(Jin Guangyao/Reader) You're my sun, my universe

Chapter 14: 'Happily' married life

Mentions of physical abuse

Y/N = 25 - 27

The master that bought you was a rather famous lord from the region of Pingying. He was already married with a wife, having multiple children.

You were expecting to find yourself on the end of much harassment by the madam of the household, however as it turns it both she and the other servants simply ignored your presence. There was no back-handed scheming nor rampant bursts of jealously.

The servants of the household also did their duties with no complaints, most of them however were cold and efficient, never speaking more than necessary, however, it did not seem that they did it out of contempt.

You were confused at first, at the supposed easy acceptance, but it didn't take you long to realise the reason. Soon enough, from your own secret investigation, it turned out you were not the first person the lord ever purchased, rather he already had extensive history.

From famous courtesans, entertainers, and prostitutes.

All young and beautiful women.

However, none of them ever lasted long.

Whether it was by suicide, death from abuse or simply being kicked to the streets crippled in some shape.

Ah...suddenly the coldness made sense, it wasn't that they hated you, or spurned your presence. It was simply because none of them expected you to last at all that they could ignore you so easily.

***

As it turned out, the reasons why the other women had been discarded was because none of them met the expectations that Lord Xie had set for them.

They breathed too loudly, spoke too crudely, walked too ungracefully, amongst several other things. The most important however was that none of them were able to last against the viciousness of Lord Xie of whom was always rough in bed and the overall general treatment. He had no qualms with raising a hand against someone of whom he considered his rightful property, especially when they made a 'mistake'.

When Lord Xie heard of the famed (L/N) (Y/N), of whose beauty and talents were well renowned as a person of her statue, he simply could not resist. He had recently discarded another disappointment after she had tried to run away, by having her whipped to death...and so a replacement was due.

***

You always were proud of the way you were able to adjust yourself to your customer needs, you simply needed to play a role, and adjust to the role you did.

No mistakes were allowed.

You had to live.

For the brothel residents whose lives came to an unjustly end. To Sisi of whom you had promised to meet again.

You had to live.

There had to be someone to remember them, to honour them, and you knew that you were the only one who would be willing.

***

Having bruises was now commonplace.

While you had the usual rough customer every now and then, at least there were others there to fuss over you, and it didn't make you feel alone. Here, you had no allies. No one would dare to defend you against very turbulent master, not at the risk of their own life.

It was upon one of those bad days that you found yourself with a rather decorative bruise around your wrist, of which Lord Xie had held in anger after seeing you speak too long with one of the male servants without his permission.