Wen Lili's maid was also wondering why the master treated her mistress so harshly. In fact, from an outsider's perspective, everyone thought that Long Aotian's backyard was harmonious but it was far from it. There was so much in fighting and Wen Lili was just a victim of it. Qing Li continued ranting about all the promises Long Aotian swore when he was pursuing Wen Lili. Originally, Qing Li and Wen Lili were childhood playmates and it was recognised by all the family members that they would get betrothed later. But who knew that a Long Aotian would break that contract? He came in, seduced Wen Lili thoroughly and captured her heart so tightly that she wanted to defy her family to marry him.
Such actions went against ancient society and were frowned upon as terrible upbringing and bad etiquette. If Wen Lili forcibly married Long Aotian against her family, it would give all the unmarried girls in her family a bad reputation and none of them would be able to get married.
In a modern world, this wouldn't be a problem but in an ancient society where the husband was God almighty, these girls were doomed. They might even be sent to nunneries for the rest of their lives enduring shame and discrimination. Qing Li took a deep breath to calm himself down then said: "Lead me to your mistress right now."
Wen Lili's maid opened the door to the abandoned courtyard and then stood outside to watch.
Qing Li entered and when he saw Wen Lili, he wanted to scold Long Aotian again. Wen Lili hadn't changed her clothes. She was still in the same clothes worn when the miscarriage happened. Also, because Li Zhenzhen hated her deeply, she made the servants serve rotten and mouldy food which could hardly be eaten. So Wen Lili was starving and looked very much like a dirty beggar. 'When has my sweetheart ever suffered such a loss? Long Aotian you bastard!' Qing Li said these words fully preparing to fight but Wen Lili's reddened eyes calmed him down.
He approached her and hugged her tightly. Wen Lili also smiled smugly knowing that he still didn't dislike her for being dirty and knew she succeeded. 'You see? Men are so cheap. Just show some weakness and they'll come back running to you like a dog in heat.'
Of course, she never said any of this and continued acting: "Brother Qing- why are you here! It's so dangerous to sneak inside just to look at me! I'm worried about you."
Qing Li's heart was filled with warmth knowing that Wen Lili could still worry and care about him like before. "Don't worry Xiao Wen - leave everything to me. I'll definitely help you! What do you want me to do?" Wen Lili also didn't reply but just started crying silently. This stimulated Qing Li so much that he wanted to break Long Aotian's neck. "You tell me! Who treated you like this? Who!"
Wen Lili shook her head and refused to say: "There's nothing you can do - they have a great status. Even greater than yours. There's nothing you can do brother! Just leave it be! I'm ready to die!" After saying this, she picked up a sharp hairpin - previously prepared by herself - to pretend to commit suicide. Qing Li was so scared that he swatted the hairpin out of her hand. He didn't want her to die. Wen Lili then buried her face in his neck and continued crying. Qing Li knew she was stimulated and was at a loss for words. Then a letter caught his eye and he wanted to read it but as he reached forward to grab it from the desk, Wen Lili was faster and she hid the letter behind her back: "You're not allowed to read that!"
Qing Li pursed his lips: "Do you not trust me?" Wen Lili widened her eyes and looked shocked: "How can you doubt the love l have for you?" Then she lowered her head and thrust the letter in. his hands as if exhausted by the blow he gave her. Qing Li hurriedly apologised: "Don't be sad - that's not what l meant!" Still, Wen Lili didn't react and she even turned her back to him so he couldn't see her expression anymore. Qing Li thought she was too sad but Wen Lili was trying her hardest to stifle laughter. This was too easy. Since emotions were running high, Qing Li didn't want to stay anymore since he was also hurting Wen Lili. He took the letter and then hugged Wen Lili from behind: "Wait for me - I'll definitely solve this for you and let us be together." Wen Lili was also smiling as she thought 'Good! Come and be a scapegoat for me! Let me use you well'. Two people - one loving and the other ruthless - hugged on a cold bleak night.
The next morning, the full effects of the night of the miscarriage showed. Firstly, there was a depressive aura around the entire mansion. No one breathed too heavily lest Li Zhenzhen got annoyed and had them beaten. Even concubines could be beaten so Bai Lianhua didn't dare show her face too much in the main courtyard. During breakfast, everyone was quiet and the former liveliness of the past was nowhere to be seen. Bai Lianhua's knees were shaking from having to keep serving people but she didn't dare relax otherwise she would be beaten or fined. Don't think that being beaten is easy. They used very thick wooden oars that were designed to maximise pain. 'Fk that - l refuse to die so easily just because l didn't put the rice grain in the bowl elegantly', Bai Lianhua thought as she was serving food.
She didn't come looking for trouble but as a certified magnet, the trouble was attracted to her.
Li Zhenzhen also felt that Bai Lianhua was not pleasing to the eye so she said loudly: "Servants, quickly drag Fang Lianhua to the ground and give her ten slaps for serving food while being distracted." Bai Lianhua knelt down and asked for mercy but Li Zhenzhen couldn't care less. She just vented out the anger in her heart and her depression lightened. Bai Lianhua was so angry: 'I seriously want to slap my mouth! I literally just talked about this and it happened!'
A very sturdy and strong housemaid came and titled Bai Lianhua's chin. Bai Lianhua was anxiously asking the system at this time: "Are there any props that can be used to shield pain?" but the system replied arrogantly: "Willing to spend 1 point for me to answer then question?"
Bai Lianhua gritted her teeth and chose to endure: 'How bad could it be? It's just slaps!' But after the maid hit her cheek once, she doubted life very much. One slap had her cough blood because her teeth had been hurt and immediately her cheek became swollen. There was a very visible hand print on her cheeks. The maid didn't dither and she continued slapping Bai Lianhua very hard. Her cheeks were so sensitive after the first two slaps that Bai Lianhua had to grit her teeth very hard otherwise she would scream.
Li Zhenzhen watched this scene with glee but Wang Xiuying was sweating seriously. She was very aware that after Bai Lianhua was punished, it would be her turn. With each slap, there was a sound of flesh being hit and Wang Xiuying's scalp went numb from fear. Bai Lianhua was also seeing stars - in fact, she saw the entire constellation and could hardly tell east from west after being beaten so hard. She kneeled weakly but she didn't dare collapse or fall - she didn't want more punishment for breaking etiquette. Her dowry maid was also at her side and shedding tears but no one said a word. It was eerily silent until Long Aotian came in from the morning assembly at court.
He was stunned to see Bai Lianhua on the floor with her cheeks very swollen like red balloons but he knew that he couldn't support her at this time. Li Zhenzhen had just lost her baby and she was more important to him than some cheap servant. He immediately went to Li Zhenzhen and took her hand: "What's wrong Zhenzhen? Who has bullied you?"
Bai Lianhua wanted to beat him so much but she curled her hands into fists and said nothing. 'I was beaten so much and the first thing this scum says is that this bitch was bullied? What kind of logic is this?' Her relaxed mentality collapsed and now she wanted revenge on both Li Zhenzhen and Long Aotian for treating her less than a human being. The system hurriedly curbed these thoughts: "Why are you so impulsive? Remember that the client is also watching you and her wishes are not the same as yours. It's to protect the empress! What are you still doing messing around in the backyard?" But Bai Lianhua couldn't come down! She had never been so humiliated in her life! Not even when her ex-boyfriend cheated, not even when she was killed by Hu Pingcheng! She was not reconciled!