Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

The carriage sped along the bumpy official road, its wheels rolling over gravel with a monotonous and rhythmic "clunking" sound.

Shen Qiongju curled up in a corner of the carriage, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier, her consciousness sinking into a state of chaos.

In a daze, the monotonous sound of wheels changed, transforming into another, more piercing, more teeth-grinding sound—

Splash...

The chains lifted her from the icy, suffocating water, and Shen Qiongju coughed violently, her lungs burning with pain.

She was chained to a rack in the center of the water dungeon, her whole body submerged in chest-deep icy water.

The nannies, under orders, tortured her in various ways, repeatedly submerging her in the water until she thought she was really going to drown, only to be suddenly pulled out again.

The suffocating feeling of impending death caused her body to spasm, her long, black hair clinging wetly to her pale face, yet revealing a fragmented beauty.

"Tsk, what an absolute beauty. No wonder Prime Minister Pei couldn't bear to kill her." A nanny's voice was muffled by the sound of water.

Another lowered his voice, "It's more than just being reluctant; didn't you hear it? The noise at night... the Prime Minister comes every night."

"I heard that the Prime Minister even calls her 'sister-in-law.' That's quite a status..."

"Shh! Are you out of your mind?!"

The chatter continued intermittently, like poisoned needles piercing Shen Qiongju's ears.

The daytime water torture finally ended, and she was dragged back to the drier cell like a rag doll drained of all her strength, and thrown onto a cold haystack.

Her soaked prison clothes clung to her skin, and she was so cold that her teeth chattered.

A tall, slender figure walked in against the light, his steps light, yet carrying an overwhelming stench of blood that instantly dispelled the musty smell that had filled the dungeon.

It was Pei Zhihui.

He approached step by step, his leather boots making a dull thud on the damp ground.

Finally, he stopped in front of her, his long fingers pinching her chin with such force that he almost crushed her bones.

He forced her to look up and meet his gaze.

"Sister-in-law."

He spoke, his voice clear and crisp, yet tinged with a sickly tenderness.

"How was your day?"

His fingertips caressed her cheek, the movement eerily gentle, yet his eyes held a chilling hatred.

Shen Qiongju closed her eyes, neither looking at him nor answering.

Her silence seemed to infuriate him.

"Not going to say anything?" Pei Zhihui chuckled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "It seems the water torture during the day wasn't enough; my sister-in-law still has the energy to argue with me."

He threw her onto the only clean bed deep inside the cell, with a long silver chain attached to the bed leg.

He leaned in, his tall figure exuding absolute pressure, firmly imprisoning her.

"Pei Zhihui, just kill me." She finally spoke, her voice dry as if it had been sanded.

"Kill you?" He leaned down, his warm breath brushing against her ear, but his words were cruelly cruel. "That would be too easy on you."

He raised his hand and untied the sash of her soaked prison clothes.

The icy air instantly enveloped her skin, making her shiver.

"I will make you pay back tenfold, a hundredfold, for the torture my brother suffered in Wen Xiujie's prison."

His fingers traced her smooth back, sending a shiver down her spine.

"When he died, there wasn't even a complete body left. And you," his voice suddenly turned fierce, "you were writhing and pleasuring yourself beneath your enemy!"

"Sister-in-law, how could you be so shameless?"

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying intense hatred.

Shen Qiongju trembled all over, not from the cold, but from the venom in his words.

She wanted to explain, to say that it wasn't like that, that she did it to save him, but she couldn't utter a sound.

The silver chain jingled, its crisp yet chaotic sound pulling her consciousness back and forth between lucidity and drowsiness.

The coachman gave a long shout, accompanied by a sudden slowing of the wheels and a violent jolt!

Shen Qiongju awoke abruptly from that cold, suffocating nightmare filled with the clanging of silver chains. Her heart pounded as if it would shatter her chest, and cold sweat soaked through her inner shirt.

In her past life, she was tormented by Pei Zhihui in a frenzied manner, and even in this second life, she could not escape this nightmare.

At this moment, the curtain was lifted slightly, and the driver's dark, honest face peeked in.

His voice was hoarse: "Young Madam Pei, we have arrived at Liangzhou Prefecture. Qinghe Street is just ahead."

arrive?

Shen Qiongju took a deep breath and lifted the heavy curtain by the car window.

Before us lay a wider, smoother street, lined with rows of blue-brick and tile houses.

While the area is bustling with pedestrians and vendors, it possesses a unique order and vitality characteristic of the prefectural city.

The bustling sounds of people and vendors filled the air with the vibrant energy of everyday life.

Her heart, which had been gripped tightly by nightmares from her past life, finally began to loosen a little.

.

The courtyard at No. 13 Qinghe Street was simple, clean, and quiet, with greenery. The deaf-mute old woman treated her very kindly and even cooked her a welcome meal.

The deaf-mute old woman's surname was Wang, and everyone in the courtyard called her Granny Wang.

Her silver hair was neatly combed, and she wore a coarse cloth dress with several patches, but it was washed until it was faded and clean, without the slightest trace of sloppiness.

Granny Wang led Shen Qiongju into the east wing, pointed to the furnishings in the room, a kind smile on her face, and then pointed to her own ears and mouth, waving her hands repeatedly.

Shen Qiongju understood what she meant; she was being told that she could neither hear nor speak.

"Mother-in-law, I understand," Shen Qiongju replied softly, offering a reassuring smile despite knowing the other person couldn't hear her.

The room wasn't big, but it was spotless.

A wooden bed was placed against the wall, and the bedding on the bed exuded the dry smell of sunshine.

Beside the bed was a small desk, on which a stack of Xuan paper was neatly arranged, with a writing brush, ink, and inkstone placed beside it.

The edges of the inkstone were worn smooth, indicating that it was used frequently.

Shen Qiongju's gaze fell on a corner of the desk, where several copied scrolls were pressed down, the handwriting elegant and upright, the strokes sharp.

It is Pei Zhihui's courtesy name.

On a wooden shelf in the corner, several men's old clothes were folded neatly and squarely, with sharp edges and corners.

After looking at the house, she pulled Shen Qiongju out of the house, pointed to the small kitchen on the west side of the yard, and made a gesture for eating.

Smoke curled up from the chimney, and the aroma of food soon wafted out of the kitchen.

A plate of vibrant green stir-fried wild vegetables, a bowl of soft, steamed pumpkin, and two steamed white flour buns—simple yet flavorful.

After the meal, the old man brought over a pot of warm coarse tea, poured her a cup, and then sat down opposite her and began to use sign language.

Her gestures were slow, as if she was afraid that Shen Qiongju wouldn't understand.

She pointed to the east wing, made a writing motion, then gave a thumbs-up, her face full of pride.

Shen Qiongju understood; she was referring to Pei Zhihui.

"Does Grandma mean he's good at studying?" Shen Qiongju asked tentatively, mimicking the motion of writing.

Grandma Wang nodded vigorously, her smile widening.

Then she stretched out her finger, solemnly drew a few words in the air, and pointed to the sky.

This means that Pei Zhihui is a celestial being who has descended to earth as the star of literature and is destined to become a high-ranking official.

Wenquxing (a type of electronic dictionary)...

Shen Qiongju held the teacup, her fingertips turning slightly white.

Yes, he did indeed become a high-ranking official later on, the Prime Minister Pei, who was second only to the emperor.

She put down her teacup, stood up, and gestured to Granny Wang.

"Grandma, I'm tired and want to go back to my room to rest."

Lying on the unfamiliar bed, with the refreshing scent of sunshine and soapberry filling her nostrils, Shen Qiongju's mind was far from at peace.

The events of her past life intertwined with what she had witnessed in this life, giving her a splitting headache.

She curled up in the blankets and forced herself to close her eyes.

After settling in safely, Shen Qiongju went out the next day to ask someone to send a letter to her father. She wanted to inform him that she was safe and to inquire about the Pei family's situation.

.

News of Shen Qiongju's escape spread throughout the Pei family of Wu County.

"She actually dared to run away!"

Pei Shoulian, the patriarch of the Pei family, was ashen-faced, slamming his cane heavily on the ground. "She must have conspired with that Wen Xiujie! This woman has utterly disgraced the Pei family!"

Other clansmen echoed, "This is utterly disgraceful to the family!"

Pei Junlan, Pei's aunt, looked thoughtfully at Pei Zhihui in the corner.

The boy lowered his eyes and remained silent.