"Wait," a voice interjected as Second Master Huo Zhendong, who had been eyeing her like a piece of meat, approached. "Shaoyan, what do you think you're doing? She was brought to [Huo Mansion] by the matriarch and she's a maid from our West Garden. Even when you beat a dog, you have to look at its owner. You better let her go and look at how scared she is."
Huo Shaoyan narrowed his eyes. "So, she really is Uncle's person," he said, extending his tone with a mocking laugh. "But what can we do now? It's my word against yours in this Huo Family. Even if she's a mere girl or a dog, they still have to follow my lead. As for this girl, she's been indecent and outrageous, so she must be punished."
Turning to his subordinate, he ordered, "Qin Lang, lock her in the water tank and release her tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
...
The bone-chilling water quickly engulfed her body. An Ge was already drenched from the rain earlier and so weak from a fever that she could barely hold on. Now, submerged in the icy water of the tank, she soon lost consciousness.
Qin Lang noticed and hurried to report to [East Garden at Huo Shaoyan's place]. "Sir, that girl... she fainted."
As he spoke, Huo Shaoyan hoisted up a bucket of well water. After pouring it over his head to cool off, he finally spoke. "What's her origin?"
Qin Lang replied, "She's An Zhiguo's daughter, and the sister of An Baoying, who accidentally stumbled into the cellar and saved your life tonight. Her name is An Ge."
Huo Shaoyan squinted his eyes. "Since she's the future sister-in-law, I'll pardon her for her sister's sake."
The next day, An Ge awoke with a start.
Before she could gather her thoughts, An Baoying's voice reached her ears, "Ah, you finally woke up?"
An Ge glanced around, confirming she was in the exclusive maid dormitory of [Huo Mansion], before acknowledging An Baoying. "What are you doing here?"
An Baoying laughed triumphantly. "Because I'm about to become the mistress of this place—the future Young Madam Huo."
An Ge sat up leaning against the headboard, smirking. "There are plenty of Huo sons. Which Young Madam Huo are you talking about?"
"Of the newly risen power in the Huo Family, Huo Shaoyan."
"Oh," An Ge responded flatly.
She threw off the covers and got out of bed.
Being taller than An Baoying and exuding a rebellious aura—likely from her time in prison—she easily intimidated An Baoying.
Seeing that An Ge showed no jealousy whatsoever, An Baoying frowned. "Is that all you have to say? I took away father's love, my mother took your mother's husband, and we messed up your childhood engagement to the Tang Family. Now I'm about to become the most envied first lady in all of Jingcheng, and you're not the least bit resentful?"
An Ge sneered, "Tsk, if I were to expose that DUI incident where you hit and disabled a child a year ago, making me take the blame, do you think you'd still become the first lady of a prestigious family?"
An Baoying, incensed with shame, retorted, "You dare. Let me tell you, your disgraceful slut of a mother is in our hands. Mess with me, and I'll sell both you and your mother to overseas nightclubs as prostitutes..."
"Slap!"
Before she even finished talking, An Ge had already slapped her hard enough to twist her face.
An Baoying's eyes widened in disbelief as she trembled with rage. "You... you actually dared to hit me?"
An Ge, her gaze icy, looked at her and laughed coldly. "It's a good thing my mother's life is in your hands. Otherwise, just with those scandalous photos of you with those toy boys, you'd never marry into a top family like the Huo Family."