At that moment, Quan Heng was furious—utterly out of reason. She thrashed and kicked, bit and scratched, trying to break free.
“Wen Zheng! Let me go! What do you take me for?!”
Her tears flowed uncontrollably.
No matter how hard she tried in this life, it seemed she could never escape the curse of that dream.
In that dream, she was imprisoned by Wen Zheng in a lavish palace. Now—it was just a change of setting.
“Just take it as me begging you. For the sake of the time we’ve spent together these past months—let me go, please?”
Wen Zheng looked at her despair-filled face, and the pain in his heart nearly tore him apart.
He understood well—Ah Heng was a proud woman. Locking her up like this was a disgrace she could hardly bear.
But now, his father had already set his sights on destroying both General Zhenbei and Yongning Marquis. Knowing Ah Heng, if she found out, she would risk everything to save them—even at the cost of her own life.
If he let her go now, she’d face even greater dangers. Perhaps, she’d end up beyond saving.
He couldn’t afford that outcome.
Better she hate him—than see her die.
With that thought, he gritted his teeth, tightened his grip, and pinned her to the bed so she couldn’t move.
“Ah Heng, you’re mine. In this lifetime, you can only belong to me. Understand?”
Then, he bent down to kiss her.
Quan Heng, filled with hatred and anger, bit his lip hard. The pain made him let go.
“Wen Zheng! You disrespect me like this—after everything, after how much I trusted you! Let me tell you—even if I have an engagement with the Xie family, even if I didn’t—I’d rather marry a peddler or become a Daoist nun than marry you!”
Wen Zheng let out a cold laugh. “Oh? And what if I force it? That so-called engagement with the Xie family has no written contract. It was only verbally agreed when my mother was alive. As far as I know, your families never exchanged birth horoscopes, did they? That doesn’t count.”
“I’m telling you—your husband in this life can only be me. If you dare love someone else—I’ll kill them.”
With that, he pinned her down again and began tearing at her clothes.
Quan Heng stared up in despair, seeing Wen Zheng’s face under the moonlight twisted with madness—his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging. There was nothing left of the gentle man he once was.
The sight made her tremble all over.
“Wen Zheng—what are you doing?! Let me go!”
Wen Zheng didn’t answer, only ripped apart her outer robe with brute force.
In a panic, Quan Heng suddenly found a burst of strength and slapped him hard across the face.
The crisp sound rang through the room.
Both of them froze.
Seeing the blood at the corner of his mouth, she felt a twinge of guilt.
But she had no time to hesitate. If she didn’t resist now—her life would be ruined.
In that instant, she pulled the hairpin from her head and pressed it against her own neck. Her voice fierce, she shouted, “Don’t force me. Push me any further, and I’ll die right here!”
Wen Zheng clenched his jaw. “You’re threatening me again?!”
Quan Heng replied, “Yes. I’d rather die today than ever submit to you!”
In the moonlight, she saw him smile bleakly, his face pale. Her heart gave a painful throb.
Just then, the hairpin in her hand slipped slightly deeper—piercing her delicate skin.
Finally, Wen Zheng let go, his voice hollow: “You win.”
“I’ll let you go tonight—but don’t even think about escaping. That’s impossible.”
Quan Heng frowned, about to say something more, when Wen Zheng had already taken the chance to remove all the hairpins from her head, along with every sharp object in the room.
Then, towering above her, he stared down coldly and said with utter indifference, “It’s clear you still haven’t come to terms with reality. You even dared to hit me. Since that’s the case, you can stay here forever. Don’t ever think about escaping for the rest of your life!”
With that, he slammed the door behind him and left, leaving only the loud bang in his wake.
Quan Heng instantly collapsed onto the bed.
She had just been struggling and shouting in fury—it had already drained all her strength.
Now, her entire body was soaked in cold sweat. On this summer night, she actually felt chilled to the bone.
She curled up, shrinking into a corner of the bed, and finally couldn’t hold back anymore—she burst into sobs.
She didn’t understand how everything had ended up like this.
It hadn’t been like this just recently.
At the start of the month, she was still in Mingyue Pavilion celebrating his birthday. Surrounded by a sea of flowers, the two of them had pledged themselves to one another.
But now, she was imprisoned in this cold and desolate manor, exchanging harsh words and torment with him.
Too much had happened today. She cried hard, and eventually, exhausted, she cried herself to sleep curled up on the bed.
That night, she had countless nightmares.
And yet, after slamming the door, Wen Zheng didn’t actually leave.
He stood quietly outside the wall of Quan Heng’s room, listening to the sobs within, his heart feeling like it was being sliced apart.
If he could help it, he truly didn’t want to hurt Ah Heng. But things had come to this—he had no choice but to take such drastic measures.
In truth, when Ah Heng slapped him just now, he had even felt a bit happy inside.
What he feared most was her ignoring him, abandoning him, treating him like a stranger.
As long as she was willing to acknowledge him—even if she gave him pain—he welcomed it.
At last, the person inside seemed to have cried herself out and fallen asleep.
Wen Zheng gently pushed open the door, silently watching her sleeping face—just like he had on countless nights before.
From her hairline to her brows, then her lips, her neck…
Finally, his gaze stopped at the wound there.
He wanted so much to apply medicine for her, but he was afraid of waking her, so in the end, he refrained.
After quietly locking the door again, he left. He had something very important to do tonight.
It was already midnight. Everyone from the Zhenbei General’s Manor should be waiting in the place he had arranged.
Since the Emperor wanted them dead, he had no choice but to get them out first.
Even if he couldn’t save everyone, saving even one was better than letting them all die.
At the same time, he had already found a death row prisoner. As long as that man’s face was altered to resemble General Yu’s and his head presented to the Emperor, perhaps it could buy them a little more time.
With that thought, he changed into nightwear and headed toward their agreed meeting place.
***
Quan Heng slept deeply through the night.
The next day, it wasn’t until the sun was already high that she finally awoke.
By the bed sat a young maid unfamiliar to her. Seeing her open her eyes, the girl smiled brightly, “Miss Gu, you’re finally awake!”
Quan Heng was stunned. “…Gu?”
The maid nodded. “Aren’t you called Gu Heng? The master came by this morning. Since you were still asleep, he didn’t disturb you. He just instructed us to call you Miss Gu.”
At that, Quan Heng tugged at the corners of her lips and let out a cold laugh. “Call me whatever you like.”
How thoughtful of him—changing even her name so no one would recognize her, intending to keep her hidden here forever. Wen Zheng really went all the way.
Ridiculous.
“Miss Gu, since you’re awake, allow me to help you wash up, alright?”
Quan Heng sighed and eventually nodded.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
The little maid smiled cheerfully. “My name’s Fendai. You just rest—I’ll be right back.”
While the maid went to fetch water, Quan Heng took the time to look closely around the room.
This manor looked like it hadn’t been lived in for a long time—dilapidated and in disrepair. Last night, though she hadn’t seen clearly, she could tell the place was old and rundown.
Now, the courtyard already had a few maids and momos busy working. The room had also been furnished with fine silver and gold items, giving it some semblance of life.
Soon, Fendai returned to help her wash her face, rinse her mouth, and redress the wound on her neck. Her tone carried a hint of concern.
“Miss Gu, you’re so beautiful. Please, don’t hurt yourself again in the future.”
Quan Heng gave a bitter smile.
Now she had fallen to this point. Even this maid named Fendai, who didn’t know who she really was, was concerned for her.
“All done. When I went to fetch the water, the cook said breakfast is ready. I’ll go get it for you.”
With that, Fendai left the room.
Leaning against the headboard, Quan Heng felt a deep sense of confusion and helplessness.
It was already the second day. She had been gone all night—would her father and mother be worried? Had her older brother woken up?
Just then, she overheard two maids chatting outside. Though their voices were low, she could still make them out.
“Hey, what’s the relationship between the lady inside and Young Master Shen? I just got bought in this morning to serve here, so I don’t know anything.”
The other maid sighed. “I don’t know either. But Young Master Shen is so handsome and generous—he’s definitely from a rich family. And that lady, she’s stunning. If they didn’t run away together, then she must be his kept mistress, hidden away here.”
The first maid responded with a tsk. “Well, these are matters of the master’s household. We’re just servants—best not to gossip and just do our jobs.”
As they spoke, their voices faded as they moved into the courtyard to start sweeping.
But their words were etched deep into Quan Heng’s heart, bringing her immense humiliation.
From childhood, she had been a proper official’s daughter. She had her own dignity.
And now? Wen Zheng had locked her up like a pet mistress—imprisoning her in this place. It was an utter disgrace!
Just then, Fendai returned from the kitchen, carrying a tray with a bowl of congee and a few of her favorite dishes.
But the sight only enraged her even more.
These dishes—Wen Zheng must have instructed them to prepare them.
The more he knew her tastes, the more it felt like knives twisting in her heart, making her want to scream.
Fendai set the tray down on a small table and said gently, “Miss Gu, come have some breakfast.”
Quan Heng turned her head away. “I’m not eating. You all eat it.”
Fendai froze, the smile on her face stiffening. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong to make the young lady suddenly angry.
“Is it because the food doesn’t suit your taste? Please, just try a little. If it really isn’t right, I’ll go tell the kitchen to make something else…”
Saying that, she picked up a few of the pastries and brought them over. “Please have a bite.”
In that moment, all of Quan Heng’s suppressed fury exploded. She overturned the entire tray, smashing everything to the floor.
“I said I’m not eating! Do you not understand?!”
