With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

Seeing Xie's reaction and considering Yun Chengming's feelings, Princess Duanli couldn't bring herself to actually whip both "Yun's daughters" in public.

She then said coldly, "Since Madam Yun says so, fine. Although Yun Wei has made mistakes, considering that she was truly harmed by someone, I will make a note of it for now."

Her sharp gaze pierced Yun Nian, who was kneeling upright, like a knife. "But you vile woman, your heart is wicked, and the evidence is conclusive. I will not let you off lightly today."

Before she finished speaking, she raised her arm high and lashed the long whip fiercely at Yun Nian's thin back.

"Snapped!"

A crisp yet deep crack of a whip echoed through the silent banquet hall.

Yun Nian's whole body trembled violently, and a burning pain instantly shot through her back.

The moon-white clothes immediately tore open, and a glaring bloodstain quickly appeared on the fair skin underneath.

She clenched her teeth and swallowed back the cry of pain that was rising in her throat.

How can one survive without being put to the brink of death?

She has to wait.

Then one must endure.

Princess Duanli saw that she did not scream or beg for mercy, but only silently shed tears. Her stubborn and straight back only aroused her more tyranny.

She raised her arm again.

However, this time, the whip failed to fall.

The princess felt a sudden weight on her wrist, and the whip, which was full of power, remained motionless, suspended in mid-air.

She turned around in shock and anger, shouting, "Who dares to stop me?!"

What came into view was a handsome face, yet cold and aloof, as if it were made of ice that had stood for millennia.

His deep eyes were looking at her calmly, yet they inexplicably made her feel a pang of fear.

"Fourth...Fourth Imperial Uncle?"

Princess Duanli's imposing presence involuntarily diminished upon recognizing the newcomer.

Qin Jiuchen glanced at her indifferently.

He then released his grip on her wrist and took the whip from her hand.

Princess Duanli stood there stunned, unsure how to react.

Everyone around held their breath, not daring to even gasp.

Qin Jiuchen held a long whip, the tip of which dipped to the ground.

He strode forward, walking slowly and deliberately towards Yun Nian.

He stopped in front of Yun Nian, his tall figure looming over her, casting a shadow that was extremely oppressive.

Yun Nian could feel the cold gaze falling on her head.

She slowly raised her head, her pale face still streaked with tears. Her eyes, wet with tears, were now like clear, bright glass washed by rain.

She met Qin Jiuchen's scrutiny without any hesitation.

At this moment, Qin Senyao rushed out of the crowd.

He had been observing from the sidelines, and now that he saw Qin Jiuchen personally wielding the whip, his heart tightened.

He quickly walked to Qin Jiuchen's side, glanced at the thin and frail Yun Nian, hesitated for a moment, and then forced himself to speak.

"Father, Nian'er... is still young, perhaps she acted impulsively. Although damaging the imperial gift is a serious offense, she is about to marry into the royal family. Could you please show leniency and punish her lightly?"

He spoke with difficulty, as if he were pleading for Yun Nian.

However, the words themselves implicitly acknowledge that Yun Nian was "wrong".

Yun Nian's sneer inwardly deepened.

Qin Jiuchen didn't turn to look at Qin Senyao; his gaze remained fixed on Yun Nian's face. His thin lips parted slightly, "Are you willing to take the punishment in her place?"

Qin Senyao was taken aback.

He opened his mouth, his expression shifting, but ultimately, under the pressure of that cold gaze and the deathly silence around him, he retreated.

He lowered his head, avoiding Yun Nian's gaze, and stammered, "Your son... Your son dares not overstep his bounds..."

Then, he silently took a step back to the side.

Qin Jiuchen snorted coldly.

He refocused his gaze on Yun Nian, his voice still devoid of emotion, "Yun Nian, what do you want to say?"

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, waiting for Yun Nian to explain herself or beg for mercy.

Yun Nian looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes, making her appear even more pitiful.

She bit her lower lip hard, and after a long while, she managed to choke out, "I have nothing to say. If Your Highness wishes to punish me, then punish me."

She didn't even bother to offer a further explanation?

Everyone was stunned.

Qin Jiuchen looked at her quietly, his eyes completely still, like a deep, cold pool that reflected no light or shadow.

He slowly raised the arm that was holding the long whip.

Yun Nian closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently.

*Smack!*

A louder and sharper crack of the whip exploded out.

Instead of Yun Nian's muffled groan, a piercing, distorted scream rang out: "Ah!!"

Yun Nian suddenly opened her eyes.

Yun Wei, who was kneeling not far from her, was knocked to the ground like a rag doll by the whip.

A long gash appeared on his shoulder and back, the skin and flesh were torn open, and blood instantly soaked through his clothes.

Yunwei, her face deathly pale with pain, rolled on the ground crying out, "It hurts so much! Mother! Help me!"

"Vell!"

Ms. Xie screamed and rushed over to hug her daughter, but she was afraid of touching her wound. She was flustered and her face was contorted with heartache.

She looked up, staring at Qin Jiuchen with a mixture of shock and anger, and exclaimed, "Prince Ningxiang, why are you doing this? It was Yun Nian who pushed Wei'er down and broke the Guanyin statue, why did you hit Wei'er?!"

Qin Jiuchen stood holding a whip, his black casual clothes making him appear even more upright and tall, his face as cold and stern as ice.

He slowly turned around, his sharp gaze like a blade sweeping over Xie Shi and Yun Wei, who was trembling on the ground.

When Xie was swept by his gaze, all the questions and anger in her heart were suddenly extinguished as if by ice water. She involuntarily looked away and dared not meet his eyes.