Xu Xiao'e's foot hung in the air, neither able to land nor retract. She looked up at Zheng Wei, her face filled with grievances, her body trembling slightly.
"Xiao'e, didn't you say you wanted to go home and visit today? Let's go, I'll accompany you back," Yu Duobao said as he stepped forward, took Xu Xiao'e's arm, and with a gentle pull, brought her to his side.
Xu Xiao'e stumbled a few times before regaining her balance. She frowned at Yu Duobao and complained, "Why did you pull me?"
A glint flashed through Yu Duobao's eyes. He slyly glanced at Zheng Wei, who looked impatient, and grinned at Xu Xiao'e, "Your husband naturally feared you would fall."
After speaking, Yu Duobao turned to Shen Xiaoyan and said, "Apologies for the intrusion."
Without waiting for Xu Xiao'e's reaction, he pulled her and strode towards the carriage.
The two maids quickly followed, and by the carriage, they helped Yu Duobao usher Xu Xiao'e in.
Watching the carriage speed away, a trace of mockery flickered at the corner of Shen Xiaoyan's lips.
Xu Xiao'e, since you courted your own demise, don't blame me.
I hope your proud beauty can save you and allow you to live a better life.
"I reckon she won't be able to come here anymore," Zheng Wei suddenly said.
"How do you know?" Shen Xiaoyan looked up at Zheng Wei, thinking to herself, why does Zheng Wei seem to have grown taller again?
"That Yu Duobao isn't as fond of her as he appears. Seeing your and my attitude just now, coupled with your words, he definitely won't let this matter rest."
Won't let it rest? What would he do then? Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but speculate.
Would he divorce Xu Xiao'e and send her home?
As this thought surfaced, Shen Xiaoyan dismissed it herself.
No, they had only been married for half a month, and Yu Duobao was taking a second wife, a beautiful woman young enough to be his granddaughter. He wouldn't just divorce her like this.
Even if it were Xu Xiao'e's fault, it would be a loss of face for him.
If not divorce, then what?
"Alright, stop thinking about it. We should be going back," Zheng Wei interrupted Shen Xiaoyan's thoughts and took her hand to walk back.
Shen Xiaoyan shook her head, a light smile gracing her face, and ceased pondering the issue.
No matter what Yu Duobao did to Xu Xiao'e, it had nothing to do with her. She only needed to live her own life well.
On the other side, in the rapidly departing carriage, Xu Xiao'e's face was filled with impatience. Without regard for the two maids, she said to Yu Duobao, "Why did you pull me away?"
The two maids lowered their heads even further, pretending to be deaf and mute, but simultaneously mourning for the new madam in their hearts.
"Hey, what does Madam want to do? You really want to enter that courtyard? Or perhaps you want to send your husband away and stay there for a few days?" Yu Duobao said unhurriedly.
"Don't always call yourself 'husband,' it makes me..." Xu Xiao'e retorted impatiently in a low voice.
However, her words caught in her throat because she only now saw the twisted expression on Yu Duobao's face.
That face, so contorted that his features were indistinguishable, no longer held the honest demeanor she had seen before. Instead, it gave her a violent and terrifying feeling.
"You... what's wrong with you?" Xu Xiao'e stammered.
"Why has Madam stopped talking?" Yu Duobao chuckled, but the sound was terrifying to Xu Xiao'e's ears.
"Aren't we going back to our home? Why aren't we there yet?" Xu Xiao'e swallowed and changed the subject.
As she spoke, she lifted the curtain to look outside, only to realize they were heading towards the town, not the Shen family's residence at all.
"Madam's home is our home. There's nothing wrong with the direction we're going," Yu Duobao continued to smile.
"I... I want to go back to my maternal home. I want to see my mother."
At this moment, Xu Xiao'e found Yu Duobao extremely terrifying. She wanted to escape but dared not lose her temper. She could only force a calm demeanor and say,
"Hehe. It's better for Madam to be obedient." Yu Duobao sneered, then stopped looking at Xu Xiao'e and closed his eyes, leaning against the carriage wall.
Seeing Yu Duobao like this, Xu Xiao'e didn't dare to retort. She could only sit there uneasily, hugging herself for warmth.
The carriage was not slow, and soon they returned to the jewelry shop that Yu Duobao owned.
Behind the jewelry shop was a three-courtyard house, and Yu Duobao and Xu Xiao'e lived in the third courtyard.
The carriage did not stop in front of the jewelry shop. Instead, it passed the shop and traveled a bit further, turning into an alley, and soon arrived before a large gate.
This was the back gate of the courtyard, which the carriage could pass through.
As soon as the carriage stopped before the gate, it opened from the inside. The carriage drove straight through to the moon gate of the third courtyard without stopping.
The two maids jumped down from the carriage first, followed by Yu Duobao, and finally Xu Xiao'e.
Yu Duobao smiled gently at Xu Xiao'e and said, "Let's go, Madam. Your husband is tired after this outing. Come into the room and give me a shoulder rub."
After speaking, he pulled Xu Xiao'e towards the moon gate. Xu Xiao'e wanted to refuse but dared not speak. She glanced back towards the moon gate and saw the carriage heading towards the stable, while the two maids had disappeared.
Yu Duobao pulled Xu Xiao'e all the way into the house. Upon entering, he released her hand, turned around, and locked the door from the inside.
"What are you doing?" Xu Xiao'e rubbed her hand, which was hurting from his grip, and looked at Yu Duobao in fear.
"Naturally, I want Madam to give me a shoulder rub."
"You can have the maids do it. Why must it be me?" Xu Xiao'e said, gathering her courage.
Unexpectedly, Yu Duobao's face immediately darkened. "What, you don't want to give your husband a shoulder rub? Then who do you want to give it to? That Zheng Wei? Your dear brother-in-law? Too bad, he doesn't fancy you."
Xu Xiao'e finally realized something was wrong. She understood that Yu Duobao was settling scores with her.
But before she could think of a way to deal with it, Yu Duobao had already dragged her onto the kang bed and pressed down on her.
Although Yu Duobao was nearing fifty, he was strong and robust. The delicate Xu Xiao'e was naturally no match for him.
She couldn't resist, and soon Yu Duobao stripped her bare.
Xu Xiao'e closed her eyes, her face devoid of expression. However, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was just sleeping. She had been sleeping with this old man for half a month already. Her virginity was already given to him. What was one more time?
Seeing Xu Xiao'e's demeanor, Yu Duobao's anger flared again. Recalling her flirtatious look at Zheng Wei earlier, he felt a profound humiliation.
"Heh heh."
Yu Duobao sneered, picked Xu Xiao'e up from the kang bed, and placed her on the round table.
The touch of Xu Xiao'e's skin on the cold tabletop made her shiver. She suddenly opened her eyes, "What do you want to do?"
Yu Duobao did not answer. Instead, he used the clothes he had just torn from Xu Xiao'e to bind her limbs to the table, making her unable to move. Her heart filled with even greater fear.
Yu Duobao balled up Xu Xiao'e's bodice and stuffed it into her mouth. Only then did he stand up, looking at his masterpiece with satisfaction.
"Mmm... mmm..."
Xu Xiao'e struggled with all her might but was helpless. She could only look at Yu Duobao imploringly.
Yu Duobao turned and walked away. Xu Xiao'e saw him walk to a small locked cabinet, take out a key from his person, and open the cabinet.
Xu Xiao'e had noticed the cabinet earlier but couldn't open it. When she asked Yu Duobao for the key, he refused. She thought it contained money, but now it seemed unlikely.