Su Yao trembled all over but forced a smile. “Eunuch, you jest. I… I’m here now, aren’t I?”
As she watched the torture instruments draw nearer, her legs began to shake uncontrollably.
“Hmph, this is my territory,” Eunuch Hai sneered triumphantly.
A wave of intense fear surged within Su Yao. She knew she had fallen into the hands of this demon and might not escape easily.
“Eunuch, I beg you to let me go,” Su Yao pleaded, her voice trembling as her entire body shook like a sieve.
But the old eunuch seemed not to hear her. He advanced step by step, the smile on his face growing increasingly sinister.
His eyes lingered on her slender waist and delicate curves, his fingers twitching with impatience.
“Begging for mercy? Not a chance!”
He suddenly grabbed Su Yao’s wrist and dragged her toward the instruments. “Today, I’ll teach you a proper lesson!”
Su Yao struggled with all her might, but her strength was no match for the old eunuch.
In her desperation, she grabbed a teapot and smashed it against his back.
“Ouch!”
The eunuch’s robe was soaked, but he remained unharmed.
Now, however, he was furious.
He pinned Su Yao against the wall. “What’s with the act of purity? A cast-off shoe the Chief Grand Secretary didn’t want, and you still think you’re some noble daughter?”
His greasy hands tore at her collar. “Tonight, I’ll teach you the rules properly…”
The damp blue brick floor reflected the flickering candlelight as Su Yao’s back slammed against the torture rack, the iron chains clattering harshly.
Suddenly, a sharp announcement came from outside the door: “Urgent summons to the Qianqing Palace!”
The voice was unmistakably that of Chief Steward of the Imperial Presence, Eunuch Wang.
The old eunuch’s murky eyes shifted, and he spat in frustration. “You little wretch, I’ll deal with you when I return.”
As the iron door slammed shut, Su Yao slid down the wall, hearing the chattering of her own teeth.
Moonlight seeped through the vent, casting a pale scar on the floor.
“Creak!”
The sound of the door hinge turning startled Su Yao, making her curl up in fear that Eunuch Hai had returned.
She hid behind the screen, too afraid to step out.
Peering through the screen, she faintly glimpsed a figure standing behind it.
The person was tall and upright.
Completely different from Eunuch Hai.
Could it be that the Empress Dowager had sent someone to rescue her?
Unlikely…
Who would even know she had been brought here?
Lost in thought, Su Yao instinctively took a step back, her voice filled with unease. “Who’s there?”
A familiar man’s voice came from behind the screen.
“Come here.”
Su Yao recognized his voice and felt a wave of relief.
It was Lu Huaijin!
He had come!
Tears instantly welled up in Su Yao’s eyes.
“Don’t recognize me?”
Lu Huaijin looked at her indifferently, his tone tinged with impatience.
Su Yao was about to rush out but hesitated, afraid of getting entangled with him again. Her steps froze.
She watched as the man extended a finger and beckoned.
His expression darkened slightly as he murmured, “Has it only been a few days, and you can’t even recognize my voice?”
“Lu…”
“Recognize me now? I thought you’d forgotten all about me, living comfortably in the palace.”
At that moment, Su Yao felt utterly humiliated.
Here she was, in such a wretched state, while the man before her remained as aloof and untouchable as an immortal.
Biting her lower lip, Su Yao wrestled with her emotions.
Should she humble herself and let him rescue her first? But what then? She would have to return to her former life.
The thought stuck in her throat, making her feel so suffocated she could hardly breathe.
After a long while, she finally found her voice.
“How did the Chief Grand Secretary know this servant was here?”
She heard the man scoff.
Lu Huaijin’s tone lifted slightly, laced with sarcasm. “Servant? You say it so smoothly.”
As he spoke, he stepped into the room in his boots, his deep eyes scanning the objects inside before finally settling on those little instruments of torment.
Lu Huaijin sneered coldly, his voice indifferent. “So you like these things.”
In an instant, Su Yao felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks. Not only did her face turn crimson, but even the corners of her eyes took on a faint reddish hue.
Yet that stubbornness in her heart, like a vine, grew wildly and coiled around her, making her unwilling to bow and submit to him time and again.
“This servant must return.”
Seizing the moment, Su Yao flusteredly tried to walk out.
Her mind was on Eunuch Hai; she had to leave before that old eunuch returned.
But just as she reached the door, a large hand clamped firmly around her arm like an iron vise.
Su Yao stumbled, losing her balance uncontrollably and teetering to one side.
This time, Lu Huaijin did not reach out to steady her.
With a dull thud, Su Yao fell heavily to the ground.
The rough floor scraped her arm, sending pain shooting through her body.
Her eyes reddened instantly, tears welling up and shimmering.
“Su Yao, do you enjoy life in the palace?” Lu Huaijin asked coldly.
He slowly crouched down, reaching out to pinch her chin. The pressure was neither light nor heavy, but it left Su Yao unable to avoid his gaze.
“This face of yours—even eunuchs find it utterly captivating.”
Su Yao glared straight at him, her eyes filled with defiance.
She bit her lower lip hard, turning it pale, refusing to let out a single plea for mercy.
The candlelight cast a heavy shadow behind Lu Huaijin. He dipped his fingertip in Su Yao’s tears, examining them as if admiring a piece of jade.
“What?”
His thumb pressed heavily against her reddened outer eye. “Is this your ‘spring waters veiled in mist’ look, used to seduce that filthy eunuch?”
Su Yao trembled all over. The spot on her jaw where he had pinched burned fiercely, yet this pain could not overshadow the twisting agony in her heart.
She never imagined Lu Huaijin would humiliate her like this. Summoning her strength, she pushed his hand away.
Su Yao suddenly let out a soft laugh, her nails digging deeply into her palms. “The Chief Grand Secretary jests.”
She didn’t even realize her own voice trembled slightly at the end.
The scraped wound on her knee was still oozing blood, yet she stubbornly pushed herself up, leaning against the wall.
“Thank you for saving me today, Chief Grand Secretary. If there’s nothing else, this servant will take her leave. As for whom this servant seduces, what concern is it of yours?”
Crack!
The jade thumb ring in Lu Huaijin’s hand shattered.
“Stop!”
He abruptly grabbed Su Yao’s wrist.
“Since your affection runs so deep, I shall play the matchmaker. Why don’t I invite Eunuch Hai back, and you two can continue?”
“Someone, go fetch Eunuch Hai—”
Su Yao froze. She regretted it; she shouldn’t have provoked this living King of Hell.
“Lu Huaijin!”
“What did you just call me?” the man asked leisurely, unfastening his belt.
Su Yao’s fingers curled slightly, clutching the hem of her skirt.
She shook her head tremblingly, staggering backward unconsciously.
Only when her back pressed against the cold antique display shelf did she realize she was already in tears.
“Sir…”
Lu Huaijin grabbed her hand—it was small, soft and boneless, easily enveloped by his palm.
Su Yao’s lips trembled, unsure of what he intended to do.
Lu Huaijin suddenly leaned down and bit her earlobe: “Su Yao, I’ll give you one more chance…”