Chapter 11: Matters Unheard and Unseen

Chapter 11: Unheard and Unseen Matters

“What... what are you doing...” Mu Jin’s eyes widened in terror, startled by the burning intensity in Chen Huazhu’s gaze, instinctively stepping back to create distance.

Chen Huazhu took a long stride forward, grasping her chin firmly. “I’ve often heard people say ‘watching a beauty under the lamp,’ but I never truly understood it until now...”

Unable to restrain himself, he pulled Mu Jin into a tight embrace, one hand wandering over her body, acting as he pleased.

Mu Jin was terrified, screaming and struggling fiercely, but even Gu Yu’s strength was no match for Chen Huazhu; how could she possibly resist such a man?

In the next moment, he covered her mouth and pinned her to the ground.

That night, near the hour of the boar, Mu Jin returned to her residence as if soulless. When Jian Jia asked her questions, she remained unresponsive, spending the entire night soaking in the large bath tub separated inside her room, washing herself until her skin was raw. Early the next morning, Jian Jia found her unconscious in the tub.

Fortunately, the old wooden tub had gaps that leaked water; otherwise, she might have drowned while passed out inside.

Mu Jin’s illness lingered for months, leaving her bedridden and close to death.

It was only because Yun Jiao was kind-hearted and Mistress Qian was financially well-off that they couldn’t bear to lose her so young. They sought out a familiar doctor who saved her life.

Had it been anyone else, given how severe her condition was, she might have been carried back to her natal home long ago.

Mu Jin wept as she revealed the whole sordid story.

Upon hearing it, Yun Jiao and Jian Jia exchanged stunned glances, both dumbfounded and unable to believe it.

If Mu Jin hadn’t told them herself, who would have thought that such a dire illness was caused by so many hidden grudges?

Even Qin Nanfeng felt a heavy sorrow upon hearing this. The lives of the servants in the inner residence were full of hardship and suffering, not to mention the wives and concubines—along with their children, who also endured pain.

Wasn’t Yun Jiao one of them?

Thinking of this, he looked at Yun Jiao and sighed with a hint of pity.

“Miss,” Mu Jin knelt deeply once more, bowing her head low. “After that day, I wanted to end it all—just die and be done with it. But, unexpectedly, Chen Huazhu, he... he actually... took from me my...”

She suddenly stopped, glancing toward Qin Nanfeng.

Yun Jiao understood immediately—this wasn’t a proper moment to continue with others present, and as Qin Nanfeng was a man, she should have sent him away earlier.

Just as she was about to speak, Qin Nanfeng half-closed his fist by his lips and coughed lightly, then teasingly said to Yun Jiao, “Xiao Jiu, I suddenly remembered my fishing rod is still outside. If I don’t retrieve it soon, someone might take it. I should go check.”

With that, he climbed the wall.

“Be careful,” Yun Jiao instinctively stepped forward a half pace.

“Don’t worry, your brother is quite skilled,” Qin Nanfeng said with ease as he easily scaled the wall, turning back with a smug smile. “I’ll come in through the front gate later.”

With that, he leapt down outside the wall.

Yun Jiao laughed softly as he left, then slowly turned back.

“Get up first, then tell me everything,” she stepped forward and helped Mu Jin to her feet, the anger she once felt over the betrayal now replaced by pity.

“Mu Jin, what happened afterward? Why did Chen Huazhu send you to harm me?” Jian Jia came closer, urgently grasping Mu Jin’s hand.

“That beast Chen Huazhu,” Mu Jin said through gritted teeth, “At first, I intended to hang myself with a rope to end it all. But he took out something and said that if I didn’t follow his orders, he would send it to my parents…”

“What was it?” Yun Jiao frowned, sensing it couldn’t be anything good.

“It was... an explicit painting!” Mu Jin’s tears burst forth. “The woman inside... was me…”

Yun Jiao gasped sharply, and Jian Jia was equally stunned.

Mu Jin trembled as she pulled a small booklet, no bigger than a palm, from her bosom and handed it to Yun Jiao. “He gave me this, saying I must carry it with me always, or else he would make me suffer. I dared not destroy it or disobey him, nor could I kill myself...

“Miss, it would be better if I died, but I cannot bring disgrace to my parents and siblings. Besides, my second brother hasn’t yet been betrothed...”

Yun Jiao flipped through only two pages before slamming the booklet shut with a snap, throwing it aside, unable to look any longer.

The booklet contained just over ten pages, each depicting different explicit scenes between a man and a woman. The man’s face was never shown, but the woman’s figure was drawn with such precision and vividness that it was unmistakably Mu Jin.

Even a small black mole in her private area was depicted without omission.

Yun Jiao felt both anger and shame. Chen Huazhu was truly despicable, filthy, and utterly vile!

To have committed such unheard and unseen atrocities was inconceivable—it was remarkable he could even think of such things!

Jian Jia’s face turned pale, and after a long moment she asked, “Our miss has no grievances with him, nor any contact. Why would he threaten you to harm her?”

Mu Jin shook her head. “I don’t know. Since my illness first began to subside, he came to me frequently—besides... that matter, he would ask about the miss’s situation.

“Fortunately, there was nothing shameful to report, so I gave him some trivial updates. We kept the peace until the miss came to care for Old Madam Qian. Before setting off, he somehow got word and ordered me... ordered me to…”

“I understand,” Yun Jiao waved her hand, signaling she need not say more. She already knew the rest.

Mu Jin nodded, her pale lips trembling. Jian Jia quickly supported her.

Trembling, she said, “Miss, it’s all my fault, please don’t blame me... I’m truly ashamed to speak of it...”

Yun Jiao sighed, looking at her with compassion. “What fault is yours? It was because of me that you suffered so much. How could I ever blame you? Enough, go rest in your room.”

“Miss, do you really not blame me?” Mu Jin stopped crying.

“When have I ever lied to you? Of course I don’t,” Yun Jiao stepped closer and brushed away the stray hairs from her forehead. “Rest now and regain your strength. I have plenty of tasks waiting for you.”

“Miss...” Mu Jin was overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion, tears streaming down her face as she lifted her skirts to kneel again.

“That’s enough. You’ve knelt enough today,” Yun Jiao interrupted. “Jian Jia, take her to rest.”

“No, thank you,” Mu Jin pushed Jian Jia’s hand away. “You go with the miss to see Old Madam. I’ll wash up and change, then come.”

She hurried off.

Jian Jia watched her retreating figure in puzzlement. “Miss, why do you think Chen Huazhu would do this to her?”

Yun Jiao smiled faintly. “I have never dealt with him. For him to go to such lengths to harm me means there must be another hidden reason.”

“There must be someone behind this!” Jian Jia said firmly, leaning close and lowering her voice. “Miss, do you think it could be the Madam?”

(End of chapter)