After Refusing to Be a Bedchamber Maid, the Noble Heir Falls for Her

[Reborn sweet and gentle maid x refined, deceptively dark heir]

To repay a debt of gratitude, Qingniang sold herself into the Duke's residence, becoming its lowest-ranking servant girl.

Later, she took a blade meant for the heir and became the only woman in his chambers.

Then, on the day of his wedding, several burly men pinned her down and violated her. She died without ever seeing the heir come to save her.

When she awoke from her nightmare, Qingniang no longer hoped for his love. She only wanted to stay far away from him, save enough money, and leave the estate.

_

The heir of Duke Xiang was a man of extraordinary talent and beauty, and he kept his distance from women.

Had this maid not taken a blade for him, he would never have given her a second glance, no matter how beautiful she was.

Later...

The little maid tried every way she could to escape him. She would rather elope with his rakish elder brother than become his concubine.

He stopped at nothing to keep her by his side, holding her each night and coaxing her softly. "A Wu, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I'll find you and bring you back..."

He never imagined that the little maid would really run away.

That night, flames soared above the Duke's residence. He charged into the inferno like a madman, clutching the little maid's corpse and weeping uncontrollably.

The usually composed and self-controlled heir of Duke Xiang seemed to become a different person overnight.

_

Three years later, Lu Yun'an traveled south on a case and met a young woman whose eyes were covered with a white silk bandage.

He begged the little maid to return with him. Then news arrived from the capital that he had been dismissed from his post.

The little maid walked step by step toward the palanquin from the Eastern Palace that had come to fetch her, and spoke one word at a time:

"Lu Yun'an, at last, I don't have to run anymore."