"Put her head underwater!" Min Hanying ordered the maids and the maids said "Yes" as they dunked Min Hanying's head underwater in a wooden basin.
Struggling with all she had, Min Shuang lost the ability to breathe as water went up her nose. Coughing as soon as she was released, Min Shuang held the corners of the wooden basin.
"Sister," Min Shuang said, as she gasped for breath.
"Why?" Min Shuang asked with tears, as she stared at the woman she called sister.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Min Shuang asked as tears dripped from her eyes.
"Sister, you are asking the wrong question." Min Hanying said with a smile.
"The question is why shouldn't I?" Min Hanying asked with a cruel laugh before suddenly grabbing Min Shuang's chin.
"Raised as a princess, treasured by the Emperor and Empress and even getting to marry a prince." Min Shuang said with a scoff as she stared at her with hatred in her eyes.
"Sister, don't you think your luck is too much." Min Hanying said as she stared at Min Shuang with a crazed look before letting her go.
"But it's alright." Min Hanying said as she cleaned her hands on a towel with a relaxed smile.
"I will make sure you know your place in this Estate very soon." Min Hanying said with an evil smile as she ordered the maids to dunk Min Shuang's head underwater once more.
A week later.
"Li Haoran seems to be quite angry at you." Min Hanying said as she held her sister's chin.
"I talked to him about you today, in my best pitiful voice asking for him to let you go but do you know what he said?" Min Hanying said with a terrible smile.
"He told me that you needed to learn your lesson." Min Hanying said as she cackled under the moonlight.
"Sister, did you know the man you married is as rigid and as stiff as they come?" Min Hanying asked with a smile.
"Believing that you hurt me, he is punishing you so harshly in order not to make me feel that he has favorites." Min Hanying laughed as she casually slapped Min Shuang across the face.
"Sister, you are truly too pitiful."Min Hanying said as she slapped Min Shuang once more.
As the beating increased, Shen Xiatang watched in horror as Min Shuang tried pitifully to shield herself.
Month after month passed just like this, with them dunking her head underwater and leaving her with bruises the shade of purple. Min Shuang tried to escape multiple times but she was beaten and broken till she had no will at all.
Flashback end
"How could they do that?" Shen Xiatang thought as she placed her hands on her neck and she checked her body for bruises.
"How did she not run mad?" Shen Xiatang said as a rare tear dropped down her cheek as her eyes swept across the void in search of Min Shuang.
"Will you let them off just like that?!" Shen Xiatang yelled into the void.
"Will you just let them go, after all the abuse they inflicted on you?!" Shen Xiatang yelled in anger.
"You, a general's daughter?!" Shen Xiatang yelled and the void trembled vigorously until a battered and bruised Min Shuang appeared.
"Upon everything you saw, do you still think I can go against them?" Min Shuang asked pitifully.
"I have been stripped of my authority and have been treated worse than a slave." Min Shuang said with tears in her eyes.
"How can someone like me who has lost all power in this house even think to fight back?!" Min Shuang yelled angrily.
"You were only one person before." Shen Xiatang said as she moved towards her.
"Now that I am here, anyone who dares bully you will meet a fate worse than death!" Shen Xiatang yelled, as the things Min Shuang went through flooded her mind.
"How can I trust you?" Min Shuang asked as tears fell from her eyes.
"What if I follow you and a receive a fate worse than before?" Min Shuang asked as she looked at Shen Xiatang with a sad smile.
"That won't happen." Shen Xiatang said as she tried to reassure her.
"I always make sure to pay pain with pain and humiliation with humiliation." Shen Xiatang said firmly.
"But what if my case is different?" Min Shuang asked as she took a step back.
"Min Hanying is unnerving," Min Shuang said in fear.
"She is cunning and witty and always gets what she wants. What if you can't beat her?" Min Shuang asked in fear as her body trembled.
"If I can't beat her," Shen Xiatang said as she held Min Shuang's hands in hers.
"Then I will make sure to take her and this household down with you." Shen Xiatang said firmly and Min Shuang nodded with a small smile of relief.
Back in the cold dark room
The doors opened and Min Hanying, a beautiful woman in a stunning white hanfu with light blue details and blue hair accessories ordered the maids to pour cold water on Min Shuang.
"Get up!" Min Hanying snarled from the doorway.
"The Empress Dowager wants to see you." Min Hanying said in disgust before walking away.
After Min Hanying said her piece, the maids grabbed Min Shuang and roughly moved her to where she could bathe.
In record time, Min Shuang was washed and clothed in a light blue hanfu with white hair accessories and light makeup was applied on her at Min Hanying's request.
On the way to the palace, silence reigned in the carriage and as the carriage came to a halt before the palace, Min Hanying blocked her.
"I hope you don't get any funny ideas." Min Hanying said with a glare that could cut through ice.
"If you dare to pull a trick here, I will make sure to make your life twice as worse." Min Hanying said in a voice that made Min Shuang shiver involuntarily.
"I wouldn't dare." Min Hanying said in a subservient tone as she bowed respectfully to Min Hanying.
"Good." Min Hanying said as she stepped out of the carriage before Min Shuang.
"Ready?" Shen Xiatang asked as she floated beside Min Shuang.
"Ready" Min Shuang said, before stepping out of the carriage with a calm smile.