Exile after Divorce? Empty the Scumbag Husband First!-Chapter 220 - 217: Yet He Threatened Her With Her Teacher’s Safety
She had never seen anyone like Mu Ren, who could change so drastically in such a short time.
Ever since the day he forcibly took her into the mansion and made her take the name Ayue, Zhang Yue had been tortured by him every day.
Sometimes he was overly attentive, peeling food for her himself; other times he was like a wild beast, turning hostile and hitting her.
In just a few dozen days, Zhang Yue had lost a significant amount of weight, and there was not a single presentable spot on her body.
She had thought about escaping, but the courtyard walls were surrounded by his guards, not even a fly could get out, let alone an adult like her.
She had also thought about begging for mercy, but the more she pleaded, the more it fueled his wrath, and the pain she endured would multiply by a thousand, a million times!
She even considered ending it all, her body and mind were tormented to the brink of wanting to die.
However, he threatened her with her teacher’s safety.
"Ayue, if you die, I’ll make sure your teacher joins you in the grave."
Utterly helpless, the only thing she could do was comply with everything he said, and accept the name Ayue, only then did she have any moment of respite.
But Zhang Yue, having been educated since childhood, could never submit to a man’s absurdity and be locked within the courtyard walls for life?!
Moreover, her teacher was trapped and waiting for them to come to the rescue; how could she remain confined?
Yet, every attempt to resist was met with even more brutal humiliation from him.
Her cries and screams often reached other parts of the Prince Mansion.
Ruan Jiao heard them several times.
She didn’t know what the sound was, blurred and indistinct. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
She called for the maid assigned to her by the mansion, and asked, "What is that sound?"
The maid appeared somewhat nervous, stammering, "Miss, maybe it’s just some stray cats causing trouble."
"Stray cats?" Ruan Jiao scoffed, her gaze suddenly turning somber.
The maid wanted to say something more, but was met with a slap!
With a crisp "smack," blood instantly trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Even Lisi, who was standing by, was startled.
Ruan Jiao grabbed her and pulled her close.
"Do you take me for a fool? That was clearly a woman’s crying, I heard it for several consecutive days. You’re deliberately hiding something. Is there a shameful secret in this Prince Mansion?"
The maid turned pale with fear and quickly knelt down pleading for mercy, "Miss, spare me! There’s no secret, I... I truly don’t know..."
Ruan Jiao had learned to read faces when she was a concubine at Chen Anbo Mansion.
Now she could tell at a glance if the maid was lying.
She pinched the maid’s neck, emotionless, saying, "If you don’t speak, you’ll be sleeping in this pond tonight."
The maid had never faced such intimidation, her fragile composure broke instantly. Frightened, she lowered her voice and confessed.
"Miss... that woman... she’s the Young Master’s... concubine..."
She trembled because she had been instructed that, before the Young Master’s marriage, the concubine brought back to the Prince Mansion was not to be disclosed to anyone.
But in a life-threatening situation, she couldn’t afford not to talk.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Jiao’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.
The maid continued, "This woman was brought from the Magistrate’s front steps by the Young Master a few days ago. It’s said... Other servants said this woman resembles the Young Master’s beloved he’s yearned for over the years, so he forcibly brought her into the mansion."
"But the woman refuses to submit to the Young Master, nor does she acknowledge being the woman he pines for. So she frequently angers the Young Master."
"Mu Ren’s beloved? His sweetheart?"
The maid trembled even more violently, "Yes, yes... but nobody knows where the Young Master’s sweetheart is. It’s... it’s said that the Young Master often mentions her name in his dreams at night."
"What’s her name?"
"He calls her Ayue."
Ruan Jiao sneered, her slender eyes showing a hint of indignation.
But she wasn’t too angry; after all, who doesn’t have a past?
This woman, dragged here by force, was merely a substitute for his true love, making Ruan Jiao fearless.
Once she marries and truly becomes his Heir’s wife, any concubine or mistress will be at her mercy!
She had plenty of methods!!
Back at Uncle’s Mansion, the humiliation she suffered as a concubine would definitely be experienced by others thoroughly!
Since Lisi was present, Ruan Jiao didn’t take it too far; after asking these questions, she dismissed the maid.
Turning around, she smiled again, saying gently, "Lisi, what I did just now was for our sakes."
"Political marriages are mutually decided. My marriage to him represents my father and our Liao Lie. If we’re disrespected, this alliance becomes meaningless."
"I need to make sure everyone in the mansion knows we aren’t so easily bullied. That’s why I was strict; please don’t take offense."
Lisi smiled faintly, nodding understandingly, "Don’t worry, miss, I fully understand. But if the Young Master has a beloved, won’t you suffer once you marry him?"
Ruan Jiao sighed deeply, forcing a smile, "Suffering is fine as long as both sides remain peaceful."
For a moment, Lisi felt a pang of sympathy for her; she truly was General Hu Lie’s daughter.
Meanwhile, Ruan Mian agreed to help Xie Huai’an find out information about her elder sister.
The most direct method was to locate Lisi and ask her.
But she seemed to be busy in recent days and hadn’t left the mansion, so Ruan Mian could only entrust a reliable person to deliver a letter to Lisi at the Prince Mansion.
Soon, Lisi arrived at the inn.
Upon hearing Ruan Mian inquire about a woman, she immediately recalled hearing about it the day before.
"I know the woman."
"It’s said that the Young Master brought her to the mansion by force because she resembles his beloved."
A substitute?
Ruan Mian felt speechless realizing this was the reason.
"Do you know who the Young Master’s beloved is? And where she is now?"
This was something Lisi couldn’t help with, "I only know she’s called Ayue, but where she might be, I have no idea."
Ruan Mian expressed gratitude, understanding these matters were likely secrets involving the Young Master and wouldn’t be easily disclosed.
Nevertheless, there was some gain from this visit.
Lisi saw her lost in thought and, after a while, chased for answers, "Sister Mianmian, I still don’t know why you’ve come here? When are you planning to return to Wuheng?"
Ruan Mian glanced at her, whispered some words into her ear.
Lisi suddenly looked incredulous, her eyes wide, "Are you serious?!"
"Nabuhui is... your younger sister?!"
"Then the General’s real daughter was..."
"There’s certainly something odd going on, I don’t know how Nabuhui gained the trust of the general’s couple to become their daughter, but I’m sure she’s not genuine. She was born in Ruan Mansion and exiled here with us."
