Taming the Owl

The chase after the one who got away | Possessive love | The powerful one bows his head | Angsty push and pull

A ruthless, ravenous villain × a gentle, resilient beauty

When Du Qiao was sixteen, a deliberately set fire took the lives of the master and mistress who had raised her. She made her way into her enemy’s household under an assumed identity, treating her enemy as a parent, all to find a chance for revenge.

She kept her head down and plotted, never imagining she would accidentally offend Mu Zheng, a man who killed without blinking.

Mu Zheng was used to ruthless violence. He meant to take her life, but froze when he looked into her eyes. He had always lived freely. When had a woman ever unsettled him like this? He grew irritated. He spared her because her status as the adopted daughter of his political enemy made her a useful pawn. What else could it be?

He deliberately drew close to her, speaking softly and sweetly. With nowhere to turn, Du Qiao could only play along and act the part, making the most of the situation.

Mu Zheng assumed the woman was already hopelessly under his spell, so infatuated with him that she would even betray her adoptive father. Watching her obediently bow and scrape, he made no effort to hide his contempt.

Until their campaign, when he mounted his horse, conquered the enemy’s city, and won a great victory. He never expected he would nearly die at her hands. An arrow shot straight for his throat, and came within a hair’s breadth of killing him.

Only then did he realize that all her sweetness, obedience, and eagerness to please had been an act!

She loved him? He had actually believed her!

With her innocent little face, she had quietly played him like a puppet. A man like him, ruthless and decisive, had never been made a fool of like this. He wanted to kill her on the spot.

But when he returned to the city with his troops and saw her calm face again, she was just as obedient as before, still unaware that her cover had been blown. A sudden urge to tease her took hold, and once he started, he couldn’t stop.

He had clawed his way to survival in the military camp since childhood. If he wanted a comfortable life, he had to get rid of trouble. His brother was in the way, and the nine cities were rife with intrigue, so he would deal with them one by one. He would bring all nine cities under his control, with money and power at his fingertips, and no more obstacles.

At first, he fought and conquered for the freedom to live as he pleased. After falling in love with her, he laid down his arms.

Amid the ravages of war, he came to understand her beliefs and her soul, and willingly looked up to her.

From then on, he followed her and submitted to her.

Theme: Only by becoming independent in spirit and staying true to yourself can you live as your own person and find love and happiness.