Chapter 9: Even an Ugly Face Can Be a Feast

A faint, delicate fragrance wafted in. Juese struggled to open her eyes, attempting to see clearly what was before her. However, at this moment, her vision was nothing but a hazy blur, as if her sight were being obstructed by something.

Slowly, a black figure gradually approached her. The black figure walked to her side, sat down, and watched her on the bed intently.

He let out a laugh. "Meng Juese, it seems you really have become a bit different—"

"Who is it?" Hearing the voice in the darkness, Meng Juese cried out in alarm. In the dark, that voice, carrying a hint of coldness, actually made her tremble involuntarily. That sense of dread was something she hadn't felt in a long time.

"What? Have you forgotten me so quickly?" The man chuckled softly, then picked something up from the side and completely covered her eyes. His hand brushed across her face, and he leaned down, breathing softly against her ear. "Though your face is ugly, your scent is quite good. After we parted that night, I truly missed you dearly."

"Is it—is it you?" Her voice trembled uncontrollably, solely due to the sense of oppression radiating from the man.

"It seems Miss Meng was thinking of me as well—" The man tilted his head, his deep eyes emitting an uncertain light. He looked at her, a bloodthirsty glint appearing in his eyes. At the same time, his hand had already slid from her cheek all the way down to her neck.

The icy sensation made Juese shudder involuntarily. She cried out, "What are you doing? Let go!"

"Let go?" There was a faint hint of amusement in his voice. "You weren't saying that that night!"

"Don't act recklessly, this is the Prime Minister's Manor... I am the daughter of the Prime Minister..." Meng Juese cried out in shock.

"The Prime Minister's daughter?" The man let out a sneer, as if he had heard something hilarious. "I know, you are Prime Minister Meng's most beloved daughter. But what can I do? You are exactly who I am looking for."

The chilling words caused cold sweat to break out on Meng Juese's back; her heart was filled with dread. This feeling of being meat on a chopping block was truly terrifying to her. As she sensed his hand wandering over her face, she instinctively screamed. But just as the sound left her throat, a sharp pain struck her neck. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

She glared with wide eyes, but since her eyes were covered, she could see nothing at all. Despair slowly flooded her heart.

Icy hands slid across her neck and moved slowly downward. In the darkness, she heard his bloodthirsty laughter. Then, a soft "rip—" echoed through the dim room.

Meng Juese trembled lightly. Because her eyes were covered, her physical sensations were even more acute at this moment. When her clothes were torn, a wave of chill swept over her. Her lips trembled incessantly, and her face turned deathly pale.

Seeing her pale face, the man's laughter became even more wanton, as if he loved this feeling immensely. His eyes scanned her body unrestrainedly. At this moment, her thin undergarments had been torn, revealing the skin beneath. It had to be said that although this woman was plain in appearance, her figure was damnably good!

He leaned down and kissed her neck—at this moment, Meng Juese's body went completely rigid.

The despair in her eyes deepened. No, why? Why was it like this?

Unable to speak and unable to muster any strength in her body, she could only open and close her mouth, attempting to signal her protest.

The person on top of her, however, did not suddenly stop his movements. She couldn't see his actions, but the moment she sensed him moving away from her, she breathed a sigh of relief. However, in the next moment, she heard his slightly raspy voice, "I truly wonder how Prime Minister Meng would feel if he saw what his most beloved daughter looks like beneath me."

With that, he made a grand sweep with his hand, completely tearing her clothes apart.

"No—" She wanted to scream, but her lips only trembled. Her pale cheeks and trembling body all displayed her terror.

He looked down at her trembling form from above. "Do you know? I wouldn't have touched an ugly woman like you, but—" His icy eyes held no emotion, only a flickering, bloodthirsty excitement. He did not continue speaking; he simply crashed into her violently, breaking through her body all at once.

That night was very long.

Meng Juese lay on the bed, her tears seemingly having run dry. The cloth tied around her eyes had long since been soaked through. Throughout that night, this man took her countless times. This kind of humiliation was something she hadn't experienced in a long time. Under the man's repeated demands, she actually fainted from the pain...

The sky slowly brightened...

The Meng Manor was in an uproar.

Meng Juese was startled awake by a commotion. When she opened her eyes, she saw her own disheveled state and hurriedly wrapped herself tightly in the thin quilt. But just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.

"Sister—Sister, are you alright? Why haven't you woken up so late? Father was worried you were unwell, so he sent us to check on you." That was Meng Juemei's voice. Meng Juese's heart jolted; suddenly, an ominous feeling rose from the depths of her soul.

Sure enough, in the next moment, Meng Juemei directly pulled back the bed curtains. Upon seeing Meng Juese's pale face, she cried out, "Sister, what's wrong? Your complexion is so terrible." Having said that, she turned around immediately, ignoring Meng Juese's reaction, and shouted to someone behind her, "Father, come quickly! It seems Sister is sick again—"

Suddenly, Meng Juese's heart sank to the bottom.

A coincidence? No, it couldn't be such a coincidence! There was no reason Chun'er wouldn't have woken her up even if she slept this late, and no reason for Father to come see her at this exact moment!

A conspiracy. It had to be a conspiracy!

She lifted her head, her pale face looking directly at Meng Juemei, and sure enough, she saw a few traces of smugness in her eyes.

Seeing this, Meng Juese gritted her teeth. She had actually been plotted against by this woman time and time again! Last time, and this time as well.

However, before she could react, Meng Juese heard a concerned voice, "Juese, you—" But before he could finish, Meng Qingyun's voice cut off abruptly.

In front of the bed curtains stood Meng Qingyun in green robes. His face shifted between green and white, his lips slightly parted; at this moment, he was so angry he was speechless. He reached out a finger, pointing at her tremulously, "What... what is the meaning of this?"

A flash of terror crossed Meng Juese's face. "Father, I—"

"Heavens, Sister, why is there such a large red mark on your neck?" Meng Juemei looked at her in shock, her eyes filled with disbelief. Having said that, she stepped forward as if to help her up. When she suddenly snapped back to her senses, her face also turned pale as her gaze fell upon the torn undergarments. "Sister, could it be that you... you..."

Meng Juese bit her lip and waved her hand. "Get away."

"Sister, you—"

Meng Qingyun stood there in place. It took a long time before his expression gradually softened, returning to his usual elegance. However, the look of disappointment that flashed through his eyes did not escape Juese's gaze. He sighed softly, his fists curling slightly, and then said, "Forget it, Juemei. Let us leave first. We will speak with Se'er once she gets up—" Remembering what had happened during this morning's court session, Meng Qingyun felt it was necessary to have a proper talk with her.

A trace of joy flashed in Meng Juemei's eyes. No matter what, today, she would make sure Meng Juese's reputation was ruined! Despite thinking this, she still looked at Meng Juese with concern, "Don't worry, Sister. If you truly feel unwell, Father will surely go to the palace to request the imperial physicians later."

She continued saying something, but Meng Juese could no longer hear clearly... After they left, she stood up and looked at her own body, covered in bruises, and gave a bitter smile.

What did all this even matter now?