Keep That Widow Trapped

Ling Zhen's husband died on the battlefield.

When the news reached her, she wept uncontrollably. Before she could recover, her in-laws, wanting a chaste widow's arch for their family, demanded that she willingly die to honor her husband.

Ling Zhen was unwilling. Her in-laws spoke soothingly to her, but then locked her in a room and forced her to starve to death.

That night, Ling Zhen set the house on fire and escaped through a window.

Her sick mother was still at home, and she could not stay hidden for long before her in-laws found her and dragged her back.

With nowhere else to turn, she stopped a nobleman's carriage and begged him to help her report the matter to the authorities.

Through the misty rain, Ling Zhen's vision blurred. She only remembered that the nobleman had long, slender fingers and a refined, handsome face.

With nothing left to lose, Ling Zhen told him, “If you can help me, I'll do anything you ask.”

The nobleman smiled and took her back to his estate.

*

Only after the nobleman brought her home did Ling Zhen learn that he was Li Xun, the emperor's own younger brother, a true-born prince.

Thanks to that, she was never mistreated again.

Before long, she heard another piece of news: her husband hadn't died. It had been a false report.

She planned to go find him, and prepared a whole heap of words to thank Li Xun.

Li Xun smiled, his eyes crinkling, but said, “What do you take this place for? You think you can come and go as you please?”

As he spoke, he strolled toward her.

At last, Ling Zhen realized something was wrong. She turned around, and the door lock clicked into place behind her.

*

In his twenty-three years, Li Xun had never experienced intimacy with a woman, and had come to find the idea utterly dull.

When he first met Ling Zhen, he had only meant to amuse himself with a game of cat and mouse.

Later, he wished he could drag her down with him and drown together in a sea of passion.

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