The Mute Girl

[Read the Extra Chapter 75 with Caution] Yan'er was born mute. At fifteen, she was sold by a trafficker to the Duke of Zheng's manor, where she became the personal maid of the heir, Zheng Yixi. The heir treated her very well. He taught her to read and write, to play the qin and paint, and to understand the ways of the world. As time passed, Yan'er fell in love with him and became pregnant. At the time, Zheng Yixi clasped her hand and promised to raise her to the rank of honored concubine and keep her safe. Yan'er didn't care about her status. She knew she had been born lowly. All she wanted was to stay by the side of the man she loved, day and night. But her happy days didn't last. Zheng Yixi became engaged. Su Yanrou, the third daughter of the Ningyuan Marquis's family, was born into nobility and was graceful and elegant. She and Yan'er were worlds apart. With a mere wave of her hand, Su Yanrou nearly tormented Yan'er to death. Looking down at Yan'er from her position as the heir's wife, she smiled and said, "You're nothing but a pretty plaything. My husband only dotes on you because you look a little like me." Yan'er didn't believe her, so she waited. Day after day, from sunrise to sunset, she waited, but Zheng Yixi never came. Later, she heard the servants joking through the window: "Now that the master has married a beautiful lady from a renowned family, do you really think he'll remember that mute?" Only then did she understand. All those years of tenderness had been because of Su Yanrou. She had been nothing but a substitute all along. - The day before Zheng Yixi's wedding, Yan'er made her escape from the Duke of Zheng's manor, taking nothing with her. She went to a remote village, where she met and fell in love with a farmer. He was honest and kind, and didn't care about her past. He gave her his whole heart, and little by little, she was moved and agreed to marry him. But on her wedding day, Yan'er never saw her groom. Instead, countless mounted soldiers arrived. Claiming they were there to suppress bandits, they surrounded the farmhouse where the wedding ceremony was taking place. The man at their head dismounted and forced her to raise her face. His sinister gaze looked ready to devour her alive. "Who gave you permission to marry someone else?" [Content Warnings] 1. The female lead is mute and will remain unable to speak until the end. 2. The appeal is the difference in status between the leads, with the more powerful one becoming infatuated with the less powerful one. 3. Both leads are sexually inexperienced. I have very strict standards for the male lead's sexual history. I won't go easy on him, and I'm not a misogynist or a submissive wife. 4. It's very melodramatic. I'm letting myself go with this one. 6. Criticism is fine, but please don't use profanity. A work doesn't represent the author's values. Everyone has different tastes, and we read for entertainment, so please don't get upset. 6. One percent of this novel's daily earnings will be donated to children in poverty-stricken mountain villages. I'll post updates on Weibo. If you know a trustworthy organization, feel free to recommend it to me. [Coming Soon] Plucking [Story Hook: Mistaking the identity of a benefactor, with a plan long in the making.] Before the wedding, Cai'er already knew Lu Zhi didn't like her. He and her eldest sister had been a devoted couple, perfectly attuned and deeply in love, day after day. When her sister died in childbirth, she took his heart with her. To maintain the bond between their families, Cai'er married Lu Zhi as his second wife. But on their wedding day, Lu Zhi went to West Mountain and sat before her sister's grave for the entire day. The bride had entered the household, but the groom was nowhere to be found. With no other choice, Second Master Lu Xie had to take his brother's place in the wedding ceremony. Lu Xie was a concubine-born son, yet he was as graceful as rosy clouds and as pure as the moonlit willow. He took Cai'er's delicate hand from the matchmaker and knelt with her before the elders, then bowed to Heaven and Earth. He was composed and gentle, showing not the slightest displeasure at marrying on his brother's behalf. The people of the capital praised him without end. The ceremony was over. Lu Xie watched Cai'er walk away, and his gaze suddenly darkened. No one knew that beneath his elegant exterior, he was filled with regret: He couldn't take his brother's place on the wedding night. * When they consummated the marriage, someone blew out the candle. Cai'er was treated gently. She assumed it was Lu Zhi and, with tears in her eyes, said, "Thank you, Heir, for saving my aunt all those years ago." The man's body stiffened slightly. But by day, Lu Zhi remained as cold as ever toward Cai'er, while the servants and maids looked down on her and took every opportunity to mistreat her. Later, Lu Zhi fell from his horse and died. The Lu family gave Cai'er a letter of divorce. Her heart had gone cold, and she was about to return to her family when Lu Xie, who had not appeared for a long time, came rushing in, full of fury, and tore the divorce letter to pieces right in front of her. His blazing gaze was sharp, and his words brimmed with uncontrolled anger. "Sister-in-law, have you forgotten that last night you promised we would stay together until our hair turned white?" [Content Warnings] 1. Both the male and female leads are sexually inexperienced. 2. The male lead used underhanded means to change the name on the marriage contract to his own, so the female lead has been his wife from beginning to end. 3. The second male lead, Xu Zhi, was killed by the male lead. 4. The love-triangle drama is centered on the male lead. The female lead has always believed the second male lead was the one who consummated the marriage with her. Theme: Even in adversity, the most beautiful flowers can bloom.