Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 345: Forcibly Humiliated in the Carriage!

Zhan Xincheng quickly took office, despite the disapproval of many court officials towards him becoming the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

But because he had already fallen out with Zhan Beicang, and indeed he had some talents, nobody said anything anymore.

The courtyard where Zhan Xincheng now lived was smaller than before, but he felt extremely fulfilled.

He came back from the court radiant, and Mrs. Zhang greeted him with a smiling face.

"Master, you’re back."

It had been a long time since Zhan Xincheng had seen a smile on Mrs. Zhang’s face. If it weren’t for his return to the office, finding his dignity as a man again, Mrs. Zhang would probably still have a bitter face.

Zhan Xincheng’s two concubines stood behind Mrs. Zhang, gazing at Zhan Xincheng with amorous eyes.

Now, Zhan Xincheng had lost interest in matters of men and women. He was older, and despite trying hard, he had not managed to father any children with his concubines. He drank so much medicine every day, which also harmed his body, so he decided to take it slow.

His mother was right; there were numerous cases of men fathering children later in life. Perhaps by not obsessing over it and letting nature take its course, his concubines might become pregnant.

Zhan Xincheng knew clearly that he should focus on the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue for now. He had just taken office and still needed to prove his abilities thoroughly to earn people’s trust.

...

Meanwhile, Lady Xuerou became famous for her "Mountain and River Ode," which spread among the common folk.

Some scholarly individuals who enjoyed elegant pursuits recited Lady Xuerou’s poem and sighed with admiration.

"Lady Xuerou has such a literary talent indeed. The vast landscapes of thousands of miles are all in this poem."

"Indeed, who would have thought that the Zhan Family would produce two such extraordinary women of both letters and martial prowess!"

A scholar closed his fan and countered: "You are wrong there. Initially, the poetry of the Regent Princess Consort was even more renowned. Moreover, she was a favorite student of the Qingfeng Scholar; the Regent Princess Consort is truly the exceptional woman skilled in both letters and martial arts!"

"Brother, your words are most apt. But the depth of Lady Xuerou’s poem, I feel, is profound and sincerely convincing."

Lady Xuerou, wearing a veil and accompanied by Qiuyue, listened to everyone’s discussions under the tavern.

She was in a good mood, thinking to herself: Initially, her poetry leaned towards minor sentiments and themes, whereas Zhan Lan’s poetry embraced broader visions.

Now, she too wanted to emulate Zhan Lan, to expand her scope encompassing the entire landscapes of Nanjin, wielding her brush to celebrate the glorious landscapes.

Lady Xuerou found that ever since her poetry gained some recognition in Ding’an City, many people’s attitudes towards her had also changed.

Even the servants who used to disdain her no longer came to humiliate her.

No wonder Zhan Lan worked so hard; one truly has to earn their own respect!

Lady Xuerou was in a good mood, walking on the street when suddenly someone grabbed her hand from behind and pulled her into a carriage.

Lady Xuerou removed her veil, and surprised, looked at Si Jun: "Your Highness, how did you recognize me?"

Si Jun originally wanted to say that he saw the scar on Lady Xuerou’s neck, but thinking it would be hurtful, he changed his wording.

"How could I ever forget Rou’er’s silhouette?"

He held Lady Xuerou’s hand and said: "Rou’er, why haven’t you come to see me?"

Lady Xuerou smiled faintly and said: "Prince, you are a married man now. It is not suitable for Rou’er to disturb you."

With this maneuver of playing hard to get, she caught Si Jun’s attention again.

Si Jun smirked slightly, wrapped his arms around her, bringing her into his embrace, and said gently: "Rou’er, please don’t say that. My marriage with Bai Lu is only in name. That night of our wedding, I was drunk, and I have never touched her since. Please don’t be angry with me."

Zhan Xuerou looked at Si Jun with a mixture of belief and doubt, saying, "Why are you telling me all this, Your Highness? These are the Prince’s family matters. What right do I have to be angry?"

Seeing that Zhan Xuerou was truly upset, Si Jun coaxed her, saying, "Rou’er, I am a Prince and have my unavoidable hardships. Bai Lu was not the woman I wished to marry. You’ve always been understanding. If even you don’t understand me, who in this world would understand me..."

His words offered Zhan Xuerou some comfort, her expression distant as she said, "Prince, I am but a humble woman, merely one of your many women. Rather than marrying you and suffering Bai Lu’s harassment at the mansion, I would rather find a man who truly loves me to protect me for life."

After hearing Zhan Xuerou’s words, Si Jun, driven by possessiveness, angrily pinched her chin and said, "What did you say? Say it again!"

Zhan Xuerou felt pain from his grip, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, "Rou’er feels so wronged. Your Highness told me to wait, and I have waited for three or four years. Yet up to now, you have not given me a respectable status. Now, some young talents are pursuing Rou’er. I don’t wish to wait for Your Highness any longer..."

Before Zhan Xuerou had finished speaking, Si Jun fiercely tore off her dress and pressed her down in the carriage.

The guard, hearing the commotion inside the carriage, immediately drove the carriage into a deserted alley.

Qiuyue followed behind the carriage, not daring to approach, but she could see the carriage shaking violently. Listening to the noises inside, she could roughly guess what was happening.

In the carriage, Si Jun pinned Zhan Xuerou under him, tearing off her clothes.

Zhan Xuerou trembled with fear, Si Jun brutishly took her, forcefully possessing her.

Zhan Xuerou felt no pleasure at all in her body, continuously pleading, in immense pain.

"Your Highness, please let me go..."

A quarter of an hour later, Si Jun got off her, dressed himself, and said coldly, "No woman can threaten me!"

With tears streaming down her face, Zhan Xuerou was covered in bruises, her body shivering as she looked at Si Jun, who still appeared as a modest gentleman even after dressing.

Today, she truly realized the gentleness of Si Jun was all an act; his brutal side was actually like this.

Zhan Xuerou covered her naked body with her torn clothes.

Si Jun’s eyes dark and sinister, gripped her neck and said, "Rou’er, you are mine for life, remember that! If you ever think like this again, I’ll throw you to the Death Guard. Their methods of torturing women are far more cruel than mine!"

Zhan Xuerou was in pain all over, trembling and choking back sobs. She had only intended to provoke Si Jun, to make him jealous.

Unexpectedly, Si Jun assaulted her in broad daylight, right in the street inside the carriage.

Si Jun then said to the guards, "Go to the back courtyard of the General Mansion."

Seeing that the carriage had left, Qiuyue followed it all the way back to the back courtyard of the General Mansion.

Si Jun left Zhan Xuerou behind and walked away. Zhan Xuerou, scantily clad, was helped into the house by Qiuyue.

Only then did Qiuyue see the wounds all over Zhan Xuerou’s body; she had been cruelly abused, bruised everywhere.

Zhan Xuerou lay on the bed, her tears dried up, never imagining Si Jun would be such a man.

While Qiuyue applied ointment on her injuries, she dared not speak much.

With pain throughout her body, Zhan Xuerou burst into tears, gritting her teeth, she said, "Qiuyue, never speak of this to anyone, or I’ll kill you!"

Qiuyue nodded and said, "Yes, miss, I understand!"

The love from Si Jun, which Zhan Xuerou had always been proud of, had now become her torment; she couldn’t afford to lose face this way.

Now, her heart housed a fear for Si Jun along with her love.

She thought to herself that after today’s punishment, Si Jun would probably not come to see her for a while.

Unknown to Zhan Xuerou, the next morning, Si Jun actually came to the General Mansion to meet Beicang and Qin Shuang.