Chapter 170: Banana 

Mu Xi’s body swayed in the air, crimson welts appearing on her skin, but her gaze never once showed submission.

Instead, the faintest trace of a smile lingered on her lips, as if mocking Ye Lan’s futile efforts.

“What are you smiling at?” Ye Lan finally couldn’t hold back, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible tremor.

“I’m smiling, Master, because you seem rather anxious,” Mu Xi said softly. 

“Are you afraid I don’t fear pain, or afraid your punishment has no effect on me?”

Ye Lan’s expression darkened, and she threw the whip harshly to the ground.

“You think this means you’ve won?” She strode closer to Mu Xi, her fingers gripping Mu Xi’s throat. 

“Don’t forget your place—pet.”

Mu Xi struggled to breathe, but that smile never faded and she said, “Master, the more you act like this, the more certain I am of one thing.”

“And what is that?” Ye Lan couldn’t help but ask.

“You’re afraid of me,” Mu Xi forced out the words, each one costing her, “because you know I’m not the kind of pet you can tame.”

Ye Lan released her grip and stepped back, a flicker of complicated emotion in her eyes.

“Let her down,” Ye Lan suddenly called toward the door.

Two Guards entered, undid the ropes, and Mu Xi crashed heavily to the floor, pain shooting through her body.

Ye Lan leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Tonight is just the beginning. I will show you—in this Manor, there isn’t a single pet I can’t tame.”

Mu Xi lifted her head, meeting Ye Lan’s gaze she said,  “Looking forward to your performance, Master.”

Ye Lan turned and left, the sound of her heels fading into the distance.

Mu Xi slumped against the wall, gently tracing the whip marks on her body, the smile still lingering on her lips.

The instant the bedroom door shut, her smile receded like the tide, replaced by waves of searing, tearing pain.

“Hiss—”

She gritted her teeth, beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead, every whip mark burning her nerves like a brand.

That earlier show of unyielding defiance—it was nothing but a bit of impromptu theater.

Leaning against the cold wall, Mu Xi mocked herself: ‘What kind of madness was that?’

She knew provoking Ye Lan would do her no good, yet she still insisted on butting heads to the bitter end.

She gingerly touched the wounds on her back, her fingertips coming away with a hint of blood.

The pain cleared her head a little, and she began to reflect on what had driven her actions.

Maybe she just couldn’t accept being treated as an object, or maybe she simply wanted to see Ye Lan lose her composure.

Either way, in this game, she was a step ahead for now—Ye Lan had been the first to lose her cool.

“Was it worth it?” Mu Xi asked herself, her voice echoing in the empty room, terribly lonely.

No one answered.

She struggled to her feet, every movement tugging at her wounds, cold sweat soaking her brow.

Footsteps sounded in the hallway, growing closer, and Mu Xi tensed at once.

She steadied her breathing, putting on an indifferent front.

The door opened, and a female Guard appeared at the threshold, her face emotionless.

“Miss Ye Lan instructed me to escort you back to your bedroom.”

Mu Xi nodded and followed the Guard through the corridor.

Every step was an ordeal, but she endured without showing it.

Back in her own bedroom, Mu Xi finally let herself relax.

She lay carefully on the bed, but the soft mattress felt like a bed of needles against her wounds.

“Reaping what I sowed,” she muttered to the ceiling.

Moonlight poured in from the window, casting a silvery glow on her pale face.

Mu Xi thought of her former life as a man—back then, she never cried out from pain, but that had been out of pride, not like now, for a victory so meaningless.

She rolled over, only for the pain to force a sharp breath from her lips.

‘How will Ye Lan take her revenge on me?’ The question circled endlessly in her mind.

Mu Xi knew: someone like Ye Lan would never let any challenge to her authority go unpunished.

Tonight was only the beginning. 

What awaited her next would be an even more meticulously crafted attempt at taming.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but pain and unease kept her tossing and turning.

In the middle of the night, she got up and walked to the window.

The Manor at night looked like a painting, distant woods mysterious and deep under the moonlight.

“What should I do?” Mu Xi asked herself in a whisper.

‘Run away? Impossible.’

‘Obey? Out of the question.’

‘Fight back? The price was too high.’

Her thoughts tangled into a hopeless knot. 

She went back to the bed and retrieved a small bottle of ointment from the bedside table.

Little An had hidden it away for emergencies.

Gritting her teeth, Mu Xi spread ointment on the wounds she could reach.

The cool sensation eased the burning pain somewhat, but most of her injuries were out of reach.

“How am I supposed to face her tomorrow?” Mu Xi lay back on the bed, pondering her options.

Should she act weak?

Let Ye Lan believe she’d given in?

Or continue this dangerous game and see who broke first?

Countless thoughts whirled in her mind, until at last, as dawn crept in from the east, Mu Xi drifted into a muddled sleep.

After daybreak, a knock at the door startled her awake.

She opened her eyes. 

Her wounds still burned fiercely; she had barely slept at all.

“Miss, it’s time to get up.” The maid entered, carrying a tray with an exquisite breakfast.

Mu Xi clenched her teeth, forcing herself upright despite the agony from her back.

She reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a dark green silk nightgown, slowly slipping it over herself.

Every small movement tugged at her wounds, sweat beading on her brow.

“Do you need help?” the maid asked.

“No,” Mu Xi refused. 

She refused to show weakness before anyone.

While washing her face, the cold water soothed her weariness a little.

Her reflection was pale, with dark circles under her eyes, silver hair cascading in disarray.

She drew a deep breath, composed her features, and sat back down on the bed.

The maid set the breakfast on the bedside table, standing silently nearby, watching her intently.

Mu Xi picked up a fork and took a bite of omelette. 

It tasted like wax in her mouth.

“What’s in this?” Mu Xi eyed the food warily.

The maid replied without expression, “Just a regular breakfast, Miss. Miss Ye Lan personally instructed the kitchen to prepare it.”

Mu Xi gave a cold laugh and kept eating.

Whatever was in it, she had no choice but to eat—refusing food would only bring about even more disgusting treatment.

After finishing the last bite of bread, the maid took away the tray, then pulled a banana from her pocket and handed it to Mu Xi.

“What is this supposed to mean?” Mu Xi took the banana, confused.

“It’s not for eating. It’s to be used,” the maid said flatly. 

“Miss Ye Lan has given you a new task. Starting now, you must walk with this banana held between your thighs until nightfall. If the banana breaks, you will be punished.”

Mu Xi’s hand trembled as she gripped the banana.

She understood now—this was Ye Lan’s retaliation for last night’s provocation.

“Also, you must remain active at all times. No sitting or lying down,” the maid added.

Mu Xi stood up and peeled the banana.

She wore nothing under her nightgown, and as the bare flesh of her thighs touched the banana’s slippery coolness, she shivered all over.

She tried squeezing her legs together, the banana wobbling precariously between them.

Every step had to be taken with utmost caution, for fear it would fall.

The wounds on her back pulled and tore with each movement, pain shooting through her body like a current.

“That’s right, please remain active in this posture,” the maid nodded with satisfaction, gathered the dishes, and prepared to leave.

“Wait,” Mu Xi called after her. 

“All day? What if I need to use the bathroom?”

“Miss Ye Lan only said you must remain active until nightfall. There were no other special instructions,” the maid replied, then left the bedroom.