The Lady General’s Absolute Indulgence - Chapter 8

In front of the Mingxia Embroidery Shop, a woman dressed in gaudy, vulgar attire was peering around cautiously.

This was none other than Chu Hui. Since returning from Wan Ning’s house that day, the more she thought, the more resentful she became. Why, when they were both embroiderers, did I have to endure Scholar Zhang’s inhuman torture while Shen Wan Ning was cherished like a precious jewel in the palm of someone’s hand?

Chu Hui thought of the owner of Mingxia Embroidery Shop. If… if I deliver Wan Ning to him, and let her experience the same humiliation I once did… would Lin Huaian grow to loathe her?

Using the excuse of buying paper and ink for Scholar Zhang, Chu Hui snuck to the shop. In the past, to get higher pay, she had frequently exchanged flirtatious glances with the owner—which was exactly why the owner’s wife had beaten her and chased her home.

Chu Hui was still terrified of the wife, but after watching for a long time and confirming she was absent, she threw the owner a seductive wink and slipped into the back of the shop to wait for him.

Zhao Mingfa, the owner, felt his heart quiver at her gaze. He rushed to the backyard and pulled her into the room where they often had their trysts.

As soon as the door closed, his fleshy palms began to grope her. “Sweetheart, darling, I’ve missed you to death!” he blurted out.

Suppressing her disgust, Chu Hui played along. When they were finished, she leaned against his flabby body and said coquettishly, “Manager Zhao~ do you remember Wan Ning, the girl who used to bring her embroidery here?”

Manager Zhao narrowed his eyes and nodded. “Why mention her now?”

Chu Hui slapped his stomach lightly. “Oh, you! Her father and stepmother sold her to a useless man, and now she wants you to raise the price of her embroidery!”

Manager Zhao let out a lewd laugh, his eyes crinkling into slits. “Easy, easy. Just bring her by one of these days!”

A few days later, taking advantage of Huaian’s absence, Chu Hui brought some finished embroidery and pleaded with Wan Ning to accompany her to the shop to sell it.

Wan Ning didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t withstand Chu Hui’s tearful begging. Chu Hui claimed she needed the money but had to avoid suspicion, otherwise Scholar Zhang would surely torment her upon her return.

Wan Ning could only leave a message with Sister-in-law Wu before being hurried away by Chu Hui.

At the shop, Chu Hui led Wan Ning directly to a room in the back. “Wan Ning, wait for me here. I’ll come call you once I’ve settled everything.”

In the past, Wan Ning had always handed over her work at the front counter; she had never set foot in the back. Faced with the unfamiliar surroundings, she felt uneasy. She tugged at Chu Hui’s sleeve. “Sister Chu Hui, let me go with you. I’m a bit scared here alone.”

Chu Hui pushed her hand away with a laugh. “You silly girl, what’s there to be afraid of? The delivery area is noisy and crowded. Just wait for me here! I’ll be right back.”

Wan Ning had no choice but to watch her leave. Not long after, she distinctly heard the sound of the door being locked from the outside. Panic surged, and tears sprang to her eyes. She pounded on the door. “There’s someone in here! Open up! Don’t lock the door! Sister Chu Hui! Sister Chu Hui!”

That evening, when Huaian reached the house, she didn’t see the familiar warm light or the figure waiting at the door. An unexplainable sense of dread seized her heart. She quickened her pace and pushed open the door, only to find the house empty.

“A-Ning! A-Ning!” Huaian ran out of the house in a panic.

Sister-in-law Wu heard the shout and called over the courtyard wall, “Huaian! Wan Ning went to town with Chu Hui. What’s wrong? Are they not back yet?”

Huaian’s heart skipped a beat. A fear she had never known spread through her entire body. Even facing ten thousand enemy troops, Lin Huaian had never known the meaning of fear. Now, realizing Wan Ning was gone, her hands were shaking. She could not let anything happen to her!

Huaian stormed to Scholar Zhang’s house and kicked the door open with a violent crash. She saw Chu Hui kneeling, grinding ink for the scholar. With eyes full of loathing, she barked, “Speak! Where is A-Ning!”

Scholar Zhang trembled and stammered, “I… I don’t know.”

Chu Hui adjusted her hairpin, stood up with a sway of her hips, and feigned surprise. “Brother Lin, what are you talking about? I… I don’t know!”

In a flash, a short blade flew from Huaian’s hand, burying itself deep in Chu Hui’s left shoulder.

Huaian’s gaze was terrifyingly cold, her entire being radiating murderous intent. “Speak!”

The force of the blade was immense. Chu Hui collapsed in pain, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Scholar Zhang let out a scream of terror. Fearing the next blade was meant for him, he scrambled to his knees before Huaian. “Great hero, spare my life! Spare my life!”

“Speak! Where is A-Ning?”

Looking at the cowering Scholar Zhang, Chu Hui felt an infinite sense of desolation. She let out a cold laugh. “Where is she? In a brothel!”

Seeing Huaian about to explode, Scholar Zhang kicked Chu Hui. “You wench! Speak the truth, or I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

Tears streamed down Chu Hui’s face. She spat out blood and glared at Huaian with venomous eyes. “Hahaha! She’s at the Mingxia Embroidery Shop. By now, she should be beneath that fat pig, Zhao Mingfa!”

Why? Why do I have to spend my days with this hypocrite while Shen Wan Ning gets to be cherished? Hahaha! Now she is just like me. At that thought, Chu Hui laughed maniacally. Good. Finally, we are the same.

“If anything happens to her, I will make you realize that death is a mercy!”

Huaian mounted her horse and raced toward the shop. The wind whipping past her face kept her sharp, but her heart was in a state of unprecedented chaos. Faster, just a little faster. Wan Ning needs me.

Back at the shop, Wan Ning had shouted until her voice was hoarse, but no one answered. She could only sit at the table, hoping Chu Hui would come for her.

As the sky grew dark, she knew Huaian would be worried. She paced the room anxiously. What should I do?

“Little beauty, tired of waiting?” Zhao Mingfa had finally gotten rid of his wife and found the time to seek out this delicate girl.

The door opened, and a greasy, lecherous voice sounded. A man covered in rolls of fat walked in, rubbing his hands with excitement.

Wan Ning was so terrified she was on the verge of tears. She pinched her palms to force herself to stay calm and slowly moved behind the table. “Manager Zhao, you have the wrong person!”

Seeing Wan Ning’s pitiable state—her tiny waist and the soft curves of her figure—Zhao Mingfa’s excitement peaked.

“Heheh, little beauty, I know things are hard at home. It’s fine! I have money. Follow me, and I guarantee you’ll be wearing gold and silver. No more hard days.”

Wan Ning ran to the other side of the table, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Sister Chu Hui! Sister Chu Hui! Help!”

“What ‘Sister Chu Hui’? That little wench went home long ago! Don’t be afraid; no one will bother us.”

Crying out, Wan Ning began throwing whatever she could reach at him. No! It can’t happen! Her mother had been forced by her father, and her life had been ruined. She wouldn’t let her life be ruined too!