The falling beauty - chapter 16

Liu Xing’er felt a wave of fear wash over her. This version of her cousin looked too dangerous, but it was her only chance.

“Cousin, what’s wrong…” she feigned concern, moving closer, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist and slammed it hard on the desk. His smile was icy cold, and his handsome features looked harsh, “Do you really like me that much?”

“It hurts, cousin…” She cried out in pain, thrown to the side of the desk. The pain was unbearable, her wrist and the edge of the desk digging into her back. She trembled, unable to hold back her tears and snot.

“Do you know what I like?” His voice was almost demonic. She couldn’t comprehend his words, but soon, she felt intense pain in her wrist. With a snap, he broke her hand…

Her agonizing scream echoed through the night…

Mo Jin’er woke up with a start, her face pale. She clutched the blanket tightly in front of her…

When Ling’an Che appeared at the door, his black hair was disheveled, and his eyes seemed bloodshot. His hands were still stained with blood.

He breathed heavily, staring at her on the bed.

Since waking up, she had been unable to sleep. She felt extremely uneasy. As the door opened, her heart raced, and she bit her lip, her whole being trembling with fear.

Ling’an Che was burning up. He approached the bed, his fingers tracing her lips. His gaze was cold, but there was a faint, mocking smile on his lips. His deep, husky voice revealed a hint of hoarseness, “Jiner, are you still thinking of escaping?”

She was terrified. She wrapped the blanket tightly around herself, instinctively shrinking back into the bed, “I… I didn’t…”

“You tried to push me to Liu Xing’er, rejected her proposal on the surface, but secretly drugged me…” His voice was low. He suddenly leaned in, his black eyes cold and ruthless, a faint smile playing on his lips as if mocking her audacity.

Mo Jin’er was on the verge of tears, trying to control her breathing to avoid crying.

“Little Jin’er, I initially wanted to let you go, but you brought this on yourself.” His body was burning hot. If it were any other man, he would have lost control by now. But even in his dangerous state, he calmly pulled her from the blanket.

“Ling’an Che, I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Her voice trembled. Her wrist hurt from his grip as he dragged her out of the blanket, forcing her to kneel in front of him. Her slender, soft body, clad in thin undergarments, was extremely eye-catching.

One wrist still in his grasp, a red mark appeared, showing his fingerprints.

“You applied the drug on your lips, didn’t you? Expecting me to kiss you when I returned? You feared Liu Xing’er would fail, so you helped her. You even took the antidote yourself…”

Ling’an Che, after pulling her closer, brushed his nose against her slender, white neck, his thin lips kissing her, growing increasingly frenzied.

“Let go of me… let go of me…” Mo Jin’er cried.

“Haven’t I treated you well? It’s the first time someone tried to push me to another woman…”

He felt her trembling and crying, but this time he showed no pity.

She sobbed against his shoulder, “No, you’re not good at all…”

“You just treat me like a plaything. Why keep me here? I don’t want to be a concubine, I want to leave… why do you treat me like this…”

Everyone has their own aspirations. She didn’t seek riches, just a simple, happy life, like ordinary families, with one husband and one wife.

A husband who respects, loves, and cares for her…

Not someone who torments her every night, without truly loving her.

“A plaything? If I treated you as a plaything, you would have already taken a drug to prevent you from having children. If you were just a plaything, I wouldn’t protect you; I’d let you be bullied by others.”

“Do you know what a real plaything is? I can make you experience it firsthand…” He laughed coldly, his final words chilling and sinister.

She shivered, her face pale, her body trembling in pain, her vision blurring, tears streaming down…

The next afternoon.

Baozhu came to see Mo Jin’er but was stopped by the guards at the door. The maid Lan’er, who usually served her, was also outside. Baozhu looked puzzled, “Lan’er, where is Jin’er?”

“Shh, Princess, it’s best not to visit her recently.” Lan’er looked worried and spoke to her.

She was even more confused, “Why?”

“Miss Jin’er made a mistake and angered the General.” Lan’er frowned slightly. She shouldn’t have drugged the General. If he didn’t have extraordinary self-control, Liu Xing’er might have succeeded last night.

Baozhu’s eyes widened in surprise. She stood there dumbfounded, “But weren’t they doing well recently?”

Jin’er and Brother Ling had just reconciled a few days ago…

Lan’er shook her head, “Princess, please go back.”

The young General was truly angry this time. A proud man, it was his first time treating a woman well, though sometimes his methods were questionable. Mo Jin’er had helped another woman scheme against him; how could he not be angry?

Lan’er glanced worriedly at the tightly shut door. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be killed…

As a dark guard, Lan’er knew well how decisively the young General dealt with women who disrupted the military. He showed no mercy.

What would he do to Mo Jin’er?

Lan’er had served her for a while and knew she was gentle and kind-hearted, though a bit stubborn. Even being a concubine to the young General was something many noblewomen would envy.

She hoped he would be lenient…

Mo Jin’er was pressed against the desk, her eyes blurred, trembling. Ling’an Che eventually threw a robe over her and left.

Her lips were swollen and bleeding. After a while, she numbly moved, getting off the desk, only to collapse on the floor.

Her hand rested on the cold ground, her head lowered as she coughed, her voice hoarse, and her eyes dark and lifeless.

When Lan’er came in, her hands were trembling. She quickly went over to help her. She was in excruciating pain, her face pale, her expression dazed.

Her steps were unsteady and weak.

“Miss Jin’er, why did you make such a poor choice?” She finally carried her, planning to help her clean up. In her current state, she couldn’t bathe herself.

“Did I?” Her voice was hoarse, barely audible.

“The young General is really a good person. Even if you leave, finding a regular man to marry might not be as good.”

Lan’er spoke softly.

“Living in poverty isn’t easy either…”

“But I grew up in poverty. I used to live with my grandmother in a small courtyard of the Duke’s Manor. No one cared about us, eating vegetables my grandmother grew. My clothes were worse than the maids’, and they didn’t even fit…” Mo Jin’er said quietly, “I don’t care about money or a luxurious life. If I lose Ling’an Che’s favor, won’t I return to that life?”

“I want to leave, open a small shop outside with my grandmother…”

Her dream was almost within reach, but now it was shattered.

Lan’er smiled understandingly, not mocking her. She spoke softly, “Miss Jin’er, even in families with some power, wives and concubines are many. In poor families, many argue over trivial matters. Some men don’t even give their wives money, and any expenses result in scolding.”

Lan’er helped her to the bath, guiding her into the water.

Her body was covered in marks, her fair skin making them glaringly visible.

Hearing Lan’er’s words, she bit her lip slightly, “Then why rely on men? Support yourself…”

“But Miss Jin’er, what if you get pregnant and have children? Some mothers-in-law are very cruel, expecting their daughters-in-law to do a lot. You’d have to care for your children, who are a part of you…”

Lan’er smiled, kneeling beside the bath, helping her wash.

“Miss Jin’er, you’ve never been married, so you don’t know the hardships of life. Although the Duke’s Manor didn’t care about you, once married, you won’t be alone. If you marry a good man, life might be better. If not, marriage can bring endless suffering.”

She continued softly, “I know you want to find someone you love, someone who treats you with respect, but…”

She wanted to say no one could compare to the young General.

Mo Jin’er felt the water, her gaze lowered, “I never thought of getting married. Even if I leave, I won’t marry anyone.”

Marriage seemed terrifying…

“Lan’er, you seem to know a lot about these things,” she said, looking at her.

Lan’er lowered her eyes, smiling, “I come from a poor family. My mother was a famous beauty when she was young, known as the ‘Tofu Beauty.’ Our family wasn’t wealthy but decent. But after marrying my father, he gambled and never gave my mother money. Life was incredibly hard. Miss Jin’er, ordinary life isn’t as good as you think. There are many trivial matters, and the young General truly cares for you.”

Mentioning Ling’an Che, Mo Jin’er felt a pang in her heart, her eyes reddening, “His care is humiliating me.”

“This time is different. You… did drug him,” Lan’er hesitated.

She was furious, turning away, “Why does he know I applied it on my lips? It should have been undetectable…”

“Miss Jin’er, you should apologize to the General…” Lan’er hesitated before continuing to persuade her.

Mo Jin’er sniffed, tears brimming in her eyes.

She wasn’t wrong… why should she apologize?

And in her current state, how could she?