Gao Wei leaned over the railing torn between amusement and irritation, cracking his fan repeatedly against his palm. He had been enormously surprised when the ugly girl, who was dressed as a boy, had broken her fall on the top of a carriage and then hilariously collided with an affectionate couple who had been walking next to it. 

The pretty one had then appeared to pull her companion up, and they had escaped in the midst of the furor 

“That ugly bitch is either very lucky or very unlucky…” he sneered.

“Young Master…Chase?” a guard asked, and then bowed.

“Of course, we’ll give chase. Ready a horse: we’ll meet at the city gate,” he waved lazily, unconcerned.

Although the two girls had the advantage of the crowd, once they left the city there would not be a shade that could shelter them. They were on foot and he would be on horseback. It would only be a matter of time and his blood rose as he anticipated pleasurable hunting.

However, it was not to be as another guard strode up to report:

“Forgive your subordinate, Young Master. The Madam desires you to return to the manor immediately to meet with your betrothed. She’s been waiting an hour…y-you must return.”

Hissing, Gao Wei took out his annoyance by smashing the fan into the man’s face.

“Go back!” he snarled, sweeping his sleeves out and waving a hand as the man slowly stood and wiped the blood from his nose. Sighing, he followed.

While Gao Wei unenthusiastically obeyed his mother, where it was now entirely possible that those two girls would get away his mood became exceedingly foul. Simmering, he returned to the family manor, unable to contemplate the pleasant prospect of a chase until the following morning.

Three streets away, Xiao Yu and Cui Xi continued to weave through the crowd. Xiao Yu had pushed a pressure point and sealed off the pain from her arm for her, but Cui Xi could still feel it pulsing.

“Come on,” she gritted. 

Cui Xi had had the same thought as Gao Wei. They would have nowhere to hide if they tried to leave the city…but…

“It would be better to hide in the city, but I’m worried that they will find your father,” she said to Xiao Yu.

“I know,” Xiao Yu murmured, biting her lip. She had already concluded that her father had left first because he had some item on his person that could not be revealed to others. It would do no good to mention to Cui Xi that he had probably eluded their pursuers quite easily.

Not saying much more to each other, they escaped out of the city. By staying off the main road, they had hoped they would make enough time to dodge the eldest son of the City Lord, but of course they hoped in vain.

Gao Wei and his men caught up with them at mid-morning, surrounding them with their horses.

“Where are you going, pretty little girl?” he asked with a smile and leaned comfortably over his saddle horn to peer at them. “You’re so pretty…aren’t you honoured that you have caught my interest? Hmmmn? Not grateful? Well then, I think someone needs to be taught a lesson. 

Xiao Yu backed away, but there was no where they could run.

A man dismounted and uncoiled a short whip.

“Hit her a few times so that we can get going. I’ve waited half a day already. But don’t damage her too badly…” commanded Gao Wei impatiently.

“How can you let him bully us? You must have sisters, daughters, mothers! Are you not ashamed?” Cui Xi appealed to the men angrily. She grabbed at the arm of the man about to raise the whip.

“Impudent garbage!” he sneered, throwing her onto the ground and once again raised the whip. It curled in the air, twisting as it descended. She scrambled up immediately.

“No!” Cui Xi cried, throwing her arms open and dashing in front of Xiao Yu. The first stroke caught her across the chest, and she gasped, but then she quickly turned her body, determinedly wrapping her arms around Xiao Yu to shield her. 

Her back was now fully exposed before the hand of Gao Wei’s guard.

“Don’t look!” Cui Xi ordered in a hoarse voice as the strikes continued to come down.

Rough hands reached to drag her away, but she hung on and in the background Gao Wei laughed cruelly.

“Fine! Beat the ugly one to death and then we will take the pretty girl,” he said, sounding bored. “Useless trash looking for death. Good! I’ll gift it to you!”

He flicked back his sleeves and sat back on his horse, grinning expectantly. See how long you last 

Cui Xi panted with pain and rage. Her mouth and throat were dry, and the pain was appalling, but she did not cry out, only grunting as the lash connected again and again.

The sound of it was nauseating as it contacted with her flesh. Her gorge rose and she choked it back as she heard the swift whistle followed by a crack as the whip tore through the fabric of her robe. Still she held her arms tight around Xiao Yu and endured it.

Xiao Yu was crying, but she did not struggle knowing that this would only make things more painful for Cui Xi. She just cried harder as the arms and body locked tightly around her spasmed with every impact.

“I don’t want this! Gao Gongzi* I beg you!” she sobbed.

His men looked on impassively.

“It won’t be long now…” Cui Xi whispered comfortingly into Xiao Yu’s ear. Her vision was already blurring, and she was only hanging on by sheer will. Shuddering, she felt rather than heard the thunder of hooves…She hoped that even if they beat her into a bloody pulp it would at least satisfy Gao Wei and he would leave Xiao Yu alone or someone would intercede. Intercede? She realized that she wasn’t thinking straight and shook herself. She had to stay awake!

However, the strokes now numbered in the tens and because the fabric had torn away from her back, the lash was like living fire on her flesh. She wondered dimly if she would die now. How stupid!

Rousing a bit, she said very quietly, almost to herself:

“Gao Wei, with the heavens as my witness, I Wu Cui Xi swear that I will return this to you tenfold. This grudge: I will remember it,” she looked up and smiled at him with glittering eyes and then, unable to hang on, she slipped into unconsciousness.

At her words Xiao Yu had stiffened, but only gripped her hand tighter. She turned to catch Cui Xi as felt she finally slump forward.