Outside the imperial prison, agonized moans echoed one after another.
Wen Ningwan let out a whimper with every step she took, occasionally rubbing her knees as she hobbled forward, leaning against the wall for support.
The Imperial Preceptor clenched her teeth, furrowed her brows, and turned to glare at her: “One more sound and I’ll rip your tongue out!”
Wen Ningwan immediately covered her mouth, only exhaling in relief once the Preceptor turned away. Still leaning on the wall, she mouthed exaggerated silent screams with each painful step.
The Imperial Preceptor took a deep breath and abruptly turned back toward her.
Startled, Wen Ningwan quickly shut her mouth, forcing herself to stand straight despite the searing pain in her knees.
Under the night sky, as the Preceptor drew near, an alluring Omega pheromone scent wafted into her senses, making her heart skip a beat.
As a high-ranking Imperial Preceptor, she had encountered countless Omegas, all gifts from subordinates seeking promotions. Among them were many high-quality specimens.
Their pheromones could always lift one’s mood, stirring involuntary desire and affection, something no Alpha could resist.
The Imperial Preceptor’s lineage had always produced exceptional Alphas, but they imposed especially strict requirements on their successors, fearing that lust might cloud judgment. Thus, every heir to the Preceptor’s household underwent rigorous training from childhood, locked in rooms with groups of Omegas in heat to temper their willpower. As a result, the Preceptor’s household had never once been thrown into disarray by an Omega.
And the current Imperial Preceptor? She had been even harsher on herself. After lifelong conditioning, Omega pheromones were nothing special to her.
Even someone like Su Yu’er, a premium Omega whose heat cycles forced every Alpha to evacuate the estate couldn’t rattle the Preceptor’s composure.
The Su family had certainly considered forcing the issue, but the Preceptor’s willpower was ironclad. Combined with her deliberately dulled senses from years of training, ordinary Omega pheromones were virtually imperceptible to her. To her, even premium Omega pheromones were as unremarkable as common ones were to others utterly incapable of drawing her in.
Yet this woman’s scent somehow managed to instantly electrify her nerves. The pheromones were so potent that if she ever went into heat, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The Preceptor recalled that day at the Beauty House, Wen Ningwan had merely been slightly dazed, not even in full heat, and yet she’d lost her senses.
Wen Ningwan blinked curiously at the Preceptor, who had frozen a few steps away. “What’s wrong with you?”
Snapping out of it, the Preceptor pulled a small porcelain vial from her sleeve and tossed it over.
Wen Ningwan fumbled to catch the delicate blue-and-white vial.
“It’s pheromone suppressant medicine developed by my household physician. The Court of Judicial Review’s version can’t compare. Take it once every three days no one will smell your pheromones at night.”
Wen Ningwan gazed at her gratefully. “Thank you! You’re so kind! Imperial Preceptor, you’re truly a saint!”
“…” The Preceptor stared at her sternly. “I just don’t want to smell your pheromones.”
“Do they smell bad?” Wen Ningwan lifted her wrist and sniffed. “Too bad I can’t smell my own. But I think your pheromones are lovely.”
Completely oblivious to the scowling face hidden in the moonlight’s shadows, Wen Ningwan cheerfully continued her appraisal: “A green tea fragrance rich yet perfectly balanced. Absolutely premium grade. I love it!”
The Imperial Preceptor turned around and said coldly, “Come to my residence to collect it after you finish eating.”
“Oh.” Wen Ningwan responded, watching the departing figure and forcing herself to ignore the pain in her knees as she tried to catch up. “Imperial Preceptor, why are you suddenly being so nice? Are you trying to butter me up because you need something?”
The Imperial Preceptor quickened her pace without answering, only tossing back a sudden remark: “Just don’t drag me down with you.”
Wen Ningwan was utterly confused. Was she afraid that Wen’s identity would be exposed and implicate her? Since when was the Imperial Preceptor the type to be afraid of such things?
“Hey, wait for me!”
“Go back on your own,” the Imperial Preceptor said coldly, showing no intention of waiting.
Wen Ningwan rolled her eyes in frustration. “Fine, I’ll go back on my own!”
With that, she swallowed a pill and gave up on chasing the Imperial Preceptor, slowing her steps to a careful shuffle.
Her knees must be shattered, Wen Ningwan thought, the pain intensifying. After just a few steps, she sat down by the roadside, leaning against a pine tree to catch her breath.
Exhausted from the day’s events, Wen Ningwan dozed off as she sat there.
As the night deepened, a luxurious carriage approached from the distance, startling Wen Ningwan awake. The carriage was grand, flanked by two rows of mounted guards for protection.
When the carriage passed by Wen Ningwan, a girl inside lifted the curtain.
Under the moonlight, Wen Ningwan met a pair of clear, captivating eyes. The gaze wasn’t gentle or fragile but soft and sweet, melting hearts at a glance.
Wen Ningwan sat there, legs stretched out, staring at the carriage.
The carriage stopped after a few steps, and a guard approached. “My lady asks if Chief Wen would like a ride home.”
“Is the Dali Temple on the way?” Wen Ningwan just wanted to get back quickly and didn’t pay attention to who the other person was.
The guard nodded. “Please.”
Wen Ningwan excitedly pushed herself up using the tree trunk and limped toward the carriage. Only when she stood beside it did she ask, “May I ask who your lady is?”
“Nan Chuan Ranran, daughter of General Jianai.”
Wen Ningwan nearly collapsed in shock. Earlier that day, she had refused the girl’s mother’s proposal to marry her. Was this revenge?
She immediately tried to back out. “Thank your lady for her kindness, but the moonlight is lovely. I’d prefer to walk!”
Before she could retreat, two guards lifted her and unceremoniously shoved her into the carriage.
Wen Ningwan landed face-first, only to see a pink skirt before her. Giggles came from above.
She looked up and thought it was the most pure and beautiful smile she had ever seen in this world.
“Chief Wen, why the grand gesture?” Nan Chuan Ranran teased lightly, amused by the disheveled figure sprawled before her.
As the carriage swayed, Wen Ningwan grinned foolishly at the girl, clumsily getting up and dusting off her sleeves before stumbling and plopping down beside her.
The girl gasped, holding her breath. In her eyes, Wen Ningwan was an Alpha, and sitting so close was improper. Flustered and embarrassed, she exclaimed, “Chief Wen!”
Unaware, Wen Ningwan beamed at her. “Just call me Wanwan.”
The girl stared at her in disbelief. Who asked to be called so intimately upon first meeting?
“Can I call you Ranran? It sounds so cute,” Wen Ningwan chirped, utterly delighted.
Ranran blushed furiously and immediately lowered her head, speechless.
Wen Ningwan found it utterly adorable and tilted her head down to take a closer look.
“Ah! Pervert!” Ranran swung the hand-warmer in her grasp and smashed it against the approaching figure.
Darkness flooded Wen Ningwan’s vision as she collapsed headfirst, knocked unconscious.
When she awoke again, it was to a familiar place, the same old straw mat, the same jailers.
Wen Ningwan raised a hand to touch her forehead, and upon seeing the blood on her fingers, her face turned deathly pale. “Am I dead?”
“Tsk, you’re not dead yet, but you will be soon,” the jailer sneered with disdain.
A crowd of onlookers outside the cell shook their heads in unison. “With such peerless beauty, why would Vice-Minister Wen stoop to such depravity? How dare she harass the daughter of the Grand General?! She’s truly courting death!”
“Enough, enough! I called you all here to make an example of her!”
The jailer pointed at the disheveled Wen Ningwan sitting on the straw mat and lectured sternly, “Harassing virtuous women is forbidden this is the way of governance and His Majesty’s greatest taboo! Let this be a lesson to you all! Understood?”
“Understood!” The jailers chorused obsequiously.
Satisfied, the jailer nodded and added, “Don’t think you can get away with anything just because you’re good-looking. No matter how handsome you are, could you possibly compare to Vice-Minister Wen? And yet, even she was personally thrown in here by the Grand General!”
“Yes, yes, yes,” the jailers agreed, their nods far more earnest as they stared at the pitiful Wen Ningwan.
＊＊
Dawn had barely broken when You Ran hurried in, dust-covered from travel.
“State Preceptor, it’s terrible, Vice-Minister Wen has been sent to the imperial prison again.”
The State Preceptor had just woken up, clad only in a white underrobe, sitting lazily on the bed. For a moment, she thought Wen Ningwan had been recaptured because she’d left without a word the night before, and guilt pricked at her heart.
“Prepare my robes. I’ll go see her,” the State Preceptor said, rising at once.
“No need. The whole capital is buzzing they say Vice-Minister Wen harassed General Jianai’s daughter and was personally dragged to prison by the general. She’s as good as dead.”
The State Preceptor’s brow furrowed slightly as she pushed away the offered robes. “Such vulgar behavior doesn’t deserve saving.”
“But,”
“She absolutely would do something like that,” the State Preceptor cut You Ran off, turning back to sit on the bed, this time lying down fully. “I’m tired. No court today. Everyone, out.”
“Doesn’t the State Preceptor find it all too convenient? How could she just happen to harass the Grand General’s daughter? And then coincidentally get caught red-handed by the patrolling general?”
The State Preceptor closed her eyes, ignoring her.
You Ran glanced at the retreating maids, then at the State Preceptor, who clearly wasn’t paying her any attention. She turned to leave, muttering dejectedly, “I heard she was knocked out on the spot, bleeding heavily. Who knows how she’s doing now?”
The State Preceptor seemed to take this in. Suddenly, she sat up. “Prepare my robes!”
The maids, who had just stepped out, froze in surprise. You Ran grinned triumphantly and immediately urged the stunned servants, “Hurry up!”