Luo Yining awoke with a shiver.
She found herself leaning against a long bench, suddenly alert. She had been sharing the carriage with a Guo family woman cradling a child. The woman was headed to Datong after her husband’s death on the battlefield. With four or five brothers-in-law at her late husband’s home, all greedy and status-driven, she decided to return to her parents with her child. Her father held a minor position in the Shuntian prefecture office.
The timid child, nestled in his mother’s arms, played quietly with a beaded necklace. In contrast, Madam Guo was quite friendly, persistently inquiring about Luo Yining’s background.
“Sister, you look newlywed and rather frail. How did your husband’s family allow you to travel alone?” Madam Guo asked, eyeing Luo Yining’s expensive fabric but lack of jewelry, surmising a fallen family. She had allowed Luo Yining to join her after the young woman offered two silver hairpins as payment.
“Ah, sister, you know how men can be,” Luo Yining replied, knowing how to elicit sympathy. “Before marriage, he showered me with sweet words and kindness. After, his family swindled my dowry, and he began carousing outside. I couldn’t bear that awful place anymore. I’d rather return to my father than endure such treatment… Perhaps he’ll grant me a divorce!”
Recalling her domineering mother-in-law, Madam Guo felt a pang of sympathy. “Marrying the wrong person without careful consideration beforehand is truly lamentable. You poor dear!”
As they left Datong and approached Yanguan County, darkness fell. Madam Guo planned to rest at an inn, and Luo Yining suggested, “Sister, it’s inconvenient for us women to travel alone. Why don’t we share a room to avoid trouble?”
Assuming Luo Yining lacked funds, Madam Guo agreed to let her stay in the same room. Luo Yining settled on the long bench without a heated kang bed.
With only a thin blanket, Luo Yining wrapped herself in her cloak. As she slept, the north wind howled outside, eventually waking her with its chill.
She sat up on the bench. Madam Guo and her child slept soundly on the kang, the child’s flushed face peeking out from his mother’s embrace. Observing this unfamiliar scene, Luo Yining longed for everything she’d left behind in the capital. She had barely covered a third of the journey, as Madam Guo’s carriage was no match for Cheng Lang’s relentless warhorse. Yet Luo Yining remained calm, certain that Cheng Lang had purposely allowed her to escape from Datong. He would surely delay, intentionally failing to find her.
Still, it was bitterly cold… When had she become so sensitive to the chill?
Luo Yining got up, but there was no hot water in the room. Afraid to venture out alone, she paced to warm herself. Her movement roused Madam Guo. “Sister, why aren’t you asleep?”
Luo Yining, not wanting to complain about the cold when the kang could only fit one or two people, replied, “I just can’t sleep. Don’t worry, sister, rest. I’ll be quiet.”
Madam Guo sighed, “You’re fretting over your family troubles, aren’t you? Don’t worry. If you have nowhere to go when you return to the capital, you can always come to me. Don’t go back to that awful family. I’ve had enough of such treatment myself…”
Luo Yining nodded slightly. Suddenly, chaotic voices and hoofbeats erupted outside.
The commotion seemed to fill the front courtyard. Shadows of torch-bearers flickered across the paper screens.
Madam Guo sat up. “What’s happening out there?” She grew uneasy as she heard the clang of weapons.
Luo Yining’s heart raced, filled with foreboding.
She approached the screen, slid open the bolt, and peered through a crack. Guards filled the courtyard, and the innkeeper had come out. A tall, cloaked figure stood with his back to her, his presence commanding. The innkeeper answered deferentially. Luo Yining’s breath caught in her throat.
It was Lu Jiaxue!
How had he come here?
If he had rushed from the capital, he shouldn’t know she had escaped. But if he came from Datong, he must know and could be searching for her.
Either way, she needed to hide. Whether he came from Datong was irrelevant; she just needed to avoid discovery.
Madam Guo called again, “Sister, what’s happening out there?” As a common woman with some money, she feared trouble, especially given the official-looking presence outside. She glanced oddly at Luo Yining, doubting her story. How could a husband abandon such a beautiful young woman? Madam Guo worried Luo Yining had brought trouble and felt uneasy seeing so many soldiers.
Luo Yining, noting Madam Guo’s expression, realized the precariousness of her situation. She couldn’t expect true loyalty from a casual acquaintance. She had been fortunate to find Madam Guo willing to share her carriage, as hiring one alone would have been too risky. She never imagined encountering Lu Jiaxue on the road!
Steeling herself, Luo Yining adopted a pitiful expression. “To be honest, sister, that man outside is my husband. I wasn’t entirely truthful before. I didn’t flee because he wanted my dowry, but because of his violent temper. He often coerces me, resorting to beatings if I disobey… I barely managed to escape while he was away. Please, sister, don’t let him take me back! I swear, he truly abuses me!” She pulled up her sleeve, revealing bruises from her window escape.
Seeing Luo Yining’s tears, Madam Guo felt a renewed wave of sympathy. She sighed. The room offered few hiding places—just a table and a long bench. A curtained corner concealed a chamber pot. “Sister, I want to help, but there’s nowhere to hide in here…”
Luo Yining quickly assessed the situation and made a decision. She told Madam Guo, “I’ll repay your kindness generously. In truth, my father holds an official position in the capital. Once we reach Beijing, I’ll reward you handsomely. Please, just help me now.”
Madam Guo took a deep breath. They had spoken quietly, and her child remained asleep. She nodded in agreement. “Alright, sister. Hide quickly.”
Torchlight danced across the screens as the glow approached. Soon, a loud knocking shook the door.
“Official inspection! Open up immediately!” a voice commanded.
Luo Yining crouched in the corner between the bench and kang and held her breath. The search confirmed Lu Jiaxue had indeed returned to Datong, discovered her missing, and come to apprehend her.
Madam Guo feigned just waking up. Still fully dressed, she called out, “Sir, what’s the matter? I’m a lone woman, it’s improper to open the door. I’m no spy, just traveling to Beijing with my child to stay with relatives.”
The officer retorted, “Enough talk! Get up and open the door. I don’t care who you are!”
The knocking grew louder, forcing Madam Guo to comply. She opened the door a crack, but the guards pushed in. Luo Yining, small enough to hide in the tight corner, remained unseen in the dim room. She could only watch the shifting shadows and listen as someone checked behind the curtain.
“Sir, there’s no one here…” the first guard reported.
Madam Guo inquired, “Sir, what are you looking for? Perhaps I can help.”
After a pause, Luo Yining heard Lu Jiaxue’s voice: “If there’s nothing here, let’s move on.”
The group seemed to withdraw, closing the door. Luo Yining, realizing she had been sweating, relaxed slightly. She remained hidden until the torch shadows disappeared completely, then slumped in relief. The search had been perilously close; a thorough inspection would have revealed her. But she had gambled on Lu Jiaxue being pressed for time.
Madam Guo approached her. “Sister, you’re pale as a sheet. Your husband seems to be a man of power. Surely you could talk things out…”
As Madam Guo helped her up, Luo Yining’s eyes widened in shock.
Lu Jiaxue stood in the room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
Realizing Madam Guo had betrayed her, Luo Yining turned to flee. Lu Jiaxue caught her in two strides, lifting her into his arms. Luo Yining struggled. “Lu Jiaxue! You’ve gone mad… Put me down!”
Lu Jiaxue gripped her waist, immobilizing her. He carried her swiftly out of the room. The innkeeper had prepared a carriage. Lu Jiaxue placed her inside, instructing the driver, “Let’s go.”
The carriage curtains fell, and they set off.
Luo Yining took a deep breath, feeling utterly defeated. Even if she had distrusted Madam Guo, she’d had no other options. Fleeing would have been more conspicuous; hiding in the room was her only choice.
“You’re quite the runner. I’m impressed you made it this far,” Lu Jiaxue said, positioning her to sit up. He gripped her chin. “You’re now my wife, the Lady of the Ningyuan Marquis Manor. Understand? This is the frontier. Where did you think you could run?”
His masculine heat enveloped her as he spoke. Luo Yining turned away.
“How did you get her to tell the truth?” Luo Yining asked.
Lu Jiaxue smirked. “Luo Yining, I’m a martial artist. I knew you were there the moment I entered. I wanted to see how long you’d try to hide. That woman’s resolve crumbled quickly. One flash of my sword, and she agreed to cooperate…”
Luo Yining felt his arm restraining her like an iron vise. She tried to move away.
Lu Jiaxue pulled her back into his embrace, wrapping his cloak around her. His body radiated heat, but his tone was stern. “Why are you trying to escape? Do you have a death wish? It’s freezing out there. You’ll catch your death of cold.”
The long winter night was indeed much colder than daytime, a bone-chilling cold. The carriage lacked a stove, making it worse than the room. Only his embrace offered warmth—no, he was like a furnace. Luo Yining closed her eyes. “Lu Jiaxue… I’m already married to someone else. Let’s put the past behind us. Please, just let me return to Beijing.”
Lu Jiaxue held her cold, delicate hand. Her skin was flawless, white as jade, soft as if boneless. He warmed her hands in his. “The woman who entered the Marquis Manor was Luo Yining, the seventh daughter of the Luo family. You are now my lawfully wedded wife. The Luo family has declared Wei Yining dead. Returning is futile. You have no other choice now.”
Dead? Would Luo Shenryuan declare her dead? How could she return if he had?
Luo Yining stared at him, shaking her head. “I don’t believe you.”
Lu Jiaxue laughed mirthlessly. “You don’t trust me, yet you trust him completely. He can barely protect himself now, let alone help you. You don’t believe me? Fine. Did you want to return to Beijing? I’ll take you there to see for yourself!”
The road indeed led towards Beijing. Dawn was breaking, with distant cockcrows.
Luo Yining, still confined in his embrace, felt deeply uncomfortable. As the carriage warmed, she tried to move away, but Lu Jiaxue held fast. She glared at him coldly. Lu Jiaxue suddenly pinned her down, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Earlier, you told that woman I was your husband?”
Luo Yining retorted, “I made that up to gain her sympathy. It has nothing to do with you!”
Her rejection was obvious, but he seemed oblivious. His weight pressed down on her as he asked, “What else did you say about me?”
“That you’re violent. Happy now?”
Lu Jiaxue replied, “Violent? You haven’t seen me truly violent yet. When I couldn’t find you at the cliff, I searched desperately. Years later, I avenged you at the Marquis Manor, slaying Lu Jiaran.” His eyes darkened. “I was in a killing frenzy then.”
“I would never harm you, though you never believe me no matter how often I say it…” Lu Jiaxue’s tone softened. “When we reach Beijing, I’ll introduce you to someone.”
Luo Yining had seen that terrifying side of Lu Jiaxue before. His armor had been splattered with others’ blood, his blade notched from combat, and his gaze utterly cold. At that moment, she had doubted he was her killer. Lost in thought, she asked, “Who will you introduce me to?”
“Someone who experienced everything back then. She’ll tell you everything. Then you’ll know I’m not lying.” Lu Jiaxue said. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Mentioning the Empress reminded him of Lu Jiaran and his depraved intentions. Such a despicable person, coveting his wife and even planning to act on it—Lu Jiaxue wished he could exhume the body for another flogging.
Lu Jiaxue was taking her back to Beijing, claiming the Luo family had declared her dead. Luo Yining felt a pang of sorrow at the thought but still distrusted Lu Jiaxue. As for the truth of the past, though she claimed disinterest, who wouldn’t want to know how they died? She needed closure on the heavy burden that had troubled her for years.
For a moment, Luo Yining felt utterly lost about her future. Then, clarity returned.
Lu Jiaxue suddenly gripped her hand. “But for this entire journey, don’t even think about leaving my side for a moment.”
Immobilized, Luo Yining could only listen as Lu Jiaxue leaned in close. “Otherwise, I’ll show you what true violence looks like.”