Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Don’t Be Afraid, I’ll Take You Home

Chun Zhi worked on some needlework in the yard, but she could not calm down. A chill ran along her back, and she kept feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Afraid that Yu Zhu might not be able to leave, she took out incense and candles to go to the City God Temple and pray for Yu Zhu’s safety.

Before the lawsuit with Wu Xin, Chun Zhi had also gone to the City God Temple to pray. Although there were a few twists later in court, things went smoothly overall, so she decided to go again.

Before leaving, Chun Zhi left a note for Huo Qi, saying she was going to the City God Temple to offer incense.

People usually burn incense early in the morning. In the afternoon there are few visitors. Near dusk, the whole City God Temple felt empty; even the temple keeper was nowhere to be seen.

Chun Zhi lit the incense and knelt before the statue to pray with full focus, hoping Yu Zhu could leave Linshui Town safely and enjoy smooth days afterward.

After making her wish, she placed the incense in the burner.

When she left the City God Temple, the sky had grown dim. She hurried home and quickened her pace, but as she stepped into a narrow alley, two men dressed like waiters blocked her path.

Startled, Chun Zhi asked: “Who are you, and why are you in my way?”

The two men grinned and rubbed their hands, then rushed at her.

Chun Zhi turned and ran, but someone threw a sack over her. Darkness fell over her eyes.

A heavy blow struck the back of her neck, and she fainted on the spot.

…

Huo Zheng escorted Yu Zhu to the ferry, sent a letter to the Impostor Prince Chang’an, and returned to the tofu workshop. The sun was already sinking behind West Mountain.

Chun Zhi was not home. Huo Zheng saw the note she had left on the table.

She had gone to the City God Temple again.

He sighed to himself: [I already told her, it’s better to rely on me than on gods.] She still would not believe it.

He stayed inside for a while. The darker it grew, the more worried he felt. He lit an oil lamp, but Chun Zhi still had not come back.

Temples close after dark.

The City God Temple was not far from Peach Blossom Lane. Chun Zhi should have been back before night fell.

Thinking this, Huo Zheng took a lantern and went out to search.

In a small town like Linshui Town, streets empty out at night. He asked several people for directions before he found the City God Temple.

Its front gate was closed tight, and no one went in or out.

Standing before the temple, Huo Zheng felt that something was wrong. His face hardened as he lifted a bamboo whistle and blew it.

Before long, Jiang He flew out of the night and bowed: “Prince.”

“Chun Zhi is missing,” Huo Zheng said in a low voice: “Find her within half an hour.”

“Yes!”

Jiang He took the order and vanished.

Because the prince had been staying many days at the tofu workshop on Peach Blossom Lane, Jiang He already knew the young lady who married the prince was named Chun Zhi.

Huo Zheng walked every road from the City God Temple back toward Peach Blossom Lane, asking along the way and searching for any sign.

…

When Chun Zhi woke, she did not know where she was.

A hand kept sliding over her face: “A beauty. Truly a rare beauty.”

The sticky feel on her skin made her want to retch.

Her hands and feet were tied. She could not stand; she could only shrink back, trying to escape that hand.

The hand followed.

Chun Zhi bit down hard on the web of the man’s thumb. Blood sprang out at once.

Zhou Rong cried out and jerked back, then slapped her across the face.

A five-finger mark rose on her cheek at once.

“Wretch,” Zhou Rong cursed: “It is your blessing that I fancy you. Don’t refuse the toast only to drink the penalty.”

The slap was so heavy that Chun Zhi fell to the floor. Blood gathered at the corner of her mouth.

The room blazed with lamps. Many costly objects were set around. The young man before her wore fine silk, with a jade pendant at his waist. He was obviously rich and high-born.

Several waiters who had helped tie up Chun Zhi stood to one side.

One said: “Young master, be careful with your wounded hand.”

Another said: “Young master finally got such a beauty. Don’t damage her.”

Zhou Rong shook his hand, gripped Chun Zhi’s chin, and forced her to raise her head to face him.

This beauty was truly lovely.

After that slap, her face had swollen red. She looked even more pitiful and tempting.

Zhou Rong brushed her swollen cheek with the back of his hand and said: “Beauty, be smart. Obey me, and you will enjoy endless riches. If you don’t, don’t blame me for breaking the flower.”

“Get away,” Chun Zhi said, spitting out a fleck of bloody saliva: “My husband knows I went to the City God Temple. If I don’t come back after dark, he will come looking.”

She said this for them to hear, but even more to steady herself.

She did not know who these people were or why they had taken her. All she could do was hope Huo Qi would come.

She forced herself to shout: “My husband is strong in martial arts. You had better let me go now. If he finds this place, none of you will have a good end.”

“No matter how skilled your husband is, he won’t find you right away. Once I enjoy you, even if he comes, he won’t want you,” Zhou Rong said with a smile: “So be good and don’t ask for pain.”

Chun Zhi opened her mouth to bite him again.

Zhou Rong pinched her cheeks hard: “So you like biting, do you? I’ll let you bite to your heart’s content later. Bring the drug.”

Hearing him call for medicine, Chun Zhi thrashed in panic. But she could not break free. Zhou Rong pinned her down and pushed a red pill into her mouth, forcing her to swallow.

“Do you know what that is?” he laughed, watching her struggle in his grasp: “It’s a Passion Pill. After taking it, even the toughest woman turns into a wanton. You don’t want me now, but in a moment you will beg me to touch you. Hahahahaha…”

Chun Zhi wanted to vomit but could not: “Get away.”

Zhou Rong did not move away. He untied the ropes on her.

Chun Zhi jumped up to run, but the waiters blocked her.

“Run,” Zhou Rong said, strolling toward her with a grin: “Run as far as you can. Let’s see where you can go.”

He grabbed her sleeve and tore it open.

Her skin, pale as carved jade, lay exposed.

The drug’s effect spread through Chun Zhi’s body. She felt weak all over, heat rising under her skin.

She forced herself to dodge left and right, but Zhou Rong ripped her clothes again and again, then shoved her down to the floor.

Ignoring the waiters around them, Zhou Rong laughed and pawed at her.

Despair nearly swallowed Chun Zhi. She clenched her teeth, pulled the silver hairpin from her hair, and drove it into the man’s chest.

Blood welled out at once.

Zhou Rong yanked out the pin and sneered: “You think a single hairpin can take my life? Tonight I will make you yield—”

Before he finished, the shut door burst open with a kick.

Huo Zheng strode in under the moonlight. He crossed the room in a few steps, seized Zhou Rong, and flung him aside with a single palm. Then he took off his outer robe and wrapped Chun Zhi tightly from head to toe.

Shaken to the core, Chun Zhi saw him and tears flooded her eyes: “Huo Qi.”

“Don’t be afraid,” Huo Zheng said, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight: “I’m taking you home.”