Chapter 6, The Pei Family
Pei Qianqian frowned, "My body..." She was most eager to know who had placed something under her bottom...
Seeing that he was ignoring her, Pei Qianqian pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent
Upon hearing about her situation, Qifeng's expression darkened, filled with extreme impatience, "Why is she so troublesome?"
She swore never to submit to the constraints and control of anyone! Destiny is in her own hands; why should she allow unrelated individuals to disrupt her life? Today's endurance is for the sake of future freedom. Just because she cannot break free from all her bindings now does not mean she will never be able to!
When she woke up, a chill surrounded her. Looking at the dimly lit room, she was surprised to prop herself up and asked the man on the soft couch, "How did I end up here?"
Bai Lingshan glanced around to ensure that no one was nearby before lowering her voice and saying, "Second sister, father does not allow us to act openly against her. Can we not take action in secret? This wretched woman dares to show disrespect to mother. If we let her go now while she is in the residence, it will be much more difficult to deal with her later."
She instinctively looked over, her face slightly pale from the shock, "Who are you?"
I thought that resting for two or three days would suffice, after all, I had experienced it once before and it wasn't too difficult... Who would have thought that dealing with a body that had long-term malnutrition, this 'monthly visitor' would arrive like a protest demanding payment, tormenting her to the point of tossing and turning in bed, almost crying out for her parents...
Recalling the moment when Sikong Mingye took her pulse, she hesitated for a moment before finally taking the bowl in her hands, "Thank you"
The other party looked at her, with little warmth on their face and in their eyes. Fortunately, the tone of their speech was still relatively respectful and courteous, "Miss Pei, I am the servant Ling Ling, assigned by the prince to work by your side."
She spoke without thinking in a moment of anger, and only after she finished scolding did she realize that she had said the wrong thing
I will report to the master and the lady right away" said the old steward coldly, turning to leave
Pei Rongxin narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "Sister-in-law is right; this wretched woman truly has no right to marry into the royal family. She currently believes she can defy the heavens just because she has received a marriage decree from the Emperor, thus looking down on everyone. Once the Southern Ying King discovers that she is not a complete gem, a dire fate awaits her."
Pei Rongxin stopped in her tracks, looking at her with a conflicted expression, "Sister-in-law, you have no idea. Father even specifically told me to hold back my anger for now. How can I endure this when that wretched Pei Qianqian treats my mother like this? I know Father is not biased towards her, but he just doesn't want to stir up trouble before the Southern Prince marries her. Yet, every time I think about how she actually laid hands on my mother, I feel like I could kill her to vent my anger"
Sikong Ming stared at her angry little face with half-closed eyes, his gaze deep and penetrating, "This king will send someone to accompany you back. With the emperor's marriage decree, the Pei family would not dare to treat you poorly."
Thus, in this place that is both familiar and unfamiliar, Pei Qianqian officially settled down
This environment is simply worlds apart from those courtyards mentioned earlier. Even Leng Ling couldn't help but frown, as she did not expect her living conditions to be so poor, even inferior to the servant quarters of the Southern Win King's residence. Not only is the furniture in the room old, but the windows are also broken.
In her two lifetimes, Pei Qianqian first experienced what it meant to be unable to act of her own accord. The indifference of the South Win King's residence and the abuse from the Pei family left this small concubine, who had no one to rely on in such a situation, feeling like fish and meat simmering in a pot, unable to escape from the lid pressing down from above, while boiling water cooked her from below. Even if she possessed immense strength, it could not withstand the pressure of these two heavy mountains.
Before me stood a woman who appeared to be slightly older than herself. Her features were delicate, yet her expression was exceedingly indifferent. The most striking aspect was her complexion; it was very pale, not the sickly kind of pallor, but rather a whiteness reminiscent of something bleached. Coupled with her fitted black attire, the stark contrast of black and white gave her an unsettling presence.
Pei Qianqian looked on with curiosity as a guard named Qifeng pushed the door open, entered the gauze curtain, and presented a document resembling a memorial with both hands.
Just as she was about to run out, Sikong Mingye suddenly got up from the soft couch and coldly shouted, "Stop!"
She did not care about their matters, and just as she was about to get up and leave, she suddenly heard a low, cold voice coming from the soft couch, "Once you feel better, I will send you back."
Soon, a woman named Leng Ling returned, holding a bowl in her hand
Oh? Pei Qianqian stretched her neck to take a look, and couldn't help but be surprised. Brown sugar water
It was only when she sat up in shock that she suddenly discovered another person beside her bed
She tried to leave, but behind her came his even colder voice, "Without my command, you cannot leave this place"
Sikong Mingye kept his eyes closed, seemingly unwilling to engage in further conversation with her
At this moment, he had no idea that his indifference this time would subject him to torment for a long time to come
Miss Qianqian has returned? Upon seeing her, the old butler did not exhibit much enthusiasm; his handlebar mustache and slightly squinted eyes still bore a hint of cold arrogance, as if he were receiving an unwelcome guest.
Bai Lingshan nodded, "Yes, let's ruin her! How could such a wretched person be worthy of marrying into the royal family? Hmph! Once Prince Nanying learns that she is not a pure maiden, her death will be imminent. At that time, we won't even need to kill her; Prince Nanying will not spare her either"
Leng Ling lowered her head and replied, "Yes."
In the evening garden, as the scorching heat recedes, the lush greenery brings a refreshing coolness. After a day of oppressive heat, this garden undoubtedly becomes the most comforting place.
Leng Ling raised her head, glanced at him expressionlessly, then shook her head lightly, "Return to the guards, this servant does not exhibit such symptoms"
The man leaned against the soft couch with his eyes closed, not moving at all, merely hearing him utter two low words, "Come in"
Is there anyone more wicked than her
Seeing her clutching her belly and crying out in distress, Leng Ling did not dare to delay and hurried to report it
She is indeed worried that it is the cold King of Hell, Sikong Mingye, who has taken action
Just as the two sisters-in-law were walking away with their maid, a head quietly peeked out from behind the rockery, staring in astonishment at the two distant figures...
Pei Qianqian cast him a sidelong glance, finding no words to say, and walked towards the direction where her original self resided
Bai Lingshan patted the back of her hand, "Second sister, rest assured, I will never let you suffer."
"Miss Pei, what are your instructions?" Leng Ling pushed the door and entered
The man on the soft couch took it, opened it, and glanced at it lightly, saying, "This king understands, you may leave now"
Do not be deceived by the fact that this is an independent courtyard; compared to the siblings of the same illegitimate status, it is not only remote from the main courtyard, but its furnishings are so simple that even thieves would likely overlook it
Indeed, the cold and stern questioning voice of Sikong Mingye came, piercing her spine like a thousand icy arrows, "Repeat what you just said!"
Pei Rongxin's柳眉 furrowed even tighter, "Break her body?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a wave of darkness surged before her eyes, and her head instantly fell onto the pillow
Bai Lingshan chuckled with satisfaction, "I also do not wish for my second sister to address her as a sister-in-law in the future. Just based on her, she is not qualified to call you 'Sister Wang'."
Standing in the shabby room, inhaling the heavy, moldy scent in the air, she turned her head and nodded slightly towards the woman behind her, "Leng Ling, you can stay next door. There is nothing much to do here, you should go and tidy up your room first"
Pei Qianqian finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh... thank you"
Qifeng furrowed his brows for a moment and suddenly asked, "Do you experience this symptom when your menstrual period arrives?"
The atmosphere in the room was quiet and stagnant. Just as Pei Qianqian was beginning to feel restless, a voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived."
These two are none other than Pei Jia's legitimate daughter Pei Rongxin and her sister-in-law, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Pei family, Bai Lingshan. As this pair of sisters-in-law came out to enjoy the cool air, the others who were playing in the garden instinctively stepped back
I thought I was truly going to die from the pain, but now, when I touch my lower abdomen, it surprisingly no longer hurts!
The man leaned against the soft cushion, his eyes closed, as if he had not heard her speak
Pei Qianqian felt that she was the most unfortunate time traveler in history. ... Attached to a body that was neglected by her father and devoid of her mother, she suffered abuse from her family externally, while internally she faced oppression and panic. Not to mention the physical and mental toll, she also encountered the arrival of her first menstrual period...
She was puzzled about what kind of person Sikong Mingye was, as the people and atmosphere in this residence were akin to those portrayed in zombie shows on television, making her feel goosebumps whenever she encountered anyone.
Leng Ling could no longer endure it; she finally called for help from outside the door
She did not turn around, her back to him, unafraid of death as she coldly laughed, "Good words are not to be repeated, and what I have said is of no importance. What matters is that you remember what you have said. After we are married, do not cling to me any longer. I am willing to offer my body to you, not because I value your status as a princess, but simply because I want to have my freedom in the future." After a pause, she decisively continued, "Since you, the King of Nanying, have already given your orders, then do not dawdle any longer. Hurry and instruct your people to let me go back."
The woman with long hair cascading over her shoulders walked with a languid gait, her delicate willow-like brows deeply furrowed, clearly in a state of great displeasure. "Sister-in-law, that Pei Qianqian really dares to come back. Shouldn't we teach her a lesson? Neither my mother nor I can swallow this grievance.
Do not recognize
Qifeng snorted and walked away
Pei Qianqian had her back to him, feeling an inexplicable sense of panic in her heart
This is the legendary Southern Win King's Mansion, which everyone is curious about yet knows little of. After a brief stay of two days, she can only describe it as speechless. The atmosphere here, the people here, it is not an exaggeration to say that this is a haunted place. And this man, who is secretly referred to as the 'Demon King' by outsiders for his thirst for human blood, makes her feel as if she has encountered eight lifetimes of bad luck, wishing to leave this place and never see him again.
The woman with her hair styled in a bun wore a gentle and charming smile on her face, yet upon hearing Pei Rongxin's words, her beautiful eyes revealed a sense of pride and disdain, "There is no need for the second sister to be upset over such trivial matters; just find an opportunity to teach her a good lesson."
In this dim light, Pei Qianqian could not discern his expression, but she felt that the aura around him had grown increasingly cold.
Bai Lingshan covered her mouth and let out a cold laugh, a hint of ruthlessness appearing in her beautiful eyes. "This is not difficult at all. Just find a man to take her virginity, and let's see how arrogant she can still be!"
Pei Qianqian took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to flee while continuously reassuring herself that there was no need to be afraid, as this person still needed her; at least before the wedding, he would definitely not kill her
Pei Qianqian jumped off the bed in a bit of anger, "I know that this grand temple cannot accommodate me, and I have no intention of clinging to you. However, where I choose to go is my own freedom, and it is not up to you to decide!"
Hmm. Pei Qianqian was also unconcerned and walked in with a swagger
Upon entering the Pei family gate, just as she had anticipated, she saw no members of the Pei family except for the old butler, Fu Xin
Whether her stomach pain is real or feigned, as long as she does not die, that is sufficient
Ling Ling lowered her head and said, "In response to Miss Pei, it is this servant who has cleansed your body."
Her evaluation of her original self is merely that of a small pet raised by the Pei family; as long as it is not played to death, it does not matter how it is raised
Pei Qianqian did not expect anyone to come to her rescue, after all, this is something that women often experience. How many women have not encountered menstrual pain?
On the way back to the Pei family, she kept asking herself this question, but each time she would give herself a negative answer
Regarding the conversation between the two sisters-in-law, the maid behind them stood respectfully, showing no reaction whatsoever. Not to mention that they would not dare betray their masters, even if someone knew they were plotting against Pei Qianqian, who would dare to provoke this pair of sisters-in-law in the Pei family? One is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Pei family, the future head of the household, and the other is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Pei family, the future Princess of Ruiqing. It is important to note that the Prince of Ruiqing is one of the most favored among the many princes, and the Emperor's affection for him is no less than that for the current Crown Prince. One is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Pei family, the future head of the household, and the other is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Pei family, the future Princess of Ruiqing. It is important to note that the Prince of Ruiqing is one of the most favored among the many princes, and the Emperor's affection for him is no less than that for the current Crown Prince.
Pei Qianqian widened her eyes and looked at him, "Are you taking me back? Back to the Pei family?"
Quickly summon your prince ... ... just say that I am dying ... ... and I want to give him a few ... ... a few last words ... ...
Do you accept your fate
"Hmm, and the books." Pei Qianqian nodded
This time, she did not hesitate at all and rushed out of the door.
The woman by the bed did not speak much to her and suddenly walked towards the door.
Yes. She did not refuse Pei Qianqian's arrangement, and before leaving, she added, "If Miss Pei has any instructions, please call upon this servant."
Hearing his nonchalant tone, Pei Qianqian felt a surge of anger. "Sikong Mingye, is this how you treat your savior? Now I finally understand why Pei Qianqian wanted to take her own life! You are fully aware of how difficult her life is in the Pei family, yet you turn a blind eye. Now you want to continue pushing her into the abyss. People like you are truly a misfortune for anyone who encounters you"
"Miss Pei, this is what the prince instructed you to drink." She expressionlessly extended the bowl.
Pei Qianqian lay on her back in bed, feeling the menstrual belt beneath her, experiencing an indescribable awkwardness for the first time, sensing the possibility of leakage at any moment
Two elegantly beautiful women stroll beneath the shade of the trees, accompanied by a group of maids behind them. Their bright and luxurious attire, combined with the women's delicate and stunning features, truly adds a unique vibrancy to this cool and shaded area
Seeing her still wearing that indifferent expression, Pei Qianqian felt a sharp pain even in her breathing. Must she be so dismissive of her? What is wrong with the people in this household?
The person who returned to the Pei family with her was the woman named Leng Ling. Pei Qianqian was well aware that when Sikong Mingye said he would send someone to protect her, it was merely a closer form of surveillance over her.
Pei Rongxin gratefully linked her arm with hers, "Sister-in-law, you are still the one who cares for me the most. To be honest, just thinking about the future when I will marry Prince Ruiqing and become sisters-in-law with her makes my heart feel extremely uncomfortable"
Pei Qianqian turned around and glared at him, increasingly feeling that this person was difficult to understand, even somewhat annoying. "What do you mean? Knowing that I do not want to return to the Pei family, you deliberately worsened the relationship with the Pei family and still want me to go back. Do you think I am a fool going back to seek death?"
Qifeng glanced at a certain closed door and then waved his hand at her, "Most likely she is just fooling around, so there is no need to pay attention. You only need to keep an eye on her, and remember not to let her pull any tricks."
Leng Ling remained silent with her head bowed, merely waiting for his instructions
Her words resonated perfectly with Pei Rong's thoughts, so she immediately lowered her voice and asked, "Sister-in-law, what do you think we should do? Is there any way to make her life worse than death?"
After enduring a day of suffering in bed, the symptoms of her menstrual pain did not alleviate in the evening. Having not eaten for an entire day, she felt exhausted both physically and mentally, and began to see double images of people and objects.