Outside the window, a torrential downpour lashed against the tiles, splashing droplets that snaked their way down to pool on the ground.
Inside the room, the air grew thick with intimacy. A delicate, petite woman was pinned against a writing desk, exposing her long, alabaster neck.
The man pressing down upon her gripped her slender, soft waist with long fingers, his broad palms stroking her silky skin.
She shook her head and struggled. "Don't..."
Yet all her struggles were in vain.
Fear and entreaty flicked through the young woman's eyes, but the next instant the man gave a fierce tug, ripping away her skirt. Her rounded shoulders were exposed to the air, and the sudden chill made her body shudder.
With nowhere left to retreat and no escape left to her, she closed her eyes in despair to endure his brutality.
The man seemed somewhat displeased, pinching the young woman's chin. "Sister Xuejin, why look so wronged? Where are you trying to run off to this time?"
***
Shen Xuejin sat up with a start, panting heavily.
The sound of the rain outside only deepened her unease. She had dreamed that dream again.
At first, she had only thought it absurd—night after night, ever since regaining consciousness, she had been plagued by this shameless dream.
Yet now the dream was growing increasingly vivid, to the point where she could even faintly feel the lingering ache of a waist being gripped.
The rain outside grew heavier and heavier. Her heart pounding wildly, Shen Xuejin stared blankly at the sound of the rain.
She had been living in the Huo Family for five days now, yet she still hadn't managed to see Madam Huo.
Her father favored concubines and neglected his wife; for over a decade, she and her mother had been cast aside on a rural estate, left completely to fend for themselves. Half a month ago, they were suddenly summoned back—only for her to be used as a substitute for her stepsister in a marriage to the debauched son of Vice Minister Zhang.
When Shen Xuejin's attempt to flee with her mother failed, her mother was dragged back by her father to protect her. With nowhere else to turn and no path left open, Shen Xuejin had no choice but to drag her brutally beaten body to seek out her fiancé's family: the Zhenping Marquis Manor.
Given her father's temperament, he would undoubtedly make things as difficult as possible for her mother. Shen Xuejin had originally intended to ask Madam Huo for help, but it was now clear that Madam Huo held the betrothal between her and Eldest Young Master Huo in absolute contempt.
Still, sitting here waiting for death was no solution either.
Amidst her mounting anxiety, dawn broke.
The sound of sweeping drifted in from outside the door, followed shortly by murmuring voices.
"Is Sister Bizhu here to deliver her meals again? She hasn't even married into the Huo Residence yet, but she's already moved right in," a coarse-featured maid sneered.
Bizhu was the maid assigned by Madam Huo to look after her, though aside from delivering meals, she rarely spoke with Shen Xuejin.
Bizhu dropped off the morning meal and left, but Shen Xuejin had no appetite.
The breakfast on the table grew stone cold. Shen Xuejin got to her feet and beckoned to the coarse-featured maid in the courtyard.
The maid eyed Shen Xuejin with guarded suspicion, wondering if she was about to be punished for the remarks she had just made.
"The Huo Residence is the Zhenping Marquis Manor. This servant is a maid of the Huo Residence; outsiders have no right to punish me," the maid snapped first.
Choosing to ignore what the girl had said earlier, Shen Xuejin replied, "You've been working hard here, why would I punish you?" She slipped off her jade bracelet and handed it to her. "Help me make inquiries at the Shen Residence and find out how the mistress of the house is doing."
Seeing that she was not going to be punished, the maid's guardedness vanished. When she saw the extra bracelet suddenly resting on her wrist, a look of even deeper contempt crept into her eyes.
How could someone so cowardly and incompetent ever be worthy of the eldest young master?
Still, while the bracelet wasn't worth all that much, it was better than nothing.
She took the bracelet. "The kitchens are sending out a purchase run today anyway. I'll tag along and have a look."
"Thank you for the trouble."
By sunset, the maid had returned, only to report that the Shen Residence was under strict lockdown. Forget getting inside—she had barely spoken a few words to the gatekeeper before being chased off.
"Did the young gatekeeper give you a hard time?"
The maid froze, then quickly nodded, claiming she had almost been beaten, her words heavy with hints that Shen Xuejin should pay up in silver for damages.
That bracelet was the only thing of value she had left—where could she possibly find more money to give her? Besides, once she handed over the trinket, this coarse maid had likely never even gone to the Shen Residence at all, but simply fobbed her off with lies.
The gatekeeper at the Shen Residence was her father's concubine's distant cousin—a wizened old man, certainly not some young fellow!
Yet Shen Xuejin no longer had anything of value left on her. Even if she wanted to send this crude maid out to gather information again, it would be futile.
She watched the night slowly swallow the world outside, pinning all her hopes on seeing Madam Huo the next day.
Early the next morning, Bizhu arrived as usual with the morning meal. Setting the tray down on the round table, she remarked, "Your complexion looks better than yesterday, Miss. I assume your injuries have healed?"
The subtext of those words was clear: it was time for her to leave.
Shen Xuejin paused mid-gesture as she was washing her face. How could she possibly leave when she hadn't even laid eyes on Madam Huo? Yet not only did Madam Huo refuse to see her, she was now issuing an eviction notice.
Shen Xuejin forced a faint smile. "I have imposed upon you all for several days. Since my injuries are healed, it is indeed time for me to return. However, before I go, might I pay my respects to Madam in person to express my sincere gratitude?"
Bizhu shook her head. "Madam has been feeling unwell these past two days. It would be best if you did not go and disturb her, Miss."
Though her tone was ungracious, she was still the most polite servant Shen Xuejin had encountered in the Huo Residence over the past few days.
"In that case, thank you for your hospitality."
Without touching her breakfast, Shen Xuejin offered a formal curtsy before Madam Huo's courtyard to express her thanks, then made her way toward the main gates of the Huo Residence.
It was market day, and the broad avenue outside the Huo Residence was bustling with pedestrians coming and going.
As Shen Xuejin stepped down the stone threshold, her legs suddenly turned to jelly, and she collapsed in a faint.
A passerby called out kindly to the gatekeeper, "Hurry out here! Someone from your Huo Residence has fainted."
Ranfeng Courtyard.
"She fainted right at the front gate?" Madam Huo arched a slender brow, a look of mockery crossing her face.
Since the girl had fainted right at the doorstep of the Huo Residence and was, after all, a prospective daughter-in-law, how could the household simply stand by and do nothing?
Even if this trick had been used twice now, it still worked.
"Madam, she hasn't even married into the Huo Residence yet, and she's already resorting to scheming. I fear she won't be easy to control in the future," an elderly mammy by Madam Huo's side murmured.
"What does Mammy think we should do?" Madam Huo asked indifferently.
"Since she fainted in full view of the public, the manor has no choice but to bring her back inside—only to cast her right back out into that courtyard. This old servant would like to see what other schemes she can possibly pull."
"This is merely this old servant acting on her own accord, it has nothing to do with Madam," the mammy added hastily.
Madam Huo smiled, offering no reply.
Shen Xuejin was carried back to the side courtyard once more, only to be told yet again that Madam Huo was indisposed and receiving no guests.
It was a sleepless night.
Before dawn the next day, Shen Xuejin climbed out of bed. She could no longer afford to sit back and wait for her fate. She found paper and brush, spread them across the round table, and ground her ink.
When Bizhu walked in, she found Shen Xuejin scribbling away at something and asked out of curiosity.
"I woke up early and couldn't fall back asleep," Shen Xuejin explained. "Back at the estate, whenever I couldn't sleep, I liked to read medical texts and write out prescriptions." She pointed to the formula on the paper. "I got this prescription from a traveling physician half a year ago. It specializes in psoriasis; I used this exact formula to cure two peasant women back at the estate."
Psoriasis?
A flicker of emotion crossed Bizhu's face. She set down the morning meal and left without another word.
Shen Xuejin knew she had gone to find Madam Huo.
She had to return to save her mother, yet the Huo Family's current attitude made it clear they wanted no part in the mess. If the Huo Family truly called off this betrothal, her future days would only become infinitely harder.
The only way to make the Huo Family step in and offer voluntary help was to demonstrate her worth and make them value this marriage alliance.
Shen Xuejin had learned through the idle chatter of the Huo Residence servants over the past few days that Consort Mei, Marquis Huo's younger sister, had contracted psoriasis a year ago. With even the imperial physicians at her wits' end, Consort Mei had gradually lost the emperor's favor.
If Consort Mei were to regain imperial favor, curing this psoriasis was the absolute key.
Shen Xuejin was gambling that Madam Huo would not simply sit by and do nothing. After all, if Consort Mei regained favor, it would inevitably benefit her natal family, the Huo Family. Whenever an opportunity presented itself, they would surely try it.
The space of a single cup of tea later, Bizhu returned, announcing that Madam wished to see her.
Shen Xuejin was led before Madam Huo's courtyard.
"Madam and the Second Young Master are still discussing matters. Wait here for now," the mammy commanded loftily before stepping inside.
That wait lasted for a full two hours under the blazing sun. Though her injuries had healed, Shen Xuejin was still weak, and she had to grit her teeth to keep herself from collapsing.
Just as she was on the verge of fainting, the door swung open. The same mammy emerged and led Shen Xuejin inside.
Madam Huo sat in the seat of honor, draped in light blue robes. Well-preserved, she still looked striking and beautiful.
With a smile, she gestured for Shen Xuejin to sit. "I should have summoned you sooner, but I've fallen ill these past few days and was terrified of passing the sickness on to you."
Shen Xuejin hurriedly curtsied. "It is Xuejin who failed to come pay her respects to you in a timely manner. Please forgive me, Madam."
"This is the legitimate daughter of the Shen family, Shen Xuejin, who has been betrothed to your elder brother since childhood," Madam Huo said in a flat tone. "Though she is betrothed to your elder brother, she has not yet crossed our threshold. You may address her as 'younger sister,' just as your brother does."
Only then did Shen Xuejin look toward the man sitting below Madam Huo.
He was striking and elegant, with an air of icy detachment. His deep, jade-like eyes swept lightly over her as he looked her way, sending a shiver running straight down Shen Xuejin's spine.
Huo Nanchi rose to his feet and cupped his hands in salute toward Shen Xuejin. "Sister Xuejin."
Shen Xuejin felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
That voice!
That "Sister Xuejin"!
It was the man from her dreams who had imprisoned her and taken her by force!
Never in her wildest dreams had she expected him to be the second young master of the Huo family—Huo Nanchi!