Chapter 42 instructs me to hate him and fight him to the death.
"I won't go, don't touch me!" A huge panic surrounded Mingying like a ferocious beast.
Why is he so cruel as to send her back to such a place and torture her again? This is more painful than killing her.
Why did he treat her like this, pushing her back into the abyss with his own hands?
Her eyes were filled with endless disappointment and hatred as she looked at him.
Even if millions of boulders were thrown down, it wouldn't cause a ripple.
Pei Xiaoyun looked at her hands gripping the carriage curtain tightly. His heart had already eased a little, thinking that she probably knew she was wrong after being frightened like this. But when he met her eyes, which were as red as if they had been clenched into knives, he was inexplicably stabbed.
He knew very well the stubbornness and defiance hidden in those eyes; she cried and struggled, but never begged for mercy or admitted her mistakes.
How could she possibly know she was wrong, looking like that?
She won't shed tears until she sees the coffin; she's been living a comfortable life for too long and has forgotten what kind of life she used to live and who rescued her.
He pried open her sweaty fingers one by one, easily picked her up, and carried her into Ningxue Tower.
He had already made arrangements for everyone, and the manager of the building was a woman surnamed Zhou.
Upon learning that a generous VIP was sending a woman over for "training," the other guests had already been dismissed, and a fine, empty room had been prepared.
They've seen all sorts of people in the sex trade. There are high-ranking officials and wealthy men with many tricks and schemes who, finding their wives boring, send them to Ningxue Tower for training. It's not uncommon at all.
Pei Xiaoyun led the person to a room without any obstacles. Although the room was luxuriously furnished, red curtains were billowing everywhere, and the air was filled with the scent of perfume.
Mingying knew exactly where she was. She felt disgust, fear, and panic as she was thrown onto the cot. It felt as if her skin was being pierced by sharp needles. She jumped up instantly, wanting to rush out the door.
"Pei Xiaoyun, you bastard! You're worse than an animal, let me out right now!"
Hearing this, Pei Xiaoyun became increasingly agitated and turned to leave without hesitation, locking the door behind her.
Hearing the heavy clanking of chains, Mingying finally felt utterly hopeless and collapsed to the ground. She accidentally pulled something on her palm, drawing blood.
Why did you do this to her? Why...?
Although the woman in charge, Madam Zhou, was getting on in years, she still exuded charm with a flower in her hair.
She was well-informed and could tell from Pei Xiaoyun's demeanor that he was no ordinary nobleman. She came up, fanning herself with a round fan, and asked, "I wonder what kind of person you intend to train this young lady inside?"
Pei Xiaoyun was still angry and glared at him coldly: "Teach it to be more obedient. I don't want to raise a cat that bites."
Madam Zhou's smile froze, and she paused: "This servant naturally knows, but I don't know what instructions or requests the young master has."
These men are all bad news. They send their concubines over on a whim, and if you really discipline them too harshly, they'll turn around and blame you, ruining the reputation of Ningxue Tower.
"Pei Xiaoyun, you will die a horrible death!"
The curses inside continued to reach Pei Xiaoyun's ears, growing fainter and fainter, but to him they sounded like thunder, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.
“No need to take care of her, just train her the same way you train others.”
Having said that, he turned and left Ningxue Tower as his robe fluttered in the wind.
The door was locked, and Mingying tried to knock on the windows, but all the window frames were sealed shut.
The sky grew increasingly dark, the room was gloomy and dark, while outside, there was singing and dancing, filled with decadent music, and a nauseating smell of alcohol drifted in.
She remembered many things.
Thinking of the despicable men she had seen in the Mianyue Tower, she couldn't help but feel nauseous.
She once thought that Pei Xiaoyun was born into a prestigious family, was elegant and refined, and different from those people. In reality, he was more despicable than those people. If those people were beasts, then he was even worse than a beast.
He only knows how to oppress people through means, always acting superior and not treating others as human beings.
Darkness and coldness raged, and she had no idea what awaited her.
But she knew he was a cold-blooded madman, devoid of emotion and compassion, capable of anything.
She tried her best to stay focused, clutching a vase tightly in her hand. If any man barged in, she would smash it, even if it meant taking him down with her.
Madam Zhou was most skilled at disciplining women. Seeing that Ming Ying had a fiery temper, she knew that no amount of sweet talk would work. So she ordered her to be locked up for the night and only brought her food the next morning.
A faint light shone through the gauze window and fell on Mingying.
Her eyelids, which had been almost closed due to extreme exhaustion, snapped open instantly. Her stomach was growling with hunger and began to cramp in pain.
The door opened a crack, and hot food and a bowl of water were brought in.
She stared at it for a long time, afraid that something might have been added to it, and dared not go over to eat it.
She had seen all those despicable tricks and knew the consequences.
As the afternoon approached, she felt somewhat drowsy, and the sounds of clinking glasses and lively conversation outside seemed particularly loud and jarring.
Just as she was about to give up, the door opened and closed again, and she vaguely saw someone come in.
As if someone had stepped on her tail, her hair stood on end, and she suddenly became alert. Before she could even see who it was, she raised the vase and smashed it at the person's feet.
The young woman who entered carried a food box in her hand. She was graceful and dressed in purple, with an elegant appearance. She was the one sent by Madam Zhou to persuade Mingying.
She looked at the untouched food on the ground, sighed helplessly, and calmly stepped over the pile of broken porcelain.
Without saying a word, he opened the food box, took out the dishes, and his movements were skilled, gentle, and smooth.
Mingying saw that the person who came in was a woman, and her gaze followed her movements. After a while, seeing that the woman meant no harm, she slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Just now...did I hurt you?" she asked softly, gazing at the woman in purple's retreating figure.
My throat is a little sore and tight from shouting yesterday.
The woman in purple brought over the food, smoothed her hair, and sat down beside her, her voice gentle as water: "No, miss, please have something to eat."
She saw that Mingying's hair was disheveled, her lips were tightly pursed, and she had not let down her guard until the very last time. However, her eyes were clear and bright, and they had a vitality that did not belong to Ningxue Tower.
"My name is Mallow. What's your name, young lady?"
Mingying moved her dry lips: "My name is Mingying."
She had spent three years in such a place and knew that the girls there were all pitiful.
She doesn't like it here because of the men.
If there were no men seeking pleasure, this place would not exist, nor would there be any unfortunate women living in this building.
Mallow smiled faintly and nodded.
She has a name and surname; she's from a good family.
Unlike them, who could only be named after things like "wind, flowers, snow, moon" or "plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum"—names meant to please men with their beauty.
Perhaps she was just unlucky, otherwise she wouldn't have been sent here.
She confessed, "To be honest, it was Madam Zhou who asked me to come and persuade you. No matter what's wrong, eat your meal first, don't ruin your health."
Mingying felt a slight stinging sensation in her nose as she listened to her voice.
She remembered when she was first sold to Mianyue Tower. She was only eleven years old. Because she was scared, she dared not eat or sleep. It was an older sister named Bao Dai who took care of her, persuaded her to eat, and told her not to be afraid.
She followed Bao and Dai for three years. When they were receiving guests inside, she would sit outside the door and stay by their side, serving them tea and water.
But later, whether it was good luck or bad luck, she was redeemed by Pei Xiaoyun. During that time, she secretly asked someone to inquire about Bao and Dai, only to hear that she had contracted syphilis and died. She was then wrapped in a straw mat by the steward and thrown out.
A wave of sadness welled up in her eyes, and she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"The food is very clean, please eat." Jin Kui seemed to know why her eyes suddenly reddened; anyone would be unhappy in a place like this.
Mingying nodded and finally ate a few bites of food, feeling a bit better in her stomach.
As she ate, Mallow spoke to her, "The young master who brought you here yesterday seemed to have an extraordinary air about him; he's quite a figure. You're lucky; why don't you just give in and go back sooner? It's better than staying in a place like this."
She instinctively assumed that Mingying was a concubine of a wealthy family.
Even though she was a concubine, she was still better than prostitutes who had to smile obsequiously at countless men all day long.
"I'm just unlucky." Mingying took a few more bites, then pushed the food aside and drank some water.
Fear often comes from endless loneliness. The arrival of Jin Kui made her relax a little, and she was able to talk to her. "I lost my family when I was young and was sold to a private brothel in Yangzhou. The person who brought me here yesterday paid to redeem me. I have been with him for almost four years, as his concubine, as his one and only prostitute."
As she spoke, she gripped the cup tightly, a hint of ruthlessness rising in her eyes: "He scolded and humiliated me, forced me to drink abortion pills, and never treated me like a human being. I originally thought that this was my fate, that I was meant to live like this."
Mallow's chest heaved, her breath caught in her throat, clearly shocked by her past, and she continued to listen to her story.
“But in this world, no one is born to be anyone else’s slave. I wanted to live for myself. So I left him. In the three years I spent elsewhere, I had family and friends, and I had a new life. But then he suddenly reappeared.” Mingying said with a cold laugh, “He said I was born lowly and wanted me to continue to grovel before him and be his kept canary. I refused!”
Jin Kui probably guessed that she was unwilling to bow down, which is why that man sent her here, trying to coerce her into submission through intimidation and threats.
“I hate him. I’m mortal enemies with him. I refuse to be his plaything unless I die.”
She would rather die than submit to him.
After learning the whole story, Jin Kui was unsure whether she should continue to offer advice.
If I don't say something nice, I'll be punished by Madam Zhou. But when I try to persuade her, all my words seem insincere, ridiculous, and powerless.
She thought of someone, and then sighed heavily, her eyes filled with sorrow.
She suddenly realized that Mingying was right.
No one is born to be anyone's servant. Even if you are as small as a mustard seed, it doesn't mean you are without right or wrong.
She spoke with Mingying for a while longer when a commotion suddenly broke out outside.
Mingying instinctively shrank back, and Jinkui patted her hand, "Don't be afraid, I'll go out and take a look."
She knew in her heart that it was that young master Hu again, bringing a bunch of cronies to cause trouble.
Sure enough, a group of drunkards blocked the stage and made a ruckus.
"You filthy bitch, don't push your luck! Today I want to hear Jin Kui play the pipa!"
Madam Zhou and several young ladies came up with smiles and said, "Master Hu, please calm down and come down quickly so you don't fall."
"Get out of my way!" The man surnamed Hu shoved aside the person blocking his way and started acting drunkenly. "I want Jin Kui. Don't pretend to be virtuous while being a prostitute. Do you think the second young master of the Prince's mansion can marry her? He's already married to the daughter of Magistrate Zhao. She's a prostitute, not even worthy to carry someone's shoes. I'm doing her a favor, so get out here right now and stop pretending to be so high and mighty!"
Hiding behind the screen, Jin Kui twisted her handkerchief, her eyes reddening.
On the day the young master married, there was a great commotion of gongs and drums; how could she not know?
"Master Hu, Jin Kui can only play the moon lute, not the pipa. How about we have Guan Chun dance for you?"
"A vulgar beauty like you, does she even deserve my attention?" Master Hu glanced at Guan Chun and sneered disdainfully. "If you can't play the pipa, then strip naked and dance. I want Jin Kui, otherwise, I'll bring my brothers and smash up your Ningxue Tower!"
"Alright, alright, calm down. I'll go find Jin Kui right away." Madam Zhou quickly reassured him, afraid that this Master Hu would ruin her business.
As soon as she went upstairs, she saw Jin Kui secretly wiping away tears and eavesdropping behind the screen. She immediately hit her with the handle of her fan and scolded, "You little hussy, hiding here to enjoy your leisure, why don't you go down and entertain the guests!"
Mallow was momentarily speechless, hastily concealing her sadness.
Seeing her like this, Madam Zhou knew what she was thinking. She pulled her aside and earnestly advised, "There has been no news for so many days. Your sweetheart probably won't redeem you. That young master Hu down there is the prefect's brother-in-law. He has power and influence, and we can't afford to offend him. You should go down and keep him company. If he takes a fancy to you, you'll have plenty of wealth and honor to enjoy."
"I can't play the pipa, so why don't you find some sisters who can play it, Mother?" Jin Kui didn't dare to refuse openly, but she was still very unwilling.
"You know perfectly well that the other day, that wealthy merchant from Yangzhou bought ten girls who could play the pipa in one go. The new girls haven't even had a chance to be trained yet." Madam Zhou didn't want to argue with her any further, and her tone left no room for discussion. "If you can't play, you should at least take off your clothes and dance to please them. Do you think you're being kept by that young master of the Prince's mansion?"
Mallow frowned deeply, feeling extremely embarrassed.
That young master Hu clearly wanted to humiliate her, to make her take off her clothes and dance in front of everyone. Although she was in such a place, she was not without shame.
"Oh, hurry up and go!" Madam Zhou kept urging.
Mallow shook her head: "I can't..."
"I can play."
Mingying listened at the door for a long time and realized Jin Kui's predicament.
To demand that one strip naked and dance if one doesn't play the pipa is an act of humiliation; how could any man come up with such a thing?
Both Jin Kui and Madam Zhou were startled and turned to look at her.
Mingying suggested that Jin Kui show her face while holding the pipa. She would sit behind the beaded curtain and play it, making it look very real. The drunken man, with his crude words and actions, would not be able to tell that something was wrong.
Pei Xiaoyun has already sent her to a place like this. What's wrong with playing the pipa to help someone in an emergency?
—
The carriage slowly came to a stop at the Qinghe Prince's Mansion.
Pei Xiaoyun stood tall and elegant, gazing at the plaque in front of the mansion, his eyes dark and unfathomable, radiating a cold light.
The fact that the Kongchan Sect and the Wuhuan people could swagger around Xuzhou meant that they had powerful backers, and the most influential Qinghe Prince's Mansion in Xuzhou was one of those invisible forces.
He came here today specifically to meet with Prince Xiao Fu of Qinghe.
When Xiao Fu was in the capital, he was also a member of the royal family who was admired by many.
Because the late emperor was suspicious and tyrannical, Xiao Fu feared that disaster would befall him, so he asked the late emperor for permission to go to the remote and distant Xuzhou, promising never to return to the capital, thus saving his family.
Later, the Prince's Mansion gradually became well-established in Xuzhou.
Xiao Fu had two sons. Although his eldest son was young and promising, he was not favored by his father because of his mother. He wanted to petition the emperor to leave the position of heir to his second son, but unfortunately, his second son was a disappointment.
"A prince's mansion like this will never allow a prostitute to become a concubine!" He pointed at his second son kneeling in the courtyard and cursed, "You're already married, so behave yourself. If you ruin the harmony between our in-laws because of a prostitute, I'll break your legs!"
Xiao Yuanyan knelt on the ground, his attitude resolute and firm: "Father, although Jin Kui comes from such a background, she is pure and untainted. I have already promised you that I would marry someone I do not love. You should also take a step back and let me take Jin Kui into the family."
"Rebellious son!"
Xiao Fu was furious. He raised his sleeve to slap her, but in the end he couldn't bring himself to do it. He gritted his teeth and said, "Do you know why I made you marry into the Zhao family? Only with the Zhao family's help can you become the heir. If you are stubborn and don't understand, then I have misjudged you!"
Xiao Yuan Yan suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with disbelief.
His father was actually going to pass the title to him!
"Which is more important, a title or a woman? You'd better think carefully!" Xiao Fu sneered, pointing at him.
Xiao Yuan Yan lowered his head and pursed his lips, seemingly making an extremely difficult choice. If he didn't give up Jin Kui, he wouldn't become the heir apparent, and his father would be disappointed in him and give the title to his elder brother...
He hardened his heart, made up his mind, and was about to say something when he was interrupted by a servant who rushed in to report.
"Your Highness, Second Young Master, Lord Pei, the Duke of Anguo, has arrived."
Xiao Fu looked panicked and stood up, pacing back and forth a couple of steps.
He knew that Pei Xiaoyun was a powerful and influential figure who held immense power in the court. Over the years, he had almost wiped out the royal family and assumed power in place of the young emperor. Everyone knew he was a traitor, but the court remained silent.
Why did Pei Xiaoyun suddenly come to Xuzhou? Could it be that he found out something?
"Father, should I inform..." Xiao Yuanyan was also uneasy.
Every three days, those people would still go to Ningxue Tower to receive messages every night as usual.
"Get out!" Xiao Fu was annoyed and waved him away. "Don't make any rash moves without my permission."
He personally went out to respectfully welcome Pei Xiaoyun in, and ordered someone to serve tea and offer her a seat.
"Your Highness is, after all, royalty. Xuzhou is far away and difficult to reach. Why don't I order someone to reopen the Prince's Mansion in the capital so Your Highness can return to the capital to enjoy your retirement?" Pei Xiaoyun spoke politely, but his words were cold and indifferent, without a trace of gentleness.
He brushed aside the tea foam, took a sip, and waited for Xiao Fu's reply.
"Lord Pei is joking." Xiao Fu realized that this was a blatant test. He sighed inwardly at how arrogant this man was, and stroked his beard and laughed. "I have been in Xuzhou for decades and have long been accustomed to the local customs and culture. I have no intention of returning to the capital."
Pei Xiaoyun remained expressionless, ignoring his words and continuing to sip her tea.
Xiao Fu felt as if he had thorns in his back, unable to sit or stand still, as if a knife was hanging over his head.
After a long pause, Pei Xiaoyun gave a soft "Oh," put down his teacup, and lifted his thin eyelids slightly: "This trip was with the Ministry of Revenue to go north to inspect taxes. We passed through Xuzhou and heard that last month's floods caused Guangping Lake to rise, destroying many people's houses and farmland. So we stopped for a few days to supervise the repair of the river dam with the government and took the opportunity to pay a visit to Your Highness."
After he explained his purpose, Xiao Fu breathed a sigh of relief.
It turned out to be the supervisor.
He immediately said, "Natural disasters are unforeseen. Lord Pei, who is busy with many affairs of state, still came to Xuzhou to supervise the construction. This is truly a blessing for the people. I have already taken three hundred shi of rice from my private treasury to provide disaster relief, doing my bit for the people."
Pei Xiaoyun smiled, puzzled, and got up to leave, casually saying, "Your Highness's righteousness is the blessing of all people."
He thought to himself: What is a mere three hundred shi of grain compared to the ill-gotten gains he amassed in collusion with the Wuhuan people?
He was planning to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.
Once outside the palace, his brows were cold and his eyes had a faint dark blue tinge.
He had spent the entire night investigating the Qinghe Prince's residence without closing his eyes once. Now, he felt slightly tired and weak. If only a pair of warm, soft hands could massage him right now...
He suddenly thought of Mingying.
He sent her to a place like Ningxue Tower for a night. He wondered if she had learned her lesson. When he returned, would she be crying her eyes out, clutching his clothes and bowing her head to apologize?
This immense sense of control returned to his mind, making him feel inexplicably comfortable and even dispelling some of his mental fatigue.
"What did she do today?" he asked casually to the guards stationed around Ningxue Tower.
These people were sent by him to secretly watch over her.
It was also to gather some useful information.
"She was playing the pipa for a male guest."
These guards were highly trained; they answered truthfully about everything they saw and heard without any attempt to conceal anything.
Pei Xiaoyun's face was cold and colorless, his brows furrowing deeply. "Playing the pipa?"
How long has it been since he last heard her play the pipa?
Inside Ningxue Tower, the sound of the pipa was like a mountain stream, light and clear.
Such superb pipa skills attracted the girls to peek out and watch, and even Madam Zhou was particularly amazed.
Jin Kui picked up a pipa and placed it down, her fingers nervously plucking the strings, while Ming Ying played melodies behind her.
Young Master Hu truly didn't notice, and even closed his eyes, shaking his head as if he were lost in the music.
Mingying didn't want to play the pipa for this kind of person. She was only playing to help Jin Kui out of a predicament, so she played carelessly and casually, hoping to finish as soon as possible.
Suddenly, several people rushed in, and a gleaming sword slammed down on the table, seemingly severing the melody as well, and the music stopped abruptly.
The girls screamed in panic, and the young master Hu was so frightened that he wet himself and couldn't even speak clearly.
Pei Xiaoyun suppressed his anger, drew his sword from the table, and ordered, "Throw him out, so he can never enter a place like this again."
The man was carried out, followed by a bloodcurdling scream like a pig being slaughtered.
Mingying sat behind the beaded curtain, only to hear several loud noises and shouts. She couldn't see what was happening below. Just as she put down her pipa and lifted the beaded curtain to see what was going on, a familiar face appeared.
Pei Xiaoyun strode over, waving her hand to scatter the beaded curtain, causing it to sway and rattle.
"What's gotten into you again?" Mingying felt a surge of hatred when she saw him, and she practically gritted her teeth.
Pei Xiaoyun felt a surge of frustration rush to his heart. He pressed the tip of his sword against her chin, his actions both ruthless and tinged with a hint of debauchery.
Out of fear, Mingying could only retreat step by step until he pinned her against the wall, leaving her with nowhere to go.
"What exactly do you want to do!"
Pei Xiaoyun held her hand as she played the pipa, those slender, delicate fingers seeming as if they could break at the slightest touch. "I sent you here to learn manners, and you're so willing to debase yourself, so eager to play the pipa to please men?"
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Author's Note: Breaking Through Defenses
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