On QingSong Mountain
In the pitch - black cave, the fire flickered on the piled firewood on the ground. Around it sat seven or eight masked black - clothed men.
In a corner on one side, two young girls were tied up and thrown there.
One was as delicate as a willow in the breeze, with green hair and red sleeves.
The other seemed fierce on the outside but timid inside, with a charming and gorgeous appearance.
"Sister Ruan, I'm so scared."
A sobbing voice came from behind Ruan Jiu, scaring her.
She turned around and took a closer look. The one who had just spoken was Lu Wanrou, the top courtesan of Yingchun Tower and the new favorite of her fiancé, Xie Yanchuan.
However, why was she tied up with Lu Wanrou?
Just as she was puzzled, a familiar voice came from the entrance of the cave.
"I've brought the silver. Release them quickly!"
A man in gorgeous clothes appeared at the entrance of the cave in a sorry state, gasping for breath as he spoke. It was obvious that he had rushed here in a hurry.
This man was the eldest young master of the Xie family, Xie Yanchuan, Ruan Jiu's philandering fiancé.
It had to be said that Xie Yanchuan was blessed with good looks. Even in such a state, his face was still as fair as jade.
Then he opened the black parcel in his hand and placed it on the ground. At a glance, the parcel was filled with glistening silver.
"Yanlang, save me quickly. Rou'er is scared." Lu Wanrou cried out eagerly, and her aggrieved tone was heart - wrenching.
"Rou'er, don't be afraid. I'll rescue you right away!" Xie Yanchuan looked at Lu Wanrou with heart - rending pity in his eyes.
Ruan Jiu watched the two of them indifferently. If someone didn't know, they would think that Lu Wanrou was his unmarried wife.
At this time, a black - clothed man lying on a stone slab on one side stood up, picked up his knife, and walked in front of Ruan Jiu and Lu Wanrou.
The cold back of the knife kept sliding across the two girls' cheeks. Lu Wanrou immediately burst into tears in terror.
Although Ruan Jiu seemed calm on the surface, her heart was in a complete mess. She dug her fingernails into her flesh to keep herself calm.
"Tell me, which one do you want to save?" the black - clothed man looked at Xie Yanchuan and said in a deep voice.
Ruan Jiu frowned. This voice, and these eyes...
They were so familiar.
Hearing this, Xie Yanchuan was stunned for a moment and asked, "Didn't you say that I should bring five thousand taels of silver to rescue them?"
"Yes, but I didn't say how many people you could rescue." The black - clothed man smiled, and then his expression changed. "Now I'm in a bad mood, so you can only take one person away."
Hearing that he could only save one person, Xie Yanchuan's eyes kept sweeping over the two girls, looking embarrassed.
Seeing Xie Yanchuan hesitating, Lu Wanrou immediately said with a sobbing voice, "Yanlang, you said you would protect Rou'er for a lifetime."
Ruan Jiu sneered. The women around Xie Yanchuan never lasted more than three months.
Talking about a lifetime with him was really ridiculous.
Xie Yanchuan clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and then pointed at Lu Wanrou and said, "I choose her!"
Ruan Jiu lowered her eyes. The surprise in her eyes flashed by, and a sneer appeared on her lips.
To be honest, she was a bit sad about Xie Yanchuan's choice, but not much.
It only hurt her pride, that was all.
She had no feelings for Xie Yanchuan. Their engagement was arranged by the old master of the Xie family.
In this critical moment, it was normal for Xie Yanchuan to choose his sweetheart.
After the black - clothed man untied Lu Wanrou's ropes, Lu Wanrou trotted up to Xie Yanchuan, buried her head in his arms, and cried like a pear blossom in the rain, "Yanlang, Rou'er is scared."
Xie Yanchuan hugged Lu Wanrou lovingly and comforted her softly, "It's okay, Rou'er. I'll take you home."
Then he turned to look at Ruan Jiu and gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry, Ajiu. I'll take Rou'er back first."
After saying that, he left without looking back, hugging Lu Wanrou in his arms.
After Xie Yanchuan and Lu Wanrou left, Ruan Jiu stretched out her bound hands in front of the black - clothed man.
"Now you can release me, Fourth Master."
The black - clothed man smiled playfully and then took off his mask.
His eyebrows were as black as ink, his eyes were like stars, and his three - dimensional facial features were perfectly defined. His natural handsomeness carried an indescribable sharpness and dignity.
The man in front of her was Xie Jingchu, the fourth master of the wealthy Xie family in the south of the Yangtze River and Xie Yanchuan's fourth uncle.
Although he was the youngest among the four branches of the Xie family, most of the Xie family's business was in his hands. He was known for his unruly behavior and ruthless methods.
"Is the Xie family's business about to go bankrupt? Even the Fourth Master has to resort to kidnapping." Ruan Jiu said irritably while rubbing her wrists.
Her fair and delicate face had a pouting little mouth.
"You're about to get married. I just want you to see Xie Yanchuan's true colors."
When had she not seen Xie Yanchuan's true colors?
They had grown up together. Not only in Qinzhou, but also in the entire south of the Yangtze River, he was a well - known playboy. He spent his days in brothels and had no resemblance to a member of the Xie family.
As soon as Xie Yanchuan lifted his tail, she knew which girl he had taken a fancy to.
"Fourth Master, aren't you being a bit too nosy?"
Actually, she had never dared to talk to Xie Jingchu like this before. Maybe it was because of today's incident that she was really angry.
Xie Jingchu was used to seeing her obedient appearance. Now she really looked like a little wildcat.
"After all, I picked you up."
Xie Jingchu's deep eyes stared directly at her.
It made her a bit dazed.
She had been an orphan since childhood, begging on the streets all day long. Because she was small and weak, she was often bullied by other beggars.
One day, she finally got a cold bun. Just as she took a bite, those beggars wanted to snatch it away.
She couldn't remember how many punches and kicks she had endured, but she held tightly to the half - eaten bun and refused to let go.
Just when she thought she was going to die, Xie Jingchu suddenly appeared.
Although he didn't look much older than her, he exuded an extraordinary air, like a god from the sky.
He not only drove away the beggars for her but also took her back to the Xie family. She became the so - called distant cousin of the Xie family.
So, for her, Xie Jingchu was not only the high - ranking Fourth Master but also a ray of light in her long and dark life.
Thinking of this, she put away her petty emotions.
"Thank you, Fourth Master. It's Ajiu's fortune that the grandfather has betrothed Ajiu to the eldest young master."
Xie Jingchu watched her return to her obedient self, but he felt inexplicably irritated in his heart.
Then he took Ruan Jiu back to the mansion.
All the way, the two of them didn't say a word.
-
At the entrance of the Xie Mansion
As soon as Ruan Jiu got off the carriage, she saw Xie Yanchuan running out in a hurry, holding a heavy parcel in his hand.
She just glanced at it lightly, said nothing, and walked straight inside.
"Ajiu, are you okay?" Xie Yanchuan reached out and grabbed her arm.
She tilted her body slightly, took a few steps back, and then bowed her head slightly.
The series of actions were done smoothly.
"Thank you for your concern, eldest young master."
Xie Yanchuan frowned slightly. Usually, she would call him by his name directly. Was she angry?
So he quickly explained, "Ajiu, Rou'er has always been delicate and timid, so I..."
"Don't need to explain," she waved her hand. "Ajiu understands."
She lowered her eyes, and no emotion could be seen on her face.
Just as she was about to leave, Xie Yanchuan grabbed her again.
"Can you stop acting like this?"
Hearing this, she looked up at him with a puzzled look in her eyes.
What did he mean by "acting like this"?
Xie Yanchuan sighed and said, "You could have gotten angry with me and then questioned me why I didn't choose you."
"Ajiu doesn't dare."
After all, she had hidden her temper well since she first entered the mansion ten years ago.