The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 60

Song Xuan’an had been half-heartedly engaging in idle socialising at the banquet. His attention had constantly drifted towards Jiang Jingchun. However, the moment he turned his head away, she was no longer in her seat.

He found it odd but barely had time to dwell on it because someone came to summon him back to his tent.

The person who delivered the message was unfamiliar. Song Xuan’an had never seen him before. 

His gaze lingered on Jiang Jingchun’s empty seat, and the peculiar feeling in his chest intensified. Something wasn’t right. Without hesitation, he got up and hurried towards his tent.

He arrived quickly. He lifted the tent flap and stepped inside. A familiar scent immediately enveloped him…

The scent was one he knew all too well.

It was Jiang Jingchun’s scent.

Then, he seemed to catch the soft sound of a faint and feline-like woman’s whimper.

The sound sent a shiver down Song Xuan’an’s spine. His eyebrows furrowed deeply as he approached the bed inside the tent. Sure enough, there she was—Jiang Jingchun.

Jiang Jingchun lay on the bed. Her face flushed unnaturally red. The liveliness she usually carried was now tinged with a sultry softness. Perhaps due to a burning heat surging through her body, her hands kept tugging at her collar. She pulled her robe into disarray and exposed the snow-white skin beneath her neckline. 

Her rosy cheeks and vivid red lips exuded an irresistible allure.

Song Xuan’an’s mind went blank at the sight. He froze on the spot. He didn’t know what to do.

“Hot… it’s so hot…”

Her soft voice snapped him back to reality. 

He strode forward, reached the bed, and helped her sit up.

Song Xuan’an patted her face lightly to wake her a little.

Jiang Jingchun’s eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was unfocused and hazy. The figure before her was a blur, and she felt as if her eyes were veiled with pase. All she could feel was an unbearable heat…

The person in front of her, however, felt like a giant block of ice. The coolness of the hand patting her face made her instinctively grab it.

She grabbed his hand and pressed it against her cheek.

Her sudden action startled Song Xuan’an. He didn’t move and only lowered his gaze to watch her. She looked utterly captivating under the tent’s dim lighting.

She held onto his hand tightly and kept it pressed against her burning skin.

Her expression was desperate. She looked as though she might stick out her tongue to lick his hand, like a kitten wagging its tail, to plead for a moment of relief.

The warmth of her touch on his hand made Song Xuan’an’s mind nearly grind to a halt.

After a long moment, he hoarsely said, “Do you know who I am, Jiang Jingchun?”

Her behaviour was too unusual—she must have been drugged. She didn’t smell like alcohol, and even if she had been drinking, she wouldn’t act this way. She wouldn’t do something like this to someone else.

She didn’t have a bad drinking habit, either. She would usually fall asleep quietly, and she never said nonsensical things or caused trouble when she was drunk.

She must have been drugged, then brought to his bed…

Then, he was conveniently called back.

After being tricked once by Song Xuanjing, Song Xuan’an had grown far more cautious.

He wasn’t so foolish as to the point he couldn’t tell what was happening.

This must be a trap—a scheme.

Someone wanted to force them into a compromising situation. It was the autumn hunt, and there were so many people in this place today. They wanted their reputations destroyed in one fell swoop.

Song Xuan’an felt as though he were Chang’e, faced with the temptation of the elixir of immortality, while Jiang Jingchun was the elixir itself.

So he asked her if she knew who he was.

Jiang Jingchun’s vision was blurry, and though Song Xuan’an’s words reached her ears, her mind couldn’t process them.

Who was he…?

Song Xuan’an’s voice carried a hint of grievance as he said, “Song Xuan’an. I’m Song Xuan’an, Jiang Jingchun. How can you not recognise me?”

She didn’t even recognise him, yet clung to him this way. He knew she was struggling, and he wasn’t faring much better.

“Song Xuan’an…” Jiang Jingchun seemed to hear his words. She murmured his name with a soft and pleading voice. “So hot, Song Xuan’an… What do I do? I feel scorched…”

Song Xuan’an.

The name triggered something in her foggy mind—a subconscious sense of trust.

She felt unbearably hot and hoped he could help her.

She let go of his hand and began fidgeting and tugging at her collar in agitation.

Every movement, every sound, every gesture she made tugged at his heartstrings.

No one could remain untempted in such a situation, he thought.

Her body reacted to the drug, but his reacted to her.

He had once promised to marry her, but later, he had to watch helplessly as she married someone else. And now, here she was again, before him, seeking cool relief from his body.

He wanted her—desperately.

Who wouldn’t?

But he knew he couldn’t do it.

If he succumbed to this fleeting temptation, to the longing he’d buried since his youth, he would only destroy her reputation. 

If they were discovered, she would be branded a slut, and he, her adulterer.

She wasn’t the elixir of immortality, and he wasn’t Chang’e. 

The consequences of such a scandal weren’t something either of them could bear, either.

Even though he wanted her, he knew this wasn’t the way.

Song Xuan’an’s priority was to get Jiang Jingchun out of his tent.

Even if they had done nothing, being caught alone together in such a setting would ruin them both.

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her horizontally. He wanted to hide her somewhere safe.

However, Jiang Jingchun became even more restless in his arms. The heat in her subsided slightly. She clung to him as if she wanted to meld into him.

Though it was late autumn and winter was approaching, Song Xuan’an was sweating from the effort of restraint.

In a low voice, he scolded her, “Don’t move anymore, Jiang Jingchun.”

He was at his breaking point.

However, Jiang Jingchun wasn’t listening. She had been overcome with the effects of the drug and was nearly delirious. She only wanted relief—more coolness, more comfort… She wrapped her arms around his neck even tighter.

Her touch gave Song Xuan’an a splitting headache. But there was no other choice. The most important thing was to get her out of this place.

He knew she was suffering, so he gently rubbed her face in an attempt to soothe her and offer her a momentary coolness. After that, he let her hold onto him without further resistance.

But just as they were about to leave the tent, someone outside lifted the tent flap.

Gu Huaisheng had been summoned by Emperor Taihe. While he made his way to where the emperor was, he had no idea what the emperor could possibly want to discuss with him—what he summoned him for.

Moreover, to his surprise, he found Wang Shun already present in the emperor’s tent when he arrived.

Gu Huaisheng frowned slightly. His gut feeling told him that something wasn’t right.

The emperor didn’t say much. He simply pointed at Wang Shun and said, “Teacher was hoping to find someone to play a game of go with. Seeing as you’re free tonight, why don’t you accompany him?”

Playing go during the autumn hunt?

What good would the two of them playing together be?

Gu Huaisheng was about to come up with an excuse to decline when he saw Wang Shun already heading to the go table. 

As Wang Shun sat down, he said, “I heard that lately, the young marquis has been investigating the old case of Shen Changqing’s treason. What’s the matter? Do you think I made a mistake in my judgement back then?”

Emperor Taihe chuckled upon hearing this. He said, “Is that so? I wasn’t aware of this. Tell me more.”

The emperor had no real intention of keeping anyone there, but Wang Shun seemed determined to make Gu Huaisheng stay. If Gu Huaisheng left, Wang Shun would likely harp on the matter endlessly later.

Moreover, since Wang Shun was both the emperor’s teacher and imperial tutor, he naturally couldn’t find fault with him.

Their back-and-forth left Gu Huaisheng unable to leave. In the end, he had no choice but to sit across from Wang Shun.

Seeing that Gu Huaisheng had finally taken a seat, Wang Shun picked up a black piece and casually made the first move on the board.

Gu Huaisheng held a white piece in his hand and, while placing it on the board, answered Wang Shun and the emperor’s questions. He didn’t refute them but admitted directly. He said, “Yes, it does seem a bit strange.”

Wang Shun hadn’t expected Gu Huaisheng to be so blunt. He said, “Oh? Then it seems the young marquis believes I mishandled the case. But if I recall correctly, Shen Changqing was your teacher, wasn’t he? With that in mind, your words might suggest a bias for your teacher over justice. 

“After all, the evidence back then was solid and irrefutable—what could possibly be strange about my judgement back then?”

By bringing up their teacher-student relationship, Wang Shun effectively discredited anything Gu Huaisheng might say and painted it as an emotional defence of his teacher. Seeing this, Gu Huaisheng decided not to argue further. “Since my lord says so, then there’s nothing more I can add.”

Engaging with someone like Wang Shun was particularly tiresome. He had a habit of nitpicking and magnifying minor details to absurd proportions.

Wang Shun epitomised the archetypal official of their dynasty’s imperial court. He was outwardly upright but inwardly shrewd. He weaponised moral high ground, wielding Confucian principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom as an unassailable framework. The ultimate interpretation of these values, however, rested in the hands of Wang Shun and his fellow civil officials, whom he headed.

Talking to him could range from lofty discussions of the Mandate of Heaven and how to conform to the will of heaven and the will of the people, to narrow debates on gender roles and the Three Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant Virtues. 

The moment someone contradicted him, Wang Shun would only double down with more fervour.

Gu Huaisheng had no interest in saying anything more to Wang Shun. Instead, he focused entirely on the go game. He aimed to end it quickly and leave. Moreover, remembering the things Wang Shun had said to Jiang Jingchun earlier that afternoon, Gu Huaisheng even cast aside concerns about Wang Shun’s status and adopted a sharp and aggressive style of play.

“So fierce,” Wang Shun remarked with a light laugh.

Sometimes, a game of go wasn’t as simple as what met the eye. A person’s moves and strategies could reveal much about their state of mind. From Gu Huaisheng’s play, Wang Shun could see how impatient he was at this moment.

Gu Huaisheng remained silent at Wang Shun’s comment. His expression was dim. His eyebrows knitted together slightly, and in the firelight, his profile carried an imperceptible chill.

Seeing that Gu Huaisheng wasn’t responding, Wang Shun found the conversation uninteresting and dropped it.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Gu Huaisheng had already won the game.

Gu Huaisheng was about to stand and leave when Wang Shun spoke again. “As expected, the student surpasses the master. I’m getting old and can’t keep up with young people anymore. Would the young marquis do me the honour of another game? Let me learn from you some more.”

His words were overly modest and were strikingly inconsistent with his usual demeanour. 

Emperor Taihe agreed with him and said, “Yes. It’s still early.”

Gu Huaisheng pressed his lips together. He was silent for a moment as his mind raced for a way to excuse himself. At that moment, the announcement of the crown prince’s arrival came from outside.

After the customary greetings, the crown prince turned to see the two of them playing go and walked over. 

“Are you playing go?” he asked.

Wang Shun furrowed his eyebrows at the crown prince’s arrival. He wondered what the crown prince’s intentions were in coming here so suddenly.

Couldn’t he see they were playing go? 

Why did he even ask?

Without waiting for a response, the crown prince continued, “I’ve long heard of the senior grand secretary’s exceptional go skills. I didn’t expect to see you playing against the young marquis today. Are you finished? If not, may I have the honour of a game with you once you’re done?”

Before Wang Shun could respond, Gu Huaisheng interjected.

Hearing the crown prince’s words, he stood, clasped his hands in a formal gesture, and excused himself. “Then, I’ll leave this game to His Imperial Highness. I’ll take my leave now.”

Whether intentional or not, the crown prince’s arrival provided Gu Huaisheng with the perfect opportunity to escape. He seized it immediately and left without hesitation.

Wang Shun wanted to stop him, but he had no legitimate reason to.

As the crown prince took the seat across from him, Wang Shun cast him a cold glance.

The crown prince’s mother, the current empress, was someone Wang Shun had personally selected for Emperor Taihe.

He had helped the empress ascend to her position, yet now her son was working against him.

Ultimately, this was the emperor’s fault. He had insisted on appointing Shen Changqing as the imperial tutor.

The two people Shen Changqing had taught were equally troublesome and annoying.

Wang Shun said nothing more. He withdrew his gaze and suppressed his thoughts. His earlier words forced him to play a game with the crown prince, and so they started the game.

When Gu Huaisheng returned to the banquet hall, he found that Jiang Jingchun was no longer in her seat.

He frowned. Hadn’t they agreed that she would wait for him here? Why was she gone now?

Gu Huaisheng couldn’t help but recall Wang Shun’s odd behaviour earlier. Why had Wang Shun been so insistent on keeping him occupied?

Everything about this felt strange.

Gu Huaisheng went to ask Madame Gu, who was standing nearby, where Jiang Jingchun had gone.

Madame Gu had been chatting with other ladies and only now realised that Jiang Jingchun hadn’t returned for quite some time. She turned to Gu Huaisheng and said, “Oh? I saw Jinghui come by to look for her earlier, but I don’t know where they went. She still hasn’t come back?”

Hearing this, Gu Huaisheng’s eyelid twitched worse.

He turned and left without delay. He paid no attention to Madame Gu, who called out to him, asking what was going on.

Where had Jiang Jinghui taken her?

Gu Huaisheng immediately left the banquet hall and asked Shuliang to send people to investigate. When they reported back, they said Jiang Jinghui and Jiang Jingchun were last seen heading toward the Song family’s camp area. However, after entering a side path, the two disappeared, and no one knew where they had gone after that.

Gu Huaisheng recalled that Song Xuan’an had also been absent from the banquet earlier.

Without hesitation, he headed straight for Song Xuan’an’s camp.

He didn’t know what he would encounter, but he could already guess that it wouldn’t be good. This sense of uncertainty stirred a rare unease in him, leaving him with a feeling he had seldom experienced—panic.

By the time he reached Song Xuan’an’s tent, Gu Huaisheng was nearly out of breath from his urgency.

From outside the tent, he seemed to hear the voice of a woman speaking inside. Without a second thought, he lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.

The scene before him made his eyebrows knit tightly, and he nearly forgot how to breathe.

Jiang Jingchun was in Song Xuan’an’s arms.

Her hands were draped around his neck as she kept rubbing herself against him.

She kept saying, “Song Xuan’an, it’s so hot… help me… please help me…”

Her sweet and coquettish voice was tinged with desperation. It sounded like a blade to Gu Huaisheng’s ears.

She was clinging to another man, with her clothes in disarray, murmuring such shameless words of supplication.

The scene before Gu Huaisheng’s eyes was unbearably piercing.

His expression darkened uncontrollably, and his eyes reddened with suppressed rage.

He raised his gaze to Song Xuan’an. His sharp eyes carried an icy chill. A frost-like mist seemed to settle over his entire figure.

Gu Huaisheng strode towards Song Xuan’an. An aura of bloodthirst radiated from him.

Song Xuan’an hadn’t expected Gu Huaisheng to arrive so quickly. Seeing Gu Huaisheng’s menacing approach, he instinctively took a step back. His grip on Jiang Jingchun tightened involuntarily.

Terrifying. Gu Huaisheng’s current demeanour was downright terrifying.

How could he possibly hand Jiang Jingchun over to him?

How could he dare, seeing him like this?

However, Song Xuan’an knew he had no grounds to fight Gu Huaisheng over her.

Gu Huaisheng’s frown only deepened when he saw Song Xuan’an’s actions. He glared at him and asked, “What exactly do you think you’re doing, holding my wife like this?”

Song Xuan’an was momentarily stunned into silence. How should he answer Gu Huaisheng’s question?

He didn’t know what answer he could possibly offer, given the current circumstances.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jingchun remained restless in his arms. She was completely oblivious to the charged atmosphere around her. She kept snuggling closer to Song Xuan’an as she sought some semblance of relief.

Jiang Jingchun felt as if she were a furnace. Her body was consumed by the sensation of thousands of ants gnawing at her skin. Only by staying close to Song Xuan’an could she find a faint reprieve from the burning sensation.

Her actions, however, thoroughly ignited Gu Huaisheng’s fury.

Good… Just great.

Was he dead to her? How could she do this to him?

Gu Huaisheng strode forward and reached out to take Jiang Jingchun from Song Xuan’an’s arms.

Song Xuan’an wanted to resist, but he knew he had no right to fight for her. Besides, people could arrive at any moment.

There was no time to waste.

In the end, he loosened his grip and let her go.

Gu Huaisheng scooped Jiang Jingchun into his arms and turned to leave. But just as he was about to step out, Song Xuan’an called out to him.

“She didn’t mean to hold onto me. She was drugged… She’s just… she just feels too hot… That’s all.”

Song Xuan’an’s voice trembled as he added, “Be gentle with her.”

He didn’t need to guess to know what would happen next.

She had been drugged with an aphrodisiac. Gu Huaisheng was her husband. What followed would naturally be the consummation of their marital bond.

But Gu Huaisheng’s current demeanour was unsettling.

Gu Huaisheng had seen his wife in another man’s arms, saying and doing such things… Anyone in Gu Huaisheng’s position would overthink.

However, Song Xuan’an’s words only felt like barbs to Gu Huaisheng’s ears.

Be gentle with her?

Did he need Song Xuan’an to remind him of that?

Jiang Jingchun was his cousin and his wife. Even if he was furious, how could he possibly hurt her?

And what right did Song Xuan’an have to lecture him about this, anyway?

Gu Huaisheng paused briefly but didn’t look back. He carried Jiang Jingchun out of the tent without a word.

After they left, Song Xuan’an remained frozen in place for a long time. The soft fragrance of her presence lingered in his arms, but in the end, he handed her over to Gu Huaisheng, fully aware of what would come next.

The feeling was far from pleasant.

Song Xuan’an felt so miserable that even his stomach began to ache.

He curled up on the bed, which still retained Jiang Jingchun’s faint scent. Perhaps it was because the pain in his stomach was unbearable that tears involuntarily rolled down from the corners of his eyes.

Before long, he heard the faint sound of voices from outside. 

Without announcement of anyone’s presence, the tent flap was already lifted from the outside.

When Song Xuanjing entered the tent, he found only Song Xuan’an inside, and his expression darkened.

Where was that woman?

Earlier, he and Jiang Jinghui had seen to it that Jiang Jingchun was drugged and left to rest in this very tent. How could it be that only Song Xuan’an was here now?

Moreover, Jiang Jingchun’s scent still lingered in the tent.

Outside, a group of men chatted loudly. They peered through the tent flap into the tent and called out, “Xuan’an, how come you’re back so early today? We were about to ask if you wanted to join us for a night hunt.”

Earlier, Song Xuanjing had suggested a night hunt and rallied a group of people. When he noticed Song Xuan’an wasn’t at the banquet, he proposed coming to the tent to find him.

The group was well aware of the close bond between the two brothers, so they didn’t think much of it and followed along.

Song Xuan’an glanced at the people outside the tent flap and instantly understood Song Xuanjing’s intentions.

He was meticulous to an extreme and even brought a group of people to witness the scene of adultery.

No wonder today’s events had felt so strange—Song Xuanjing had to be behind it. Seeing him now, appearing with a crowd, confirmed Song Xuan’an’s suspicions.

“My stomach’s upset, so I came back early,” Song Xuan’an answered the men outside the door. Then he added, “Wait for me outside. I need to speak with him.”

The ‘him’ that Song Xuan’an referred to was naturally Song Xuanjing.

The group outside sensed something odd in the atmosphere and picked up on the tension. Upon hearing Song Xuan’an’s words, they left the tent and waited outside.

As soon as the tent flap dropped, Song Xuan’an couldn’t hold back anymore. He got off the bed and strode up to Song Xuanjing. He grabbed him by the collar and said, “Are you sick in the head? You even brought a bunch of people to watch…”

Song Xuan’an couldn’t stop himself from growling in a low voice and saying, “Are you out of your f*cking mind!?”

According to Song Xuanjing’s plan, by now, Song Xuan’an and Jiang Jingchun should’ve been caught in an intimate situation on the bed.

He’d brought those men here to ensure there were firsthand witnesses to the scandalous scene.

Did he not understand how important a woman’s reputation was?

Even though Song Xuan’an was typically easygoing and unconcerned, he still carried an innate sense of pride. He had never cursed before. 

But this time, he couldn’t take it anymore.

He’d endured everything that Song Xuanjing had done to him. However, his use of such a despicable method to harm Jiang Jingchun? It was utterly unbearable to him.

Song Xuanjing genuinely wanted to ruin her forever. He wanted her to live a life of shame for the rest of her life!

Song Xuanjing realised that his plan had failed and dropped his pretence. He swatted away Song Xuan’an’s hand and shot him a look of disdain. “You’re so useless. I’ve already put her in your bed, and you still couldn’t make a move. You’re a complete waste.”

For once, Song Xuanjing’s anger surfaced, and he spoke words that were far harsher than his usual words.

If Song Xuan’an’s reputation had been destroyed, all talks of Song Xuan’an’s betrothal and marriage would have been ruined as well. But now, things hadn’t gone according to plan.

Song Xuan’an didn’t respond to Song Xuanjing’s insult. So what if he was useless? Anyhow, he wasn’t about to let Song Xuanjing get away with it.

Song Xuan’an looked at Song Xuanjing and mockingly said, “Do you think I’m still as foolish as before? Isn’t the Song family all you want?”

Song Xuanjing’s gaze turned cold.

Song Xuan’an smirked faintly and said the one thing Song Xuanjing couldn’t stand to hear.

“You’re just like your concubine-mother—”

Before he could finish, Song Xuanjing punched him in the face.

Song Xuan’an’s words were cut off by that punch.

Even after taking the blow, Song Xuan’an continued to provoke him. He wiped the bl00d from the corner of his mouth and went on, “What? Did I hit a nerve? When she was alive, she loved using dirty tricks, and now you’re following in her footsteps. Do you like to use these underhanded schemes as well?”

He feigned deep thought, then suddenly acted as though he’d figured something out. “Ah, I get it now. There’s an old saying—‘Dragons birth dragons, phoenixes birth phoenixes.’ Song Xuanjing, I finally understand why you’re so vile. Turns out you really take after her, don’t you?”

After hearing these words, Song Xuanjing snapped. He lost all his rationality and began punching Song Xuan’an like a madman. He rained blows on Song Xuan’an’s face and body and screamed as he did so.

The commotion inside the tent alarmed the group waiting outside. They burst in and were met with the sight of Song Xuanjing viciously beating Song Xuan’an.

They were stunned. They didn’t know what was going on, and they couldn’t fathom how things could’ve come to this in such a short time. They rushed forward to stop the fight and pulled the enraged Song Xuanjing away from Song Xuan’an.

Song Xuan’an glanced at the group that had entered, then watched as Song Xuanjing belatedly tried to compose himself. His goal had been achieved.

Song Xuanjing had brought these men to ruin his and Jiang Jingchun’s reputation.

Now, Song Xuan’an had made sure they saw Song Xuanjing lose his mind.

Even though he’d been beaten to a bloody pulp, his lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. No one noticed it before he let his eyes roll back and fainted.

Gu Huaisheng carried Jiang Jingchun straight back to their tent.

The night was dark, and the air was cold, but no matter how cold the wind blew, it couldn’t dissipate the heat radiating from the two of them.

Jiang Jingchun was restless the entire time. While being carried by Gu Huaisheng, she clung tightly to him. Her actions grew more desperate as the drug’s effects intensified. She clung to him, as if trying to draw some coolness from his body to ease her discomfort.

Gu Huaisheng let her cling to him. He allowed her to rub her head against his chest without restraint. It wasn’t until they returned to their tent that he pried her hands off and dropped her onto the bed.

His face remained icy. The chill in his gaze was still sharp and unyielding. His gaze carried a frost-like mist as he looked at her.

Jiang Jingchun, however, clearly hadn’t realised the person holding her was Gu Huaisheng. She clung to him but still called out for Song Xuan’an the entire way.

Even though he knew she had been drugged and had lost her senses, this knowledge didn’t make Gu Huaisheng feel any better.

Because, deep in her subconscious, she wasn’t rejecting Song Xuan’an.

Whoever could make her feel better right now was acceptable.

Oh… not him, perhaps, but anyone else would do.

The thought made the veins on Gu Huaisheng’s forehead throb even harder.

He tossed her onto the bed and sat down by the bedside. However, she immediately climbed back toward him with a desperate urgency.

“So hot… it’s so hot…”

She felt like she was being consumed by fire. She buried her head into his chest and kept rubbing against him. Her arms wrapped around his back, as if she wanted to meld completely into his embrace.

Gu Huaisheng sat on the edge of the bed while she clung to him tightly and pressed herself against his chest, as if doing so could somehow bring her relief.

He glanced down at the person in his arms, but all he could see was the top of her head.

The faint fragrance of her body began to engulf him. Gu Huaisheng had already reacted; the ache was unbearable, and the veins on his forehead pulsed.

But he didn’t rush to act.

Right now, she didn’t even recognise who he was. Her lips kept calling out for Song Xuan’an, even though she didn’t receive any reply. What, was he supposed to do such a good thing for Song Xuan’an and do ‘it’ while she still thought he was Song Xuan’an?

He reached out, pulled her from his arms, and gripped her chin with one hand. He applied just enough pressure with his grip.

The pain snapped Jiang Jingchun back to some semblance of clarity. She blinked dazedly and tried to make out the person before her.

He said, “Who am I? Take a good look.”