After hearing her response—

The Gate Official took a deep breath, his hand gripping the sword hilt tightening. “Sir, you cannot endure forty strokes of the staff. Moreover, you are Prince Rong’s person. If something happens…”

He didn’t continue!

Ji Yinshu’s gaze focused as she looked at him. “Which article of Great Lin law states that I, Ji, am Prince Rong’s person?”

“This…”

“Your Honor, doesn’t Great Lin law stipulate that anyone who wishes to appeal may come strike the imperial drum?”

“Yes.”

“Since that’s the case, I wish to strike the imperial drum, and you have no authority to stop me.”

Invoking Great Lin law was indeed more effective than an imperial edict.

The Gate Official could only say, “Very well. Since you are so determined, sir, we can only proceed according to the law.”

But Ji Yinshu’s slender frame seemed about to sway and collapse in the breeze. How could she endure forty strokes of the staff?

Wasn’t this a joke?

But Ji Yinshu’s stubbornness had always been exceptionally obstinate. Once her mind was made up, no one could change it.

The Gate Official had no choice but to order the two guards holding the staffs to prepare for execution.

The two guards hadn’t wielded staffs to beat anyone in a long time. Swinging the staffs in their hands seemed somewhat difficult. The burly men rubbed their hands together, then spat into their palms and rubbed them on the staffs.

They raised the staffs.

At the official’s signal, they swung the staffs down.

Crack—

A dull, crisp sound.

One staff struck Ji Yinshu’s body.

Her small frame couldn’t withstand this stroke. Her steps unsteady, she immediately stumbled forward a step, bending forward.

Her back burned with searing pain. The pain made Ji Yinshu’s brows furrow slightly.

Ji Wanxin looked away, unable to watch this scene…

The other guard raised his staff again. Before swinging it down, he glanced at the Gate Official.

The Gate Official averted his gaze slightly and said to Ji Yinshu, “Gentleman Ji, I see you’re a frail scholar. Perhaps you should forget it. In past years, there was a burly man who didn’t even make it to ten strokes before dying here. If something happens to you, why not go ask Prince Rong for help?”

That’s right!

Aren’t you Prince Rong’s person? He’s a prince—what can’t he do?

Why stubbornly endure this suffering?

Ji Yinshu acted as if she hadn’t heard, straightening her body again!

Her gaze fixed straight ahead, without the slightest hint of retreat.

So be it. The Gate Official had said all he could say. He could only step aside and wave his hand at the guard.

Thus—

The second staff struck down again.

Ji Yinshu’s body was beaten forward, her knees bending, nearly kneeling.

Ji Wanxin behind her truly couldn’t bear to watch anymore. With tears in her eyes, she stepped forward, choking out, “Yunshu, stop this. Why must you suffer like this? Forty strokes of the staff—you cannot endure them.”

Ji Yinshu’s neck was tense, covered in sweat!

She bit her lip.

“I can endure.”

“Yunshu…”

“Other than this method, I… have no choice. This time, let me be willful once.” She gasped for breath.

Hearing this, Ji Wanxin’s sickly pale face streamed with tears, her eyes full of anxiety and heartache.

After these two strokes, Ji Yinshu could barely hold on.

When the fourth stroke came down, she was beaten directly to her knees on the ground. The pain from her back was like being torn apart.

Her face was deathly pale, covered in cold sweat!

Her back felt cool!

Clearly, her back had been beaten until the flesh split open. Fresh blood flowed out, soaking her clothes.

Not far away, Prince Jing Yi, who had received word early on, sat in his carriage. Lifting the curtain, he stared coldly at this scene!

The corners of his lips curved up with satisfaction.

As if he were one step closer to his goal.

Dou Quan beside him asked, “Your Highness, will she be beaten to death?”

“No. Jingrong won’t just stand by and do nothing.”

He smiled.

Continuing to observe!

The Gate Official looked at Ji Yinshu on the ground. Unable to bear it anymore, he stepped forward to help her up when—

Suddenly!

“Don’t help her!”

A sharp voice!

The Gate Official recognized the person and quickly withdrew his hand.

Jingrong strode over rapidly, his face filled with intense fury, his crimson eyes seemingly laced with poison.

Cold and indifferent!

The Gate Official hurried forward. “Greetings to Prince Rong.”

Jingrong completely ignored him, walking to Ji Yinshu’s side and looking down at her coldly.

What entered Ji Yinshu’s view before her were those boots made of the finest fabric. Even though she lifted her heavy eyelids slightly, she still couldn’t meet Jingrong’s gaze.

“Is it worth it?” he asked her.

Ji Yinshu gasped in pain, her body trembling. After a moment, she weakly uttered two words.

“Worth it!”

“Good. Since you want to die so badly, this prince will grant your wish.”

After speaking, he commanded the guards, “Strike her for this prince. Strike her hard.”

The guards hesitated for a moment, but this was an order. Not daring to say more, they could only swing the staff down tremblingly.

Crack—

The staff struck Ji Yinshu’s back heavily again. More and more blood oozed out, soaking through her entire outer garment.

“Strike!” Jingrong commanded again.

Ji Wanxin quickly rushed forward in tears, falling to her knees with a “thud.”

“Your Highness, I beg you. Yunshu cannot take any more. She’ll be beaten to death.”

“Isn’t this what she wants?”

“Yunshu is doing this for the case. Your Highness, she cannot be beaten anymore. Someone will truly die. I beg you.”

The beauty cried like pear blossoms in the rain.

Yet she cried quite beautifully. The red mole between her brows seemed even more crimson.

Looking at Ji Yinshu on the ground, how could Jingrong’s heart not ache?

The slight furrow of his brows showed heart-wrenching pain.

But he clenched his fists tightly, gritted his teeth, and commanded sternly, “Strike!”

Thus—

Ji Yinshu endured a total of six strokes!

Her entire person was beaten prostrate on the ground, her back a blur of fresh blood.

Looking extremely miserable!

She lay on the ground, breathing faintly. The pain in her back had nearly numbed her. Her thick lashes trembled faintly, her pale lips opening and closing without saying anything.

Jingrong asked her again with a cold face.

“Is it worth it?”

“…”

“This prince asks you one more time—is it worth it?”

After a long while, Ji Yinshu moved her lips, expending her last breath.

“Worth… it!”

Her voice hoarse and weak.

At that moment, Jingrong’s already crimson eyes finally shed tears.

The next moment, he scooped Ji Yinshu up from the ground and held her tightly in his arms.

Never mind that Ji Yinshu’s entire body was trembling—wasn’t his as well?

He could feel his hands covered with the fresh blood seeping from Ji Yinshu’s back. Cool and wet…

And this woman was so light it was absurd.

Ji Yinshu could no longer feel the pain. Only her vision had become somewhat blurred. Powerlessly leaning against Jingrong’s chest, she caught a familiar scent at the tip of her nose. Her eyes struggled to open.

She forced out a few words from her mouth: “The case matter…”

Jingrong’s brow drew toward the center.

“This prince is here. Rest assured.”