Chapter Two
Mo Jin’er finally managed to move her feet, but there was no escaping now. Her wrist was gripped tightly by Ling’an Che, and she was so nervous that her heart was in her throat.
“I… I didn’t see anything…” Mo Jin’er was extremely frightened, her delicate voice trembling with fear, even with a nasal tone.
There were some black-clad guards on the other side, dealing with the body on the ground. Ling’an Che, however, slightly bent over, smiled at her, “That’s the consequence of doing wrong, understand?”
“If I said I didn’t scratch Baozhu’s face, would you believe me…” Mo Jin’er explained somewhat helplessly.
She couldn’t die yet. If she died, what would happen to her grandmother? Her grandmother had lost one eye, and she had been saving money to afford treatment for her…
“Just one day and you’re already on such intimate terms?” Ling’an Che pinched her face with his blood-stained fingers, his tone gentle yet cold, “Zhu has a sincere heart, seeing everyone as good people, but not everyone is worthy of being her friend.”
“Stay away from her in the future.”
Hearing Ling’an Che’s words, Mo Jin’er’s beautiful face turned from pale to ashen, her heart tightening. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly as she choked, “I understand… Can I go back now…”
She had already apologized, and they didn’t need her to continue staying here to make amends, right? Could she go back now?
She missed her grandmother…
However, Ling’an Che casually discarded the blood-stained long sword he was holding, but the hand gripping her wrist didn’t loosen. He pulled her closer, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he stared at her.
Mo Jin’er became even more timid, extremely frightened and uncomfortable. She wanted to withdraw her hand but found his breath too close.
Although Mo Jin’er liked him, she was truly frightened now. He was different from what she had imagined. In a panic, she tried to evade him, and finally, her small head bumped against his chin.
Ling’an Che’s face changed instantly, he almost bit his tongue, while Mo Jin’er, taking advantage of his pain, quickly tried to break free from his grip.
She looked like she was about to cry out of frustration, and Ling’an Che couldn’t help but chuckle. Finally, he let go of her hand.
Mo Jin’er quickly retreated, clutching her wrist, feeling flustered and uneasy.
She hesitated and hesitated again, before finally asking softly, “Can I leave tomorrow…”
If Baozhu’s face didn’t recover, she wouldn’t be able to leave either.
Ling’an Che stared at her, seemingly thinking about something, and a hint of a mysterious smile appeared on his handsome face.
Her fingers tightened nervously, realizing that she couldn’t leave without Ling’an Che’s permission.
While Ling’an Che’s guards quickly disposed of the body in the garden and cleaned up the bloodstains on the ground, another guard approached Ling’an Che from behind, respectfully saying, “General.”
Ling’an Che didn’t say anything, just glanced coldly at her before turning and leaving.
Mo Jin’er still felt apprehensive, but the guard took a step forward and said sternly, “Miss Jin’er, please.”
“I don’t need you to escort me. I know the way and can go back by myself…” She forced a smile on her fair and delicate face and attempted to leave, but the guard raised his hand to stop her.
She only heard the guard’s cold voice, “Miss Jin’er, please follow me.”
Mo Jin’er was on the verge of tears. Her legs were trembling, and she couldn’t help but wonder if they were going to silence her…
With eyes reddened like a rabbit’s, she followed the guard anxiously, until they arrived at a relatively secluded courtyard. The decor was luxurious yet understated.
She didn’t notice the surroundings; she just thought she was really going to be killed. She was terrified, and images of the body she had seen on the ground flashed through her mind, gruesome and bloody…
Her face turned even paler, and she felt like she was about to vomit.
“Guardian, I… I still have my elderly grandmother at home. Please don’t kill me…” Tears fell from her eyes uncontrollably, as she pleaded tearfully.
“…” Little Seven, Ling’an Che’s most loyal guard, looked complicated.
“Miss Jin’er, this is where the General usually resides. You… go in.” Little Seven spoke up.
Mo Jin’er sniffed, not quite understanding what he meant.
Little Seven bowed and left.
She was then led inside by the maids. They even helped her bathe and clean up.
Feeling even more uneasy, she finally realized what was happening.
Ling’an Che’s room, her being brought here… did he…
A possible answer loomed in her mind, and she, now changed into clean clothes, sat there, hugging herself, lost in thought.
She liked him. In the year of her adulthood, she sneaked out of the mansion, wearing clothes unsuitable for the season, while he was handsome, arrogant, and dazzling.
She sneaked out to get medicine for her grandmother but ended up being harassed by a playboy. At that time, she was constantly belittled by her stepmother and stepsister and felt that she had no redeeming qualities.
She couldn’t understand why the playboy would want to take her as a concubine, naturally she was unwilling.
Perhaps it was because she was dressed so conservatively in the middle of summer. It was because her old summer clothes didn’t fit her at all…
She knew how much of a clown she was, so when Ling’an Che saved her, she felt inferior to the core…
And now, inadvertently, she had been sent to his room… What would happen next? Although she was clueless, she was extremely uneasy, vaguely aware of what might transpire.
Could he be planning to punish her like this…
But this was wrong. Baozhu was such a good girl. Even if it wasn’t her fault, she still felt guilty for what her step sister did, not to mention what Ling’an Che was about to do now.
Baozhu shouldn’t be the one he held dear, how could he…
As she was lost in her thoughts, she lightly bit her finger. Outside, Ling’an Che had finished bathing, draped in a robe, with loose clothes underneath, and walked in.
His black hair was disheveled, and although he usually looked gentle and amiable, he now inexplicably exuded a cold and sinister air, making Mo Jin’er unconsciously tense up.
He walked over, and she looked up at him, her cherry lips pursed slightly, her nerves stretched tightly.
The girl sitting on the edge of the bed, hugging herself, was obviously uneasy. Her fair face was as white as porcelain, and her eyes were red and teary, looking at him with fear and sadness.
“Lord Ling, what do you want to do…” Her soft words were clearly full of grievances but inexplicably carried a hint of allure.
He had never known that there was such a coy little girl in the imperial city.
Her appearance was even more beautiful than Baozhu’s. Although Baozhu was hailed as the number one beauty in the imperial city, she couldn’t compare to Mo Jin’er’s ethereal and innocent appearance.
She seemed so easy to bully.
“How is it not obvious? Of course, I want you to atone.” The handsome and gentle young man had already sat beside her, a hint of a wicked smile on his lips.
At this remark, Mo Jin’er’s heart skipped a beat, tears swirling in her eyes. She choked up slightly but managed to control herself, not wanting to appear too disheveled. “But how can you justify this to Princess Baozhu…”
Isn’t Princess Baozhu the one you cherish? How could you bully me like this…
If Princess Baozhu finds out, she will be sad too, won’t she…
This is really too much…
“That doesn’t matter.” Ling’an Che’s slender fingers gripped her chin, smiling playfully.
…
The next day, the maids changed all the bedding and sheets in the room. Mo Jin’er left in a panic in the middle of the night, almost being taken advantage of by Ling’an Che.
Fortunately, her menstrual cycle came just in time, but even so, she was still covered in marks…
At that time, she was almost in unbearable pain…
How did things suddenly turn out like this? She thought with heartache and sadness, feeling utterly despondent.
The person she liked turned out to be so terrifying.
…
A few days later, she wanted to leave. She hadn’t dared to go out these past few days, and she was also suffering from severe menstrual cramps. The maids had been very kind to her these past few days, and even her meals consisted of very precious supplements.
She stood under a tree, looking up at the surrounding walls, lost in thought, wondering if she could climb over them…
She was feeling a bit restless.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside, and at the same time, Baozhu’s voice rang out, “Jin’er…”
Baozhu’s voice was sweet and affectionate, and Mo Jin’er often wondered why such a good girl like her had been treated so unfairly by fate…
Baozhu had come to find her, unable to resist after not seeing her for a few days, and her maid couldn’t dissuade her either.
“Jin’er, Ling gege and the others are going hunting. Let’s go sneakily?” Baozhu said excitedly, her round face still retaining some baby fat, her eyes sparkling.
Mo Jin’er shook her head. She didn’t dare to leave with Baozhu. What if something happened again…
But in the end, she couldn’t resist her persuasion, and Baozhu dragged her onto the carriage.
Of course, there were no surprises. How could they possibly sneakily follow them? Ling’an Che had tacitly allowed it.
There were female relatives accompanying the hunting party, as well as the daughters of other noble families in the imperial city. Baozhu originally wanted to go and see, but she was dissuaded by Ling’an Che’s guards, who said that it would be too bloody and might scare her.
Mo Jin’er recalled the scene she had witnessed in the garden that day, and her face turned a little paler, drifting into a daze.
“These concubine-born girls are the most malicious. Look at Mo Jin’er’s appearance, doesn’t she look like trouble? No wonder the Duke’s Mansion never let her show her face. Be careful, don’t let her steal AnChe away from you.
A young lady whispered in Baozhu’s ear.
