Luoshen never would have imagined that her elder brother would also be there, let alone that in full view of everyone, she would be forcibly carried away by Li Mu like this.

At first she could still struggle a few times, but given the arm strength with which the man behind her held her, if he didn’t let go, with her meager strength, it would be no different from an ant trying to shake a tree—how could she possibly break free?

The black steed beneath them seemed to share its master’s thoughts, galloping wildly with flying hooves. Luoshen, sitting high on its back, felt as if she were riding clouds and mist. Only the rushing wind whistled past her ears, and within moments she was bounced about until she felt dizzy and nauseous. She could only close her eyes and grip his arm tightly, seeking to steady herself.

In the end, her entire body had gone limp in the embrace of the man behind her.

If he were to let go now, she would likely slide off the horse immediately.

Finally enduring until they reached their destination, carried by the black steed as they charged through the city gates, she heard Li Mu shout orders to the city guards to close the gates, and the horse finally stopped.

Luoshen still felt very uncomfortable, keeping her eyes closed, only aware that he lifted her down from the horse’s back and walked a short distance.

Something solid beneath her—he had placed her on a ground mat.

She collapsed there, forcing her eyes open to see it was a room. It seemed to be a place beside the city gate for the city guards to conduct business.

After Li Mu set her down, he walked behind a desk, took paper and brush from the desk surface, dipped ink, and began writing rapidly.

She didn’t know what he was writing.

Luoshen caught her breath, and the anger in her heart flared up.

Before she could lose her temper, she heard faint cursing sounds from outside.

Listening carefully, it was actually her elder brother’s voice, cursing Li Mu as shameless.

Her elder brother was the next head of the Gao family that Father had long since chosen. He was usually extremely steady. This was the first time Luoshen had heard him curse someone so harshly.

If he weren’t truly enraged, given her elder brother’s cultivation and composure, he would never lose his composure like this.

Luoshen immediately understood.

Her elder brother must have pursued them but been locked outside the city gates by Li Mu.

Already angry, how could she bear this any longer? She said, “Open the gate quickly!”

Li Mu acted as if he hadn’t heard her words, continuing to move his brush across the paper.

Luoshen was furious. She scrambled up from the ground mat and turned to leave, but Li Mu had already finished writing the letter. He threw down his brush, sealed it up, and in a few steps caught up with her. From behind, he swept Luoshen up in his arms, placed her back on the ground mat, said “I’ll be right back,” turned and left.

The door was also pulled shut and locked behind him.

Luoshen got up to chase after him but discovered the door was locked from the outside. Furious enough to stamp her feet, she wanted to curse him like her elder brother had, but afraid the nearby gate guards would hear something unseemly, she ultimately couldn’t bring herself to curse aloud and could only continuously pound on the door.

Her palms turned red from pounding, and finally she heard his returning footsteps.

The door opened again, and he appeared before her.

“Where is my elder brother?” Luoshen suppressed her anger and looked behind him.

But she didn’t see Gao Yin.

“He’s already gone. We can return now too.”

He still had the nerve to smile at her.

Luoshen flew into a rage, shouted “Elder Brother!” and pushed past him to chase after them.

Only regretting her short legs, she was forcibly lifted up by him again. She struggled with all her might, but her feet couldn’t reach the ground.

She was so angry her teeth itched. Just as she opened her mouth to shout again, she suddenly felt her waist go weak, as if he had pinched her at the small of her back. Instantly, half her body went limp.

“I didn’t lie to you. Your elder brother really left. Even if you shout, he won’t hear you. Those people outside are all watching. Once we return, I’ll let you hit me, alright…”

He whispered in her ear, half pleading, half negotiating in tone.

Luoshen had already been carried outside by him. Startled, she instinctively turned her head.

Though it had grown dark and the area beneath the city walls was pitch black, it was indeed as he said. She saw that near the city gates not far away, there were indeed the figures of several city guards.

They seemed to be continuously looking in their direction.

Unconsciously, she immediately stopped struggling.

By the time she reacted and wanted to resist again, she found herself already placed back on the horse’s back.

Almost at the same moment, he also mounted the horse, restraining Luoshen. With a low shout to the black steed, the horse galloped away again carrying both of them.

They quickly reached the Governor’s Residence.

Li Mu lifted her down and strode directly inside.

In the evening, with Li Mu away and no other business today, the Governor’s Residence had no one else besides the soldiers at the main gate who also served as doorkeepers.

Earlier at the city gate, she hadn’t dared make a scene for fear the city guards would hear.

On the road, she was afraid of attracting the attention of citizens who had just arrived here a few days ago.

But once they entered this empty Governor’s Residence with not a single light to be seen, Luoshen finally had no more concerns.

From the main gate to the rear courtyard, all along the way she continuously cursed him, hit him, and commanded him to put her down.

He said not a word, holding her tightly, his footsteps growing faster and faster.

Suddenly, a series of fine, dense little pains spread across his shoulder.

Seeing resistance was useless, she actually opened her mouth and, like a small beast that had just grown sharp, fine teeth, bit down on his flesh.

Night.

In the distance, across the dark horizon, a streak of lightning flashed.

Faintly, muffled thunder rolled down.

The air was stuffy and hot.

The empty surroundings, the dark and somewhat desolate Governor’s Residence.

And the girl in his arms who had been struggling and angrily calling him “despicable” and “shameless” all the way.

His beloved girl.

Such a summer night, with a lone man and woman—something should naturally happen.

He was already excited.

He had already carried her into the courtyard. A few more steps and they would reach the door to the rooms.

Suddenly being bitten like this by her stimulated his blood to boil throughout his body.

For these last remaining few steps, he felt he couldn’t even wait.

Right there he set her down, letting her sharp little teeth bite his shoulder. He simply extended his arms, encircling both her arms and body together, pressing her against a pillar of the nearby corridor.

Then he impatiently began nibbling the patch of earlobe and neck she had exposed to him.

His other free hand wasn’t idle either, beginning to unfasten her clothing.

Poor Luoshen had finally gotten her feet on the ground, but before she could recover her senses, she discovered he was taking such liberties with her again.

She released her bite, about to curse him again, but just as she opened her mouth, it was occupied by his lips seeking hers.

She shook her head continuously, making muffled sounds of protest from her throat.

Not only did he not stop, but after that hand succeeded, beneath her clothing, he became even more unbridled.

Her entire body, from top to bottom, fell into his hands, leaving only her legs still able to move.

She wanted to kick him.

But just as she lifted her foot, she felt his knee pressing against her.

Even her legs were now firmly pinned against the pillar.

Luoshen was thus held by him in the dark courtyard, forced to endure his passionate kisses and caresses.

But she didn’t want any of it.

She was so angry she cried.

She completely gave up struggling, closed her eyes, and really began to cry.

The man seemed to finally notice her distress, stopped, and slowly raised his face that had been buried in her neck.

“A’Mi…”

He called her name tentatively.

That hand which had just been ruthlessly bullying her reached toward her face, as if wanting to touch the tears on her cheeks.

Luoshen turned her face away, avoiding that hand, continuing to shed tears, angrily saying, “Li Mu! If you dare be rude to me again, I…”

She had intended to say, “I’ll never acknowledge you again.”

But thinking again, these words seemed wrong.

She already didn’t want to acknowledge him anymore.

But if not saying this, what kind of harsh words should she use against him? For a moment, she couldn’t think of any.

She got stuck momentarily, feeling even more angry at her own uselessness.

Being bullied by him like this, besides crying, she had no other recourse whatsoever. So she changed her words.

“You want me to leave, so I can only leave. Even my pleading with you like that wouldn’t work! Then when you want me to stay, you resort to such roguish behavior!”

“Who do you think you are? And by what right do you treat me this way? Summoning me to come, dismissing me to go?”

After she finished shouting, she closed her eyes and began crying again, crying very sadly.

Li Mu was still for a moment, then suddenly lifted her up again, came to the door, kicked it open with his foot, and seated her on the edge of the bed. He went to light a lamp.

The lamplight gradually brightened, dispelling the darkness in the room.

Luoshen sat on the bed’s edge. Seeing him walking toward her, she hurriedly covered up the clothing that he had earlier disheveled beyond recognition, tightened the sash at her waist, and wanted to stand up to avoid him.

But her hand was caught by his.

“A’Mi, it’s all my fault. If you want to hit me, go ahead and hit me. If you want to bite, I’ll let you bite.”

His tone was full of placating meaning. He grabbed her hand, wanting to guide it toward himself.

Luoshen didn’t even lift her eyelids once.

She withdrew her hand, wiped away the few teardrops still clinging to her cheeks, turned her body away, not looking at him at all, only saying coldly, “Have someone open the city gates and let my elder brother in! I’ve already decided—I must return!”

After she finished speaking, for a long while she heard no response from him. So she stood up from the bed’s edge and turned to go outside.

At this moment, she heard him say, “A’Mi, I didn’t lie to you. Your elder brother has already left. He knows I want to keep you here, and he couldn’t take you away.”

“Moreover, I gave him a letter to have him deliver to Father-in-law on my behalf. Consider it my explanation to Father-in-law.”

Luoshen stopped in her tracks and turned back to face him.

His expression was unusually solemn. Not a trace could be seen of that reckless energy with which he had just been ruthlessly bullying her.

Luoshen turned her face away: “I know you harbor great ambitions and are stubbornly set in your ways. You also look down on my father. With things like this, what do you still have to explain to him now?”

“A’Mi, I truly cannot bring myself to go against my heart and comply with Father-in-law’s arrangements in order to keep you by my side.”

“But I can promise him this: In the future, no matter when, as long as the court doesn’t force me or obstruct my Northern Expedition, I, Li Mu, will not be the first to turn against the court, and will forever remain a subject of Dayu.”

He gazed at her intently, speaking word by word.

“With this, can you be at ease?”

…

Gao Yin felt a coolness on his forehead. Touching it, his palm was a bit wet.

It was going to rain.

He knew that since Li Mu had done this thing and sent down the letter for him to deliver to his uncle, even if he could break through the city gates and charge in, Li Mu would no longer release his sister.

He looked up once more at that towering city wall, then could only turn his horse around and hurry back to rendezvous with Fan Cheng and the others.

When he spurred his mount and raced back to the camp at breakneck speed, heavy rain began to fall.

Fan Cheng had already set up the camp earlier, taking shelter from the rain overnight.

Gao Yin entered the felt tent, sat cross-legged on the ground, and gazed at Li Mu’s letter before him, his brows slightly furrowed, lost in thought.

Suddenly footsteps sounded outside the tent.

Fan Cheng had come.

Gao Yin put away the letter and invited him inside.

Fan Cheng entered the tent, paid his respects, then asked, “Young Master, what should be done about the young lady’s situation?”

Seeing Gao Yin look down at him, he quickly explained, “Young Master, don’t misunderstand. It’s because my brothers were all originally Eldest Princess’s guard unit. When we set out earlier, Eldest Princess also instructed that we must protect the young lady’s safety. Therefore, my men must follow the young lady. If she returns to Jiankang with Young Master, we naturally follow suit. But if she’s kept here by Governor Li…”

He glanced at Gao Yin.

“We would also have to remain as well. This is our duty…”

Gao Yin’s brows remained furrowed, only saying, “You needn’t say it—I understand this too.”

He pondered for a moment: “General Fan, you arrived in Yi Cheng before me and have led troops in battle before. In your view, if Western Jin comes to attack, can Li Mu defend the city?”

“If Chou Chi were still an enemy on the side, I wouldn’t dare make a judgment. But now, first, the alliance with Chou Chi has been formed. Second, Western Jin is currently attacking the Western Capital with full force. By the time they come to attack here, I believe Governor Li should already have countermeasures.”

“I have faith in Governor Li!”

Fan Cheng’s tone held no hesitation.

Gao Yin observed Fan Cheng for a moment: “General Fan, you seem to have considerable approval of Li Mu.”

Fan Cheng was startled and immediately explained, “Young Master, don’t misunderstand. I am Eldest Princess’s man. No matter what, I will naturally remain loyal to Eldest Princess and Lord Gao.”

Gao Yin relaxed his brow and smiled, waved his hand dismissively, and asked about Gao Huan instead.

Fan Cheng quickly said, “Sixth Young Master went into his tent early, saying he was tired from the day and wanted to sleep early, and not to let anyone disturb him.”

Gao Yin nodded and said, “Thank you for your trouble. You should also go rest. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to Yi Cheng once more and must see my sister again to ask her own thoughts. If she’s willing to stay, I can hardly force her to come with me. I’ll take Sixth Brother back, and you all remain with her. If my sister is unwilling to stay, I’ll take her back, and you all return as well.”

Fan Cheng acknowledged this, stood up, and withdrew.

…

A strong wind rose, shaking the bamboo grove outside the window.

Suddenly came the sound of raindrops penetrating the bamboo branches and striking the leaves.

Following this, dense raindrops fell onto the roof tiles above their heads and the corridor eaves, pattering softly.

Luoshen was stunned.

With this man who was her husband, from initial strangeness to the gradual familiarity and closeness of today, she had come to understand him somewhat.

He liked her and treated her very well—she knew this.

But no matter how much he liked her or how well he treated her, whenever it involved that disagreement between him and Father, he seemed to become a different person, unwilling to yield even the slightest.

This point she had felt especially deeply that night they stayed at the Chou Chi post station.

Under those circumstances, with her writhing in pleasure beneath him, speaking out to beg him, hoping he could temporarily yield before Father so she could remain to accompany him, he had remained completely unmoved.

He truly was an iron-hearted person.

Moreover, once the words left her mouth, she immediately knew they were inappropriate and regretted them, even apologizing to him.

Yet he remained unmoved, just abandoning her like that, hastily ending their lovemaking, and even saying he would send her back.

At that moment, her shame and humiliation were simply indescribable.

For the first time in her life, she had abandoned her dignity, groveling before a man, only hoping he could use a more tactful approach with her father—even if it were just lip service, it would reduce her stress and anxiety.

He simply didn’t know the difficulty and panic she felt being caught between him and her father.

It was also that night’s experience that made Luoshen realize she had vastly overestimated her influence over him in this relationship.

He didn’t care for her nearly as much as she had imagined.

Shame, heartbreak, self-contempt, plus confusion and despair about the future, finally made her resolve firmly.

If he continued to persist in this attitude, without doubt, sooner or later he and Father would completely fall out.

For Luoshen, she naturally wouldn’t question Father’s thinking.

Deep in her heart, she also vaguely felt that Li Mu’s great ambitions and his concerns were not without merit.

But so what? That wasn’t the key point.

The key point was that one was Father who had given her life and raised her. The bond of flesh and blood could not be abandoned. The other was her husband who shared her bed and pillow, and who would bear children with her in the future.

Since they were destined to be incompatible, rather than drag it out until it became irretrievable, she would rather end this relationship with him that held no hope early on.

She had originally given up hope completely.

She never expected that with a sudden turn of events, he would suddenly say such words to her.

She almost couldn’t believe her own ears.

“Are you… telling the truth?”

She seemed uncertain.

Li Mu nodded.

“The letter is with your elder brother. When he returns to Jiankang, your father will receive it.”

If Li Mu was willing to make such a promise to Father, Father would surely have no more reason to interfere and insist on separating her from him.

She trusted Li Mu—he was a man whose word was as good as gold.

Since he had made this promise, in the future, as long as Father was in the court, presumably it would be unlikely for the situation he spoke of to arise.

Which meant, if she looked at it optimistically, she should be able to set her mind at ease.

From now on, he wouldn’t have the opportunity to do what Father called being a “disloyal subject and traitor.”

She looked at the man before her: “Your attitude was always very firm before. Why are you suddenly willing to yield to my father?”

“I cannot be without you.”

He said immediately, without hesitation.

“A’Mi, if you don’t want me and leave me, I will still accomplish what I want to accomplish in this lifetime.”

“But from now on, I will be alone in this world. Without your companionship, such a life, even if lived again, what joy would there be?”

Luoshen didn’t notice that when he said these words, there was a trace of tenderness mixed with deep regret that flashed through the depths of his eyes.

His answer was already sufficient for her.

Her beautiful eyes, which still bore traces of tears and had originally seemed somewhat dim, suddenly became lively and bright.

Deep in her heart, it was as if a flower slowly bloomed.

Her heartbeat quietly quickened, and her face flushed red too.

She glanced at his shoulder, which she had just bitten and which still bore a dark saliva mark, and asked somewhat vaguely, “Does it still hurt there?”

“It hurts.”

Li Mu smiled slightly.

“Not just there—today at the training ground, I was also injured.”

Luoshen cried out “Ah!” and immediately walked toward him.

“What happened? Where were you injured?”

“After you left this morning, I felt very sad. I went to the training ground and was hit on the back by a soldier with a staff. The staff broke on the spot.”

Luoshen was greatly shocked and hurriedly went around to his back, lifting up his clothing.

When she saw that long, deep bruise that had already turned purple-black on his back, her heart ached terribly. She continuously blamed him for being careless and complained about the reckless soldier who had struck him.

Li Mu turned around to face her.

“A’Mi, although I was struck by that staff then, in my heart I wished someone could hit me hard with several more staffs. I made you sad. It’s all what I deserved.”

Luoshen bit her lip: “What a fool!”

Li Mu laughed, drew her into his embrace, lowered his head, and gently kissed her forehead.

Luoshen yielded softly to his embrace, allowing him to kiss her, and closed her eyes.

“A’Mi, that night at the post station, I shouldn’t have treated you that way. I regret it deeply. Can you forgive me?”

In their intimate moment, she heard him ask her softly at her ear.

Her face quietly reddened again.

She didn’t answer.

Her two arms simply climbed slowly up his strong, powerful back and clung tightly to him.

…

The rain grew heavier and heavier.

Dense raindrops, swept by the wind, drummed urgently against the roof tiles like war drums on a battlefield.

That spot where the roof leaked, from the initial drip-drip-drop, became a rushing stream, splashing down with a whooshing sound.

The floor inside the room was quickly soaked by the accumulating rainwater.

The pooled water slowly flowed toward the foot of the bed, also dampening the bed curtain that hung low to the ground.

Dark water stains slowly crept up the bed curtain, making a whole section damp.

The girl within the curtains had her eyes tightly closed, lying back against the pillow.

Her long black hair was disheveled and spread out, and across her snow-white, smooth skin were scattered kiss marks and fine beads of sweat.

She was being guided by her husband and could see she was about to climb that peak full of bliss.

But he was so wicked, deliberately leaving her again, tormenting her, just not letting her reach the summit.

Again and again, endlessly repeating.

“A’Mi, do you love your husband?”

She heard him ask softly at her ear, biting her earlobe.

She had long been tormented by his teasing to near collapse, her face flushed with red tide. She immediately nodded with soft moans.

“What does A’Mi love about your husband?”

She didn’t know… really didn’t know…

She kept her eyes closed, whimpering urgently and dissatisfied, only wanting him to give her more.

But he, the heartless man, stopped again.

She answered him randomly: “Everything, A’Mi loves everything about her husband…”

The man seemed still not very satisfied.

He was clearly already dripping with hot sweat, his eyes red, yet he still continued to restrain himself forcefully. He cupped her head, seized her already swollen lips in a devouring kiss, and continued to torment her.

“Will you ever not want your husband again?”

Luoshen’s hands tightly encircled his neck as she shook her head frantically.

“Your husband wants you to say it!”

He suddenly thrust into her fiercely.

“Ah—”

She let out a short, sharp cry in response.

“A’Mi will never not want her husband—” she whimpered.

At that very moment, he finally sent her to the peak.

She could no longer hold back and began to sob with hiccups.

…

In the latter half of the night, the rain gradually stopped.

Where the roof leaked, the stream of water slowly disappeared, and finally, only drop by drop of water slowly condensed from the crack in the tiles and fell.

This night, Luoshen experienced unprecedented joy and satisfaction.

Until the very end, she was completely exhausted, held in her husband’s embrace with her head against his chest. As soon as she closed her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep.