Chapter 49: First Volume, Chapter 49: The Humiliation Beneath the Foot

First Volume, Chapter 49: The Humiliation Beneath the Foot

In the past, no matter how loudly Qin Feng screamed, it would have been useless—her small leather whip would have surely lashed this shameless lecher until his flesh split and he cried out for his mother and father!

But today was Ji Wang's birthday, and making a scene would benefit no one; to silence this man, Xie Yun'er kicked him over, stomped on his chest, and whipped the air with a crisp, sharp sonic crack.

Xie Yun'er narrowed her willow-browed eyes and snapped: "If you scream again, don't blame me for being uncivilized!"

This violent girl was infamous in Jingdu; Qin Feng wasn't much better, but he only sought money—this woman sought lives! Looking at the horsewhip in her hand, Qin Feng's liver trembled.

Memories of his former self revealed that there was nothing Xie Yun'er wouldn't do; if provoked, a single lash could shatter Qin Feng's body, already hollowed out by wine, lust, wealth, and greed.

Qin Feng clutched Xie Yun'er's ankle tightly and pleaded desperately: "Young Master Xie, we've never had a grudge before, nor any recent quarrel—why do you strike me so cruelly?"

Qin Feng portrayed "bowed head, submissive, tail-wagging beggary" to perfection—survival wasn't shameful. But honestly, Xie Yun'er's foot was truly small, smaller than his palm, especially her slender, smooth ankle—he could grasp it with one hand.

Had anyone seen it with their own eyes, who could believe such a delicate, gentle girl could be so brutal?

Xie Yun'er's attention was entirely on Qin Feng's face; she didn't notice his unscrupulous hands groping over her foot.

Even if she felt the pressure of his large palm, she didn't take it seriously—after all… this man's life was nearly over; how could he still harbor such filthy thoughts?

Xie Yun'er stood on one foot, pressing his chest, her knee slightly bent, arm resting on it, the other hand gripping the whip as she tapped it against Qin Feng's face: "Hmph! 'No past grudge, no recent quarrel'? Truly a shameless lecher—lying without blushing or flinching."

"Qin Feng, I've heard you've been causing chaos in Jingdu lately? Others ignore you as a madman, but I don't care if you're truly insane or pretending. Since I've run into you today, I'll loosen your bones! Remember—this is Jingdu, beneath the Son of Heaven's feet; no one here is kind. If you're a dragon, coil up; if you're a tiger, lie down."

As she spoke, Xie Yun'er raised her whip, ready to properly teach this insolent brat a lesson.

Seeing Xie Yun'er was serious, Qin Feng's heart lurched—he shouted urgently: "Even my sisters won't lay a hand on me! I'm the son of the Minister of War! Xie Yun'er, dare you?!"

Xie Yun'er's smile deepened: "Oh? Threatening me? Let me tell you—I've already beaten two sons of the Six Ministries' ministers; you're the third. See if I dare."

Qin Feng had never expected much—if threats wouldn't work, he immediately switched tactics, his expression flipping 180 degrees into a beaming, groveling smile: "Young Master Xie, if you spare me, I'll reward you handsomely. How much do you want? Name your price—as long as it's under One Thousand Liang."

Xie Yun'er burst into laughter, shaking her head in disbelief: "One Thousand Liang? Are you trying to bribe a beggar? Didn't you extort plenty from Cheng Fa and others? Your life's on the line, yet you won't spend a single tael? You're a miser who'd rather die than part with silver."

"Enough! I won't waste words with you—today, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal can't save you from this whipping."

This woman was unmoved by either kindness or threats—all of Qin Feng's schemes born from clutching her heel had failed. No choice—he had to gamble everything!

As Xie Yun'er raised her whip, Qin Feng, desperate as a dying horse, shouted: "I didn't tell anyone about the mole on your waist!"

At these words, Xie Yun'er froze—her furious face turned deathly pale, then flushed crimson as if dripping blood.

A man's head, a woman's waist—in Qin Feng's time, both were sacred, off-limits to outsiders. In this feudal age, they were taboos. Touching a man's head was a grave disgrace; a hothead might die for it. That's why, whenever Qin Feng faced a tough opponent, he'd mess up their hairstyle to test their limits.

If the opponent flew into a rage, Qin Feng would stop. If they were angry but didn't resist, he'd push further.

After all, as a Wanfu, knowing how to read a person and adjust accordingly was basic etiquette.

Clothing in this era hadn't been influenced by Hu attire; women wore long robes covering every inch except their faces and hands. Though not as extreme as "exposing the wrist is a loss of virtue," a woman's waist was seen by no one in her lifetime except her destined husband.

Though Xie Yun'er's mole had become gossip across the city, it was still a shameful secret—she avoided mentioning it entirely, even when threatening Qin Feng, she skirted the issue and went straight to the point.

Now, for this man to shout it aloud, Xie Yun'er wished she could crawl into a crack in the earth.

Fortunately, no one else was nearby—Xie Yun'er, furious and humiliated, snarled: "Even as you face death, you still lie! I've already questioned the servants in my household—many saw you trespass into the Back Courtyard on my father's birthday."

"I'll return your own words to you unchanged: We had no quarrel—why slander my purity? Now, every rogue in Jingzhong uses me as gossip—have you had your fill?"

Facing Xie Yun'er's uncontrollable rage, Qin Feng now understood: "I did accidentally enter the Back Courtyard that day, but it was unintentional. I'd never been to the Xie Residence before—how could I know where your chamber was? Even if I had known, with so many maids and servants present, how could I have had the chance to spy?"

"Someone framed me—used me as a blade to kill."

Xie Yun'er's brows remained knotted, her gaze still furious: "Stop lying! The maids in the Back Courtyard are my family's loyal servants—they'd never betray their masters. In all of Jingdu, only you set foot in my private quarters—who else could it be?"

Xie Yun'er refused to believe this scoundrel's lies; she'd heard he was sharp-tongued and cunning—today, she saw it was true.

At that moment, Xie Yun'er felt an odd sensation on her ankle—she looked down and saw Qin Feng's two filthy hands groping wildly over her ankle—not struggling for life, but seizing the chance to grope!

Xie Yun'er's face blazed with shame and fury: "You wretched bastard! Even as you face death, you still harbor such filthy thoughts? I'd believe a sow could climb a tree before I believed you!"

Qin Feng looked wounded—how could he be blamed? She was the one who'd deliberately stuck her foot out.