It's Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon in the sky is perfectly round.
The capital city was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and Zhuque Street was bustling with activity and noise.
Unlike the bustling outside, the residence of Imperial Physician Shen Cang was deathly silent.
Then a woman's voice trembled and rang out: "What...what did you say?"
"They're going to marry me off to that eunuch Qin Li?!" They brought her back from the estate not for a family reunion, but to completely discard her as a burden?
Shen Qiyin's tone was filled with disbelief: "Have you forgotten how he tortured me back then?"
"Yin'er, I know this is a bit unfair to you." Madam Shen took her hand, patted it reassuringly, and said earnestly, "But ever since your father came back from prison, there has been no news of his reinstatement. We can't just sit here and wait for our fate."
"The marriage is a bit rushed, but you've been jilted before, and you're still not married at this age. You don't know how nasty people's mouths are; they say all sorts of things."
"If this continues, I'm afraid you'll ruin our family's reputation. Your brothers are destined for officialdom, and your sister is of marriageable age. How can we let them suffer?"
After speaking, Madam Shen sighed deeply, looking disappointed and disappointed.
Shen Qiyin was both surprised and angry.
She dragged them down with her?!
Three years ago, her father was implicated by his colleagues in the Imperial Hospital and imprisoned. Her mother then asked her to seek help from Qin Li, the most trusted eunuch by the Imperial Noble Consort's side.
Everyone says that Eunuch Qin was charitable and loved helping others.
But only those who have experienced it know that there are conditions to getting his help.
Even hell has only eighteen levels, but the Qin family has nineteen levels of punishment.
He would only grant her request if she survived and got out of there alive.
From the front gate of the Qin residence to the main hall, a stretch of red-hot rubble, several meters long, was laid out. Chen Qiyin walked barefoot across it. Qin Li watched with wide-eyed excitement and told her that this was called "walking on lotus blossoms."
She knelt at his feet, and he used his pipe to brand red marks on her arm, laughing and saying they were the blossoming peach blossoms.
When the fingernails of all ten fingers are forcibly pulled out, it is called "flowers blooming under the fingers".
A lotus emerging from the water.
Standing tall and graceful.
...
Every form of torture that makes life worse than death has a name that gives people a glimmer of hope.
For the sake of her family, Shen Qiyin gritted her teeth and persevered.
The good news is, she's still alive; the bad news is, she's still alive.
Shen Cang was released from prison, and the Shen family returned to its former peace. However, they turned around and thought she was bad luck, so they abandoned her in the manor to fend for herself.
She survived nearly three years of hardship, but now, with her injuries still fresh, they want to send her back to hell on earth!
Shen Qiyin trembled with anger, and her already pale face became even more bloodless.
His frail body swayed precariously, barely able to stand.
Shen Cang seemed extremely displeased with her disobeying their decision, and said in a deep voice, "How dare you question your parents' orders! Where has your childhood obedience gone? You even dare to contradict your mother and me. You're getting more and more unruly as you grow up!"
"Besides, we made this decision for your own good, so don't be ungrateful!"
"I'm ungrateful?" Shen Qiyin laughed angrily. "Am I ungrateful, or do you disregard the bond between mother and child? Even tigers don't eat their cubs, yet you force your own daughter to jump into a fire pit!"
"What kind of talk is this? I'm just asking you for such a small favor, and you're making excuses and giving me all sorts of excuses. You're acting like it's your life to get married. Besides, it's not like it's going to kill you. You're perfectly fine, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qiyin's clenched fist trembled uncontrollably, and her newly grown nails dug deeply into the flesh of her palm.
A broken leg bone, a pierced collarbone, a cold, and scars all over his body... He calls this "being perfectly fine"?
Seeing that Shen Qiyin remained unmoved despite his words, Shen Cang immediately beat his chest and stamped his feet, looking extremely regretful: "If I had known I would raise such a heartless daughter, what would be the point of me living? I might as well have died in prison!"
Shen Qiyin looked sorrowful and sighed softly, "If you are truly willing to die, it's not too late now."
"How dare you!"
Shen Cang raised his hand and slapped her hard.
Shen Qiyin was already ill, her body was weak and frail, as thin as paper. She could not withstand Shen Cang's blow and was immediately knocked to the ground, unable to get up for a moment.
Seeing this, Madam Shen rushed forward to protect Shen Qiyin, trying to calm Shen Cang down while patiently persuading her.
“Your father is all bark and no bite. As parents, how could he not think of his children?” She helped Shen Qiyin up and continued gently, “Your reputation is not good now. Which wealthy family would want you? My daughter is so beautiful. If we were to marry you off to some poor family, it would be a waste of your potential.”
"Qin Li is wealthy and powerful. If you marry him, you'll live a life of luxury. Wouldn't that be great?"
The marriage was frozen in place, and a chill ran through my body.
She stared at Madam Shen in astonishment, her eyes filled with unfamiliarity, as if she suddenly didn't recognize the person in front of her.
Is this her mother?
Is this something a mother would say?
She suddenly felt nauseous and abruptly pulled her hand away from her grasp.
Madam Shen froze, her eyes gradually turning cold.
She said in a slightly cool tone, "Mother knows that it wouldn't sound good if you married a eunuch, so we discussed it and decided to tell everyone that you died of illness and secretly send you to the Qin family. This way, we can protect your reputation and not delay the marriage."
"Besides, Qin Li is already close to sixty years old and probably doesn't have many years left to live. Once he dies, we can bring you back. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
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