Locking Away the Pure Joy

Novel Blurb:

A famous courtesan escaped from the imperial entertainment bureau in the capital. They say Lord Gu, who is currently in the emperor's favor, had set his sights on her long ago and gone to great lengths to make her his. But just when he was about to succeed, something went wrong.

It should have been a laughing matter, but because it involved that lord, everyone in the capital kept their mouths shut. No one dared joke about it.

Liu Qinghuan hid in a secluded place, isolated and helpless.

She had once been a highborn young lady, born to a respectable family. Now, branded the daughter of a disgraced official and known as a beautiful courtesan, she had become a sight to behold in that lord's bedchamber.

Though he was as gentle and refined as jade, and a close confidant of the emperor, the dream lover of countless noble girls in the capital, he was also a fickle and faithless rake.

No matter what, she wanted to take a chance. She had struggled so hard to escape the entertainment bureau, and would rather die than go back.

A rainy night.

All around her, the voices had fallen silent.

She rose trembling, thinking she was safe, and felt a little of the tension leave her.

Then, at the corner, she suddenly saw a shadow in the damp rain.

The man stood elegantly in the distance beneath a white umbrella. Raindrops drifted down, stirring his wide robe, and only the pale curve of his lips showed beneath the canopy.

"After making such a scene, you'd better think carefully about how you're going to appease the lord," the attendant said quietly, unable to suppress his sympathy.

Liu Qinghuan's eyes reddened, and her whole body stiffened. "He has all the power now. He could have any woman he wants. Why won't he just let me go?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the man in the distance smiled gently.

"Go on. The lord doesn't have much patience," the attendant urged her hurriedly.

Liu Qinghuan shuddered, cold dread seeping into her heart, and could only lower her head and walk toward him.

When she came to herself again, candlelight was flickering. She lay by his knee, her dark hair disheveled, the corners of her eyes wet, looking utterly pitiable.

He sat upright above her, dressed in pale moon-white robes, looking down at her. Only after finishing a cup of tea did the man curve his lips into a smile. His handsome face was tender as water, his smile lingering and gentle.

"You thought you could really get away?"

"When I feel like it, I indulge your little tricks. Foolish girl."

He gripped her chin and lifted it, forcing her to face him. He savored her resistance, stripping it away layer by layer, until pain struck and her tears fell in streams.

She wept until she could no longer speak, frail and pitiful.

Even deep into spring, he still wasn't satisfied. He caressed her swollen red lips, his voice low and hoarse, his tone somewhat dazed.

"Beg me, and I'll spare you."

Reader's Guide:

1v1, both leads are each other's only partners, possessive pursuit, happy ending. The male lead loves only the female lead from beginning to end. She is both his white moonlight and the red mole on his heart!

A cool beauty, gentle on the outside and strong within x a possessive, unhinged, brooding male lead

Blurb screenshotted on 2024.6.30

Theme: Evil will never prevail over righteousness