She Who Was Taken by Force

Synopsis The ill-fated bond between the two of them began on an utterly ordinary spring day. After finishing a bowl of noodles, she went up the mountain. There was a pit there, and she intended to die in it. But when she arrived, she found—well—a dead man was already in the pit. Trembling, she dragged him out. To her surprise, she had barely pulled him halfway when a blade was pressed to her throat. “Save me, or I’ll kill you.” The man was badly wounded. The moment A-Jiao heard that, it was exactly what she wanted. Shaking, she stretched her neck forward. “Go… go on.” The man flew into a rage. A mere mountain village girl actually dared to provoke him. His blood rushed to his head, and before long, he fainted. A-Jiao pursed her lips in disappointment. Then, by chance, she noticed that this man looked rather like her childhood sweetheart, who had died. Suddenly, she remembered the almanac she had read that day. Today is auspicious for offerings and burials. Auspicious, too, for old friends to meet again. She sat there for a while, watching the white clouds and flying birds. Beside her, the man’s blood flowed steadily, like a little stream. The sun was warm, and the breeze gentle. At last, she rose and brushed the dust from her clothes. A-Jiao decided to take him down the mountain. — The Pei clan of the Eastern Capital had been nobles and meritorious aristocrats for generations. Their eldest young master was the brightest pearl adorning the very pinnacle of the Pei family’s illustrious line. Unfortunately, that pearl had, with a snap, found himself fallen on hard times. The Eldest Young Master was convinced that A-Jiao was deeply in love with him. When he intended to take her back to the capital, the little wretch had the audacity to run away. Truly, poor mountains and foul waters bred troublesome people. After employing a series of thunderous measures, the Eldest Young Master returned to the capital—with one such troublesome person in tow. The troublesome person possessed a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, skin as white as a rabbit’s. Young Master Pei kept his beloved hidden away in a golden house and doted on her day and night. When the Third Prince heard of this, he grew curious and went to the Pei residence for a drink. Quite by accident, he overheard something exceedingly heated—and thoroughly chaotic—through the wall. “Even… even if I die, I… I don’t want to stay here!” “Even if you become a ghost, don’t think you’ll ever take a single step out of this place!” When the Third Prince saw the Eldest Young Master emerge, he advised him, “How can you use force? You ought to coax her a little.” Young Master Pei adjusted his collar slightly. “When have I ever used force? A-Jiao has feelings for me. I’ve merely been a little more proactive.” — Description from novelcodex.orgFull novel: She Who Was Taken by Force — read the rest free on N​o⁠v​e⁠l​C⁠o​d⁠e​x⁠.​o⁠r​g⁠