WBICDPH Chapter 31 Part 1

Chapter 31: Blazing Sun, Ground to Dust

The madam shoved the door open and sashayed inside, hips swaying. Dongsi’s expression changed; she instinctively stepped back half a pace.

The madam didn’t notice. She was still basking in her delight, unable to come back to herself.

“Marquis—no, an old marquis at that, Lord Qin himself—has actually taken a fancy to you? What an unexpected blessing. I’ve long found you, a cripple, an eyesore. Never thought you’d still make me a profit at the very end.”

Dongsi curled her fingers and, for once, spoke back.

“I won’t marry.”

At first, the madam didn’t believe what she heard. She exaggeratedly rubbed her ears.

“Good heavens, did I hear that right? The little slut’s grown a temper now? Won’t marry? The old marquis named you personally—since when do you get a say?”

Dongsi took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.

“Setting aside whether this news is even true—better if it’s false—if someone really wants to take me as a concubine, I would rather smash my head against the wall than submit.”

The madam’s face twisted with rage. She pointed at Dongsi’s nose and cursed without mercy.

“How dare you! You worthless whore—who knows how many men have already slept with you. Someone being willing to take you at all is already your good fortune, let alone a marquis! He’s showing mercy by bringing you into his household—boundless wealth and honor waiting for you—and you still think you get to pick and choose? Guards! Lock her up! Let her think it over before letting her out!”

After many years, Dongsi was once again thrown into Mantingchun’s little black room.

Chu Ji had once said that people weren’t born with such stubborn tempers; refusing to bow their heads just meant they hadn’t figured things out yet.

But on this matter, Dongsi could never figure it out.

Her body meant nothing more than an insignificant shell. What if it was broken and ruined? What if it had been possessed by countless men? As long as her soul still belonged to her, she was still herself. Even if she was no longer Third Miss Xu Dongsi, she was still Dongsi of Mantingchun.

But if she were casually taken home by just anyone, then she would truly lose herself—becoming a vine that lived only by clinging to others.

Dongsi did not want that.

So this time, she stubbornly defied the madam.

Miss Dongsi had always been the most docile. She had never quarreled with anyone, never even raised her voice. When bullied or insulted, she always wore a gentle smile and endured obediently. That she would now be locked in the little black room for five days without a single grain of food was something no one had expected.

All the girls and errand boys of Mantingchun pleaded on Dongsi’s behalf. They hovered by the door day and night, wanting to help her, to save her—but none of them could do anything.

Fang Qingtang cried and begged her to eat or drink something, but Dongsi refused.

At first, she knelt. Late,r she lost her strength and could no longer hold herself up, curling into a corner like a little cat.

No one could understand what she was being stubborn about.

The madam was the most baffled of all. In her eyes, a lowly prostitute being wanted by a man was already a blessing. Even settling down with just anyone would be more comfortable than serving clients in a brothel, wouldn’t it?

Dongsi had always seemed easygoing, calmly serving so many men. Now that she was about to live the good life other girls could only dream of, why was she unwilling? Could it be that she was born cheap, content to wallow in filth and be a dirty woman here?

The more the madam thought about it, the stranger it seemed. On the fifth day, she finally couldn’t sit still and decided to confront Dongsi herself.

By then, Dongsi was already very weak, curled up against the wall, so thin she was little more than bones.

The madam strode over and yanked the cloth from Dongsi’s mouth.

“Five days now. Still won’t bow your head?”

Dongsi had no strength to speak and answered only with silence.

Rage surged in the madam’s chest. She raised her hand and slapped Dongsi hard across the face, knocking her to the ground.

“Ungrateful little bitch! You used to be obedient as a puppy—when did you turn into this?! Let me think… was it that slut Chu Ji? Right, she was locked in this very room for three whole days. So you learned it from her! But look at what you are. Chu Ji was at least a noble young lady—having some backbone made sense. Her stubbornness at least led her somewhere. What are you? A cheap nobody aping others, making a fool of yourself!”

At those words, Dongsi’s body twitched.

She was used to insults—she’d heard worse. In the past, she never argued back. But now, a voice rose in her heart and spoke for her:

“…I’m not.”

“What did you say?”

“…”

In this lifetime, Dongsi had given up many things. The people and events around her kept pushing her forward—pushing her to bow her head, pushing her to accept her fate.

She gave up everything she once had: her dignity, her former self. And now they wanted to force her to give up the last shred of her laughable persistence.

They wanted to coerce her, tame her, make her compromise again and again until she herself admitted she was cheap.

They wanted her to be a servant, then a concubine.

She refused.

“I said—I’m not cheap.”

Dongsi didn’t know where the strength came from, but she forced herself to sit up.

She stared straight into the madam’s eyes, her words sounding as though they were meant for her—and for herself.

“The cheap ones are you—and this world! Who says women are cheap? Who decides what’s noble and what’s lowly? If you think living by clinging to others is the highest glory, then go ahead! Go! But what right do you have to interfere with my choice?! You willingly debase yourself—why must you drag me down with you?!”

Her voice tore itself hoarse, frightening the madam into a near stupor.

The girls peeking through the door were stunned as well.

It was the first time they had ever seen Dongsi like this—like a madwoman. Her once-neat hair bun had long since fallen apart, her bright dress smeared with filth. The voice that once sang such beautiful melodies was now raw and broken, and the face that always wore a gentle smile looked utterly deranged.