I returned home a wiser and calmer man. I felt confident again in my ability to keep my household under complete control. Including Yukiko.
Yes, my brother-in-law had been right that a samurai can't show weakness. He can show leniency and kindness to those vulnerable and deserving, but he can't be weak in the face of a challenge. The only way to deal with a challenge is to face it and defeat the challenger.
There were only a few days left before my wedding, but I knew it was enough to restore the proper order before Hana's arrival.
First, I received Hana's future chojo, a soft-spoken middle-aged woman with sharp intelligent eyes.
"Have you visited my future wife already?" I asked.
"Yes, master," she said, kneeling before me and bowing to the floor. "I had the pleasure of visiting the future Madam Matsuda three times already."
"How is she doing? Does she need anything before the ceremony?"
"She's doing very well, master," the chojo replied, remaining bowed. "She thanks the heavens and your lordship for her unexpected happiness."
I smiled to myself. I was a good master and a good husband. Tough, but fair.
"How's her health?"
"The future madam is in excellent health," the chojo said, this time raising her chin and glancing at me slightly. "Does your lordship have any specific requirements?"
I shrugged. "What kind of requirements?"
"For the ceremony or the wedding night. Does master have any particular desires that I could prepare for and instruct the future madam about?"
I pondered. I wanted to do everything I could with Hana, but she was a virgin, after all.
"I'll take it step by step," I said. "Is she ready for consummation?"
"Madam is eagerly awaiting it," bowed the chojo. "She loves your lordship very much, and I've been assisting her by providing a preparatory massage of her flower area. I'm certain your lordship is going to find it easy to consummate and will be fully satisfied by the young wife."
My cock stiffened from the sound of that.
"Keep up the good work," I said. "You may leave now."
Once the chojo left, I told Takumi to bring in my wife.
Before she came in, I placed a low bench in the middle of the room.
"Good afternoon, husband," murmured Yukiko, kneeling by the mat. "I hope you had a pleasant trip."
"Yes, my dear, it was quite pleasant, thank you," I replied. "I even brought some presents for you from your brother and also from me."
"I thank you very much, husband," she said, bowing. "You're spoiling me."
"But first, I'd like to feel some of your caress." I sat down on the mat and gestured towards the bench. "Please, lie down, Yukiko-dono."
I saw confusion in her eyes, but after she saw me open my kimono, she blushed and lowered herself on the bench, face down, and opened her mouth.
I put my cock into her mouth and let her suck on it for a few moments. Then I gently got hold of her head and held it firmly down while I pushed my cock deep inside. Yukiko gagged, her eyes darting in my direction.
When I let her go, she gasped for air, her mouth gaping wide.
"This will make it easier for you," I said, using her gasping in order to put a mouth gag into her mouth and tie it behind her head. "It's a present from your brother."
The gag was made of an expensive silk. Its thick front section sat between the wearer's teeth, with the middle part fitted with a small wooden ball going inside the mouth to hold the person's tongue in place.
Yukiko attempted to say something, but she was only able to produce a pitiful quiet whine.
"That's okay," I said, taking a silk scarf out of my pocket and wrapping it around her wrists. I tied both of her hands to the bottom of the bench so that she wouldn't be able to get up.
"You see, my dear wife," I said, looking straight into her wide-open eyes, "disobedience leads to the downfall of the entire noble household. I know that, you know that, and your family knows that. So your behavior has to be punished and corrected."
I picked up a bundle from the floor and unwrapped it. Inside, there was a leather whip and a bamboo riding crop with a leather flap that I purchased in Joetsu City on my way back.
"And these," I said, "are my presents for you."
Yukiko let out a muffled hum, shaking her head, her eyes opening even wider in fear.
"Don't worry, it's not that scary," I said and patted her hair. "It's not as bad as real flogging. It'll hurt just enough to remind you what behavior is considered unacceptable in this house."
I lifted her kimono and bared her buttocks and lower back. Ignoring her unintelligible humming, I raised the whip and brought it down on her butt firmly, not too hard and not too soft. She jerked, moaning.
"Remember that every time you disobey and disrespect your husband, you will face a punishment," I said calmly.
I struck her across the lower back, and then again on her butt, and then on her thighs. The whip's tails were soft, and only left faint temporary red marks on the skin, helping me see where I hit already.
I lashed her two more times, feeling my cock stiffen. Even though I'm a good master, I have my weaknesses. I guess, this was yet another one of those. Seeing my wife's body jerking under the strikes of my whip excited me.
I opened my kimono and spread her butt cheeks, forcing my cock into her pussy. She moaned again, but that only excited me more.
I thrust several times and then used the whip on her lower back, while my cock was deep inside. Her wriggling produced a new sensation in me, and I kept pounding her while lashing occasionally, until I unexpectedly quickly exploded into her pussy. I panted frantically, watching Yukiko squirm underneath me.
It all felt very good.
I straightened my kimono and put the whip aside. After untying Yukiko's hands, I took her face in my hands and said, "I love you, Yukiko. But you have to be obedient. Do you understand?"
She nodded, her eyes red and teary.
"Very good," I said and kissed her cheeks and forehead. "For the next few days, I expect you to come here every day after breakfast to receive your punishment. Do you understand?"
She nodded again, a solitary tear rolling down her cheek.
I untied and removed her gag.
"I love you, Yukiko," I said.
"I love you too, husband," she muttered. "I'm very sorry about what happened. I'll be the most obedient wife in the future."
I kissed her on her trembling mouth.
"I'm very happy to hear you say that, Yukiko-dono," I said. "I'm certain I'll be proud of my most beautiful and most obedient wife. I'll see you here tomorrow after breakfast."