The wind blew through the cave, making her hair stand on end. Cold sweat streamed down her face, and she wished she could simply pass out.
However, the man controlled himself well. He did not abuse her, merely stroked her body slowly. This made her feel both shame and a strange, unfamiliar sensation, even as she wished she were dead.
"No, no."
Sadly, no one heard her silent cries, nor did anyone come to her rescue.
The man's hand suddenly withdrew. She let out a sigh of relief, thinking she had escaped, but he only untied the black cloth from his face and blindfolded her, preventing her from seeing his features.
Then, his lips descended, delicately tasting her tender tongue. Her mouth held a fresh flavor, unlike that of the women in the brothels. Her softness evoked a sense of pity.
Mu Qingxiang felt his tongue slide into her mouth and tried with all her might to bite down.
But the tongue swiftly retracted. When she relaxed, it slid back in, teasing her like a nimble snake. They were like playful lovers, filled with unspoken intimacy.
The temperature in the cave rose as time was about to pass.
The man's strong hands pressed down on her forcefully.
Mu Qingxiang felt as if her entire body was being crushed. It hurt so much she wished to die. And now, her reputation had been utterly ruined by this man.
"I curse you. I curse you to die a horrible death. I curse you to go to hell."
But curses could not stop the man's actions. He paused only briefly before continuing.
In the night breeze, Mu Qingxiang's face was as pale as paper. Sweat clung to her face, her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were in disarray. She looked like a broken doll.
Sounds approached from a distance, and the man quickly ceased his actions.
Mu Qingxiang's body went limp like cotton, sliding down the rock face.
A trace of pity flickered across the man's handsome face. He slowly crouched down, picked up a relatively intact undergarment, and covered her delicate chest. He reached out, kissed her pale cheek, and whispered softly.
"This is my mission. If you wish to leave unharmed, pretend to be mad."
After speaking, he flicked a pressure point on Mu Qingxiang's body and then, with a flash, swiftly departed the rockery. With a few leaps, he vanished in the blink of an eye.
Mad? Only this word echoed in Mu Qingxiang's mind. But what did it matter if she was mad? Her purity had been violated tonight, and she no longer had the will to live. What harm was there in dying?
A woman's chastity was paramount. If word of what happened tonight spread, how could she face her parents? Tears poured down like rain.
Outside the rockery, a eunuch's voice suddenly called out, "There are clothes here?"
Several lanterns illuminated the area around the rockery. The cave was not deep, and the light from the lanterns revealed the scene within.
Miss Mu Er was seen with her clothes torn open, only an undergarment covering her upper body. Her hair was a mess, and she leaned against the rock, looking as if she had been torn apart.
Someone shouted, "Found her, found her."
As the voice rang out, many people rushed over. Mu Qingzhu pushed through the crowd and darted into the rockery cave. Her eyes fell upon Mu Qingxiang's vacant gaze; she seemed stunned.
Clutching only a white undergarment, she looked at Mu Qingzhu in terror, repeatedly pleading.
"Don't touch me, don't touch me."
Her mind was in disarray. Mu Qingzhu had never imagined her sister would end up like this, inexplicably defiled. And this was in Guangyang Palace.
Mu Qingzhu's eyes welled up with tears. She reached out and hugged Mu Qingxiang tightly, speaking with heartache, "Qingxiang, don't be afraid. Sister is here. Don't be afraid, I'm your sister."
Alas, Mu Qingxiang was in a daze and paid her no heed, merely repeating her earlier words.
"Don't touch me, don't touch me."
At this moment, the Empress Dowager arrived, her worried voice echoing, "What is happening?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Miss Mu seems to be in trouble?" a eunuch reported softly.
The Empress Dowager's voice immediately turned furious. "What? How could such a thing happen? Who dares to cause trouble in Guangyang Palace? Investigate! Investigate immediately and punish them severely!"
Mu Qingzhu listened to the Empress Dowager's stern voice. The events of the day flashed through her mind, and she felt a premonition. Though not foolish, she was not unintelligent. The person who had defiled her sister was likely one of the Empress Dowager's people.
She had never expected the benevolent-looking woman to be so ruthless, employing such despicable means to deal with the Empress, ruining a woman's most precious reputation, all while feigning concern.
Looking at the suffering Mu Qingxiang, Mu Qingzhu raised her eyes and gazed coldly at the Empress Dowager, speaking in a chilling tone.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has truly gone to great lengths."
In the dark night, her voice was somewhat desolate, but it caused the Empress Dowager's eyebrows to twitch, and her expression turned unsightly.
The lantern light reflected in her pupils, a fleeting killing intent before she slowly spoke, "What are you saying? Quickly, bring her out and send for the imperial physician."
"No need for the Empress Dowager's trouble."
Mu Qingzhu reached out to help her sister. Her maid, Bao Zheng, and Mu Qingxiang's maid, Xi Yu, quickly stepped forward to help support the second miss.
The three of them managed to pull Mu Qingxiang out, but the woman seemed too traumatized, trembling and crying out.
"Don't touch me, don't touch me."
The Empress Dowager, uncharacteristically overlooking Mu Qingzhu's attitude, turned and instructed her attendant, Eunuch Li, "Secretly summon the imperial physician. Ensure no one else in the palace is alerted. Additionally, search the entirety of Guangyang Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
A large group returned to Guangyang Palace in a grand procession. Mu Qingzhu continued to embrace Mu Qingxiang, softly comforting her. Mu Qingxiang finally calmed down, but her gaze remained vacant; she was utterly stunned.
In the main hall, the Empress Dowager appeared incredulous. She paced back and forth, carefully observing Mu Qingxiang's demeanor, hoping to find a clue. However, for the moment, it was difficult to discern whether the woman was truly mad or merely pretending.
The hall was silent, everyone waiting for the imperial physician.
Meanwhile, in Fengluan Palace, the side hall was brightly lit. Mochou and Bingxiao were seen supporting the wounded Chun Han as she entered.
Chun Han's head drooped, her face streaked with blood, and even her eunuch's attire was stained with it. The sight was gruesome; it was evident she had been severely beaten.
Mu Qingyao's eyes blazed with anger, her entire face turning white. The Empress Dowager's methods were so cruel and vicious. Had they not intervened, Chun Han would likely not have survived until tomorrow.
"Someone, go and summon the imperial physician."