Chapter 152 He couldn't bear to punish her.
Yu Zhu saw that Hong Yu's face was full of panic, completely lacking her usual composure.
She was even more panicked, knowing that her aunt was probably going to suffer a great deal this time, and she quickened her pace.
After Xue led the person to the backyard of the Buddhist hall, the maid brought her a stool and placed a soft cushion on it.
She then sat down, and the maidservant served her hot tea.
Madam Xue held her teacup, looking at Shen Qingnian with a cold gaze.
Shen Qingnian collapsed to the ground as soon as the maid released her arm.
She looked up and saw Madam Xue looking down at her with a hint of malice in her eyes.
Madam Xue gave her a look, and Shen Qingnian turned her head to find the maid standing next to her carrying a large bamboo basket that was half a person's height. The bamboo strips were rough and covered with mud and moss.
At this moment, Madam Xue put down her teacup, slowly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said to Shen Qingnian, "Do you know what that is?"
Shen Qingnian said weakly, "Pig cage."
"But it shouldn't be used on me."
Madam Xue laughed and said, "It seems you still don't realize your mistake."
"Wait till you taste what it's like to be drowned in a pig cage, then let's see how stubborn you'll still be!"
With a wave of her hand, two maids stepped forward, one holding Shen Qingnian's arm and the other supporting her legs, forcibly stuffing her into the bamboo cage.
Her shoulders ached from the bamboo strips, and she struggled a few times, trying to break free of the restraints.
But her struggles were utterly futile against the two sturdy maids.
Finally, Shen Qingnian didn't even have the strength to lift her foot, and could only let the maid stuff her in.
Soon the maids brought a hemp rope as thick as a bowl and tied it tightly around the outside of the bamboo cage several times, leaving only a gap for her to breathe.
The two maids lifted the bamboo cage and swayed as they walked to the well.
Through the gaps in the bamboo strips, Shen Qingnian saw that the bottom of the well was pitch black, like a giant mouth ready to devour someone. A sense of fear crept into her heart.
She patted the bamboo cage with her hand: "Let me out! I..."
Before she could finish speaking, the bamboo cage was suddenly pushed down and fell into the well with a "plop".
Immediately afterwards, the icy well water surged up, silencing all her cries for help.
Shen Qingnian struggled desperately, waving her arms and legs wildly inside the bamboo cage, but she couldn't open the thick bamboo strips no matter what she did.
She felt herself having more and more difficulty breathing, and everything in front of her gradually became blurry.
At this moment, Shen Qingnian couldn't help but ask herself, was she about to die?
Her mother's face flashed through her mind. She was dead. Would her mother dream of her?
Just when she thought she was about to suffocate, the bamboo cage was suddenly pulled upwards.
She took a deep breath of fresh air, then began to cough violently.
She opened her eyes and, through a blur, saw the girl's expressionless face by the well.
"The First Madam asked the concubine if she knew she was wrong. If she did, she should nod and admit her mistake to avoid further torment."
Shen Qingnian's mind was hazy; she could only see the girl's mouth opening and closing, but she couldn't hear what she was saying.
She felt cold all over and didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
Seeing that she had no reaction, the girl shook her head at Madam Xue.
Madam Xue snorted coldly: "She does have some backbone! Put her back down!"
She'd like to see how long she could hold out!
Before Shen Qingnian could recover, the bamboo cage was suddenly pushed down again, plunging into the icy well water once more.
This time, the pain of suffocation was even more intense.
Shen Qingnian felt like she was going to die again. She tried to struggle, but found that she had no strength at all. Just then, the bamboo cage was pulled up again.
Madam Xue also came to the well and saw that Shen Qingnian's clothes were already soaked and clung tightly to her body.
His face was choked red, and he kept coughing, looking utterly disheveled.
"say!"
Shen Qingnian finally heard it clearly.
They asked her to speak, but what should she say?
Her mind was still hazy, and her vision would go black one moment and then she would see Xue Shi and the maid's indifferent faces the next.
Madam Xue gave Shen Qingnian a disapproving look, then walked back to her chair and sat down, gesturing for the maid to continue.
At this moment, Yuzhu and Hongyu also ran in. Seeing a group of people looking in the direction of the well, Hongyu's heart clenched.
Just as she had thought, the First Madam intended to drown the concubine in the well.
She didn't care about anything else and pulled Yuzhu to the well.
Hongyu reached out and supported the bamboo cage. She saw Shen Qingnian curled up inside, her teeth chattering uncontrollably, and even her eyes becoming somewhat unfocused.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"Auntie!"
Upon seeing this, Yu Zhu's eyes also reddened.
She reached out to untie the rope, wanting to release Shen Qingnian, but someone grabbed her hair from behind and dragged her backward.
Hongyu, who was standing to the side, was also pulled backward. Hongyu struggled and cried out, "Let me go!"
Seeing that the maid was about to throw Shen Qingnian into the well again, Hongyu shouted loudly, "Madam, the young master is coming soon, please let Auntie go."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xue was so angry that she stepped forward and slapped Hongyu twice: "You lowly servant! How dare you go and inform her!"
She had completely forgotten about the two maids and had them secretly go and deliver the message.
But Yan-ge'er went to the palace early this morning and won't be back yet. So Xue-shi pretended to be calm and said:
"So what if the eldest young master is here? He still can't protect that bitch!"
"Is that so! In my mother's eyes, I am so incompetent!"
Madam Xue turned around and saw Xie Yanzhi striding in with a cold face, followed by Yuan Qing.
Her face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Why is Xie Yanzhi back?!
Madam Xue stepped forward with a smile: "Yan-ge'er."
Xie Yanzhi ignored Xue Shi in front of him and walked straight to the well. He saw Shen Qingnian huddled in the cage, shivering from the cold.
His face was pale and his lips were bluish, and well water kept flowing down his hair. Xie Yanzhi felt a dull pain in his heart.
He kicked the girl holding the rope away fiercely.
The girl was suddenly kicked to the ground by Xie Yanzhi and coughed up blood.
Yuan Qing rushed over and helped Xie Yanzhi release Shen Qingnian from the bamboo cage.
Xie Yanzhi gently brushed the hair from Shen Qingnian's face behind her ear, then pulled her into his arms.
Shen Qingnian leaned against Xie Yanzhi's chest, feeling very warm, and then tugged at Xie Yanzhi's clothes to snuggle closer into his arms.
Seeing how attached she was to him, Xie Yanzhi felt even more sorry for her.
He hugged her tighter, his gaze turning sinister as he looked at Madam Xue: "Did Mother have someone do this?"
Madam Xue replied calmly, "Yes."
"Your grandmother and I want to teach this unfaithful slut a lesson."
Xie Yanzhi frowned. He couldn't bear to punish them, yet they had managed to turn Shen Qingnian into this state.
He carried Shen Qingnian over and kicked over the chair that Xue Shi was sitting on.
Looking at Xie Yanzhi's cold face, Madam Xue said with some annoyance, "Does Yanzhi really want to get angry with me and your grandmother for such a lowly woman?"
He kicked over her chair in front of so many maids, which was a real slap in her face.
The maids were all frightened by Xie Yanzhi's actions and lowered their heads.
The maid who was holding Hongyu and Yuzhu also released them.
Hongyu quickly came to Xie Yanzhi's side and looked at Shen Qingnian, saying, "Young Master, let me take Auntie back to change her clothes first."
Xie Yanzhi looked at the wet and pale-faced woman in front of him, and fearing that she had caught a cold, he nodded and was about to hand Shen Qingnian over.
Shen Qingnian gripped Xie Yanzhi's clothes tightly, unwilling to let go, and her brows furrowed.
Seeing this, Xie Yanzhi touched her forehead and said, "Be good, go back and change your clothes first."
When Xue saw how gently Xie Yanzhi was coaxing Shen Qingnian, she could hardly believe her eyes.
It's unclear what alluring methods Shen Qingnian used to make someone as cold and aloof as the moon become so gentle and affectionate.
Hongyu finally brought Shen Qingnian over, and Yuzhu followed beside her, hurrying towards Yuheng Residence.
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