Zhao Jing couldn't understand how there could be such a woman in the world!

What women in the world want is nothing more than a stable life, their husband's affection, beautiful jewelry, fashionable clothes, and freedom from hardship.

He gave her everything he could; in front of her, he was practically begging for mercy.

But she still ran away, not just once, but repeatedly, racking her brains to get away from him!

Is he a demon or monster?

Zhao Jing was extremely strong, and he wanted to pull Jiang Tian into his arms.

Jiang Tian didn't utter a sound.

Only after Zhao Jing calmed down a little did he release Jiang Tian, ​​press down on her shoulders, lower his head, and ask urgently like a trapped beast, "Besides leaving me, what do you want?"

Jiang Tian remained as calm as ever. Whether Zhao Jing was furious or heartbroken, her expression never wavered.

"You've always known what I want, but you're too afraid to admit it, let alone give it to me, so I have to fight for it myself."

Zhao Jing remained silent.

He knew he was already a villain in her heart, so he no longer even bothered to pretend.

He paused for a moment and then said, "State your terms and come back to the palace with me."

Jiang Tian looked up at him and said, "What can you give me? Putting everything else aside, I am your first wife, but you treat me as a favored concubine. No matter how much you favor and love me, I am still just a concubine. No matter when the Empress appears, she will always be superior to me because she is my mistress."

"Sometimes I really want to ask you, how do you manage to demote your wife to a concubine and still act like you've done a great deed?"

"Do you think I haven't tried to accept my fate? But the thought of having a mistress above me, your wife and me your concubine, is unbearable. Zhao Jing, I've always wondered what it is about me that makes you care so much... Please let me go..."

Her words suddenly became rapid, even hinting at a hint of collapse.

Zhao Jing then realized that the mutual torment between the two had not failed to shake Jiang Tian; she had simply kept it well hidden.

Hearing her question, Zhao Jing opened his mouth, his tone somewhat weak: "Your reputation is ruined... If you become empress, an empress without power or influence cannot hold her position, and you will be attacked by the whole world."

"To be a favored concubine, all you need to do is pamper me. You don't need to worry about those complicated relationships and intricacies. I... just want to give you the best."

Jiang Tian laughed, her lips curving upwards, and she even laughed out loud: "I really admire how you can make your disdain sound so reasonable. Will my life be better after becoming a favored concubine? I really have no background, so the powerful empress can treat me like a cat or dog at any time."

"Stop using your favor as an excuse. Beauty fades before love ends. You're infatuated with me now, but what about ten or twenty years from now? If you get tired of me, I'll die without a burial place. You can't live without me, so you want to take me back. You're afraid that if I become empress, it will ruin your reputation, so you make me your favorite concubine. I will always be controlled by you and have to satisfy your needs."

"When I'm no longer of any use, I'll just spend the rest of my life on a straw mat. Do you want that kind of life? I don't want it, not at all."

Jiang Tian slowly shook her head, her tone calm.

Zhao Jing's expression was somewhat somber, and he remained silent for a long time before saying, "I am not as bad as you say. If I bring you into the palace, I will protect you for the rest of my life. If you don't believe me, I can issue an imperial edict."

Jiang Tian shook her head, her tone devoid of warmth: "But I don't want to, and I don't believe you. If you still want me to enter the palace, then take my corpse with you. From the moment I escaped, I never thought of going back."

"Is life here any better? In the middle of the night, lecherous men try to take advantage of you, and all the country folk dream of marrying you. Are you willing to be a village woman for the rest of your life?"

Jiang Tian smiled and said, "I'm willing."

Zhao Jing noticed that her eyes and brows seemed to gain a touch more vibrancy and gentleness when she talked about her current life.

“I can kill those who want to do bad things in the middle of the night myself. I appreciate the sincerity of the country folk who admire me. After leaving the palace, I do not miss the fine clothes and delicacies of the past, nor am I bound by fame and fortune.”

"I have hands and feet, I can read, I can farm, and I know some handicrafts. I can endure hardship and fatigue. I'm happy and carefree living in a thatched hut—"

Jiang Tian's smile widened: "My life is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than it was in the palace."

Then, her tone became pleading: "Zhao Jing, please stop clinging to me, okay? You be your wise ruler, your hegemon, and I'll be my peasant wife. Let's both let go of the past. When you meet someone new, you'll realize I'm not indispensable. I'm just an ordinary person too."

Zhao Jing remained silent.

Those who, after enjoying the world's greatest wealth and luxury, are still content with simple meals and even find joy in them, are definitely not ordinary people, much less common people.

Every unique aspect of her only intensified Zhao Jing's obsession.

Zhao Jing felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw the bright look in her eyes as she spoke of those days.

When he was sick and emaciated, this woman probably never mentioned him once.

Plunder is in his nature.

From the very beginning, when he chose to conquer the world, he upheld the belief that "I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me."

His extreme personality made him increasingly obsessed with Jiang Tian.

The more she tried to escape, the more he wanted to possess her and make sure she could never escape again.

As he smelled her unique fragrance, Zhao Jing's eyes suddenly turned dark, with sparks dancing within them.

Zhao Jing couldn't remember how it all happened.

In the distance, the howls of wild beasts echoed through the mountains and forests, while nearby, the chirping of insects and startled birds filled the air.

As if under a spell, Zhao Jing stopped thinking about anything else and picked up Jiang Tian...

The clothes fell one by one.

Under the sky, beside the tree, her snow-white body looked even more enchanting in the night.

Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, the ends swaying gently.

The huge scars on her face did not inspire fear, but rather gave her a somewhat eerie quality in the night in the mountains.

At this moment, she was like a beautiful ghost in the mountains, captured by a mortal by chance. So, she could only raise her fragile neck and was forced to reveal her most charming and alluring side.

Zhao Jing looked up and saw her gritting her teeth, on the verge of tears, and he focused even more intently...

…………………………

As dawn approached, Zhao Jing finally dressed Jiang Tian.

Under Jiang Tian's indifferent gaze, he helped her put the hairpin in place and then carefully placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I can't let you go. If I do, I won't be able to live a proper life. You don't know, in the past six months since you disappeared, I haven't slept with anyone. When I really miss you, I take your clothes..."

Zhao Jing's tone was very gentle, and he even helped Jiang Tian tuck her hair behind her ears.