggestion but I’m afraid in my condition I wouldn’t be able to” Consort Fang answers politely.

Empress Dowager nods as she orders one of male workers to give me the punishment.

I turned a 180 degrees so that I’m facing the entrance that allowed me to see the gloomy, grey sky crying for me. A maid rushes over to placing a white cloth between my teeth to bite onto just in case I bite my tongue off. She rushes back to her spot as I lifted my head up with dignity expecting to feel the force of the whip against my fragile body any time soon.

A burst of a thousand knives excruciating slices against my clothing revealing partially my red hue skin. At the same time, I chomped on the cloth from the overwhelming pain yet I didn’t dare to show weakness and stood strongly, maintaining my stance. He swings a second time hitting the same spot made me fell on one of my knees as I clasped onto my clothing while biting with all my might, releasing my agonization onto the cloth. A’Li painfully watched me suffer; her eyes filled with trouble, but couldn’t do anything. As for Crown Prince Yan, he looks away couldn’t bare to continue watching so did Consort Xue while Consort Fang concentrated on me completely with amusing eyes showing through her small, faint smile. The worker lashes a third time on a different area of my back as I fell completely forward lying on my stomach clutching onto anything in my grasp. I am searing in a rage of fire that consumes me slowly and intentionally--- a fourth lash. Right after hits the fifth lash making me groan in aching torment unable to stay still in one spot as I released the cloth from my mouth breathing heavily. The worker steps away as A’Li immediately dash to me with concern.

“Stop!” Consort Fang shouts.

“What is it now, Consort Fang?” Empress Dowager asks.

“I would like to report something”

“Go ahead”

“Crown Princess Xiang Yun sent gifts to Consort Xue that contained poison that almost cost her life. I demand for justice” Consort Fang glares at A’Li and my direction.

“Is that true, Consort Xue?” Empress Dowager asks as Consort Xue hesitated to answer, “Answer me” she adds.

Consort Xue didn’t say it, but she nods quietly making Empress Dowager sigh.

“That’s-” A’Li was about to speak but I grasp her hand. She glances down as I shook my head ‘no’. She stared back at me with a startled face on why I would accept the punishments. In my head, I knew if A’Li tried to speak up for my sake she would be punished or if she tried to slander anyone in the room. However, I know A’Li better than that; she wouldn’t use slander but admit that it was her fault in order to defend me. I can’t risk her life for mine.  

“Give her another 5 lash” Empress Dowager stated. The worker returned to his position, raising his arm to strike.

“Hold on!” Shen Qing shouted, got up from his spot.

“What now?” Empress Dowager ask.

“As her husband I failed to discipline, so can I use this chance to properly teach her?” he ask.

“Go ahead” Empress Dowager agreed.

A’Li helped me sat up as Crown Prince Yan got behind us. I glared at him with hateful eyes, yet his eyes indifferent when he notices them. He looks away and swung his arm. A’Li automatically covered me from the force.

“A’Li” I spoke weakly, tried to push her away which I did managed to do so for a brief moment when the second hit came. Somehow this lash felt different. The momentum wasn’t scorching my skin, but lightly applied pressure on my skin like a needle inserting. Before the third lash, A’Li again blocked the hit for me. I didn’t have the strength to push her away, so I held her in my embrace trying to protect her too as we both got lashed. After Crown Prince Yan finished the last lash, he drops the whip on the floor and instantly lifts me up from the floor.

“Crown Prince Yan! Where are you going?!” Consort Fang shouts for him as he left the hall carrying me.

Powerless, I struggled to free myself from his grip as he carried me all the way to his residence while our maids chased after us including A’Li despite the substantial injuries. As soon as we arrived his bedroom, he sets me down gently on my onto the mattress. He signals the maids to give him a bowl and spat out blood. I understand now;  he suppressed his internal energy so that when he lashed me it would affect him more than me.

“Fetch me medicines!” he demands as he reached for my knotted belt. I feebly pull back as he looks up into my eyes.

“What are you trying to do?” I weakly asks.

“Be quiet” he said, tugged on my belt and I was incapable to fight him off as he quickly undressed me trying not to look. He turns me completely so that my wounded back is facing him as he eased me down to the pillow and helped extended my legs on the bed. The maids returned with the medicines as he ordered them to leave so that he can apply the herbs onto my damaged back.

“I can have A’Li apply” I demanded, tried to push myself off from the bed.

“Stay,” he carefully push me back down, “You act like I haven’t seen a woman’s body and plus, we’re married so it’s my duty to do this” he uncaps the medicine bottle and precisely pour little by little the powder on my wounds.

“I didn’t ask you to” I said, groan slightly when the powder took effect.

“I don’t need you to ask” he said, “Quit talking and rest”

I didn’t argue with him and closed my eyes as he continued to apply medicine. I still hate him for not defending me even though now he’s trying to make it up.