It started to rain halfway through their journey, and by the time they arrived at Baima Temple, everyone was exhausted.
Throughout the trip, Luo Huanghun kept thinking about the key points that led to the Luo family being convicted. Luo Chenhui’s personal seal was just a tool used to frame the Luo family. The Ren family’s main tactic was to use Luo Huanghun as leverage to force the Luo family to help them consolidate power. Once the Luo family lost their value, the Ren family struck—some died, others were exiled.
What’s more, Luo Chenhui had lost his seal even before Luo Huanghun married Ren Jingsi. This meant the Ren family’s plan had started long ago—much earlier than she’d thought.
Luo Huanghun felt a heavy weight in her heart. She had only half a year: to find Luo Chenhui’s seal, to divorce Ren Jingsi, and to leave that quagmire for good.
After settling in at Baima Temple, she realized that Ren Jingsi had come along as well.
But… given how cold and indifferent he was to her, why had he followed?
Looking at his handsome face, Luo Huanghun almost doubted her own memories.
She didn’t know exactly how much Ren Jingsi had contributed to the Luo family’s downfall, but judging by their six-month agreement, he probably still wasn’t aware of the Prime Minister’s plot.
But that didn’t stop him from imprisoning her to death for Li Linger’s sake.
Luo Huanghun felt stifled. She decided to avoid him altogether. After burning incense with Luo Chenhui, she found an excuse to go for a walk and headed to the back mountain.
Three years ago, after her grandfather died and was buried at Baima Temple, Luo Huanghun had stayed here for a while.
The ground was still slippery from the rain, and Luo Huanghun accidentally slipped down a slope. Her ankle throbbed with pain. Just as she was catching her breath, a large hand suddenly gripped her throat, and a hot body pressed up against her from behind.
How had this person appeared so silently? Luo Huanghun was startled!
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” a deep voice sounded in her ear. Only then did Luo Huanghun smell the scent of blood.
Her heart sank. This man was injured, and judging by his alertness, his enemies must be nearby.
This was bad—she could easily get caught up in this…
As she was thinking, the grip on her neck tightened. Clearly, the man was growing impatient. She had no choice but to speak: “I came to Baima Temple to burn incense. I was feeling stifled, so I went for a walk on the back mountain.”
“A young lady, walking alone on the back mountain?” The man’s voice was skeptical.
Before Luo Huanghun could answer, rustling sounds came from nearby. The man tightened his grip: “Someone’s coming. You’re coming with me. If you want to live, don’t make a sound.”
As soon as they started moving, pain shot through Luo Huanghun’s ankle, and she stumbled. Finally, she got a good look at her captor.
He was tall and powerfully built, wearing a black mask that only revealed his sharp, hawk-like eyes and an imposing presence.
Seeing his impatience, Luo Huanghun mustered her courage: “I’ve twisted my ankle. It’s not convenient for you to bring me along. Why not—”
Why not just leave her here and make his escape?
The man clicked his tongue, gave Luo Huanghun a deep look, and—just as she was hoping—he hoisted her onto his shoulder with one arm.
The world spun. She heard his amused voice by her ear: “Let you go? You wish. Even if you’re not much use, you can still warm my bed.”
Luo Huanghun’s face flushed with anger. What kind of shameless brute was this, talking about warming his bed so casually!
Clearly, he was just suspicious of her identity and didn’t dare let her go easily.
Knowing struggling was pointless, Luo Huanghun relaxed and let her full weight press down on him, hoping to make things difficult for this scoundrel.
But the man carried her effortlessly, even joking, “Little girl, you overestimate your weight.”
Luo Huanghun was shocked—this man was frighteningly perceptive, as if he could see right through her thoughts and actions.
Who on earth was he?