Old Madam Xie also realized the seriousness of the matter.

The more prominent the aristocratic family, the more tolerant and kind they were toward servants. If word got out about harsh treatment and torture of servants, their reputation would be severely affected.

This matter absolutely could not be allowed to spread.

Before she could speak, Xie Jingyu said coldly, “Bring Jiu’er out. I want to hear why she wants to die.”

Jiu’er, disheveled and in complete disarray, was brought out from the room. Ashen-faced, she collapsed to the ground.

She was only eleven years old, a young maid just beginning to show a maiden’s form. She looked toward Yun Chu and broke down crying, “Madam, this servant truly doesn’t want to live anymore. Please give this servant a quick end.”

Yun Chu walked over and helped her up, “Jiu’er, the master is here. Whatever grievances you have, just tell the master.”

Jiu’er looked at Yun Chu. She saw a firm and gentle light, as if it injected a surge of strength into her.

Without speaking, she lowered her head and unbuttoned her collar, exposing her small frame. On her body, whip scars could be seen—new wounds and old wounds intersecting together, shocking to behold.

“It’s just some whip wounds. Not enough to seek death.” The old matriarch glanced once and said gently, “You maids are young. Being punished by your master for not doing work properly isn’t inappropriate. The second young master is young and doesn’t know the severity of his actions. That he injured you is indeed the Xie family’s failure in discipline. How about this—I’ll give each of you ten taels of silver for medical expenses and transfer you to work in another courtyard. How does that sound?”

Though her elderly voice sounded gentle, it actually carried a sense of intimidation.

These maids should be sensible enough to take the money and let this matter pass. If they kept harping on it, things wouldn’t be so simple.

Yun Chu laughed coldly.

In her previous life, when Xie Shiwei committed errors, he was glossed over just like this. Until her death, she had never seen Xie Shiwei receive the punishment he deserved.

She looked at Xie Jingyu, “Is the old matriarch’s meaning also husband’s meaning?”

Xie Jingyu’s hands, clasped behind his back, tightened. He knew he had to show his stance. Otherwise, Yun Chu would never manage and discipline these children again in the future.

He was truly too busy. He needed to rely on Yun Chu, this capable wife, to make the entire Xie family better and better.

He stared at Jiu’er and said coldly, “You want to die because the second young master whipped you?”

Jiu’er raised her own arm. The thumb and index finger of her other hand forcefully pinched the arm, and suddenly a silver needle appeared at her fingertips, while a needle hole appeared on her arm, bleeding a few drops.

“The second young master said he wanted to know how many needles could be inserted into a person’s body and used this servant as an experiment.” Jiu’er cried in anguish. “Half a year ago, the second young master started inserting needles into this servant’s body. The first time, he inserted ten needles in my back. From then on, he added one more each day. This servant has nearly two hundred needles in her body now. With the slightest movement, the pain throughout my entire body is severe. As long as this servant dares to secretly pull out the needles, what awaits this servant is the second young master’s whip… This servant feels those needles have entered my internal organs. Every day it hurts so much. This servant truly doesn’t want to live anymore…”

The courtyard was extremely quiet.

Only Jiu’er’s anguished crying could be heard.

Even the maids who shared a room with her didn’t know that when the second young master called her over every night, he was actually inserting needles into her body.

The old matriarch opened her lips but for a moment didn’t know what to say at all.

He Shi had long known her son liked to engage in these tricks and wasn’t surprised in the slightest. She just didn’t understand why this matter had blown up so big…

Concubine Tao, pregnant with child, was frightened by this matter until her heart pounded, nearly unable to stand steady.

Yun Chu’s heart shook.

Xie Shiwei was only just eight years old this year. An eight-year-old child could already think up such cruel tactics. She didn’t dare imagine what those concubines who died at Xie Shiwei’s hands in the future had experienced. Whether tortured to death by Xie Shiwei or driven to suicide, it was all despair overflowing with blood and tears…

“Bring out that wretched son!”

Xie Jingyu, who had always been mild-mannered in public, suddenly roared in fury.

Two servant women immediately pushed out Xie Shiwei, who had been tied up in the side room. His mouth was stuffed with cloth, and he looked toward the old matriarch making muffled sounds seeking rescue.

Before the old matriarch could say anything, she saw Xie Jingyu say coldly, “Bring the second young master’s whip!”

Someone below immediately brought the whip.

This was a soft leather whip suitable for children to play with. Though not as destructive as a hard whip, the pain it inflicted on a person wasn’t much less than a paddle.

Xie Jingyu raised the whip and went toward Xie Shiwei.

Xie Shiwei’s mouth was gagged. Even if the pain was killing him, he couldn’t cry out. His hands and feet were bound, and he squirmed on the ground like a worm.

“Crack! Crack! Crack!”

Xie Jingyu showed no mercy. Seven or eight consecutive lashes struck down, all hitting the same spot. Xie Shiwei’s back clothing was torn open, flesh turned outward, and his garments were stained red.

“Master!”

He Shi could no longer bear it. She rushed over directly and threw herself onto Xie Shiwei, blocking that fierce whip.

She knew she couldn’t show too much concern for the children in public, but no mother could watch her own child being beaten like this with her eyes wide open.

“The second young master is still young. Master, show mercy!”

He Shi tightly held Xie Shiwei and begged.

Only then did Old Madam Xie come to her senses. Standing up, she said, “Jingyu, beating him like this, the child will be beaten to death by you. The matter has already happened. Even if you beat him to death, what good will it do? You should think carefully about how to educate Wei geer, think about how to treat Jiu’er, this maid, and think about how to minimize the impact of this matter…”

Xie Jingyu, a scholar, wasn’t skilled at all with a whip. By now he was already exhausted and panting.

He flung the whip aside and said coldly, “Xie Shiwei, your behavior truly brings me, as your father, tremendous shame. I am ashamed to have a son like you!”

The Xie family had been scholars for generations. How could they have produced such a scoundrel?

If this scoundrel was allowed to grow up like this, the reputation the Xie family had accumulated over three or four generations would be completely destroyed.

“My Xie family cannot teach you properly!” Xie Jingyu’s voice was harsh. “I’m sending you to join the military!”

Hearing this, the old matriarch was greatly alarmed, “No, absolutely not! The military camp is a place for poor people to go. It’s bitter and exhausting. If he goes to the front lines, one careless moment and his life will be gone.”

Xie Jingyu took a deep breath, “The military camp has strict military orders. Only there can Wei geer’s nature be reformed. Otherwise, when he commits murder and arson in the future, our Xie family won’t be able to contain it. Madam, your esteemed father has many trusted associates in the capital. Could madam please intervene to find a good position for Wei geer?”

A smile floated to Yun Chu’s lips.

She truly hadn’t expected this scene to come seven or eight years earlier than in her previous life.

In her past life, she had agreed without hesitation and sent Xie Shiwei into the Yun family camp stationed in the capital outskirts, making Xie Shiwei a trusted member of the Yun family army. The consequences had been too tragic. She would absolutely never try that again…

“Husband doesn’t know something.” Yun Chu spoke with difficulty. “A few days ago, when Wei geer wanted to learn martial arts, I had Qiutong examine his bones and tendons. He has no talent for martial arts. If sent to the military camp, he could only be a common soldier. Common soldiers in the army are like the lowest-ranked maids in a household. Does husband have the heart to send him?”

Before Xie Jingyu could speak, the old matriarch immediately said, “Wei geer is only eight years old. Sending him to the military camp as a common soldier—isn’t that just waiting for him to be bullied? Even if the Yun family army protects him, they can’t protect him all the time. What if something happens during a moment when they’re not protecting him?”

He Shi hurriedly said, “Master, the second young master previously promised Madam he would study properly. He’s reformed, truly reformed.”

Xie Shiwei nodded his head desperately.