Several matrons with unfriendly expressions rushed forward, followed by the fierce-faced Granny Li.
A stout, broad-shouldered matron immediately began cursing, "What a seductive vixen, even daring to entice the Marquis! Knowing full well that Miss Táng Lí was personally chosen by Old Madam to be the Marquis’s bedchamber maid, you still shamelessly threw yourself into the Marquis’s arms first!"
"That’s right, who do you think you are? How dare you covet the position of the Marquis’s bedchamber maid?"
"A widow, pretending to be pure and innocent all day long—no wonder the Marquis drove you out!"
"Indeed, how could the Marquis ever take a fancy to a lowly wretch like you…"
They took turns hurling vulgar insults. Wēn Níng stood up in alarm, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"What is all this about? I have never seduced the Marquis, nor would I ever compete with Miss Táng Lí for the position of bedchamber maid!"
"You little hussy, still daring to talk back! Let’s see what kind of skin and flesh you have that makes you so shameless as to seduce the Marquis!"
The matrons rolled up their sleeves and roughly grabbed Wēn Níng’s collar, tearing open most of her thin nightgown. Her fair, jade-like skin dazzled the matrons, stirring jealousy within them. Like octopuses, they reached inside, pinching and twisting her flesh.
Seeing this, Chūn Xìng ignored the injury on her arm, crawled on her knees before Granny Li, and tearfully pleaded, "Granny, please calm your anger! Sister Wēn Níng is new here and doesn’t understand many of the rules yet. Please give her a chance!"
A sharp slap sent Chūn Xìng sprawling to the ground. "Who do you think you are, daring to plead for her!"
Chūn Xìng felt a ringing in her ears, her cheek burning fiercely as blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
The matrons’ rough hands roamed over Wēn Níng’s snow-white skin. Wēn Níng was in so much pain that her vision darkened. She could only curl up, enduring the relentless onslaught of malice.
"I didn’t… I didn’t…" Her voice trembled, tears streaking her face. She had never felt so humiliated.
In the struggle, the items on Wēn Níng’s bed were knocked to the floor. The small booklet hidden beneath the quilt happened to fall right in front of Granny Li.
Wēn Níng was terrified, her heart sinking to the depths. She tried to reach for the booklet but was pinned to the brick floor by several matrons, unable to move.
Granny Li snatched up the booklet and suddenly widened her eyes. "Heavens! Heavens! This… this is…"
She shook the booklet in front of the matrons. "Look! Look! What is all this!"
Then she turned toward the door and shouted at the maids peeking in to watch the commotion, "Everyone, look! Look! This lustful hussy actually dared to hide such filthy things in secret! She’s even more despicable than a brothel girl!"
Wēn Níng opened her mouth but ultimately did not defend herself.
She could have truthfully explained the origin of the booklet, but if she did, what would become of the young mistress?
The legitimate daughter of the dignified Hou Manor, secretly passing on such intimate materials—even if it was out of sibling affection, to arrange a bedchamber maid for the Marquis—such behavior truly violated boudoir precepts.
Wēn Níng also did not know the young mistress’s temperament. What if she was vengeful or, to protect her reputation, refused to admit it? Then Wēn Níng would become a servant falsely accusing her master, and she would likely meet an even worse fate.
Seeing Wen Ning offer no defense, Granny Li grew so excited her voice changed pitch. "See! See! I, an old woman, have sharp eyes! The day she entered the manor, I could tell she wasn't a decent one. She truly is a wanton hussy! My pure and virtuous Táng Lí even spoke up for her earlier—how utterly shameless!"
Granny Li felt immensely gratified. Not only had she secured a good reputation for her daughter, but she had also vented her pent-up resentment!
Wen Ning was dragged out, given ten strokes of the cane, and locked in the firewood shed.
Pale-faced, she curled up on the ground of the shed. Every inch of her body screamed in pain, as if countless fine needles were moving beneath her skin.
She bit her lower lip hard, the pain forcing her to hold her breath.
Wen Ning felt that after this ordeal, the child in her womb was surely going to leave her.
Fine.
It would save her the abortion medicine.
Fine.
It never should have come in the first place.
She couldn't even protect herself, let alone a child.
In her dream, a soft, chubby child chased after her, calling, "Mother, hold me, Mother, hold me…"
She couldn't help but gently draw the child into her arms. The little one in her embrace stretched out plump little hands to wipe away her tears.
Still unsatisfied after being held by her, the child then chased after a tall, broad-shouldered man, calling, "Father, hold me too, Father, hold me too…"
The man picked up the child and lifted him high, then turned around. He extended a broad, thick palm, covering Wen Ning's fingertips. His distinct-knuckled fingers slipped between hers, and when their hands interlocked, warmth instantly dispelled the chill, as if pressing all her unease into the overlapping warmth of their bodies.
Wen Ning felt—so happy, so warm. This was a sense of security she hadn't experienced in a long time.
She caught a faint scent of sandalwood from the man and couldn't help but look up. As her vision gradually cleared, she saw the man was—the Marquis!
"Marquis!"
"No, Marquis!"
Wen Ning jolted awake from the dream, cold sweat instantly soaking her back.
Why, why had she dreamed of the Marquis!
Before she could collect herself, she was frightened stiff by a man's lewd voice.
"The Marquis? How could the Marquis compare to me? I'm the one who knows how to cherish a woman like you."
By now, it was fully daylight. Wen Ning didn't know when a man with a face full of pustules had entered the firewood shed. He was staring at her with lust-filled eyes.
"You… who are you! Get out now, or I'll call for help!"
"Go ahead and call! Scream your lungs out, no one will come to save you! Even if someone did come, they wouldn't dare touch me! My father once saved the Old Marquis's life. Every master in Hou Manor has to show me some respect. Follow me, and I'll guarantee you a life of luxury!"
Wen Ning had heard Chūn Xìng mention this person. He was likely Granny Li's son, Táng Lí's brother, Tang Zhu.
Tang Zhu worked as the procurement steward in the kitchen. Relying on his father having saved the Old Marquis's life, he acted without restraint in the manor.
Wen Ning looked at his uneven, yellowed teeth, his foul breath washing over her.
He grabbed Wen Ning's slender, pale wrist and pulled her toward his chest.
"Little beauty, I've had my eye on you since the day you entered the manor. I've never seen anyone as pretty as you. These past days, I've been longing for you to death, dreaming of you every night. If you just behave today, not only will you suffer less, but I'll also make you crave more!"
"Help! Help!"
Wen Ning screamed for help, ignoring the excruciating pain throughout her body. She struggled desperately, clawing and kicking wildly at Tang Zhu with her hands and feet.
However, the man's strength was too great; with one hand pressing her down, he used brute force with the other to tear at her clothes.
"My… my body belongs to the Marquis! How dare you…"
In her desperation, Wen Ning could only invoke the Marquis, hoping to intimidate Tang Zhu.
"Hmph! The Marquis's? You shameless widow, Xie Jinglan probably doesn't even know your name. Even if he were to come now, he'd have to give you to me. Today, I'm determined to have you!"
"Ah! Help! Help!"
Wen Ning could only continue to scream for help, but Tang Zhu covered her mouth and nose. Seizing an opportunity, she arched her body with all her might and bit down hard on Tang Zhu's hand.
Tang Zhu let out a sharp cry, yanking his hand back. On the back of his hand were two rows of bloody tooth marks, so deep they nearly reached the bone.
"You wretch! You're asking for death! Let's see if you can still be this fierce later!"
He grabbed Wen Ning's hair and slammed her head against the hard brick floor.
Wen Ning felt a sharp pain at the back of her head, her vision blurred and darkened, and she gradually lost consciousness.
Before her awareness faded, she could feel Tang Zhu's greasy hand tearing open her collar, sliding down along her collarbone. The disgusting sensation churned her stomach.
She was so afraid, so afraid!
She didn't understand what wrong she had done to suffer such humiliation!
In her dazed state, Wen Ning felt as if the man from her dreams had appeared again. He lifted her into his arms, his solid chest a place she could lean on.
Since this was just a dream, what did she have to fear!
Why not let herself indulge a little, even if the man in her dream was the Marquis!
She buried her head in the man's chest, murmuring drowsily, "It hurts… I'm so tired… Why does everyone bully me? Could you hold me a little tighter…"