Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 166: I Beg You

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: I Beg You

Seeing the person from her bed finally enter the room, the lame man breathed a sigh of relief, smiled contentedly, and without shying away from the embarrassment, he knocked on the door, speaking with utter affection.

"Liu Niang, as long as you bear a son, I’ll bring you back. We’ll live a good life together. Our family is poor, but I still need to get my leg treated. Lord has agreed to pay for the medicine, and my mother was right, you’re sacrificing for our family, a good daughter-in-law from Wangjia Village. When you come back, I certainly won’t despise you."

After saying these words, he limped back. There was no guilt, no responsibility, and certainly no shame.

For him, this was just a path to rid himself of his limp and gather all the glory to himself.

Shen Hua walked forward with a cold sneer. Even one more glance felt too dirty.

Yingwu followed to gauge Shen Hua’s reaction, saying she wasn’t surprised would be a lie.

Shen Hua glanced at her: "Don’t be foolish, I am not a girl who can’t face the sufferings of the world."

This world is full of absurdities.

Shengjing, under the Emperor’s feet, is also the most prosperous Imperial City. Where there’s light, there’s shadow, and beneath the dazzling surface are rodents and ants skilled at digging and nestling in dark corners.

Shen Hua would never pity them.

"Do you know why that woman didn’t report to the authorities?"

Yingwu answered: "Our laws do not constrain such things."

It’s true that such a matter would bring shame upon a family’s honor and earner derision, but how could a government office manage such family matters?

That is why these people don’t avoid them at all, making transactions openly at First-tier Sky Restaurant, and it’s not surprising that they exploit the loopholes.

Shen Hua’s eyes were clear and luminous. She casually handed the torn pieces of the silver note over to Yingwu.

"Then tell me, why didn’t she ask for help from me?"

Yingwu looked down at the shredded pieces of the silver note.

"Perhaps she found it difficult to speak up?"

Shen Hua shook her head.

The girl Yingying stood with grace, her hair slightly fluttering with the breeze in the corridor. A soft phrase escaped her lips, so light that it dissipated along with the whispering wind.

"A person in despair, about to drown beneath raging waves, will desperately cling to any floating wood, even if it’s prickly, foul-smelling, and rotting."

Shen Hua had tasted that desperation herself.

Losing the embroidery workshop was, in fact, not such a big deal.

What truly pained her to her core was being unable to discipline herself, which resulted in harm to Yicui.

In her past life, she was held down by a group of servants, dressed up against her struggles, with the most vibrant makeup applied, donning a Shu Brocade skirt made ready, and delivered in front of Zhu Zheng.

Shen Qu still wore his facade of genteel elegance: "This is my little sister. What does Lord think?"

Zhu Zheng suppressed his usual arrogance, adopting the demeanor of an elder: "Why call me Lord? The Zhu and Shen families have always been close. According to our kinship, you might as well start calling me grandfather-in-law following the second branch of our family."

In saying this, he never considered that Shen Hua should call him that as well.

"You’re sincere, and grandfather keeps your promises in mind. I also make a promise here. Soon it’ll be the birthday of Lord Prefect. You’ll accompany me, and if you catch his eye, what’s to worry about the Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop not thriving?"

As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on Shen Hua.

Despite the scorching summer heat, Shen Hua felt a bone-chilling cold.

Her body was so frail it seemed the wind could scatter her. Hidden from the sun all year round, apart from her cheeks daubed with rouge, her skin was pale as paper.

Yet even so, she stood straight. Fragility mixed with firmness, stirring one’s urge to shred her to pieces.

"Come, sit here by me."

Zhu Zheng patted his leg with obvious intent to offend.

Following that remark, a tempest roared in Shen Qu’s eyes but quickly settled back down.

He knew very well what he wanted, weighing loss against gain.

He looked at Shen Hua profoundly.

The girl was extremely submissive at the moment, her neck still bearing the marks he had left as a warning the previous night – fingermark bruises.

Her skin was so white, the marks were strikingly conspicuous.

Shen Qu still remembers the jade-like touch and the girl’s unwilling, weak breaths to this day.

Without waiting for the servant to push Shen Hua forward.

Shen Hua smiled lightly as if the spring plum blossoms were blooming, the dagger in her sleeve gleaming with white light, step by step she approached Zhu Zheng. But Shen Qu had long sensed something amiss, forcefully grabbing and pressing someone down.

"What’s the rush, my lord? After you’ve connected the thread, I’ll personally send my little sister to the Zhu Residence."

"Someone, please escort Lord Prefect to the side chamber to rest. There, a token of gratitude has been prepared for you."

Zhu Zheng understood and smiled, not making things difficult for Shen Qu.

As soon as Zhu Zheng left, that dagger was in Shen Qu’s hand in an instant. He tapped the girl’s cheeks with the dagger pityingly.

"Such a difficult nature to tame."

"Wouldn’t it be better if Yangyang were more sensible?"

Although Shen Hua was like fish on the chopping board, her breath delicate as floating silk, she remained defiant, scoffing: "I see Zhu Zheng as a short-lived wretch. He may not have died today, but tomorrow is another story."

"You truly fear nothing!" Shen Qu said coldly.

Shen Hua just grabbed Shen Qu’s wrist, guiding the tip of the dagger against her own chest, inching it deeper: "The dagger must be stained with some blood. Do you dare, dear brother?"

Naturally, Shen Qu wouldn’t harm her. He quickly withdrew his hand, ensuring Shen Hua was not hurt in the least.

Shen Hua laughed: "You’re really quite a coward."

At that time, Shen Hua was still young, and naive, her eyes blinded by hatred, possessed by madness, intent on making everyone suffer.

What does death count for? She had long lost her desire to live.

"Yangyang."

Shen Qu was no kind soul either.

"If Lord Zhu doesn’t get you today, he will surely need someone to serve him."

"Your maid is eager to save her mistress. After just a little intimidation, she willingly shed tears and agreed to suffer in your stead. I, as your dear brother, adore you and can only honor her loyal heart."

Those words left Shen Hua’s mind utterly blank. A coppery sweetness filled her mouth.

She detests all that, barely understanding matters of men and women, but it was enough to instill fear.

She dissected the meaning of each word carefully.

A buzzing noise filled her ears.

Then she shivered as she pursued in the direction Zhu Zheng had left. Someone caught her around the waist. Shen Qu leaned in close, his nose near the girl’s frail neck, inhaling deeply the faint medicinal fragrance.

Delightful and enticing.

"Don’t worry, dear brother will take you. It would pain my heart if you fell."

The side chamber door was tightly closed. From within came the sinister laughter of a man and the low, pained crying belonging to Yicui.

Desperate, Shen Hua threw herself against the door.

"Don’t," she trembled.

Tears rolled, conveying fear, helplessness, and a myriad of unraveling emotions.

But the door wouldn’t open, no matter how she slammed against it.

Yicui’s agonized screams completely snapped the last string of Shen Hua’s resolve.

Shen Hua, who had never bowed or groveled to anyone before, saw the only light in her eyes extinguished; her spirit was utterly broken.

"Shen Qu, can you open the door, please? Yicui mustn’t be in trouble, why should she be? Let her out. I can go in."

"From now on, I’ll obey, listen to you."

Her spine finally bent, kneeling before the man she loathed to the bone. Pain began convulsing through her body, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

With tears like blood, she said.

"I beg you."