The people of the Ning family watched blankly. Their initial stupor and fear gradually turned into heartache, and their eyes slowly reddened.
They felt her pain as if it were their own! For the first time, they felt that this unfamiliar young girl was their closest kin—a relative connected by blood, sharing both honor and disgrace.
If she were not their kin, who else would risk their life to stand up and save them from this fire and water?
Ning Liu could no longer restrain herself. She wailed and lunged forward. "Stop hitting her! Stop hitting her! My Fifth Sister is just a delicate girl; you’re going to kill her!"
She called out "Fifth Sister" with every breath, completely forgetting how much she had rejected Ning Zhiwei before.
Xiao Linfeng, the Commander of the Jinyiwei, issued a cold order. "Pull her away."
After an unknown number of strikes, the screams gradually weakened. The girl's head slumped forward, motionless, and blood stained her entire back.
"Your Majesty, she has fainted."
Commotion broke out everywhere. The commoners were anxious and worried, and the sounds of pleading became incessant.
With tears streaming down their faces, the Ning family members struggled to scramble over, shielding the unconscious Ning Zhiwei.
Fourth Miss Ning knelt down weeping. "Your Majesty, I beg you to let her go. Please, I beg you."
The Emperor’s expression was as indifferent as snow.
Marquis Ningyuan's brow furrowed slightly. Ning Zhiwei’s beating had won her the hearts of the people and public opinion, but it also caused displeasure in the sovereign's heart.
Was it worth it?
Xiao Linfeng, who was attending the monarch's side, looked down from his high position at the girl lying in a pool of blood. A flicker of something indiscernible flashed in his eyes. "Bring cold water and douse her awake."
The Ning family members glared at him with pure resentment. This dog of an official was too cold and heartless.
A basin of cold water was thrown over her, and Ning Zhiwei woke up. She lifted her pale little face, looking as though she were at death's door.
"Don't cry. Remember, even if I die, you must live on well—for the sake of the heroes who gave their lives generously for the country, and for the hundred-year reputation of the Ning family."
Ning Zhiwei's breath was weak, and she seemed about to expire, but her words were stirring and passionate. "My Ning family has guarded the Northwest for generations, defending the territory with our lives. Our blood has stained the borders; we have no regrets even after a hundred deaths."
Look at her! Even while struggling on the brink of life and death, she remained loyal and brave, pleading the Ning family's case.
Enduring the agony, she took a deep breath. "If I die, burn my body and scatter my ashes at the border. I, Ning Zhiwei, am willing to protect the local people even after death. May the lands of our Da Qi Dynasty remain eternal, and may the people be spared from the suffering of war."
Her voice gradually faded, her chest stopped heaving, her eyes closed weakly, and her slender arm slid down…
This scene deeply pierced the eyes of the Ning family's women and children. It also completely awakened the blood and indignation in their hearts; their chests felt as hot as if they were burning.
People of the Ning family, Soul of the Ning family.
"Ahhh! Fifth Sister, please don't die!" Ning Liu screamed, completely losing control. She had been wrong before. This was her true elder sister—a good sister who used her own flesh and blood to trade for a chance at survival for the Ning family women.
This scene also deeply stung the hearts of the commoners in the capital, who began to sob uncontrollably.
Before this, the people only knew that the Ning Family Army was formidable in battle. However, the imperial family had intentionally suppressed such news for the sake of their power. The citizens of the capital had no real concept of the Ning family's loyalty and righteousness, nor did they have any personal experience of it.
But at this moment, the words "loyalty" and "righteousness" had taken a concrete form, vividly displayed before the people.
So this was the Ning family. Even a weak woman could be so profoundly sensible and sacrifice herself for justice. Her integrity was unmatched in this world.
The name Ning Zhiwei was also deeply engraved in their hearts, becoming the embodiment of all that was beautiful in the world.
She could not die!
With a sudden burst of grief, someone cried out, tears flowing uncontrollably as they knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, such a loyal and righteous girl cannot be allowed to die!"
"The Ning family was framed by treacherous people! Your Majesty, you must seek justice for the Ning family!"
"Is there no justice left in this world? Heavens, open your eyes and see!"
In an instant, cries rose from all sides. The commoners knelt across the ground, weeping as they pleaded for Ning Zhiwei and the Ning family.
The Emperor looked deeply at the seemingly breathless Ning Zhiwei, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. "Have the Head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine come over."
The court officials looked grave, exchanging glances.
This girl appeared beautiful and frail, yet she had used her own body to set a trap and fought with her life to gild a golden statue for the Ning family and herself—one that would be immortal and indestructible.
Civil officials die from remonstrating, while military officers die in battle. Throughout history, censors have sought the court caning to earn a reputation for integrity, daring to contradict the Emperor in court to gain fame across the world. Note (1)
Ning Zhiwei’s move shared the same subtle brilliance.
After this battle, she had the people's hearts. Who would dare move against her easily?
Even with imperial power, one would have to exercise some caution.
This was an upright and transparent strategy. What she calculated were the hearts of the people, and what she gambled on was the future of the Ning family.
The Head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine arrived with a group of physicians. Some felt her pulse, some poured water, and they forced a Life-preserving Pill down her throat before administering several acupuncture needles.
Under the hopeful gaze of countless people, Ning Zhiwei’s eyelids fluttered.
"Fifth Sister, wake up quickly!"
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu!"
The Head of the Imperial Academy of Medicine withdrew his hand and bowed. "Reporting to Your Majesty, Fifth Miss Ning's injuries are severe. She cannot endure any further heavy punishment."
The Crown Prince's eyes darted around before he knelt. "Erchen implores Royal Father to spare Fifth Miss Ning. Let the remaining strikes be waived."
Su Mingjin also knelt down swiftly. "Imperial Uncle, you love your subjects as a father loves his children. Fifth Miss Ning is also your subject. Even if she has done something wrong, please be magnanimous and forgive her."
The other princes knelt one after another, and the court officials naturally followed suit.
The Emperor looked at the people kneeling across the ground, his expression unreadable. "How many strikes remain?"
Rong Jing bowed respectfully to the Emperor. "Eleven strikes."
The Emperor remained silent for a long time, his thoughts unknown.
Ning Zhiwei looked toward the crowd, where the hidden hands she had arranged beforehand were stationed.
The white-haired Lady Ning suddenly knelt with a slight tremble. "Your Majesty, we women of the Ning family are willing to share these remaining strikes together. We shall live and die together, sharing both hardships and tribulations."
Ning Liu froze for a moment. That was right! There were so many women in the Ning family; sharing them wouldn't be much.
However, since there were elderly and young in the family, she should take on more.
"I am willing to take three strikes."
The other Ning women responded one after another. "I will too! There are many of us; one strike each will be more than enough."
The women of the Ning family rushed forward without hesitation. The courage bursting from them was so brilliant it was heart-stirring.
Women were not inferior to men. Who said daughters were lesser?
"Granted."
Watching the scene of the Ning family women taking turns to receive the caning, everyone fell silent.
This was no longer a punishment; it was clearly an honor. Each strike that fell upon them was a testament to their merit.
People of the Ning family, Soul of the Ning family. The men were loyal to the country and sacrificed themselves for justice, while the women were matchless in their loyalty and integrity. They could be called the paragons of the Da Qi Dynasty.
Through their actions, they had won the respect of the world. From this day forward, even without male heirs to protect them, they could still stand firm in the capital.
Ning Zhiwei's indifferent expression wavered slightly, and her chest felt warm. It turned out they were such wonderful women. It was a pity that in her past life, they all met terrible ends…
In this life, she would do everything in her power to protect them and preserve the legacy of the Ning family.
Her gaze swept across the crowd. Familiar yet strange faces flashed by, pausing for a moment on the cold face of the Dingyuan Marquis. As if sensing something, he looked back.
In that instant of eye contact, there was strangeness, coldness, and a hint of unspeakable complexity.