Chapter 94: The Manner of a Lesson

“Oh? I’m bold, am I? Then why don’t you tell me exactly how I’m bold. If you can’t make yourself clear today, don’t even think about leaving.”
Yang Wenhao looked down coldly at the arrogant, domineering girl before him.
Since she’d come stirring up trouble for no reason, Yang Wenhao had ignored her, but her insolence only grew. Did she really take him for an easy mark?
Threatened, the girl took several steps back.
“Hmph… ridiculous.” With a wave of his hand, Yang Wenhao called for two of his servants. “Come, seize her and put her to work in my Water Moon Pavilion.”
“Yes, sir.” The servants were utterly loyal, always obeying his commands.
“My lady…” A maid in simple dress appeared at the girl’s side.
“Get out of the way! I don’t believe it—who in this world today dares to lay a hand on me?” The girl’s fearless stance made the servants glance over at Yang Wenhao.
His expression was indifferent as he uttered a single word: “Seize.”
“Yes!”
The servants surged forward, intent on capturing the girl.
“Hmph…” With a flick of her wrist, she produced a long whip and lashed it toward the oncoming servants.
Yang Wenhao was surprised to see she possessed some skill.
“That’s enough,” he called, halting his servants.
Several of them bore fresh welts, courtesy of the girl’s whip.
“Hmph… just the likes of you, trying to lay a finger on me?” She stood, hands on hips, proud as could be.
“They’re useless because they never learned to fight,” Yang Wenhao said, approaching her steadily.
Seeing him draw near, the girl grew wary. “What, you want a taste of my whip too?”
“Perhaps,” he replied.
“Courting death!” The girl cracked her whip, which darted at him like a serpent.
Yang Wenhao caught it in one hand, yanked hard, and the girl lost her balance, tumbling to the ground.
“Ow…” She landed face-first, dust clinging to her from head to toe.
“You—!” She started to speak, but suddenly a strong hand closed around her slender neck. The merest pressure, and who knew what would happen.
“Do you wish to live, or to die?” Yang Wenhao’s smile was half-mocking as he looked down at her.

The girl glared at him, eyes brimming with resentment. “You’re despicable. You’re shameless.”
“Oh, I’m shameless?” Yang Wenhao laughed, then lifted her and strode into the restaurant.
The girl’s maid tried to stop him, but his speed was unmatched; in a blink, he was gone.
On the third floor of the pavilion, few people were around.
Yang Wenhao regarded her with amusement. “Do you still dare repeat what you said just now?”
She darted a glance around—no one else was there, and she couldn’t best him. Her resolve wavered, but she put on a brave front. “I said you’re shameless and despicable. What of it?”
“Very well.” Without mercy, Yang Wenhao unleashed a martial technique known as the Milk-Dragon’s Grasp.
“You—!” The girl’s fair cheeks flushed crimson. She wanted to resist, but her strength had abandoned her. “You scoundrel, you lecher!”
“There’s worse yet,” Yang Wenhao murmured with a smile, then pressed his lips to her delicate red ones.
“Mmph—!” The girl’s eyes widened in disbelief. She struggled, but was powerless.
At last, Yang Wenhao released her. She shrank into a corner, clasping her face, weeping. “You’re shameless, despicable, a scoundrel!”
Yang Wenhao was never one to coddle women. He called for Sanbao. “Sanbao, get her some work clothes and teach her how to do chores. If she does poorly, you may punish her.”
“Er…” Sanbao knew full well the girl could fight—how could he possibly discipline her?
“I’ve sealed her pressure points. All she has left is enough strength to work.”
“Oh, that makes things easier,” Sanbao grinned.
“If my father finds out, he’ll kill you!” the girl sobbed through her tears.
“Let’s talk when your father arrives,” Yang Wenhao said, turning to leave.
He returned to where he’d been drinking with Cui Wenzi.
“I heard a woman crying outside—was that your doing?” Cui Wenzi, cheeks flushed with wine, leaned in.
“A woman who needed a lesson. Spoiled by her family, she really thought herself invincible,” Yang Wenhao replied.
“Such people do need a lesson,” Cui Wenzi agreed, nodding.
…
In the days that followed, the girl remained willful, declaring she’d rather die than work.

Yang Wenhao reminded Sanbao not to use force—but just because he couldn’t use force didn’t mean there weren’t other ways.
As philosopher Wang Jingze once postulated: whenever a person adamantly refuses something, vowing to the point of starvation or even mortal peril that they’ll never do it, fate will inevitably bring them to utter the words, “So fragrant”—a confession of defeat.
And so, as hunger set in, the girl began, little by little, to work.
“Well, how is it? Tasty? Fragrant?” Sanbao set a dish before her.
“Mmm, delicious. So fragrant.” She grabbed her chopsticks and bowl, shoveling food into her mouth, all pretense of ladylike demeanor forgotten.
She’d gone hungry for days—she’d even tried to sneak into the kitchen at night, only to find it spotless, not a scrap of leftovers anywhere.
Just then, Yang Wenhao approached. “Sanbao, Xiaochuan has returned. Go see to him.”
The girl was happily eating, but when she saw Yang Wenhao, her face fell.
“Eat. Why have you stopped?” he asked.
“Hmph…” She set down her bowl, turning away.
“You’re not eating? Then I’ll throw it away,” he said.
“No!” She clutched her bowl and chopsticks to her chest.
“In life, it’s best to be straightforward. Clinging to pride isn’t worth the cost,” Yang Wenhao said, taking out a package.
“What’s that?” the girl asked suspiciously.
He unwrapped it, and a mouthwatering aroma filled the air.
“How fragrant… roast duck!” She was overjoyed, but at the thought that Yang Wenhao had brought it, her expression soured.
“It’s for you. If you won’t eat it, I’ll take it away,” Yang Wenhao said.
In truth, this gesture was a small attempt to make amends. He’d reflected over the past few days—his actions that day had indeed been excessive.
But what was done could not be undone, and he would never admit he was wrong—only that his methods had been misguided.
“For me?” The girl looked at him doubtfully, her bright eyes speaking volumes: Would you really be so kind?

(End of this chapter)