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The rain poured relentlessly, soaking the earth and turning the once-dusty streets into a slick, muddy mess. The sky was heavy with leaden clouds, as if the entire world had been enveloped in despair. Amidst this dreary scene, a frail figure emerged from the gates of the prison, her tattered clothes clinging to her emaciated frame.
"Get out of here! And don't you dare open your mouth about who you are, or you'll rot in jail until you die!" The guard's voice was harsh, his shove sending the weakened girl stumbling forward.
Su Yue stepped out into the open air, the long-absent sunlight piercing her eyes and forcing tears to well up. In just a few short days, she had gone from being the pampered daughter of a prominent family to this wretched state. Her mind replayed the horrors of her time in prison—the filth, the hunger, the violence. She had shared space with rats, cockroaches, and fleas. The food was spoiled, and even that was often snatched away by other prisoners before she could eat it. While others slept on piles of straw, she had no choice but to curl up on the cold, hard floor. One wrong move would earn her a beating, and every night was filled with the haunting cries and howls of despair echoing through the cells.
She never wanted to experience such torment again.
Head bowed, Su Yue shuffled forward aimlessly. Before she realized it, she found herself standing outside the mansion of the Ministry of Rites—the very home she had been cast out from.
"Get lost, beggar scum! Don't linger here!" The gatekeeper who had once bowed obsequiously to her now looked at her with disgust, shooing her away like an unwelcome pest.
Su Yue dared not speak up. The guard's warning echoed in her ears: if she claimed to be the young mistress of the Su household again, she would find herself back in chains. She retreated to a corner across the street, her hollow eyes fixed on the grand entrance of the estate. She didn't know where else to go. Without the Su family, she was nothing.
Just then, a luxurious carriage pulled up in front of the mansion.
"The young lady has returned! Please allow us to greet you respectfully!"
The same gatekeeper who had treated her so disdainfully moments ago now wore a fawning smile.
Mo Hua stepped down from the carriage, turning to assist Su Li as she alighted gracefully. As Su Li entered the mansion, she felt someone watching her and turned her head. Across the street, huddled in the shadows, was what appeared to be a beggar—dirty, gaunt, and pitiful.
"Miss, is something wrong?" Mo Hua asked, noticing her hesitation.
Su Li shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go. Father should be finishing his duties soon."
Behind her, hidden in the shadows, Su Yue's eyes burned with hatred. Su Li!
How dare she stand there so pristine and noble while Su Yue had been reduced to this? She hated her—hated every single person in the Su household. She loathed her father for his cruelty and heartlessness, envied Su Li for her seemingly charmed life, and despised Xia Shi for her shamelessness in committing adultery, which had left Su Yue with such a tainted lineage.
One day, she vowed, the Su family would regret everything they had done to her.
As dusk settled in, Su Yue knew she couldn't stay on the streets. The autumn nights were chilly, and falling ill would mean losing her chance for revenge. She couldn't return to the Su residence, but perhaps… perhaps she could seek refuge at the Xia family home.
With that thought, she limped toward the Xia residence. Upon arrival, she knocked hesitantly on the door.
"Grandfather! Grandmother! Open the door!" Su Yue called out hoarsely.
A shrill voice responded from within. "Who is it at this hour?"
The door creaked open, revealing a burly woman.
"What kind of beggar is this? Get lost!" the woman spat.
Su Yue froze, recognizing her. "Aunt-in-law? It's me, Su Yue! Where's Uncle?"
The woman's face darkened. "You cursed wretch! How dare you ask about him after what you've done! Your uncle's family perished because of you! Leave now, or I'll call the authorities to throw you back in jail!"
At the mention of "jail," Su Yue flinched visibly.
"Aunt-in-law, what about my grandparents? Why are you living in their house?"
The woman glared at her venomously, spitting on the ground.
"Spit on you! Who do you think you are calling me 'aunt-in-law'? Everyone associated with you meets a miserable end! Your grandparents have been dead for days. If it weren't for my kindness, no one would've paid for their burial. This house belongs to me now. Get out!"
Su Yue was stunned. Her grandparents were dead? And the house stolen? Where was she supposed to go now?
"Xiu Hua, who's causing trouble?" A raspy male voice called from inside.
Hearing the familiar voice, Su Yue's face lit up.
"Uncle! It's me!"
A thin, wiry man emerged from the house. After staring at her for a moment, he hesitated. "Yue-er?"
Tears welled up in Su Yue's eyes. "Yes, it's me! Uncle, the Su family threw me out. I have nowhere else to go…"
The man's eyes darted around suspiciously. "Come in. We'll talk tomorrow."
The woman exploded in anger. "Are you insane, bringing this jinx into our home?! Do you want to die sooner?!"
The man grabbed her arm and pulled her into the inner room, turning back to Su Yue. "Yue-er, sleep in the outer chamber tonight."
Gratitude flooded Su Yue's face. "Thank you, Uncle." But the moment he turned away, her smile vanished. Her sharp gaze swept over the house. This property had originally been purchased and renovated using money from her mother. Now these ungrateful thieves had seized it for themselves. She would find a way to reclaim what rightfully belonged to her.
Inside the room, the couple whispered conspiratorially, their laughter sinister and cruel.
That night, Su Yue fell into a deep, exhausted sleep. When she awoke, however, she was disoriented. This wasn't the Xia residence. Glancing around at the gaudily decorated room, she quickly threw off the blanket and climbed out of bed. That was when she noticed her clothes had been changed.
Her face paled with alarm. Who had undressed and bathed her while she slept? And why had they brought her to this unfamiliar place?
"Help! Someone! Where am I? Help!" She pushed against the door frantically, only to discover it was locked.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a heavily perfumed, corpulent woman in her thirties strutted in, followed by several burly men with menacing expressions.
"Oh, awake already?" the woman sneered, eyeing Su Yue with a predatory grin.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Su Yue demanded, dread pooling in her stomach.
"This place?" The woman giggled lasciviously. "It's a den of pleasure, a vault of riches, a haven for beauties, and a grave for heroes. What do you think this is?"
Su Yue's blood ran cold. She understood all too well. These monsters had sold her to a brothel! Escaping one nightmare, only to fall into another.
No! She couldn't stay here. If she did, everything would be over. How could she possibly fight Su Li from a place like this?
Spotting an opening, she bolted toward the exit.
"Stop her!"
The brothel was closed during the daytime, its halls eerily silent except for Su Yue's desperate cries for help.
"Save me! Somebody, please!"
Weakened by drugs and days of starvation, she lacked the strength to resist. Barely managing to run a few paces, she was dragged back roughly.
Slap! Slap!
"You little slut! Did you really think you could escape? On my turf? For disobedient girls like you, I have plenty of ways to teach lessons!"
Su Yue's cheek stung from the blows, her voice trembling as she tried to protest. "How dare you! My father is the Minister of Revenue! When he finds out what you've done, none of you will live to see another day!"
The fat woman burst into raucous laughter, her jiggling flesh quaking with mirth.
"I spit on you! Still claiming your father's some high-ranking official? Why not say the emperor himself is your daddy? Scarface, teach this brat the rules of our establishment!"
"As you wish, Madam. You can count on me!"
Su Yue watched in terror as the men approached her. "What are you going to do to me?! Stay back! Don't touch me!"
The fat woman smirked maliciously, swaying her hips as she exited the room. Moments later, the sound of whips cracking and screams of agony filled the air.