"But if you dare to anger me, I have plenty of means to make you cry out to heaven and earth with no answer!" Ansheng's expression was cold and disdainful, but in his heart, he had truly accepted the marriage arranged by his godfather. For no other reason than this: perhaps the psychological shackles born from his physical incompleteness since childhood had long since caused Ansheng to develop a twisted mentality. It wasn't just about power and influence; whatever other men had, he must have too, which naturally included the so-called most important act of taking a wife.
As for who to marry? Ansheng swept his eyes up and down over the cowering, timid woman. Hmph, naturally, one who is obedient, doesn't cause trouble, and doesn't court death is best.
Seeing A Mei trembling from his godson's few words, looking utterly pitiful, Angui glanced at Ansheng. "The wounds on your body are just starting to heal. Go back to your room and rest."
Ansheng grunted in acknowledgment and stood up to leave directly.
Only Angui and A Mei were left in the room. Seeing Ansheng gone, A Mei's eyes immediately reddened again. She wasn't crying, nor did she feel particularly wronged. It was just... just that her heart felt unwell. She had actually accepted her fate. But she just felt that her husband disliked her, and her future days would surely be difficult.
Angui had climbed and struggled within the palace since childhood. A eunuch who could leave the palace safely and live to this age naturally possessed qualities different from ordinary people. Regarding A Mei's little worries, he saw through them as clearly as in a mirror.
"A Mei, tell your godfather, what do you think of Ansheng as a person?"
Hearing this, A Mei looked into Angui's turbid eyes, her heart filled with anxiety, and stammered, "Hus-band... husband is very good."
Angui chuckled. "Nonsense. If he's so good, why are you scared like this?"
"I... I..." A Mei wanted to refute but didn't know what to say. She could only lower her head, not daring to look at Angui, as she heard him continue.
"A Mei, godfather will ask you a few questions now. You must answer truthfully."
Only then did A Mei dare to look up at Angui and let out a small "mm" of agreement.
"In the few days you've been with Sheng'er, has Sheng'er ever hit you with his hands or with any object?"
A Mei shook her head. "No."
"Then has Sheng'er ever punished you, forbidding you to eat, drink, or even wear clothes?"
"No."
"When you usually serve him meals, has he ever said they weren't to his taste and made you redo them, or deliberately made things difficult for you in other matters?"
"N-no, he hasn't."
"Good. Let me ask you again. Apart from his harsh words, has Sheng'er done anything else excessively inappropriate?"
A Mei was stunned for a moment. She felt somewhat confused, then honestly shook her head.
Angui stood up. Before leaving the room, he gave A Mei a meaningful look. "Child, think carefully about the questions godfather just asked you. Once you understand, your days ahead will be easier."
Angui hadn't told A Mei that this godson of his had been beaten and frozen since childhood, often going hungry. In that devouring palace he had endured unimaginable abuse and humiliation, witnessing all kinds of filthy, despicable methods. Surviving to this day was entirely due to his own abilities. If he truly wanted to torment someone, how could A Mei still be standing here unharmed?
A Mei was absent-minded all afternoon, constantly thinking about what godfather had said. She thought of many things. Although her husband had a bad temper, these past few days he had indeed been easy to serve. He always mocked her with his words, but no matter what food she made, he ate it all. It was the same with water and medicine. Even in the first two days when he could barely get out of bed, he never let her assist with using the toilet or changing his dressings...
Finally, A Mei understood. As long as she served him and godfather well, life could go on.
A Mei was simple-minded. Once she figured it out, she stopped dwelling on it. Her mood suddenly brightened. When she saw Ansheng walk out of his room again in the evening, she wasn't as afraid as before. She even mustered her courage to approach him and asked cautiously in a small voice, "Husband, is there anything you need?"
Ansheng raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised that this woman seemed a bit bolder than before, appearing somewhat different.
Ansheng snorted coldly, impatience flashing in his eyes. Before he could speak, a stray cat suddenly darted across the roof beam above A Mei. A Mei was most afraid of cats. She immediately let out a sharp scream, her legs went weak, her body tilted, and she lunged forward, throwing herself right into Ansheng's arms.
A Mei was sixteen this year and not tall. Although Ansheng wasn't particularly tall either, A Mei was a full head shorter than him. On top of that, she was thin. When she stumbled into his arms, Ansheng caught her instinctively, feeling as if the girl had no weight. Then a faint, fresh scent drifted into his nostrils. A strange, swelling sense of protectiveness suddenly rose in Ansheng's heart—a feeling he had never experienced before.
Then, Ansheng frowned and pushed A Mei away with a look of disgust.
"S-sorry." A Mei stood stiffly, her face pale, looking like she was about to cry.
Ansheng let out a cold, mocking laugh, his eyes filled with undisguised malice. "What? Godfather just said we'd hold the wedding ceremony tonight, and you're already throwing yourself at me?"
A Mei's eyes widened in horror as she shook her head. "I... I didn't."
Ansheng enjoyed watching A Mei's terrified expression; a perverse, twisted sense of amusement rose in him, like a wicked pleasure.
Then his sharp voice sounded, sinister and cold. "Women are all wanton. Although I am not a real man, I am well aware of all the ways men handle women. Since you've thrown yourself at me, I naturally have plenty of methods to satisfy you."
A Mei didn't really understand what he meant. It was just that the mental fortitude she had so hard-won earlier completely collapsed in the face of Ansheng's terrifying appearance and expression at that moment. Bean-sized tears instantly streamed down her face.
Ansheng's expression froze. No wonder they say women are made of water, he thought. How can they cry so much? He instantly felt extremely irritated and didn't hold back with his words either. "Crying again! Damn girl, mourning all day long! I'm not dead yet, what are you crying for! Bad luck! Get out of my sight!"
A Mei ran away crying.
Angui's claim that they would hold their wedding tonight was not empty talk. Today was the most auspicious day of the month for that purpose, favorable for marriage. That was also why Angui had hurried back from outside.
The wedding was very simple. There were no guests or outsiders; only the three of them were in the An family home. As evening approached, Angui instructed A Mei to hang two red lanterns at the door. He also had A Mei change into the new red clothes he had prepared earlier and put on a red veil. Ansheng also wore a set of red clothes. Under Angui's arrangement, Ansheng led A Mei to kowtow three times in the courtyard, which counted as paying respects to Heaven and Earth. Then they kowtowed three times to Angui, which counted as paying respects to the parents. Finally, the two kowtowed to each other three times—the husband and wife bowing to one another—and the ceremony was complete.
At night, A Mei, her face covered by a veil, sat nervously and formally in Ansheng's bedroom. Godfather had said she could no longer live in the storage room; she must live with her husband from now on.
A Mei twisted her handkerchief in her hands. Her eyes were still swollen and red from crying in the afternoon. She sat restlessly, waiting for Ansheng to return to the room.
She waited and waited. A Mei didn't know how much time had passed when she finally heard the sound of the door opening. Then she sensed someone reeking of strong alcohol, walking unsteadily towards her.
Then the red veil over A Mei's head was lifted off and tossed aside. A Mei timidly looked up and saw Ansheng's gloomy face, his slender eyes narrowed as he gazed at her. The two whip marks on Ansheng's face, illuminated by the red candles, appeared as terrifying as streaks of fresh blood. Then A Mei saw the corners of Ansheng's mouth curl up in a faint, ambiguous smile, his expression indescribably cold and sinister.
A Mei swallowed nervously in fear and softly called out, "Husband."
Ansheng let out a cold chuckle, reached out to lift A Mei's chin, and stared down at her with a cold, imperious gaze. "A careful look shows your features are passable. Pitiful thing, delicate enough to stir pity even in me. Do you feel wronged, marrying a eunuch like me?"
Suppressing her fear, A Mei shook her head. "No... husband, A Mei... is not wronged."
Ansheng snorted, took two cups of wine from the nearby table, sat down beside A Mei, handed one cup to her, and held the other himself.
A Mei hastily accepted the wine cup.
Ansheng looped his arm through A Mei's and coldly commanded, "Drink it!"
A Mei quickly poured the wine from the cup into her mouth, forcing herself to swallow despite the burning sensation in her throat.
Ansheng took the cup from her and placed it back on the table, then walked to stand before A Mei, looking down at her.
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Quite young." Ansheng fell silent for a moment, then reached up to rub his temples. His foster father had been in high spirits tonight, so he had indulged him with a few extra drinks, and now his head ached. "Go, fetch that rosewood box for me."
Following the direction of Ansheng's finger, A Mei saw a medium-sized box on the cabinet. Not daring to delay, she hurried over, retrieved it, and handed it to Ansheng.
Ansheng waved his hand dismissively, a strange smile playing on his lips. "Come, put it on the bed. Open it and see. These are all fine things."
A Mei felt suspicious but had no choice but to obey and open the box. Her gaze fell upon the contents.
Wearing an expression of perverse satisfaction at having achieved his desired effect, the corners of Ansheng's mouth lifted in a mocking, sarcastic tone. "See anything you like? Tonight, I'll deflower you. Whichever one you like, I'll use that one."
But the smile vanished from Ansheng's face in the next instant.
A Mei's eyes moved from the box, and she looked up, her round eyes innocent, naive, and filled with curiosity as she stared at Ansheng, timidly asking, "Husband, what is 'deflowering'? What are these things? A Mei has never seen them before."
Ansheng's expression froze. His eyes fixed intently on A Mei, his complexion gradually turning a mix of pale and ashen, as if even his drunkenness had dissipated by half.
For a moment, the room fell into an eerie silence. A Mei's heart sank, thinking she had said something wrong. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at Ansheng, so tense she almost forgot to breathe.
The longer Ansheng remained silent, the more frightened A Mei became. She was on the verge of tears, convinced she had angered Ansheng. She offered a weak explanation, "Husband, A Mei was wrong." Suddenly remembering Ansheng had earlier asked if she liked them, A Mei belatedly and dumbly tried to make amends: "I like them. Husband, please don't be angry. A Mei likes them. A Mei likes them all."
With her head bowed, A Mei naturally couldn't see the profound and complicated expression on Ansheng's face at that moment.
Finally.
"Forget it. Take off your clothes and lie down."
A Mei was stunned, not comprehending at first, then saw Ansheng reach over, take the box away, and place it back on the cabinet where it had been before.
When Ansheng returned and saw A Mei still sitting obediently on the bed as before, looking utterly bewildered, he immediately frowned and barked in a low voice, "Didn't I tell you to take off your clothes? What, do you want me to personally serve you and undress you?!"
"I... I'll do it myself," A Mei wouldn't dare otherwise. She snapped to attention and carefully removed her outer garment. Although she felt extremely awkward and flustered doing this in front of Ansheng, she didn't dare disobey.
Then A Mei saw Ansheng also remove his outer robe. She swallowed nervously again, wondering if she should take the initiative to go over and help him undress for bed, but in her nervousness, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it.
Ansheng, wearing his inner garments, sat down beside A Mei. Just as A Mei thought he was going to tell her to lie down and sleep, he spoke.
"Take them all off."
