bestfiction Chapter 220 Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant
Chapter 220 Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant
Despite saying this, Wan Yuru's tone still revealed an undisguised pessimism.
Seeing this, Yu Wan sighed softly in her heart. She knew that it would be difficult to get Wan Yuru to completely let go of this matter in a short time.
If she were born in modern times, she wouldn't be tempted to commit suicide just because she lost her virginity.
However, the original story is set in ancient times, where women are bound by strict social norms and etiquette throughout their lives. In their eyes, their chastity is far more important than their lives.
Yu Wan looked at Wan Yuru with encouraging and determined eyes, and asked softly:
"Cousin, can you tell me what exactly happened that day?"
"If you feel you can't say it right now, that's okay. We can take it slowly. You should get some rest tonight."
Wan Yuru bit her lip hard and slowly shook her head.
As if having made up his mind, he spat out each word with difficulty, "It's okay, I can say it now..."
That day, Wan Yuru had no idea that Li Molian had arranged for her to meet someone at the Jinglu Tea House.
That day, Wan Yuru went out shopping with Li Molian. As they walked, Li Molian said she wanted to go to Jinglu Teahouse for a cup of tea. But when they arrived at the teahouse, Li Molian suddenly said that she had forgotten to buy something. Wan Yuru was simple-minded at the time and did not think much of it, only assuming that her mother had indeed forgotten something.
Her mother told her to go to the teahouse and wait, and she always listened to her mother, so she obediently went.
She had barely sat down when she saw a man slowly approaching.
The man was Meng Dongcheng.
Wan Yuru was genuinely startled at the time.
Fortunately, Meng Dongcheng was very polite and deliberately kept a proper distance from her, without doing anything excessive.
Seeing him like this, Wan Yuru's tension gradually eased, and she slowly let down her guard.
In this Jinglu Tea House, men and women often discuss the art of tea, and the atmosphere is quite harmonious.
In addition, Meng Dongcheng is quite well-mannered. Although he is not handsome, he has an extraordinary demeanor and his speech is full of refinement, which makes people feel quite comfortable.
So, the two of them naturally started chatting.
During the conversation, Wan Yuru was so nervous that she unknowingly drank several extra cups of tea, and soon after, she felt the urge to urinate.
Her face flushed slightly, and she whispered to Meng Dongcheng that she needed to leave for a while.
Meng Dongcheng seemed to have noticed her predicament and was very understanding. He didn't ask any questions, but simply nodded slightly to signal her to go and come back quickly.
Then, Wan Yuru got up and walked towards the clean room of Jinglu Teahouse.
As soon as she stepped into the washroom, she faintly smelled a strong incense scent. The fragrance was so pungent that before she could react, everything went black, and she instantly lost consciousness.
After an unknown amount of time, Wan Yuru slowly woke up.
She found herself lying in a very narrow and secluded alley.
She subconsciously looked at herself and saw that her clothes were in disarray, and a tearing pain came from below. The pain spread throughout her body like a tide, as if her whole body had been crushed by a car wheel, which was extremely uncomfortable.
Although Wan Yuru was not yet married, she could guess what terrible things she had encountered. She was struck dumb and completely stunned.
Wan Yuru recalled with a blank look in her eyes: "I was in that alley, terrified and not knowing what to do. After I calmed down a little, I endured the excruciating pain, straightened my clothes, and stumbled home."
"Along the way, I felt like the gazes of passersby were pricking me like needles, or maybe it was just my imagination..."
"If it weren't nighttime, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to go home..."
Yu Wan felt extremely distressed.
Wan Yuru continued, "When I got home, my mother saw my disheveled appearance and asked me anxiously."
"But how could I dare to tell the truth? I could only speak vaguely. I was afraid of facing my mother's disappointment, and even more afraid that if this matter got out, it would bring shame to the family."
"If I hadn't urgently needed to use the restroom, that wouldn't have happened..."
Yu Wan frowned slightly and asked softly, "Do you remember if you saw any suspicious people or heard any unusual noises before you fainted in the washroom?"
Wan Yuru tried her best to recall, then slowly shook her head: "I only smelled the incense, and then I lost consciousness. I really can't remember anything else."
Yu Wan gently picked up the handkerchief and tenderly wiped away her tears, then said thoughtfully, "Since you didn't see that person, why do you think he must be rich and noble?"
Wan Yuru was slightly taken aback, then slowly reached into her bosom and took out a jade pendant.
Yu Wan's gaze instantly fell on the jade pendant, and she couldn't help but be taken aback.
The jade pendant was warm and smooth, with a superior color. However, what shocked Yu Wan was not its texture, but the unusual pattern engraved on it – a dragon design!
Yu Wan quickly took the jade pendant from Wan Yuru's hand and examined it carefully.
The jade pendant is about two fingers wide and three inches long. It is warm and smooth to the touch and has no flaws. It is obviously made from the finest mutton fat jade.
Its front is carved with a powerful flying dragon, its body winding and coiling, with each scale clearly visible. The dragon's eyes are inlaid with deep black jade, making it exceptionally rare.
Such a jade pendant, both in terms of the jade itself and its craftsmanship, is something that ordinary people could not possess.
The only possibilities are that it came from a member of the royal family, a prince, or even... Emperor Wenjing!
She tried her best to suppress the shock in her heart and asked softly, "Cousin, where did you get this jade pendant?"
Wan Yuru replied with a dazed look in her eyes and a slight tremor in her voice, "When I woke up, I found it tightly clutched in my hand."
"Perhaps I lost consciousness and was accidentally pulled off by that person."
Yu Wan stared at the dragon-patterned jade pendant, her mind in turmoil.
No wonder Wan Yuru was so eager to die that she refused to reveal the truth for so long.
If it was indeed a member of the royal family who defiled her, how easy would it be for her to seek justice?
The saying "the emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people" is nothing but empty talk to deceive the naive and ignorant masses; it's just lip service.
If it were truly members of the royal family who persecuted ordinary people, they would never be punished.
At most, they would just take out a little money to shut the victim up and easily suppress the matter.
After pondering for a moment, Yu Wan said to Wan Yuru, "Cousin, I'll keep this jade pendant for now."
"I will find out who owns this jade pendant."
Wan Yuru nodded slightly.
Yu Wan carefully put the jade pendant away and hid it in her bosom.
Looking at Wan Yuru's pale face, she said softly, "Cousin, don't worry, I will definitely protect you. Just rest in your room for the next few days and don't overthink things."
Wan Yuru forced a bitter smile: "Wan'er, I'm afraid I'll implicate you."
Yu Wan held her hand tightly: "Cousin, what are you saying? We are family, and it is only natural for us to support each other."
Wan Yuru was exhausted that day and cried bitterly, her face showing signs of fatigue.
Yu Wan watched over her until she fell into a deep sleep before quietly leaving the room.
She instructed Xizhu and Granny Yu to take good care of Wan Yuru.
Granny Yu nodded in agreement and asked with concern, "It's so late, Miss, why aren't you resting? Where are you going?"
Yu Wan said, "I'm going to find Yun Shang; I have some important matters to discuss with him."
That dragon-patterned jade pendant was no ordinary item; its owner would surely search for it.
Yun Shang frequently visited the Ministry of Rites and interacted with many officials, which allowed him to glean relevant information.