Chapter 73: Forsaken by All

Hearing Moon Lady mention the Duke's name, the burly man looked terrified. "What did you say? Is it true?"
Seeing she had startled them, Moon Lady breathed a sigh of relief and nodded hastily. "Yes, I am the Duke's woman. If you let me go now, it's not too late. As long as you return my belongings, I won't pursue the matter."
Another burly man chimed in, "That would be too frightening."
"Boss, she's asking you to give her things back."
Yet as they spoke, they all suddenly burst into laughter, making Moon Lady's heart tremble with fear.
The leading man grabbed Moon Lady and pulled her into his arms. "Tonight, I'll play the Duke myself."
His henchmen immediately cheered, applauding their boss's strength. "Boss, hurry up! I want to try the Duke's woman too."
Moon Lady hadn't expected that her words would mean nothing to them. Overcome with shame and anger, she was thrown onto the bed. Seizing the moment while the burly man was undressing, she darted out.
The people outside cried out in surprise and shouted, "Boss, come quick! She's running!"
"You wretched woman, still daring to run!"
Just as Moon Lady was about to cross the threshold, someone caught her wide sleeve, causing her to stumble and fall, her outer garment torn off, revealing her smooth shoulder.
She reached for the doorframe, hoping to escape and seek help, and when she looked up, she saw someone standing there. Tears instantly welled up. "Ming Lei, Ming Lei, you've returned! Save your mother!"
Shen Ming Lei had come back at the end of the month to collect money, but before he even entered, he saw the door half open, the inside in disarray, men's laughter and women's screams echoing.
He stood frozen, witnessing Moon Lady's desperate escape.
Outside, there was no one but him. The neighbors, knowing Moon Lady's reputation, did not want to get involved.
The burly man strode forward and yanked Moon Lady's hair. "Run, why don't you run?"
With that pull, even Shen Ming Lei saw her chest exposed, and Moon Lady screamed in pain.
Seeing a gentleman before him, the burly man frowned. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Only then did Shen Ming Lei snap out of his daze. Witnessing Moon Lady's plight, he said nothing and fled.

"Ming Lei!"
Moon Lady's cry was heart-rending. She had raised her son for over ten years, only for him to abandon her at her moment of humiliation. It felt as if a bloody hole had been gouged in her heart, empty and unfillable.
"Ah, so you have a son. Too bad—he doesn’t even care for you. Give up."
"Boss, will that boy bring reinforcements?"
"No matter. Debt must be repaid. We're just taking a little interest. Finish this quickly."
They dragged Moon Lady back inside.
This time, she had no strength left to run. She began cursing Chen Yan, but soon her curses were replaced by cries and moans.
Chen Yan stared blankly as the men went in and out of Moon Lady and Ling'er’s room, shivering and trying to escape, but was spotted by a henchman who slapped him unconscious.
It was a long time before the constables arrived, for Shen Ming Lei had reported the matter.
Yet, fearing exposure, he had hurriedly filed the report and left, so the constables paid little heed until they reached the house on Pipa Street—and were startled.
The house was ransacked, furniture scattered everywhere.
A man lay battered and bruised on the floor, his life uncertain. Two women lay half-clothed in separate rooms; Ling'er had fainted, Moon Lady was bruised all over, but nothing could match her inner torment.
"Chief, this one is still breathing," a constable checked Chen Yan’s breath and found he was alive.
"Take them back—all three. Have the women dressed and brought along."
After being rescued, Chen Yan found himself in the magistrate’s office and wept with relief, saying he didn’t mind being locked up for days—anything was better than being beaten outside.
Yet when questioned, he faltered.
Recalling the burly men’s threats, he dared not speak of the gambling den, claiming instead that he had ransacked the house himself because he owed money.
"And these injuries—did you inflict them yourself?"
Chen Yan’s eyes darted uneasily, then he found an excuse. "It was the woman and her son. Her son hit me and then ran!"

"Why would her son hit you?"
"Sir, I'm innocent! I didn't even know she had a son. Everyone outside says she’s the steward’s mistress, but the steward’s already in jail. With her, it was all consensual—not against the law, right?"
No matter how he was questioned, Chen Yan never mentioned the gambling den and distanced himself from the affair.
As for Moon Lady, her body and mind were broken, and now she faced accusations of assault, unable to explain herself and at risk of imprisonment. With no other option, she once again invoked Shen Zhifeng’s name, hoping he would come to the prison and save her.
"Shen Zhifeng, from the Duke Shen's manor? How could that be?"
The constables were skeptical, but followed procedure and called Shen Zhifeng to inquire.
But how could he possibly admit to keeping a mistress?
Especially after learning the details, he wished he could plunge a sword into the wretched woman—she had cuckolded him and used his money to support another man!
Shen Zhifeng looked at Moon Lady in her cell, her face filthy, body marked by the signs of forced intimacy, his anger surging. He repeated his former claim: "I do know her, but she is merely the widow of a late friend. As for anything else, I know nothing. My only wife is Han Rou."
At that moment, Shen Zhifeng realized Han’s virtues—at least she stayed at home and had never caused trouble.
Moon Lady never expected Shen Zhifeng to be so ruthless, to abandon her as well.
Her heart was full of regret.
"Shen Zhifeng, you are truly heartless."
She had endured for years, bearing him a son and a daughter—her daughter was famed, her son excelled in his studies, he had promised to legitimize her and wed her openly. Yet now?
He severed all ties without hesitation.
Shen Zhifeng walked away without a backward glance, and in his heart, a murderous intent stirred.
A woman who had betrayed him, who knew so many of his secrets, could not be allowed to live.