She had been resting with her eyes closed throughout the journey, rehearsing in her mind how to strike with one fatal blow and stab that old bastard to death.
Old as he was, that cursed root refused to accept its age, still harming innocent young girls. Every year, the number of girls ruined by that old thing was at least several dozen if not hundreds. The old pervert even boasted everywhere, claiming his blade remained sharp despite his age.
After about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the sedan chair entered a side gate and finally came to a stop.
“The master is waiting inside, young lady, please go in.” A guard lifted the sedan curtain and called for Su He to step out.
Su He steadied herself and crawled out of the sedan chair, dragging her painfully aching legs.
Before her was a serene grove of green bamboo. Deep within the grove stood a small courtyard house, with a well in the yard and a waterwheel set up, creaking as it turned, splashing cool well water onto the bamboo curtain outside the side rooms, making the entire courtyard refreshingly cool.
The chest Su He had brought was placed in front of the well platform, and several guards quickly withdrew.
This surprised Su He—was that old thing actually this refined?
“What are you standing there for? Come in.” A low, mellow, and lazy voice drifted from the window.
Su He was startled for a moment, then limped toward the house.
Who else could be lying on that jade-green bed but Pei Yan?
“Young Master?” she called out in astonishment.
“Come here.” Pei Yan beckoned her with a finger.
Su He’s eyes grew hot, and she nearly burst into tears.
“What are you crying for? Come over here.” Pei Yan shifted inward on the jade bed, making a little space for her.
Su He moved over, stared at him for a moment, then lay down beside him.
“Does your body hurt?” Pei Yan untied her sash, his slender fingers slipping directly inside, kneading and roaming.
Su He’s legs hurt the most right now.
She stared at Pei Yan and asked softly, “Why didn’t you say anything? Do you know who was originally supposed to come fetch me today?”
“That old dog bastard, who cares about him.” Pei Yan curled the corner of his mouth, waved his hand, and directly opened her clothes.
Thud, thud…
The small white medicine bottle fell, rolled a few times on the floor, and stopped when it hit the corner of the table.
Su He propped herself up, wanting to retrieve it.
“Come back.” Pei Yan glanced at the small bottle, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her back.
Last night he had been drunk, and with something added to the wine, he couldn’t control himself. So now he wanted to test whether, without those influences, he still had any interest in this young girl.
The proof was that he was very much interested.
The girl was sweet and soft, delicious to taste. Having started this indulgence, it was hard to stop.
“What’s your name?” He kissed her ear and asked hoarsely.
He didn’t even know her name, yet he had her brought here?
“Su He,” she whispered.
“Just these two characters?” Pei Yan brushed aside the hair by her ear, pinched her small face, and turned her head to look at him.
He had thought this was a name she casually gave. When he went to the Su residence today to demand her, he had also asked for the Su family’s young lady. If he had brought the wrong person, he could just send her back. Unexpectedly, that old dog from the Pei family had also gone to the Su residence to demand Su He, but he had snatched her away first.
“Mm, just two characters.” Su He nodded.
“Here with me, you can only be a chamber maid. Are you willing?” He raised an eyebrow, lightly pecked her lips, his voice growing even lazier.
Being a maid was fine; she would run away after a while.
Su He obediently nodded: “I’m willing. As long as it’s the Young Master, I’m willing.”
Pei Yan stared into her eyes for a long while, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upward. “So obedient. Does your father know you’ve come to me?”
“He likely doesn’t,” Su He shook her head.
“Then let him come and kowtow to you,” Pei Yan lay back, his scorching hands kneading her body rhythmically.
The girl’s skin was as delicate as a flower not yet fully bloomed, tender and fragrant—no wonder he had taken a liking to her after touching her last night.
Su He paid no mind to his hands at the moment, her thoughts consumed by his earlier words.
“Why would you have him come?” she asked in shock.
“My chamber maid is nobler than him. He should kowtow to you,” Pei Yan lazily lifted his eyelids and pulled her into his embrace.
“Do you know I was beaten today?” Su He hesitated before asking softly.
“You deserved it,” Pei Yan didn’t even glance at her, his lips curling slightly.
Daring to climb onto his bed last night, daring to give him that kind of wine—she deserved today’s punishment. Since she had already been punished at the Su residence, he wouldn’t need to punish her himself. The rules here were not something she could bear.
Su He quickly understood his meaning.
Pei Yan was treating her like a plaything now!
Well, it was all thanks to Pei Yan that she had escaped the clutches of that old man today.
She shifted her legs slightly, watching his expression as she whispered, “But my legs hurt. I can’t sleep.”
“Then force yourself to sleep,” Pei Yan closed his eyes, his voice low and hoarse. “Pain will teach you a lesson. Don’t entertain any more wild ideas in the future.”
Pei Yan was not someone just anyone could approach or use.
Last night, Su He didn’t know how she had caught his eye, but he had allowed her to fumble and stumble before him.
Su He was well aware of her situation, so she obediently fell silent.
Lying in his embrace for a while, exhausted, she drifted into a deep sleep. She didn’t wake until evening, when the room was lit by crystal lamps, the waterwheel splashed noisily, and the faint scent of bamboo wafted inside.
She looked around but didn’t see Pei Yan, so she made her way to the door.
Everything was eerily quiet, as if the world had emptied, leaving only her behind.
Gurgle…
Her stomach rumbled.
After a day of hunger, beatings, punishment, and his torment, she was now utterly famished.
“Go wash up, then come eat,” Pei Yan’s deep, cool voice sounded from behind.
Last night and during the day, his voice had been lazy, but now, though still deep, it carried a chill, as if cooled by well water, piercing through her ears and freezing her heart.
She slowly turned and saw Pei Yan sitting in a reclining chair beneath the bamboo. Two lamp stands stood beside the chair, and he was reading several memorials, not even lifting his eyelids.
In front of him was a bamboo table set with food, untouched.
“Where should I wash?” she asked hesitantly.
Pei Yan casually pointed toward the well platform.
He wanted her to bathe in front of him?
“I’ll wash after eating,” she said softly.
“Go wash up,” Pei Yan raised his eyes from the memorials and looked at her coldly.
It was over. He had completely sobered up. The man before her now perfectly matched the legend of one who could create seas of blood and mountains of corpses with a wave of his hand. He was not someone she could afford to provoke.
Su He turned and walked toward the well platform. After a moment of hesitation, she began to undress.
“I told you to wash your hands.” Pei Yan suddenly snapped in a low voice, forcefully waving his hand as he tossed the memorial over.
With a soft thud, the memorial landed squarely in the well before them.
“Still not stepping back?” he barked again.
A rustling of footsteps echoed around, as if many people were withdrawing.
Only then did Su He realize there had been Guards in the courtyard earlier, but they had been stationed in the shadows, so she hadn’t noticed.
“You didn’t make it clear!” Su He hurriedly wrapped her arms around herself, her face flushed as she looked at him.