Tendinitis — to cure it completely was exceedingly difficult and would take a considerable length of time.

But to ease the pain — that was simply effortless for Feng Jiu’er.

“I need a pouch of silver needles — the very thin and long kind.”

And so the needle pouch was brought to her quickly. A few silver needles later, the guard was overjoyed: “It really doesn’t hurt much anymore — it really doesn’t!”

“Don’t move carelessly. The needles were just placed, and you need to rest for a while. This needling also can’t guarantee you’ll never feel pain again. From now on, be mindful not to overexert yourself — use a little less force when you’re beating people, or you’ll end up suffering yourself.”

This guard was called A’Biao. She had learned his name during their earlier conversation. He was specifically assigned to administer the flogging board.

“Understood, understood — though sometimes, when the higher-ups are watching, it just isn’t possible to hold back! If I don’t beat someone until the skin splits and flesh opens, there’s no way to answer to them above.”

Feng Jiu’er shot him a sideways glance. A’Biao immediately scratched his head. “About that — well… there’s just no way around it.”

Another guard had already squeezed over, mumbling with his hand cupped over his face: “Ninth Miss, look at this tooth of mine…”

“Knowing your tooth aches, you still sneaked sweets last night? Serves you right to be in agony!”

“Heavens, Ninth Miss, you even know that I ate sweets last night — you truly are a living immortal!”

This Ninth Miss seemed to grow more extraordinary by the minute — practically like a celestial being!

“Divine fairy sister, have some mercy and stick a couple of needles in me so the pain stops.”

“What are you willing to offer me in return?” Feng Jiu’er leaned back in her chair, peering at him with a sideways glance. “Without something in return, I won’t lift a finger.”

…

The midnight hour was nearly upon them.

There were some people one simply could not pin hopes upon. Without hope, there would be no disappointment.

And so Feng Jiu’er was calm right now, because she had truly not expected very much.

A group of people came rushing in. The prison door was flung open with a bang. Zhang Jianhong had, as expected, come in person.

“Bring her out!”

“Yes.” A’Biao and A’Yang seized Feng Jiu’er and brought her out of the cell.

Zhang Jianhong looked again at that homely face of hers and could not help but let out a cold laugh. “Looking like this — no wonder the Crown Prince never came.”

A face like that, and no man would be willing to do even half a thing extra for her.

The midnight hour? It was already the midnight hour right now!

It was not that he was unwilling to extend the Crown Prince this courtesy — rather, the man himself had already given up.

She was no peerless beauty capable of toppling cities and nations, so there was no point defying the Emperor’s will for the sake of such a homely girl.

Just as expected, Feng Jiu’er was taken to the torture chamber.

“Men — administer the flogging board!” Zhang Jianhong settled into the chair, his voice cold and cutting.

Feng Jiu’er’s expression darkened. “The questioning hasn’t even begun. Why must the beating come first?”

Flogging someone without even asking a question first — wasn’t this simply forcing a false confession through torture?

“Does this Commander need you to instruct him on how to conduct interrogations? If you have the ability, have the Crown Prince come and shield you.”

Zhang Jianhong laughed coldly. As things stood, the Emperor would not grant Feng Zhenhai an audience, and the Crown Prince had not come either — which meant this girl now had absolutely no backer whatsoever.

Someone with no backing was fair game for a beating.

He took great pleasure in the sound of screaming. The more agonized and wretched a prisoner’s cries, the more it invigorated him.

“Give her twenty strokes of the board — ask questions after the beating!”

A’Biao and A’Yang exchanged a glance, equally helpless, then forced Feng Jiu’er face-down onto the punishment bench.

Feng Jiu’er glared at Zhang Jianhong. “This is abuse of private punishment — I refuse to accept it!”

A’Biao said in a flat tone: “No insolence toward the Commander!” The flogging board was raised and brought down with force…