Chapter 91 Hidden Thoughts
Her heart sank, and her voice tightened slightly: "Has Your Excellency forgotten the deadline we agreed upon? A month has already passed, and next June will be the time for my departure."
When did he come up with such thoughts that he's now unwilling to let her go?
Pei Yanzhi turned her shoulders, the water temperature gradually cooling down, and said meaningfully, "Think about it carefully. In this world, are you sure you won't be oppressed or even humiliated when you're out in the world?"
"Even ants try to survive, let alone a mere woman?"
Ji Shu turned her head away, unwilling to look at him. Perhaps what he said made some sense, but her mind was in a mess right now, and she couldn't understand many things.
She pursed her lips and said nothing more.
Seeing the displeasure on her face, Pei Yanzhi gently pulled her into his arms. "Alright, I'll go out first. The water's getting cold. Come out quickly after you're done washing."
Ji Shu responded softly.
The next day.
The news that Ji Shuxie was staying in the West Garden of Wenxin Pavilion spread like wildfire throughout the entire mansion.
In the inner courtyard of the second house, Song Yunshu threw out all the items in her hands, her eyes filled with resentment.
Ji Shu is only somewhat beautiful, yet her elder brother has repeatedly made exceptions for her, and now he has even broken the Pei family's century-old rules.
What makes her so special?!
Why should I?!
Miaoyin knelt on the ground, trembling all over. Ever since Madam Song learned about the woman that the Marquis had brought back, she had become unpredictable, especially after being scolded by the old lady at Fushou Garden last time.
Upon his return, he threw a huge tantrum. After that, the magistrate never set foot in the Magnolia Pavilion again. The people below were all speculating that the second madam must have done something to displease the magistrate and the old lady.
Moreover, she has no children yet, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for her.
Song Yunshu gently lifted Miaoyin's chin with her toes, staring intently at her pretty face, and asked coldly, "Tell me, why does Ji Shu deserve such special treatment from the old lady as soon as she arrives, and why does my elder brother dote on her so much?"
Miaoyin struggled to lift her head, looking at the crimson beads in her eyes. She was startled, and recalling the events of the past few days, she vaguely guessed what was going on.
She looked down at her hands, which were red and covered with blisters—the marks left from being forced to kneel for two hours while carrying boiling water as punishment.
She endured the pain in her hands and knees and whispered, "This servant does not know, but since the Lord is so fond of Lady Ji, I suppose someone will soon be entering the inner quarters!"
This is what truly fueled Song's jealousy. She had thought that she could simply watch him from afar, even if it was just his back.
This was not the first time he had returned victorious from a battle. In the past, every time he returned, he was always gentle and kind, and the gifts he brought back were always chosen by the old lady.
She was content with the few words she could exchange with him occasionally.
She knew in her heart that she was merely his sister-in-law, and could not overstep her bounds, but who knew—
Everything changed when he returned. Not only did he bring back a beautiful woman, but he also broke ancestral rules for her time and time again.
How could she not think about it? Every night, lying in bed, she would regret it so much that tears would stream down her face. Why hadn't she married Pei Yanzhi, but Pei Song instead?
She still remembers the second year after she married into the Pei family. In the first year, she and Pei Song were still very much in love. However, in the second year, she found that he went out to play several times, and each time he was gone for several days.
Driven by curiosity, she secretly followed them in a carriage.
At first, when she saw him drinking with some of his brothers, she thought she was overthinking it, but what happened next made her pale.
After drinking, Pei Song did not return to his residence. Instead, he acted intimately with a woman. When she saw the woman's face clearly, she almost lost her voice.
The woman was not just anyone; she was the younger sister of his close friend from the academy.
That scene had such a profound impact on her that she fell ill after returning home.
She understood that this was a psychological problem. The man who had always treated her with such care and affection turned out to be such a dissolute and depraved person once he left this door.
From that moment on, she never wanted Pei Song to enter her body again.
That same year, Pei Yanzhi won a great victory, and it was also the first time she met the renowned Prince of Yanzhou, Pei Yanzhi.
She never expected that such a man would have no concubines in his harem. Even after Gu Shi's death, he remained chaste for her sake and never had any other woman near him.
But now, but now—
"ah--"
She kicked Miaoyin away. Miaoyin clutched her chest, blood seeping from the corner of her lips, but she still dared not beg for mercy.
Song Yunshu coldly watched her cowering appearance and smiled sarcastically, "Why don't you dare to ask the magistrate to give you a title? Didn't you give yourself to him?"
She took two steps forward and grabbed Miaoyin's neck tightly. "Or is it that in his eyes you are nothing but a toy, a toy that can be discarded at any time?"
Miaoyin's face flushed red, and she stammered, "Yes...it was my fault...I shouldn't have had such inappropriate thoughts about you, my lord..."
Song Yunshu let go of her hand, looking at the traces of blood from her mouth on it, and scoffed, "You lowly people, if someone gives you something, you swarm around like vicious dogs pouncing on their prey."
"You don't realize that what's being given to you is exactly what others don't want, yet you treat it like a treasure..."
After saying that, his expression changed, and he stroked the jade bracelet on his wrist, which was the gift he had given him when they first met.
Her eyes were unfocused, and she murmured softly, "But he's different..."
His gaze slowly shifted to Miaoyin, who was clutching her chest on the ground, and he said in an ambiguous tone, "If you want me to let you go, I can even give you your slave status."
"But—you must do one thing for me."
Miaoyin hurriedly knelt down. If she could leave the manor and escape this inhuman torture, she would do anything.
"Go and investigate. Find out everything that happened to Ji Shu in Chongzhou. Remember, don't let anyone else know."
Miaoyin nodded hurriedly. The person Song Yunshu had been keeping in the dark about was none other than the magistrate.
...
When Ji Shu woke up, the room was silent. She reached out and touched her side, but it was already cold. She guessed that the person had already left.
As soon as I got out of bed, I felt a heaviness in my lower abdomen and my entire waist felt sore and weak.
Upon entering the clean room, sure enough, there were specks of blood on my underwear; my period, which had been delayed for over a month, had finally arrived.
She was initially relieved, but then she was overcome with unbearable pain. The journey from Chongzhou to Yanzhou was arduous, filled with hardship and sleeping in the open.
After arriving in Yanzhou, I often experienced extreme joy and sorrow. My period was delayed for such a long time. I felt my back was soaked with cold sweat after just a few steps.
Hearing the noise, Chunzhi pushed open the door and came in to find the young woman hunched over in pain. Ji Shu, her lips pale, said, "Zhi'er, quickly bring your menstrual blood..."
She was taken aback and hurriedly ran out. The West Garden did not have this item, so she had to run to the East Garden to get it.
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