Chapter Fifty-Five: Returning Home
The morning mist of late spring had not yet dissipated. In the waterside pavilion in the backyard of the Mu residence, Mu Lian was dressing in front of the mirror. The bronze mirror reflected a face that was seven parts similar to Mu Yanyan, except that the corners of her eyes were more upturned, making her look exactly like Qingniang, who was famous in Qinhuai back then. The scene from that day flashed before her eyes again.
"Third Miss, the wedding dress sent by Madam..." The maid's hands trembled slightly as she held the crimson brocade, the gold-embroidered mimosa flowers stinging the eyes.
Mu Lian's fingertips traced the intricate patterns on her wedding dress, and she suddenly chuckled softly. The hem of the wedding dress was embroidered with erotic scenes in silver thread, a common tactic of Madam Mu—the same pattern was embroidered on the wedding dress of the concubine's daughter's mother when she was brought into the Mu family mansion.
"Madam has truly gone to great lengths..." Mu Lian gently pushed aside her wedding dress, and the crabapple blossoms outside the window rustled in the wind. The secret letter sent by the Prince of Ruyang was still in her sleeve; the ambergris on the letter mixed with the smell of rust reminded her of the ruby-inlaid dagger at that man's waist.
"I understand, just leave it there." Mu Lian's expression was indifferent. The sudden flash of coldness in her eyes startled the maid holding the wedding dress, who quickly retreated, her legs going weak.
Ah, the show is about to begin.
As the midnight bell rang, Mu Lian was mixing incense. Western Region datura mixed with Lingnan crane's-crowned red cinnabar created eerie purple smoke in the jade incense burner. The maidservant guarding Mu Yanyan's room had already been bribed and was now coaxing her mistress into drinking almond milk laced with a sleeping potion.
"Please don't be angry, sister..." Mu Lian looked at Mu Yanyan, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, and gently stroked her delicate face with his slender fingers. He then personally helped her change into the wedding dress embroidered with erotic scenes. As the candlelight flickered, the jade bracelet on Mu Yanyan's wrist tapped against the edge of the bed, making a crisp sound. It was part of Madam Mu's dowry, originally intended for her future grandson.
Oh dear, what a pity.
Looking once more at the delicate face reflected in the bronze mirror, her fingertips gently tracing the edge of the human skin mask, Mu Lian's eyes gradually welled up with tears. "Little illegitimate daughter, I have already avenged your mother's death that year."
Three days later, it will be the day for the bride to return to her parents' home.
For the first time in three days, Mu Yanyan got off the bed and gazed at the woman in the mirror, whose eyes were red and swollen, whose legs were weak, and whose body was covered in bruises. She managed a pale smile. The relentless torment of the past three days had left her feeling like she was dying and coming back to life, experiencing both extreme pain and pleasure, yet also inexplicably addicted and unable to stop.
"Today is my wife's homecoming, so you must dress up nicely. Let me draw your eyebrows for you..." Sun Wenbin said softly, holding a whole tray of expensive rouge and face powder, his eyes full of affection as he looked at the woman.
Is this how she's going to emulate Zhang Chang? Mu Yanyan's eyelashes trembled, a mixture of fear and anticipation in her heart. Torn between these feelings, she was pulled down into a seat by Sun Wenbin's embrace. The man's slightly cool fingertips traced the side of her face, and a deep, magnetic voice whispered in her ear, "As long as you behave, your husband will love you well, understand?"
"I understand, I understand, I'll listen to you..." Mu Yanyan nodded repeatedly, her voice trembling with tears. In the past three days, she had already experienced firsthand the man's methods, so how could she dare to harbor the slightest thought of disobedience?
"That's good then. Come, let your husband do your makeup..." He pinched Mu Yanyan's cheek, forcing her to lift her head, and began to carefully apply her makeup with a gentle smile. At first glance, his movements were gentle, his face full of affection, as if he were cherishing the woman before him like a precious jewel. But only Mu Yanyan's trembling hands beneath her sleeves knew that this was merely the disguise of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
After some clever makeup, the woman in the mirror looked completely transformed. With bright eyes and white teeth, a rosy complexion, and a radiant appearance, she looked as if she had been nourished and moisturized. Even the bruises on her body had been carefully concealed by the man with ointment and powder, making her appear not only unharmed but also giving the illusion of having been pampered to the extreme.
"Alright, let's go back and see today. Don't be afraid, your husband will always be with you..." The man's thin lips pecked at Mu Yanyan's earlobe, as if his breath was fragrant, sending another shiver down the woman's spine.
"Mm." Mu Yanyan nodded softly.
The Mu residence.
Today is the third-day return visit to the bride's parents' home. Originally, Madam Mu hadn't planned a grand preparation, but out of consideration for Master Mu and still wanting to maintain a reputation for virtue and generosity, she instructed the servants to tidy up the mansion meticulously. All kinds of delicacies, fine dishes, and fruits were readily available. The outer courtyard was filled with peace and tranquility.
However, the scene inside the main hall was quite different.
Madam Mu gripped the carved armrests of the golden nanmu chair tightly, her once well-maintained nails cracking and almost digging into the wood. Her face was filled with astonishment and disbelief. Her daughter, who should have been recuperating at home, stood before her, her eyes sparkling with spring, wearing a crimson butterfly-embroidered dress that should have belonged to her illegitimate daughter, with an incongruous white scarf around her neck. Beside her stood the very man she had personally chosen for her illegitimate daughter—the impotent Sun Wenbin.
What... what happened?
“Mother…” Upon seeing Madam Mu, Mu Yanyan felt an indescribable surge of grievance. She was about to bow when Sun Wenbin grabbed her waist. Beneath the crimson robes of a Hanlin Academy compiler, the man's fingertips were caressing the bruises on her lower back. Mu Yanyan trembled; the three days and nights she had been drugged with aphrodisiacs suddenly flooded her mind, and the bite marks on her thighs, still not scabbed over, began to bleed again.
Madam Mu's teacup clattered to the ground. She could clearly see the numerous rope marks on her daughter's wrist, the part exposed during her bow. Most glaring was the jade bracelet—a humiliating dowry item meant for her illegitimate daughter's marriage—now bound to her own daughter like shackles. And how had Sun Wenbin, originally an obscure minor official, risen to the Hanlin Academy in such a short time? This was clearly a premeditated plot to harm her poor daughter!
“Mother-in-law, be careful not to burn yourself…” Sun Wenbin smiled politely and handed her a cup of fresh tea. By sheer coincidence, a blood-stained handkerchief slipped out of his sleeve. Madam Mu recognized it; it was her poor daughter’s personal item, with the Mu family’s unique double-sided peony embroidered on the corner.
In shock and rage, Madam Mu gripped the wooden chair even tighter, her fingertips even drawing blood. How dare they? How dare they?!
Suddenly, the tinkling of jade pendants came from behind the screen, and Mu Lian gracefully turned out. Today, she was dressed in moon-white flowing brocade, with only a plain silver hairpin in her hair. However, as she passed Sun Wenbin, she "accidentally" dropped a jade pendant. The jade pendant fell with a dull thud onto the thick carpet, and the carefully carved "Yan" character on the green jade was stained with a trace of dried blood, the very same pendant she had taken from Mu Yanyan three days ago.
"Oh dear, this isn't Fourth Sister's..." Mu Lian exclaimed, covering her mouth, but her eyes held a venomous smile. She deliberately kicked the jade pendant towards Sun Wenbin's feet, watching the faces of the people in the hall contort instantly, feeling a surge of pleasure. She had heard that this new Hanlin scholar, Sun, was particularly averse to blood, becoming violent at the sight of it. Mu Lian was quite eager to see what kind of spectacle would unfold.
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