Chapter 2: The ManShe immediately kicked her feet. "Let go! Let go!"The man released his grip at once.Jiang Yiyue pushed herself up from the ground with both hands.But then the man suddenly lunged forward, a sharp dagger aimed straight at her throat.Jiang Yiyue had no time to dodge and thought she was done for.Yet the man abruptly stopped.She turned her gaze toward him.In the dim surroundings, his face was unclear, but she met his cold, sharp, and piercing eyes.Her voice trembled as she asked, "Wh-who are you? What do you want?""Help me up," the man said in a low voice, sounding very weak.Jiang Yiyue immediately caught a strong whiff of blood.She realized at once that this man was injured.Badly injured.Her thoughts began to churn.But the man pressed the dagger forward slightly, touching her skin."I'll help, I'll help," Jiang Yiyue quickly surrendered, rising to her feet while helping the man up.This man was truly tall and large.An ordinary person wouldn't have been able to support him.Fortunately, both she and the original host were strong.Still, she disliked being controlled.She thought… but just then, the dagger pressed against her waist.She heard the man's icy voice: "Don't try anything."This…This man…How is he so alert?!He knew the moment she thought of fighting back.She quickly put on an act, saying, "I'm not trying anything.""Walk," the man ordered directly."Where to?" Jiang Yiyue asked."Forward."Jiang Yiyue obediently supported him as they walked forward.As they walked, she deliberately stumbled, trying to jostle his wound.But the man's dagger pierced through Jiang Yiyue's clothes.One more millimeter, and it would have stabbed her abdomen. "Don't want to live?"Jiang Yiyue realized the man was a trained fighter.She couldn't fight him physically, but she could outsmart him.After a brief thought, she said, "I want to live, of course I do."The man remained silent.Jiang Yiyue continued, "The world is so beautiful. Living is a win, isn't it?"The man didn't respond.Jiang Yiyue went on, "Hero, you think so too, right?""…""Most people would think that way.""…""Hero, from your accent, you sound like you're from the capital.""…""Then we're practically fellow townsfolk.""…""Fellow townsfolk share the truest bond, right?""…""But people from the capital usually have some family wealth. How did you end up as a mountain bandit?""…""This isn't a good path.""…""Who knows when the authorities might come to wipe out the bandits.""…""Did you run into some hardship in life?""…""Actually… I'm a poor soul too.""…""Since my parents died, I've been living with my brother and sister-in-law, never having enough to eat or wear, and always having to work.""…""When they're unhappy, they beat me until my skin splits and my flesh tears.""…""Finally, after struggling to grow up, my brother and sister-in-law sold me to a fool for money to be his wife.""…""I resisted to the death and ran away to become a maid at the Jingnan Earl's mansion.""…""Just when I gained my master's favor, someone poisoned me. My whole body broke out in blisters, and it's contagious.""…""My master despised me and drove me out.""…""I wanted to find a small place to end my miserable life, but then I ran into mountain bandits.""…""I'm truly pitiful." Jiang Yiyue concocted a heart-wrenchingly tragic backstory for herself.As she spoke, she even managed to cry from her own tale.The man remained expressionless throughout.What kind of heartless man was this?She told him of her miserable fate, yet he showed no sympathy.She claimed to have a contagious disease, yet he displayed no fear.She cried until her face was a mess, yet he didn't even glance her way.Damn it!The tearful act didn't work on this man either.Sniffling, she began thinking of other strategies.The man suddenly halted his steps.Thinking her words had finally taken effect, Jiang Yiyue quickly spoke up: "I—"But instead, the man said, "Someone's coming.""Who?" Jiang Yiyue reacted swiftly."Hide quickly," the man urged.Jiang Yiyue was baffled: "Hide?"The man scanned their surroundings.Jiang Yiyue couldn't sense anyone approaching at all.She considered using his distraction as a chance to shake him off.But suddenly, the man grabbed her and forcefully pulled her toward a thicket.Inadvertently tugging at her wound again, Jiang Yiyue couldn't suppress a pained cry: "Ouch.""There's a voice!""Over there!""Go!""That way!""…"Though she couldn't see anyone, Jiang Yiyue heard several male voices.Who were these people now?The man had already dragged her into a small cave.The cave was truly tiny, seemingly dug out by some large animal.It barely fit two people.Jiang Yiyue whispered, "Aren't they your comrades? Why are you hiding from them?""Don't speak," the man murmured."But I—"The man cut her off: "If they catch us, I'll be in trouble, and you'll meet a miserable end."Images of bandits' brutish behavior flashed through Jiang Yiyue's mind.She didn't want to be violated.She didn't want to die.She decisively shut her mouth.Several dark figures swooshed into view.Wielding broadswords, they slashed everywhere, leaving no corner unchecked.With a whoosh, a broadsword sliced through the thicket, landing between Jiang Yiyue and the man.The blade's cold gleam instantly illuminated Jiang Yiyue's widened eyes.She held her breath in terror.The broadsword was abruptly withdrawn.Jiang Yiyue let out a shallow sigh of relief.But then the broadsword swung back, slicing off a lock of her hair as it aimed for her head.She quickly ducked against the man's shoulder, accidentally pressing right onto his wound.The man furrowed his brow but didn't make a sound.The broadsword withdrew once more."Find anyone?""No.""Strange, the sound definitely came from here.""But it was a woman's voice.""A woman's voice?""Yes.""How could there be a woman in this place?""Could it have been some birdcall?""Whether it's a woman or a birdcall, it definitely wasn't Ji Shuhuai!""Right, Ji Shuhuai wouldn't make any sound.""Ji Shuhuai probably ran somewhere else.""Let's go check elsewhere.""…"The dark figures departed.But Jiang Yiyue froze.Ji… Ji… Ji Shuhuai?!Ji Shuhuai!The male lead's rival from "The Beloved Sweetheart"?!The heir to the Zhenbei Marquis of Great Wei, accomplished in both civil and martial arts, and widely acknowledged as Great Wei's most handsome man.Yet he cared nothing for such superficial fame, single-mindedly determined to achieve great deeds.Even when his leg was crippled.Even when mocked by others.Even when misunderstood.He still quelled the rebellion in the northwest, assisting the male lead in guiding Great Wei toward a prosperous age.She looked up in surprise, gazing at the man in the darkness. "You… are you Ji Shuhuai, the heir of the Ji family?"

The Aloof Grand Minister Doted on Her Until She Cried