Chapter 94: Extra · Punishment
Fang Jian was promoted to the junior fourth rank and gained the privilege of attending morning court, meaning she had to wake up before dawn. Fortunately, the Gao residence was not far from the Imperial City, which was much better than the situation for officials who had to rush in from the outer city.
When they first returned from Chuzhou, neither of them was accustomed to the schedule. Every day, they had to be woken by Xiuzhu and Gao Yuan, dressing and washing in a daze. Gradually, they grew used to it, rising early and helping each other get ready. When they stepped outside, a servant boy would be waiting with their horses. They would take the reins, mount up, and ride out of the alley, one after the other. Once they reached the main street, their pace would slow. Most officials heading to court took this road, and it was crowded with carriages and horses. Wary of colliding with anyone, they slowed their mounts and rode side-by-side.
They lived together, inseparable, a natural and tight-knit alliance. Yet, they had an unspoken agreement to avoid bringing official matters home as much as possible, and they rarely mentioned work in front of each other. The conversations they had now were nothing more than idle chatter.
They arrived fairly early, dismounting outside the palace gates. They let the servant boy lead the horses away, straightened their attire, and walked into the clusters of officials gathered in twos and threes. Here, they had to part ways. Gao Yunqu was a second-rank minister and naturally had to stand among the high officials in their purple robes. Fang Jian, meanwhile, went to find her own colleagues.
When the time came, everyone grew solemn. They formed ranks and, following the instructions of the ritual officer, methodically paid their respects to the monarch and discussed matters of state.
This was the start of their every day. After court dispersed, a full day of work at their respective ministries awaited. Sometimes they would be busy late into the night; other times they could leave early. If they returned early, they could have a meal together. Afterward, they would each attend to their own work in the study, or pass the time playing chess or reading together. Sometimes, Fang Jian would ask Gao Yunqu for advice on a difficult work matter, but most of the time, Gao Yunqu would only offer a few pointers and refrain from looking too deeply. She was the head of the Ministry of Personnel; it was not proper for her to extend her reach into the Ministry of Revenue.
On their days off, if they had no other plans, they would go riding in the capital's outskirts or find something to do at home. It was spring, and the weather was growing warmer. Fang Jian dragged Gao Yunqu to the garden to go fishing. Though it was her idea, it was Gao Yunqu who proved to be more patient. Fang Jian soon put down her fishing rod and turned her head to watch Gao Yunqu.
Gao Yunqu glanced at her. "What are you looking at me for?"
"It seems you've started to favor brighter dresses recently, my lord. And your hairstyle is a bit more casual?" Fang Jian asked hesitantly.
"Does it look good?" Gao Yunqu looked at her, the dangling ornament in her hair swaying gently.
Fang Jian blurted out, "Of course. It's very beautiful."
Gao Yunqu raised an eyebrow. "Do you know why?"
"Why?"
Gao Yunqu smiled. "Because I'm past the age of being called a brat."
Fang Jian was struck speechless by that, and a little annoyed. Because now, she was the one being called that.
Their relationship was an open secret to Wei Qi, so they didn't bother to hide it much. Close friends like Dai Yao naturally understood without needing to be told. There were some rumors circulating, but no one could find any real dirt on them. Gao Yunqu was a second-rank official who held power over promotions and evaluations; no one dared to offend her. Fang Jian was a different story. She wore a scarlet robe at such a young age, worked in a powerful agency like the Ministry of Revenue, was beautiful, favored by Her Majesty, and was close to Gao Yunqu. Those who couldn't stand her prominence naturally used her age against her. The kinder ones said she was wet behind the ears, while others hinted that her relationship with Gao Yunqu was improper. Some went even further, claiming she had warmed Her Majesty's bed. But these were just the private whispers of jealous people, not even worthy of being called rumors, so even Wei Qi could do little about it.
Fang Jian was thin-skinned, so she began to dress in a more somber and mature style, much like Gao Yunqu used to, hoping to draw less attention to her age. In contrast, Gao Yunqu had changed her style and started wearing bright and fashionable casual clothes.
"Weren't you ever bothered by it before, my lord?" Fang Jian asked, resting her chin on her hands as she sat beside Gao Yunqu.
"I suppose I was, to some extent," Gao Yunqu said, narrowing her eyes. In truth, the criticism she had faced in her youth far surpassed what Fang Jian was experiencing. She had been even younger than Fang Jian was now, Wei Qi's authority had not been as strong, and she hadn't had another Gao Yunqu to support her. Countless people had alluded to an improper relationship between her and Wei Qi. "It's nothing more than a bit of jealousy. The more you care, the happier they are. There's no reasoning with them. Just pretend you don't hear it. In five or ten years, you'll look back and see you've left them far behind."
Fang Jian grew thoughtful.
Suddenly, the fishing line tugged. Gao Yunqu quickly stood up to reel it in. In the frantic motion, water splashed all over them. Drenched and disheveled, they looked at each other and smiled. This was nice, too.
But life wasn't always so placid.
After the events in Chuzhou, the court enjoyed a brief period of calm. The powerful families in the various regions had witnessed Her Majesty's thunderous methods and were all keeping their heads down. Fan Ying's New Policies were also progressing in an orderly fashion. Gao Yunqu, new to the Ministry of Personnel, was following her usual habit of first taking time to settle in and gauge the situation. She reverted to her quiet and unobtrusive demeanor from years past, rarely speaking on matters of state and often spending morning court holding her tablet and resting her mind.
"Your humble servant, Fang Jian, has a memorial to present." A familiar voice broke through her reverie. It was common for Fang Jian to present memorials. They didn't discuss official business at home, so Gao Yunqu had no involvement in what Fang Jian did. But it was a familiar voice, so she listened with half an ear. The more she listened, however, the more surprised and angry she became.
Fang Jian said, "...Your servant requests the full implementation of the Merit Evaluation System!"
Gao Yunqu stared in astonishment at Fang Jian, who stood in the middle of the hall. Half the court officials looked at Fang Jian, while the other half looked at Gao Yunqu. Fang Jian didn't dare raise her head to look at her. She remained half-bowed, her etiquette before the throne impeccable.
After court was dismissed, Gao Yunqu immediately went to find Fang Jian, but she was too fast. Gao Yunqu only caught a glimpse of the corner of her robe.
Fine. Don't you dare come home tonight, Gao Yunqu thought, grinding her teeth.
Gao Yunqu left her post early and went home. She ate dinner by herself and then reclined on the couch in the outer part of the bedroom, flipping through a book. She was still angry, waiting for Fang Jian to come back and explain herself.
Fang Jian finally returned late that night. She deliberately went to her room to bathe and change her clothes before coming over. She leaned obediently against Gao Yunqu's feet and asked softly, "Are you still angry with me, my lord?"
Gao Yunqu snorted. "I wouldn't dare. Lord Fang is quite the schemer." After thinking about it all day, she had a rough idea of what Fang Jian was trying to do. Fang Jian had already reaped the greatest rewards from her achievements in Chuzhou and wouldn't gain much from the subsequent New Policies. If she wanted to advance further, she would have to find merit elsewhere. Wei Qi had promoted Gao Yunqu to Minister of Personnel specifically for the Merit Evaluation System, and that was precisely what Gao Yunqu had been preparing for. Fang Jian had found the opportune moment to bring it to a head for them, while also absorbing the cannon fire that would have been aimed at Gao Yunqu. It had to be said, Fang Jian was a little too clever.
Fang Jian rubbed against Gao Yunqu's leg and said with a placating smile, "My lord~ Weren't you planning to submit this very memorial in the next few days anyway?"
Gao Yunqu gently pinched Fang Jian's chin, lifting her head to meet her gaze. "A'jian, you are very clever."
"Then you're not angry anymore?" Fang Jian's face lit up.
"Those are two different things," Gao Yunqu sneered. The little whelp didn't know her limits. She was already bearing the slander of having advanced through favoritism, yet she still chose to jump into the fray to take more criticism. Not obedient at all.
Fang Jian gently rubbed her palm against Gao Yunqu's, her tone suggestive. "Then punish me, my lord…"
Gao Yunqu raised an eyebrow. "How should I punish you?"
Fang Jian pulled a ferule from behind her back and placed it in Gao Yunqu's hand. "However my lord wishes to punish me."
In years past, Gao Yunqu had used that ferule to supervise Fang Jian's studies, striking her palm with it countless times. After Fang Jian had made a name for herself, the ferule had been set aside in the study, never to be used again. But now, Fang Jian had brought it out.
Gao Yunqu weighed the ferule, tapping it lightly against her own palm. It made a dull sound. Fang Jian's hand trembled involuntarily as old memories flooded her mind, which she quickly suppressed.
Gao Yunqu used the end of the ferule to lift Fang Jian's chin, asking with a soft laugh, "At my mercy? Hmm?"
"Yes," Fang Jian replied, her voice trembling. She had started this, so it was up to her to extinguish Gao Yunqu's fire.
Gao Yunqu laughed twice, then suggestively poked Fang Jian's waist with the ferule and tilted her chin. "Undress."
Fang Jian said nothing. She stood up, untied her belt, and shed her clothes. Her movements were slow, pulling the sash bit by bit, letting the fabric slide away. Every motion was incredibly seductive. But Gao Yunqu remained unmoved. When Fang Jian stood naked before her, she tapped her on the side of her waist with the ferule and commanded, "Go wait for me on the bed."
Fang Jian complied. Gao Yunqu went to find something, then washed her hands. When she returned to the bedside, Fang Jian was already kneeling on the bed, waiting for her. She tapped the bedframe. "Get into position."
Fang Jian swallowed the saliva that had pooled in her mouth from nervousness and arranged herself as requested, supporting her weight on her elbows and knees. Her shoulders and waist dipped, and her buttocks rose. Gao Yunqu folded a quilt and tucked it under her chest and abdomen. Fang Jian's heart pounded. Without the padding, the session would probably end when she could no longer kneel, but with it… she feared she would be tormented all night. A wave of panic washed over her, but her body reacted honestly, even with a faint sense of anticipation.
Gao Yunqu's hand suddenly touched the space between her legs, squeezing hard. In an instant, a gush of fluid spilled forth. Fang Jian heard Gao Yunqu's laugh and blushed so deeply she turned pink from head to toe.
"What's the hurry? We have the day off tomorrow. We'll take it slow." Gao Yunqu's hand moved to Fang Jian's buttocks, kneading and caressing them. She was still wearing her loose, wide-sleeved house robe. The fabric was soft, but where it brushed against Fang Jian's skin, it only made her feel itchy. She shivered, and Gao Yunqu slapped her on the buttocks. "Don't move."
Fang Jian could only endure the tickling sensation and hold her body steady. She couldn't see Gao Yunqu and could only guess at her posture from where her hands roamed. Was she sitting on the edge of the bed? Or was she behind her? Would she press her entire body down on her from behind?
Gao Yunqu, of course, wouldn't let her guess so easily. She played with the soft flesh of Fang Jian's buttocks, her fingertips occasionally tracing the cleft between them, brushing against the sensitive point at the top. Fang Jian grew wetter and wetter, but every time she couldn't resist moving her hips to seek out Gao Yunqu's hand, she would be met with a slap. The more it hurt, the more freely the fluid flowed.
Gao Yunqu dipped her fingertips into the shallow stream between her thighs and sighed. "You like it when I treat you like this? Look how much you're flowing…"
Fang Jian's face flushed red, and she didn't answer.
"You're flowing too much. Perhaps we should plug you up…" As Gao Yunqu spoke, something was pushed inside her.
"Ngh…" It was very full, so full that Fang Jian couldn't help but gasp. This wasn't the first time. Fang Jian obediently accepted the round jade stone into her body. Her inner channel contracted, holding Gao Yunqu's long finger in an inviting gesture.
But Gao Yunqu withdrew her hand, patting the entrance lightly. "Hold it tight. Don't let it fall out."
Fang Jian responded with a soft sound of assent, unconsciously clenching around the stone.
"No crying, and no begging," Gao Yunqu added.
Fang Jian's breathing grew heavier. Her voice was hoarse, but she answered earnestly, "That might be a little difficult."
"Then I'll help you," Gao Yunqu said, rummaging in her sleeve. She pulled out a plum-branch brush rest, a little over a finger's length. It was a small and exquisite wooden trinket, so finely crafted it looked like a real plum branch, dotted with tiny plum blossoms. She held the small object in front of Fang Jian. "Hold this in your mouth. And don't drop it."
Fang Jian hesitated for a moment before asking, "My lord, why are you carrying a brush rest?"
"…Yanghui gave it to me today. I just happened to have it on me. But I washed it just now."
With that explanation, Fang Jian opened her mouth and took hold of the plum branch. Gao Yunqu thought for a moment and added, "Don't bite through it. I'm quite fond of it."
Hearing this, Fang Jian relaxed her teeth and held it with her lips. The amount of force required was difficult to control—she couldn't let it fall, but she couldn't damage it either. Before she could get used to it, the cool wood of the ferule gently touched the peak of her buttocks. Fang Jian tensed up immediately, her attention shifting from her mouth to her rear. She had long since learned the power of that ferule. A single strike would leave a red welt, and a few could make a palm red and swollen—painful enough, but not injurious. Now, just the feeling of it resting on her buttocks seemed to conjure the pain, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Gao Yunqu noticed. She lifted the ferule and gently placed it on her again, toying with Fang Jian's frayed nerves. "I'll give you a chance. Admit you were wrong, and I'll stop."
Fang Jian remained silent.
"Very good," Gao Yunqu sneered.
The ferule was taken away. Before Fang Jian could react, a hand slapped down, each blow heavier than the last. Waves rippled across her buttocks, and the pale flesh quickly turned pink. The object inside her was pushed in and out with each impact, disrupting her breathing. Muffled sounds of "mm, ah" escaped her throat, suppressed and restrained, which greatly pleased Gao Yunqu.
The force of the blows increased. Fang Jian was finding it hard to stay kneeling, swaying back and forth with the rhythm of the slaps. Gao Yunqu was delighted, but her words were devoid of emotion. She patted Fang Jian's leg. "Don't move. Kneel properly."
"Ooh…" Fang Jian struggled to hold her position. Gao Yunqu placed the ferule horizontally across the small of her back, threatening, "If this falls, I'll break the ferule."
"Ooh, ooh…" Fang Jian squeezed the sounds from her throat in response. There were three objects on her body, and she had to be careful with each one. The more she tried not to move, the more her body tensed and trembled. Her buttocks burned from the beating, while inside, the punishment stirred a surging tide of desire. The object within was pushed deeper with each slap, then forced outward by the gushing wetness, only to be swallowed back by her contracting muscles. Over and over. Fang Jian's mind felt like it was about to melt. She wanted to moan, to cry out, but everything was trapped in her throat, turning into nothing more than fragmented whimpers.
In a daze, the weight on her waist suddenly vanished. Before Fang Jian could react, the ferule fell heavily upon her buttocks, leaving a red mark.
"Ngh!" The sudden pain exploded in Fang Jian's mind like a clap of thunder. She forgot about preserving the brush rest, biting down on it hard and clenching her fists to endure the pain. Sweat beaded on her temples.
The second strike landed on the other buttock. It was very painful. Fang Jian trembled more violently. She clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and braced herself for the storm to come. But the third strike never fell.
Gao Yunqu's somewhat cool hand came to rest on her buttocks, rubbing the red marks from the blows. Her hand was cool, but the beaten skin was scorching hot. The touch was somewhat comforting.
Fang Jian hummed with her eyes closed, anticipating Gao Yunqu's soothing touch. But Gao Yunqu would not let her have her way. She applied a little pressure with her hand, making Fang Jian want to jump, but her waist was held down, immobilizing her. Fang Jian whimpered, begging for mercy. "Ooh, ooh, ooh…"
"A'jian, do you remember what I told you before?" Gao Yunqu said. "Once for every time you do this, hmm? You remember, don't you?"
Fang Jian nodded, her response muffled and indistinct.
"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" Gao Yunqu's hand slid from her back down to her entrance, slipping inside smoothly until it bumped against the round jade stone. Fang Jian nearly collapsed, her moans turning pitiful. "Did you think I wouldn't hold it against you if you just let me beat you?"
Gao Yunqu repeatedly pushed against the jade stone, sometimes lightly, sometimes heavily, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. She pushed her to the edge again and again, only to pull her back, never allowing her release, prolonging the torment indefinitely. Fang Jian was left weak and powerless, but the fire inside her burned ever hotter. It was unbearable. She held the brush rest in her mouth, suppressing the lewd moans that wanted to escape her throat. Saliva she couldn't contain soaked the brush rest, dripping down the branch. She bit down harder, fighting against the surging lust within her. Tears welled in her eyes, but she dared not let them fall. Her tear-streaked face was heartbreakingly beautiful. But Gao Yunqu couldn't see it. She was positioned behind Fang Jian, listening to her broken, vulnerable sounds, like those of a small animal, and imagining what a debauched state she must be in. It had been a long time since she had treated Fang Jian this way, and she felt a long-forgotten excitement.
I should have let her speak, Gao Yunqu thought. I rather want to hear her voice. But she dismissed the thought a moment later. If she spoke, she would probably soften. She needed to learn her lesson.
Gao Yunqu withdrew her hand. Fang Jian gasped for air, her entire body heaving with each breath. And then, the cold ferule touched the space between her legs.
Fang Jian's mind went blank. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. The ferule brushed against the wetness between her legs. The motion was gentle, yet it filled Fang Jian with an immense sense of dread. But she dared not move. She knelt there, her hands and feet shaking.
Gao Yunqu laughed. "So you do know fear? Why weren't you afraid when you presented your memorial?"
The ferule slowly withdrew from between her legs, pulling a glistening, suggestive thread of fluid with it. Then it cut through the air and once again slapped against her buttocks. Fang Jian cried out, a cold sweat breaking out all over her body.
"Isn't being slandered for advancing through favoritism enough for you? Starting tomorrow, the voices calling you a vile favorite of the court will be even louder. Why bother?" Gao Yunqu held the ferule, and for a moment, she had the urge to beat her until her skin broke and she ran away screaming.
Fang Jian endured the pain and silently shook her head.
"Not afraid?" Gao Yunqu struck again. "At my position, no one dares say anything about me. Isn't it good enough to stand behind me?"
Fang Jian couldn't speak, only shaking her head.
"You don't want to? Be more obedient, A'jian. I know your intentions are for my sake, but can you understand that my intentions are for yours?" This strike landed with extreme force, the pain rendering Fang Jian speechless for a moment. "You and I should be of one heart and mind. You shouldn't have hidden this from me. I don't look at your official documents to avoid suspicion and to allow you to be independent, not so you can hide things from me and take risks!"
The next three strikes were just as heavy. After the wave of pain passed, Fang Jian unclenched her jaw. The brush rest lost its support and fell onto the bed. Her voice trembling, she asked, "Then would you tell me before you submit a memorial?"
Gao Yunqu struck again. This time, there was nothing for Fang Jian to bite down on, and the moans she had been holding back for so long burst from her throat. Gao Yunqu was truly angry now. Her voice was low as she said, "I would."
Fang Jian then understood what she had done wrong. They were supposed to be of one heart, but she had not trusted Gao Yunqu. "My lord! I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"
"You really… trampled my heart into the dirt."
"My lord! I was wrong! Ah!"
Gao Yunqu said nothing more. Every strike that followed was delivered without mercy. Fang Jian wanted to escape the pain, but she was once again held down by the waist, pinned in place. Only now did she realize that what came before had been mere foreplay. The real punishment was just beginning.
Pain. A dense, spreading pain radiated from her rear throughout her entire body. But after the pain came a fine, tingling itch, an itch that seeped deep inside her and turned into a flowing stream. Fang Jian could bear neither the pain nor the desire, and she cried out, begging for mercy.
Gao Yunqu hardened her heart and delivered more than ten additional strikes, until the flesh of her buttocks was red and swollen. Only then did she let the ferule drop to the side. She covered Fang Jian with her own body, pressing her fingers into her dripping, floral path.
Gao Yunqu's position inevitably put pressure on Fang Jian's freshly beaten buttocks, which brought a different kind of pain, one that made Fang Jian break out in a sweat. Gao Yunqu's two fingers dug inside her. The jade stone was not large, and it had been inside for some time, making it slippery and hard to grasp. Gao Yunqu was focused on retrieving it, her probing making Fang Jian so weak she could no longer kneel, slumping down like a pool of water. Gao Yunqu slid her other arm underneath to support her abdomen, helping her maintain the kneeling-prone position, her hand never ceasing its work.
"…Ngh… ooh… ahhh…" The pain from behind and the desire within became entangled, turning into a wave of pleasure that rushed to her head, making Fang Jian feel as if she were on the verge of life and death. "Ah… my lord, I was wrong… I was wrong… I beg you…"
Gao Yunqu paid no heed to her pleas, continuing at her own rhythm, relentlessly pushing her to the peak. Then, amidst Fang Jian's uncontrollable moans, she dug out the jade stone. Covered in clear fluid and still warm, she tossed it aside. Before Fang Jian could catch her breath, two fingers once again buried themselves deep inside her. With nothing in the way this time, they slid in with perfect smoothness, reaching all the way to the end.
"Ah…" Fang Jian let out a low cry. Her sensitive body clamped down on Gao Yunqu's hand, but she had no strength left to resist.
The hand inside her began to move again. Desire once again enveloped Fang Jian. Pleasure could bring her immense joy, or it could bring her immense pain. The limit was entirely in Gao Yunqu's hands. She could only yield to what Gao Yunqu gave her, offering her body's most honest reactions.
When it was over, Fang Jian couldn't move a single finger. She lay limp on the bed, panting. Gao Yunqu gathered her into her arms, gently patting her on the back.
"My lord, I was wrong, I'm sorry…" Fang Jian's voice was hoarse, small, and a little blurry.
Gao Yunqu sighed and stroked Fang Jian's head. "I heard you. I'm not angry anymore."
"My lord…"
"A'jian, nothing is more important than you. Take care of yourself. Learn to rely on me, to trust me… Only then can I entrust my trust to you."
"Mm, I'll remember."
Author's Notes
Yanghui is Dai Yao's courtesy name.
Aftermath of the brush rest: It wasn't bitten through, but it was left with teeth marks, so it couldn't be used in public anymore. Gao Yunqu kept it in her room and decided to find a new use for it.
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