Lin Luoyan was slender and beautiful, with a face like carved jade and an exquisitely graceful bearing. Powerful men coveted her, leaving her no peace day or night.
When her father was unjustly imprisoned, she had no choice but to become the governor's subordinate's mistress.
On a rainy night, inside the governor's residence, the woman's clothes were soaked through, outlining the graceful curve of her waist.
Pei Yan toyed with the long sword in his hand, his expression unreadable.
"If Miss Lin wants to save her father, she should show me some sincerity."
He lifted the sword's edge and tugged open the jade sash at her waist.
*
Lin Luoyan was terrified of Pei Yan and wanted nothing more than to escape.
When an opportunity finally arose, she boarded a boat and headed south, only for the vessel to stray into Jiangdong territory.
The Jiangdong Alliance was a den of wolves, full of outlaws.
As she hesitated over whether to die rather than lose her virtue, a warm, gentle voice interrupted her.
Gu Changzhou, leader of the Jiangdong Alliance, was dressed in white as bright as snow, refined and ethereal, with an elegant, reclusive air in every gesture.
He helped her to her feet, smiling. "If you're in trouble, Madam, you can stay here."
Under his protection, Lin Luoyan found temporary refuge amid the vast mist-covered waters, believing she had finally found a place of peace.
That was, until the man she had served for two years led ironclad ships into Jiangdong to suppress the bandits.
*
Pei Yan had always been strict with himself, yet time and again, one woman sent his heart into turmoil.
With each day they spent together, he found the lovely young woman in his arms more and more endearing, and began to imagine keeping her by his side for the rest of his life.
But she avoided him as if he were a snake or a scorpion, thinking only of escaping far away.
There was no way he would let her go.
Even if he had to turn the whole Xunyang River upside down, he would find her.
*
Gu Changzhou had retired to Jiangdong, vowing never to set foot in court again.
The governor's delicate, helpless mistress stumbled into his life.
For reasons he couldn't explain, he found her amusing. He protected her at first to stir up the political waters.
Later, he did it for love.
For the first time in his life, he couldn't make up his mind, and learned what it was to have his heart torn apart.
[Reading Guide]
1. Neither the female lead nor the male leads are virgins. One woman, two men, with rivalry and hair-pulling over her.
2. None of the main characters are perfect.
3. I'll add more if I think of anything~
Theme: The pursuit of freedom
