Chapter 33 – Blurring the Lines
Jiang Pengji sneered, glancing at all the stewards and servants watching the punishment, and said, “Keep your eyes on them until they stop breathing. No one leaves, and no one dares to look away. Furthermore, anyone who dares to spread rumors about what happened today will be dealt with harshly—beaten to death without exception.”
“Last night, the guards who left their posts will face punishment after the execution. I won’t name names now.”
Bullying the Liu Residence for lacking a robust male heir, huh?
Then let them all watch until everyone is scared stiff.
The steward sighed inwardly and murmured, “Second Young Master, this seems a bit too…”
The Liu family has always valued decorum and face, delegating dirty work to others. Jiang Pengji merely needs to strategize and maintain control.
However, thinking of Liu Lanting’s mother, the steward found this behavior somewhat acceptable.
Maybe the Second Young Master’s decisive ruthlessness beneath his gentle exterior came from his late mother.
Toying with her new fan, Jiang Pengji said leisurely, “If we don’t do this, that girl will eventually choose death. The maids of the Liu family aren’t like helpless orphans out there; if she’s wronged here, she deserves to seek a little payback from her creditors. Moreover, without my father in the residence all these years, although the steward has been diligent in managing the Liu Residence, he’s getting old and can’t match his younger days, inevitably missing things that encourage these rogue influences. Not everyone can be as loyal as the steward… Hmph, do these outside men think they can freely come and go in our inner court?”
That house servant had a big mouth or just loved to gossip.
Jiang Pengji could easily envision that if he got drunk one day or became too cocky, he would blab about forcing himself on a maid, and soon the entire Hejian County would know, shattering the reputation of all the women in the Liu Residence.
If he doesn’t die, then who will?
The steward remained worried that after today, the entire Hejian County would know that the Liu family’s Second Young Master is a ruthless character.
At this point, the sun wasn’t too harsh, casting a somewhat chilly glow that everyone felt was less cold than the chill in their hearts.
A small maid, otherwise delicate, now mustered all her strength to beat the tightly bound man with a wooden stick. When he tried to roll away in pain, she chased after him, striking wherever it hurt, the dull thuds echoing in everyone’s mind.
Not only did the forced spectators shiver, but those watching the live stream also felt sick to their stomachs, some barely able to cope with the horror.
Despite this, the audience count gradually climbed to three thousand, with many more waiting outside.
The number of viewers in the live stream room had a cap; as a level-one newbie broadcaster, Jiang Pengji’s maximum audience count only reached three thousand. To raise the limit, she needed to use her account’s popularity points to upgrade her broadcaster level.
Upgrading from a level-one to a level-two broadcaster costs a hundred thousand popularity points, and Jiang Pengji currently had only 1532 points.
The steward felt ashamed. “It’s my fault; I’ve failed the lord’s trust, burdening the Second Young Master with such a reputation…”
Had he noticed the state of the residence earlier and taken precautions, his Second Young Master wouldn’t need to resort to such extreme measures.
Jiang Pengji was confident. “Don’t worry, no one will dare to speak out. They might even praise my decisiveness in managing the household.”
If she didn’t have this capability, those families with noble girls kidnapped would be the ones truly worried.
Steward: “…”
From the start to the bitter end, it took over half an hour. The onlookers and the audience of the live stream were forced to endure for more than an hour.
The ground was stained with large patches of blood, white brain matter, and broken bits of bone scattered everywhere… The servants in the courtyard were so terrified they didn’t dare make a sound, some feeling a numbness in their lower bellies, warm flows running down their legs, shockingly losing control!
None could claim innocence, fearing their past actions could come back to bite them, while those behind the screen felt as if their worldview had been forcibly reshaped.
Jiang Pengji, appearing unfazed, stepped forward in her wooden sandals, took the wooden stick almost slipping from the maid’s grip, and grasped her hand, giving it a squeeze.
“I’ve already had someone brew some medicine for you; remember to soak your arms later, or you’ll feel sore and swollen tomorrow. Look at these hands; they seem frail, but they can exact revenge, right? Remember, if anyone ever humiliates you again, just keep in mind what happened today. As long as you’re alive, there will be a day for revenge. If you die, the perpetrators will always remain free. The maids of the Liu Residence are not mere clay dolls for others to trample on.”
That maid held on through sheer willpower. Now, hearing Jiang Pengji’s words, she felt an indescribable sense of grievance and collapsed at Jiang Pengji’s feet, forehead resting on crossed arms, shoulders shaking, silently crying.
With a light sigh, Jiang Pengji motioned for someone to remove the body for disposal, then proceeded to reprimand all the servants.
In the west inner courtyard, Lady Die, just waking up from a brief nap, caught a glimpse of her maid’s report and her eyes shimmered with surprise.
“You mean the Second Young Master really had someone beaten to death?” Lady Die propped herself up from the soft couch, and the perceptive maid swiftly fetched a cushion for her to lean against comfortably. “Or did the maid do it herself?”
The maid, seemingly lost in thought, shivered involuntarily. “Yes, it was indeed the Second Young Master who handed the stick to the maid.”
The stick was taller than the maid, yet she managed to use it to beat that house servant to death.
Lady Die shrugged it off, saying, “What’s so strange about that? Women aren’t born to be easily squished; once filled with rage against someone, even on a single breath, they’ll seek vengeance fiercely…”
As if recalling something, she added, “That fierce and resolute temperament doesn’t resemble her father but is more like her mother.”
Liu Father had once been handsome and exceptional, like a celestial being stepping out of a painting.
With a warm, gentle demeanor, he spoke courteously, making whoever he talked to feel like they were basking in spring warmth. Yet, the man was also prone to black-hearted schemes, heavily influenced by the darker sources he consumed.
He could avoid physical confrontations effortlessly and wouldn’t exert himself unless absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, Liu Lanting’s mother was the exact opposite, sporting a face that often raised concerns. On the surface, she resembled a noble lady, yet beneath lay a bold and passionate character who thrived on mischief, leaving others puzzled over her thought process.
Their daughter seemed to blend both their traits.
She looked like her father but possessed an intrinsic fierceness and violent tendencies akin to her mother—only…
Lady Die sipped her tea. “The Second Young Master is, after all, a bit more clever than her mother.”
Liu Lanting is certainly not her mother; when trouble arises, she doesn’t have another Liu Zhi to mindlessly clean up the mess. Self-reliance is the best way forward.
The maid was puzzled, “But… Madam, wouldn’t the Second Young Master’s actions harm his reputation…?”
Lady Die snorted, “She is the legitimate offspring of the Liu family, not some common girl hidden away in a boudoir. Acting ruthlessly? So what? As the saying goes—no venom, no hero. Look at those young masters nowadays, all powdered and groomed, it’s quite nauseating.”
