Tang Zhaoxue obediently tried to move to Su Yingman’s side as instructed, but before she could get close, Su Yingman spoke up, her hands still unhurriedly combing through Jiang Huai’s scattered hair:
“Crawl over here.”
Just those three short words made Tang Zhaoxue’s body tremble violently, as if struck by some invisible force, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
She instinctively looked at Jiang Huai, only to see his eyes vacant, his face bearing a nearly dazed expression, his entire body limp in Su Yingman’s embrace as if all his bones had been drawn out.
This thoroughly dominated appearance lightly touched a hidden corner in her heart.
She knew she could never make Jiang Huai look like this.
Su Yingman glanced at her, immediately seeing through her thoughts, a knowing smile lifting the corner of her lips.
Though she was only theoretically experienced, her innate talent had always made her exceptionally perceptive in such matters.
Born of the Huanhuan Sect, what kind of women hadn’t she seen?
Even if she hadn’t tasted herself, she still knew a few women with the same tastes as Tang Zhaoxue and understood their thoughts best.
She deliberately, in front of Tang Zhaoxue, gently stroked Jiang Zhun’s hair at his forehead with her fingertips, then slowly patted his back, lifting his chin with the other hand and forcing his unfocused gaze to meet her own:
“Tell your good madam, are you enjoying this?”
“Isn’t your good madam amazing?”
Jiang Zhun’s mind was still drifting among the clouds, tears slipping down uncontrollably. He only nodded instinctively, murmuring,
“Amazing….”
Those two words made Tang Zhaoxue shudder all over.
She immediately bent down and crawled toward Su Yingman, lowering her head in submission.
But Su Yingman didn’t let her have her way, reaching out to stop her by pressing a hand to her forehead, keeping her from coming closer.
“Hmm?” Her tone rose at the end.
“Why were you so disobedient just now?” As she spoke, she gently pushed Jiang Huai to the side, straightening up slightly and looking down at this once high-and-mighty sect leader.
“I… just now…” Tang Zhaoxue’s cheeks flushed, her lips slightly parted, but she didn’t know how to defend herself.
She wanted to say she was considering her dignity, but in this lowly posture, what dignity was left at all?
People are always so contradictory—clearly wanting, yet insisting on pretended restraint, seeking the last shred of decency even in utter humiliation.
“If you’re so disobedient, then there’ll be no reward for you.” Su Yingman patted her slightly rounded belly meaningfully.
“And, you’ll have to be punished.”
Tang Zhaoxue’s expression shifted subtly as she whispered, “How is this a reward?”
Is this worthy to be called a reward? Qin Qingyue had never used such words before!
Punishment? Qin Qingyue had never punished her either!
Even though she often cleaned up for Qin Qingyue, the other always treated her with equality and respect.
When had she ever been like Su Yingman?
“In the past, the Main Wife never said such things. She only said, as long as I liked it, that was enough.” She reminded cautiously, afraid Su Yingman would say something even more humiliating.
Even if she hid some unspeakable desires in her heart, that didn’t mean the other could trample on her at will.
Su Yingman seemed to realize suddenly and gave a soft “Oh”:
“So the Main Wife never treated you like this.”
Tang Zhaoxue quickly nodded, almost like pounding garlic.
“That’s because she doesn’t understand you, truly.” Su Yingman gently patted her cheek, her smile filled with meaning.
“If it were me, you would have long ago been so happy you wouldn’t know heaven from earth.” She pinched the blushing cheek, her tone so earnest it left no room for doubt.
Tang Zhaoxue froze in place, maintaining her prostrate posture, momentarily speechless.
“I’m asking you, could you do it?” Su Yingman patted her belly again, her smile as radiant as a flower.
Tang Zhaoxue’s blush deepened, and she shook her head.
This was something she could not refute, no matter how much she desired it in her heart, her body simply refused to cooperate.
“Next time I ask you a question, you must answer, do you understand?” Su Yingman pinched her face, beaming.
“I…” Tang Zhaoxue glanced at Jiang Huai, who was slowly coming back to himself, and replied helplessly in a low voice.
“I can’t do it. I can’t satisfy him.”
The moment these words left her lips, she deflated like a punctured ball, all her momentum lost.
Admitting such defeat would be hard for any woman, let alone for her—a sect leader born in a world of extreme female dominance, always at the top.
After speaking, Tang Zhaoxue’s head nearly buried itself under the bed.
“If you can’t do it, how can you call it a reward?” Su Yingman chuckled softly.
“You may be able to self-sustain, but unfortunately, you just can’t.”
Saying that, she stretched out a slender foot and lightly nudged Tang Zhaoxue’s parched spot.
Tang Zhaoxue trembled, a hard-to-describe feeling surging from deep within her heart.
With Su Yingman’s words, it didn’t seem so dry anymore, even her breathing grew rapid.
Although Jiang Huai’s healing earlier had a similar effect, it was nothing compared to how intense it felt now, so intense she was secretly overjoyed.
“See, I told you Qin Qingyue doesn’t understand you.” Su Yingman felt the warmth beneath her foot, her tone both surprised and matter-of-fact.
“As long as you listen to me and cooperate with your husband’s healing, you’ll be cured in no time.”
“Then your innate talent will improve, your cultivation will advance—isn’t that wonderful?” She gazed at Tang Zhaoxue with a bright smile.
“You can even turn official sooner; otherwise, who’ll trample you in the future?”
Tang Zhaoxue nodded eagerly, as if grabbing onto a life-saving reed.
If she could heal quickly, that would be for the best.
This was like healing her own heart demon!
“So do you know what to do now?” Su Yingman prompted.
This time, Tang Zhaoxue didn’t hesitate at all. She followed her heart and obediently lowered her head.
She wasn’t doing this for the first time, but at the moment of contact, she felt something was off.
Nine-Bend Gallery—going in required winding through nine bends, and coming out meant going through nine bends again.
With so many twists and turns, how could it be easy?
In the past, handling things for Qin Qingyue only took a short while, all smooth and easy.
But facing Su Yingman, no matter how hard she tried, she only got a little each time. Su Yingman’s belly remained flat as ever.
Clearly, Su Yingman was making things difficult for her on purpose and had no intention of letting her finish easily.
“Hurry up.” Su Yingman urged with a blank expression.
“Mm…” Tang Zhaoxue mumbled, working even harder.
At this moment, Jiang Huai gradually regained consciousness, his mind clearing.
Su Yingman looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to recover so quickly.
Her expression instantly shifted, becoming as gentle as the spring rain. She drew Jiang Huai into her arms, her warm embrace tightly enveloping him, her voice full of happiness:
“Husband, you’re awake.”
As soon as Jiang Huai opened his eyes, he was met with Su Yingman’s tender and alluring smile. Looking down, he saw Tang Zhaoxue straining with all her might, her face flushed red.
Just seeing her like that, Jiang Huai could feel how hard Tang Zhaoxue was working and knew Su Yingman was purposely making things difficult.
“What are you doing? Qin Qingyue never did anything like this!” He tried to raise his hand to pat Su Yingman, but he was too weak, his arms wouldn’t lift.
“My ways differ from the Main Wife. Since she isn’t here, I’m in charge now, you don’t understand.” Su Yingman answered perfunctorily.
She knew Jiang Huai’s nature; he would never understand Tang Zhaoxue’s thoughts.
“And so you think you can just bully people?” Jiang Huai questioned.
Seeing Jiang Huai’s earnest expression, Su Yingman suddenly came up with an idea.
She shrugged indifferently. “You just don’t understand.”
As she spoke, spiritual energy gathered in her hand, forming a Ling Whip that tore through the air with a sharp sound, cracking down on Tang Zhaoxue’s backside as she scolded:
“Lazy! Put some effort in! If you don’t finish tonight, just wait and see how I’ll deal with you!”
Tang Zhaoxue writhed in pain, a stifled whimper escaping her, and she redoubled her efforts.
But no matter how hard she tried, she only got a little each time, Su Yingman’s belly still showing no change.
“Not dedicated enough!” Su Yingman whipped her again, this time harder, making Tang Zhaoxue’s delicate body shudder from the pain.
Su Yingman was clearly making things difficult on purpose!
Tang Zhaoxue looked up, eyes brimming with tears, first at Su Yingman, then at Jiang Huai.
Jiang Huai was infuriated and shouted, “Su Yingman! Try hitting her again and see what happens?!”
Enough was enough—why humiliate someone like this?
Even Qin Qingyue had never insulted anyone, nor used a whip to strike.
Su Yingman glanced at Jiang Zhun, then withdrew the Ling Whip.
“Enough. Out of sight, out of mind. I don’t want to see her, and she shouldn’t see me either.” She feigned indifference.
Jiang Zhun finally breathed a sigh of relief, but before he knew it, Su Yingman lifted his leg.
“What are you doing?!” He was still weak, unable to resist.
“Making sure she doesn’t look up.” Su Yingman said, placing Jiang Huai’s foot on Tang Zhaoxue’s head.
“No looking up now.” She commanded.
That stomp utterly crushed Tang Zhaoxue’s psychological defenses.
Not only did she have to serve in her own bed, be whipped, but now the one she loved was stepping on her head.
Humiliation, shame, and an indescribable pleasure tangled together until she couldn’t hold back anymore, sobbing softly.
Tears rolled down like broken pearls, her shoulders trembling, each breath carrying a suppressed sob, as if all her grievances were about to pour out.
Seeing this, Jiang Huai softened, wanting to move his foot, but he couldn’t muster a bit of strength.
“Su Yingman, are you finished yet?! Just because Qin Qingyue isn’t here, you think you can bully people as you please?!” he snapped.
Once her purpose was achieved, Su Yingman gently kicked Tang Zhaoxue away:
“If you want to cry, do it outside. Come back when you’re done.”
Tang Zhaoxue wiped her moist lips, got up silently, and left quickly with her head bowed, her thin back looking especially fragile.
Jiang Huai was about to say more, but Su Yingman interrupted him:
“Jiang Huai, how about we make a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
Su Yingman’s lips curled. “I bet that after Tang Zhaoxue comes back, she’ll not only serve obediently, but also do it without complaint—she’ll be even more compliant.”
Seeing Jiang Huai’s disbelief, she continued:
“If you lose, you have to experience Nine-Bend Gallery again, how about that?”
Jiang Zhun’s face went pale and he quickly changed the subject, “No way, pick something else.”
Again? He figured unless he reached Nascent Soul or Divine Transformation, he’d never survive it.
“Just kidding.” Su Yingman chuckled.
“If she becomes obedient, from now on, no matter what I do, you don’t interfere—and you have to cooperate.”
“If I lose, I’ll stop, and act as I did when Qin Qingyue was here.”
Hearing this, Jiang Huai looked at Su Yingman suspiciously.
Could this really be what Tang Zhaoxue wanted? In his memory, Su Yingman had always been gentle and caring.
“Don’t worry, I’m really helping her.” Su Yingman said softly.
Jiang Huai could only nod. “Fine, just don’t bully people.”
A moment later, Tang Zhaoxue returned.
Her eyes were still red, but her face had an even more pitiful beauty.
She silently climbed back onto the bed, said nothing, and bowed her head once more.
“Seeing you cry so sadly, Jiang Huai and I discussed it.” Su Yingman pretended to be considerate, her voice gentle.
“If you’re unwilling, we’ll stop—it was my fault for going too far.”
“I’ll listen to my husband; I know I was wrong. Come up here.”
But Tang Zhaoxue shook her head quickly, and worked even harder in the Nine-Bend Gallery.
Jiang Huai couldn’t help but speak:
“You can refuse—I’ll speak for you, really.”
“There’s no need to wrong yourself. I’ll support you, no one can bully you.”
Tang Zhaoxue looked up, gazing straight into Jiang Zhun’s eyes, at the man she liked, her voice faint:
“Actually I… I really… really like it.”
Even though she was crying, even though she was bullied, even though she felt humiliated and wronged.
But another feeling overshadowed everything.
Jiang Huai saw darkness before his eyes, utterly unable to watch anymore, and closed his eyes in despair.
‘If you say so, do as you like.’
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