Zhao Taohua rolled her eyes. What a “kind-hearted” act—marrying her own niece off to a dying old man as a concubine. That’s their version of kindness?
“Don’t listen to her nonsense. Put on the wedding dress and let’s go!” Grandmother Sun urged. They couldn’t miss the auspicious hour—it was a ten-li walk from Zhaojiacun to the town.
This damned girl actually dared to spout nonsense in front of them, cursing her precious youngest son!
Seeing that she had stalled long enough and the timing was ripe, Zhao Taohua’s lips slowly curled upward.
She silently counted down in her heart: “Three, two, one, fall!”
With a loud thud, Zhao Sanshi, who had been walking beside Mrs. Wang, suddenly collapsed.
His face, which had looked normal moments before, turned as pale as paper—completely bloodless, with sunken eye sockets and cracked, parched lips.
Mrs. Wang was so startled she dropped the wedding dress in her hands and rushed to Zhao Sanshi’s side, shouting frantically, “Sanshi? Sanshi!!”
She called his name several times but got no response. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, she would have thought he was already dead!
Grandmother Sun was also terrified. Her youngest son was the apple of her eye—Zhao Sanshi was her favorite son, and she always thought of him first whenever she had anything good. How could he suddenly collapse like this?
“My boy, wake up!”
Grandmother Sun wiped her tears with her sleeve in worry.
Seeing this, Zhao Taohua quickly supported herself against the wall and fled toward the outside. But after just one step, her body began to sway from weakness, and she struggled to stay upright.
Despite her utter exhaustion, a strong will to survive drove Zhao Taohua to the courtyard gate, where she shouted, “Help!”
Inside the house, Grandmother Sun and Mrs. Wang’s brows twitched. That damned girl had actually run out there!
“Little wretch, don’t you run!”
Grandmother Sun sprang up and charged after Zhao Taohua with a murderous look, Mrs. Wang close behind.
Although many villagers had gone out to work in the cities, every household still had one or two people at home. If she alerted the neighbors, things would get complicated.
“!!!”
Zhao Taohua’s heart leaped to her throat. She yanked open the courtyard gate and dashed out with all her might.
Even though her strength was nearly depleted, her indomitable will kept her running and screaming for help at the top of her lungs.
Hearing the footsteps closing in behind her, she was on the verge of collapse from panic. How could she possibly outrun Grandmother Sun and Mrs. Wang, two healthy women?
“Little wretch, Grandma is doing this for your own good. Li Fu is a golden nest—you’ll live a life of comfort there.
Grandma found you a good place. One day, you’ll thank me!”
Grandmother Sun closed in, reaching out her claw-like hand toward the back of Zhao Taohua’s collar!
Zhao Taohua’s heart sank like ashes. Just as her last hope was about to be snuffed out, she suddenly saw a figure appear up ahead!
The morning sunlight fell upon a tall, sturdy young man, his head of snow-white hair gleaming with a silver sheen under the sun!
In that instant, a final spark of strength surged through Zhao Taohua’s exhausted body. Her desperate will to survive drove her straight toward the young man, crashing into him!
Zhao Taohua lost her balance and began to fall backward. Suddenly, a force wrapped around her waist—a large hand caught her and pulled her back up.
She looked up at him. The young man had sharply defined features, slightly furrowed sword-like brows, and thin lips pressed together beneath a high-bridged nose. He was handsome yet masculine—exactly Zhao Taohua’s type.
What was shocking was that he simultaneously radiated overwhelming Xiongsha and was bathed in Gongde Jinguang?!
A dense, dark aura enveloped his entire being, yet hidden within that pitch-black haze was a figure like a golden Buddha, his whole body emanating brilliant light—dazzling, awe-inspiring!
“Help!!!” Zhao Taohua grabbed the young man’s hand desperately.
The moment her fingers touched his, Zhao Taohua was thrilled to discover that a wisp of Ling Qi had suddenly appeared in her body, which had been completely devoid of Xiuwei!
And as each second passed, the Ling Qi within her steadily increased?
This major discovery prompted Zhao Taohua to quickly grab his other hand as well. In that moment, her speculation was confirmed.
The more skin contact she had with the young man, the faster her Ling Qi grew!
Instantly, the way Zhao Taohua looked at him changed: Her mobile power bank?
Zhao Taohua’s cries for help were loud enough to alert the neighbors.
Villagers loved a good spectacle. Hearing the commotion, a crowd quickly gathered around.
Grandmother Sun’s face changed drastically. Afraid that Zhao Taohua might say something the villagers would hear, she hastily scolded her:
“You ungrateful wretch! Grandma found you a good match and you refuse it, insisting on running off with this outsider who’s a walking disaster.
Heavens above! Shen Ming was born a Gusha—getting close to him brings bad luck at best and death at worst. Why must you set your sights on this calamity of all people?
Your parents only had you, and since they’re not home, I can’t just stand by and watch you jump into a pit of fire!
Shen Ming, let go of her right now! My granddaughter will never marry you!”
Shen Ming’s sword-like brows furrowed. Marry him?
He had no relationship with Zhao Taohua whatsoever!
Afraid that Zhao Taohua’s reputation would be ruined, Shen Ming immediately withdrew his hands.
Zhao Taohua: “??”
The battery isn’t full yet—no pausing allowed!
Zhao Taohua turned around and, in a swift motion, grabbed one of his hands again with force!
This time it was Shen Ming’s turn to be astonished. He tilted his head in disbelief, looking at Zhao Taohua: Her??
“Shen Ming-ge, I haven’t eaten in three days and I’m dizzy. Help me walk for a bit.”
Zhao Taohua said pitifully, but in any case, she refused to let go!
“Heavens, is Taohua eloping with Shen Ming?”
“When Zhao Ershu and his wife come back, they’re going to be furious!”
“Who says not—their daughter, whom they raised with such hardship, is eloping with a jinx. It must be Shen Ming’s doing. Good thing Grandmother Sun stopped them in time…”
The surrounding villagers pointed at Zhao Taohua and Shen Ming, whispering and gossiping, their eyes full of disapproval and contempt.
Hearing this, Zhao Taohua’s gaze turned icy cold. That damned old woman actually bit her back!
A woman’s reputation was the most important thing in ancient times, comparable to her very life. Once her reputation was ruined, she would never be able to hold her head up in this world again, and she would also drag down Zhao Ershu and Mrs. Qian, as well as the innocent Shen Ming.
As the crowd’s talk grew more and more outrageous, she immediately raised her voice and shouted to the villagers gathered around to watch the commotion: “Uncles, aunties, elders, and everyone here—I have no connection whatsoever with Shen Ming-ge. Just now, he kindly saved my life!
My grandmother, for the sake of twenty taels of silver, took advantage of my parents’ absence to force me, trying to betroth me to Landlord Li as his ninth concubine.
I would rather die than agree, so she locked me in the house for three days without food or water. Until today, she brought my uncle and aunt along to tie me up and take me to Li Fu!
Just now, I seized the moment when my uncle suddenly fainted and ran for my life, and that’s when I ran into Shen Ming-ge.
I have nothing on me—if I were eloping, wouldn’t I have packed a bundle and run at night instead of in broad daylight?
Look at Shen Ming-ge’s appearance—he clearly just came back from hunting in the back mountain and happened to pass by the road in front of my house!
If you don’t believe me, you can go to my family’s main hall and see—my uncle is still lying unconscious there!
I beg you all, please help me fetch the Village Chief to seek justice for me!!”
Zhao Taohua shouted with all her might, her weak body bursting forth with a volume comparable to a loudspeaker. Her voice pierced through the air, spreading in all directions across Zhaojiacun.
It was as if, even if no one helped her fetch the Village Chief, she would shout loud enough to summon him herself.
Grandmother Sun’s body tensed in panic—how had this little brat spilled everything out?