Chapter 1460 - 1458: Despair
As he spoke, he lecherously drew closer to her.
His hand was always tucked inside his chest, as if he was hiding something.
"You... don’t come any closer. If you take another step, I’ll scream for help!"
Frightened out of her wits, she was almost paralyzed with fear.
Lv Zhaoliang seemed unafraid, becoming even more insolent and smug.
"Little beauty! Go on, scream all you want!"
"Make it louder; it’ll sound more exciting! Scream! Scream!"
Jiang Wanrong dared not scream after all.
Retreating repeatedly, she soon found herself huddled in the corner, trembling and glaring at him.
"What exactly do you want?"
"This is the capital; if you dare to act improperly, my aunt and uncle will not let you off!"
Lv Zhaoliang glared back at her with a malevolent, lustful gaze.
"Beauty, are you stupid?"
"On this dark and windy night, if I destroy you, who would know?"
Indeed! Who would know! Jiang Wanrong was utterly despondent.
In panic, she grabbed a half-watermelon-sized rock from the corner behind her, raised it high above her head, and summoned the last of her courage.
"I’m not stupid!"
"If you dare act improperly, I won’t let you off even as a ghost!"
"Besides, this..."
She paused for breath, intending to continue, but Lv Zhaoliang was already approaching.
He spoke grimly,
"You’re not stupid? Coincidentally, neither am I!"
"Without evidence, who dares to accuse me?"
"Shi Mansion is powerful and prestigious, and Fuguo Duke’s Mansion isn’t one to be trifled with either!"
"So... you’d better obediently marry me, or face total disgrace!"
After speaking, he stepped forward to embrace her, intent on violating her.
Jiang Wanrong resisted with all her might.
"No!"
"You’re a disgusting bastard!"
"Help!"
She struggled fiercely, fighting back desperately, and screamed with all her might.
Lv Zhaoliang continued his outrageous assault on her.
"Scream all you want; no one will come to save you!"
"Honestly, your maids and servants have already fallen victim to my Bewitching Needle, passed out half a league away, hahaha..."
Jiang Wanrong was utterly desolate.
In utter helplessness, she raised that rock and smashed it hard toward Lv Zhaoliang’s head.
But Lv Zhaoliang, being a male and surrounded by several people, easily dodged.
His men swiftly cleared away all objects she could reach.
"Haha, scream even louder!"
"It’s not thrilling enough!"
"Louder!"
His voice dripped with endless mockery and provocation.
Jiang Wanrong was humiliated and furious, seeing no way to punish him, she resolved to die to preserve her honor.
She seized an opportunity and closed her eyes, determinedly crashing into the protruding brick on the wall behind her.
At that moment, her heart was as cold as ice, and tears cascaded down her cheeks.
’Mother, the world is so merciless, your daughter is coming to you!’
’Mother, your daughter encountered something bad, please forgive me!’
’Mother, I am coming!’
...
When someone is resolved to die, they will use every bit of their strength to fulfill that resolve.
Jiang Wanrong was no exception.
She crashed into the wall with all her might, fully prepared mentally.
However... the expected liberation did not come.
In the darkness, she felt a blunt object blocking her forehead and temple.
Soon after, she heard the person grunt in pain.
Seeing that she was unharmed, he breathed a slight sigh of relief before withdrawing his hand.
She was even more despondent, grinding her back teeth in hatred, gnashing her teeth.
"Can’t I even die?!"
"Are you a devil from hell? Aren’t you afraid of going to the eighteenth level of hell after death?"
She frantically hit the one who saved her with all her might!
But unexpectedly, her body suddenly felt light and she was lifted off the ground. When she came to her senses again,
She found herself standing on the tall wall of the alley.
She stopped her actions and instinctively looked at the face of the person beside her.
No sooner had she looked, she instantly broke down.
All her grievances, all her hardships, all her tragic experiences, transformed into tears at this moment.
Ignoring all decorum, etiquette, and status, she hugged that person’s waist desperately and burst into tears.
"Cousin!"
...
After dealing with those men, Shih Shaoling took Jiang Wanrong and found a carriage.
He paid ample silver and instructed the coachman.
"Take her to Zhennan Marquis Mansion!"
Jiang Wanrong was appalled.
"Cousin, aren’t you coming with me? Cousin..."
Her hair was disheveled, her eyes red and swollen, her attire disordered, and her appearance untidy.
This state was simply... too pitiful.
But considering their different statuses, Shih Shaoling maintained a cold demeanor.
"No need, I’ve sent someone to follow; he won’t dare play tricks!"
"No!"
Jiang Wanrong insisted and pleaded pitifully.
"Cousin, Wanrong begs you, just this once, just this once, please!"
"Cousin!"
She cried like Li Hua, heartbroken.
Shih Shaoling saw her breakdown and recalled their childhood, combined with her background.
His heart softened momentarily, and he reluctantly said,
"Alright then!"
"Sending you back isn’t much trouble!"
With that, he headed toward the carriage, then sat with the coachman.
Jiang Wanrong chuckled bitterly.
’Is it so taboo?’
’Is he still the Shao Ling who loved and protected me?’
She was so envious, so jealous, so resentful!
But thinking that the other is the Princess, what is there to be jealous of? How many lives does she have to dare compete?
And so,
She concealed her unwillingness, swallowed her heartache, and helplessly slumped in the carriage.
Through the fluttering curtain, she glanced at the dark night sky again.
This time, the stars weren’t as bright, even somewhat dim and dull.
The moonlight wasn’t as warm, even somewhat bleak and cold.
The night sky wasn’t as clear, even somewhat pitch black.
She had no hope left, only a heart full of chill.
"Mother, are you unhappy?"
"Mother, your daughter misses you so much!"
...
By the time the carriage reached Shi Mansion.
Due to the injuries, fear, grief, and despair she’d suffered, Jiang Wanrong had fallen into semi-consciousness.
No matter how Shih Shaoling called, she wouldn’t wake.
Her condition couldn’t be shown to outsiders, nor could he summon anyone.
In utter helplessness, Shih Shaoling removed his outer robes and, through the thick clothing, carried her up.
His martial skills were excellent.
Avoiding the guards, night patrol maidservants, and various patrolling Sisters, he successfully delivered Jiang Wanrong to her boudoir.
Since it wasn’t appropriate to enter the inner room,
He laid her on the couch in the outer room.
Just about to turn away to find a doctor, Jiang Wanrong suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
"Cousin, don’t go, don’t leave me!"
Uncertain whether it was a nightmare or she was awake.
He could only frown and remove her hand, continuing to leave.
"Cousin!"
Jiang Wanrong, unwilling to give up, simply opened her eyes and straightened up.