Shen Youying did not accept the invitation, which made Shen Muyu secretly relieved.
She didn't get along with Shen Youying, but she didn't consider herself a heartless ingrate who could obey Prince Chen without any burden and help him plot his despicable scheme to seize her brother and sister-in-law. However, she had no choice but to submit to his authority; Prince Chen had ordered her to deliver the invitation, and she dared not refuse.
Now it's perfect. She sent the invitation, and Shen Youying herself didn't want to come, so Chen Wang's side has been satisfied.
Shen Muyu changed her clothes and went to the front courtyard with only one maid to report back to Prince Chen.
After hearing this, King Chen raised his eyebrows and looked at her with a half-smile: "Fine, I know you sisters aren't close. Since you can't invite her this time, then let's do it next time."
Before Shen Muyu could even catch her breath, she was already on edge again at his mention of "next time".
She hung her head, nervously twisting the handkerchief in her hand, looking anxious.
"Come here." Chen Wangchao beckoned to her, and when she came closer, he pulled her into his arms and inhaled the fragrance from her neck: "I was a little rough last time, did I hurt you?"
Shen Muyu naturally couldn't say yes, so she could only shake her head.
But as Chen Wang held her, her body stiffened slightly, still remembering the rough and painful encounter before.
Ignoring her resistance, Prince Chen took out a menacing wooden weapon from a hidden compartment in his desk, slid it across her cheek a few times, and laughed, "Now that your injury has healed, let's try something new today."
...
When Prince Chen left the study, Shen Muyu was still unable to get up.
She lay amidst the mess on the bed, her eyes red and swollen, almost dry from crying. What drove her to despair even more than the physical pain was the fact that she had truly loved this man.
But only today did she truly understand him.
He's a beast in human skin.
All the gentleness and consideration are just illusions to lure the prey into a trap.
She thought she had climbed a high branch and was willing to break with her family to become a concubine in Prince Chen's mansion, but she got stuck in a quagmire and could never climb out.
Shen Muyu buried her face in her arms, not daring to cry out loud.
The study door was pushed open, and two maids came in to clean up the mess, but they ignored Shen Muyu on the bed.
Shen Muyu's clothes were torn to shreds, not a single piece was intact. She was now barely clothed, but the maids seemed not to see it, and continued to clean up while the door was open.
Shen Muyu curled up, hugging herself awkwardly, and pleaded with the two, "Could you please go to the Banana Garden and call Dongqing here?"
She came without a maid.
The cleaning maid glanced at her disdainfully and said, "Madam, we're all busy here. His Highness has ordered us to clean the study as soon as possible, as he will need it tonight."
Shen Muyu pursed her lips in humiliation, pulled out the jade hairpin from her hair and handed it to them, saying in a kind voice, "Banana Garden is not far, it won't take long, please make the trip."
The jade hairpin was of excellent quality, clearly not a cheap item. The two maids exchanged a glance, reluctantly accepted the hairpin, and one of them went out to deliver the message.
A quarter of an hour later, Dongqing rushed over with a change of clothes. When he saw her naked body curled up on the bed, with horrifying bruises on her exposed skin, his eyes reddened.
She shielded Shen Muyu with her body and said, "I will help you change, Miss."
Shen Muyu forced a smile, wanting to laugh but unable to. In the end, she hurriedly changed her clothes and said to her, "Don't cry, or people will laugh at you."
Dongqing obediently held back her tears and helped her back to the Banana Garden.
However, what happened in the study was just the beginning.
In the past, Shen Muyu would go to great lengths to lure Prince Chen to her in order to win his favor. But now, she doesn't need to go to such lengths; Prince Chen stays at the Banana Garden every night.
But when Shen Muyu looked at him, there was no longer any love or admiration, only a deep fear.
Instead of showing her affection, Prince Chen punished her.
He somehow found those torture devices from brothels and used them on her one by one. Shen Muyu's body was covered in wounds, yet she still had to force a smile and cooperate.
She had never longed for anything like this before, hoping that Prince Chen would never set foot in the Banana Garden again.
But Prince Chen was clearly trying to torture her, blatantly threatening her that the torment would not end until she could bring Shen Youying to him.
After seeing Prince Chen off, Shen Muyu endured the humiliation and had Dongqing apply medicine to her.
After changing her clothes, she said to Dongqing, "Father's birthday is coming soon. Send me a letter to the Prince of Qin's residence and say that I want to give Father a birthday gift, but I can't decide what to do. I would like to ask my second sister to come over and help me with some advice."
Dongqing, unaware of the deeper meaning, curtsied and went to the Prince of Qin's residence to deliver the message.
Shen Muyu leaned wearily against the window, looking at the bleak winter scene outside, and gave a mocking laugh.
She'll still end up being a heartless, ungrateful wretch.
*
Shen Muyu sent another invitation, and Shen Youying was initially reluctant to go. But when she heard Dongqing say that Shen Muyu wanted to choose a birthday gift for her father and wanted to ask her for advice, she hesitated.
Although her father said he wanted to sever ties, she knew that he was still worried about Shen Muyu. He was just angry that she was so stubborn and refused to turn back, so he couldn't bring himself to show concern.
If Shen Muyu takes the initiative to take this step, her father will feel more at ease.
Shen Youying hesitated for a moment, but still agreed, saying, "Tell my elder sister that I will visit her tomorrow afternoon."
Dongqing was delighted to hear this. The young lady had been living a hard life. Although she and the second young lady had not gotten along in the past, the young lady's personality had changed a lot now. The two were sisters, and if she could talk to the second young lady, she might be able to cheer up a bit.
Dongqing curtsied, confirmed the time several times, and then happily went back.
When Shen Muyu heard Dong Qing say that Shen Youying had accepted the invitation, her expression was complicated. She listlessly stirred the bird's nest that Chen Wang had sent over, and muttered to herself, "She really is as kind-hearted as ever."
The following day at noon, Shen Youying indeed came to visit.
When Princess Qin arrived, no one dared to stop her. Now that the Chen Prince's Mansion had a mistress, Shen Youying did not lose her manners. She first visited Princess Chen with gifts, exchanged brief pleasantries, and then went to the Banana Garden to see Shen Muyu.
Shen Muyu waited for her in front of the Banana Garden.
She wore a rabbit fur vest, and her pleated skirt spread out at her feet, making her look much thinner and her eyes much more peaceful.
Shen Youying felt that she had lost a lot of weight, but seeing that her complexion was still rosy, she could only ask tactfully, "How have you been these days, elder sister?"
Shen Muyu smiled, revealing no flaw: "There's nothing good or bad about it, just leave it as it is."
I don't know when it started, but all her sharp and domineering tempers were reined in, and even the way she spoke and the tone of her voice became much more pleasant.
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