Chapter 2

In June 2019, a melodramatic and tragic novel called "Hua Wenluo" was adapted into a TV series, which became a hit across the country.

The female protagonist is named Yuan Luo, a time-traveling woman who is the sixth child in her family and is known as Yuan Liu Niang.

Yuan Liu Niang's life was like a tea table, filled with tragedies.

The first few years after transmigrating were fine; with a loving father and a warm mother, life went relatively smoothly. But at thirteen, the protagonist's aura began to take effect, and he caught the eye of a bandit leader he happened to meet.

The bearded man was truly in love with Yuan Liuniang. When he went to propose marriage, he was driven away. In a fit of rage, he abducted her to the mountain and forced her to marry him. Then he spread the news everywhere, forcing Yuan Luo to marry him.

Yuan Liu Niang's health was ruined, and her reputation was destroyed. With nowhere else to turn, she changed her name and left her hometown, going to a village not far from the capital, where she disguised herself as a widow and started a small business.

Finally, with her optimistic and strong attitude, she emerged from the shadow of being raped. A year later, she fell in love with a handsome scholar from the village, who married her despite public opinion, and the two officially became husband and wife.

So, you think Yuan Liu Niang has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel? That she's raised the scholar to become a high-ranking official and is living a life of extraordinary privilege as a time-traveling woman? You're being incredibly naive!

Six months later, Yuan Liu Niang was three months pregnant. The scholar set off to take the provincial examination, promising to return the following spring whether he passed or failed.

As a result, the scholar did not return the following spring.

In May, on the summer solstice, Yuan Liu Niang gave birth to a daughter. She spent money to ask a messenger from the village who was traveling to the capital to inquire about the scholar's whereabouts.

In mid-August, instead of receiving news from the messenger, she received a letter of divorce and two assassins.

That year, Yuanlu was seventeen years old.

Her three-month-old daughter died tragically, and she miraculously survived. However, the person who saved her only wanted to exchange her for money.

Sold into a brothel, Yuan Luo was like a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell. She drank the potion of childlessness and used all her strength to climb up the ladder, hoping that one day she could tear her enemy apart and comfort the spirit of the young girl who died tragically.

At the age of eighteen, there was no longer a Yuan Liu Niang in the world, only Hua Wenluo, the most famous courtesan in the capital. At the height of her fame, she was carried into the mansion by the fifth prince, Prince Cheng, in a sedan chair, and from then on, she went from a sparrow to a phoenix.

The bearded man, who was the instigator of the female protagonist's tragic life, ended up being torn apart by the male protagonist, Prince Cheng, and his head was given to the female protagonist as a birthday gift.

Lin Qiang transmigrated to this world on the very day the bearded man kidnapped the female lead and took her to Black Cloud Village…

Should we curse or be relieved?

Lin Qiang looked at the unconscious girl in his arms and sighed: "I had no choice but to do this. I'm sorry."

If he suddenly changed his temperament and released Yuan Liu Niang without any reason, the second-in-command, Zhao Ji, would definitely become suspicious. Zhao Ji is the uncle of the big-bearded man, and his martial arts skills are unfathomable. Lin Qiang has only been in this world for a few days and hasn't even gotten used to his body yet, so he dares not gamble.

*

When Lin Qiang took Yuan Qiong to the back mountain, Granny Tian had gone to gather herbs and wasn't in the yard. A girl of about ten years old saw Lin Qiang coming through the fence and opened the wooden gate with a smile.

"The boss brought over another older sister today. Let Que'er see if she's prettier than the one he brought over the day before yesterday."

Lin Qiang raised his hand and flicked her on the forehead.

"Why is this little girl so talkative!"

Xiao Que immediately covered her forehead, which didn't hurt at all, and made a fake "hiss" sound. Lin Qiang smiled and walked inside.

"Grandma Tian isn't here. You should take this young lady's pulse first and see how badly she's injured."

Tan Xiaoque pouted and followed him into the house, the bells on her feet jingling.

"It's not too light, but it's not too heavy either." After settling him down, Que'er placed her hand on Yuan Qiong's pulse, shook her little head, and said, "A few internal injuries plus a broken rib, it won't heal in three to five months!"

"Is it that serious?" Lin Qiang frowned.

"Boss, you went too far!" Que'er looked at him reproachfully. "Just because a girl doesn't want to marry you doesn't mean you can break her ribs! Besides, you already have a girl from the Yuan family, yet you're still trying to steal other girls. Aren't you being too much of a womanizer?!"

"...Do I look like the kind of person who would hit a woman? This girl was the one who fell off her horse."

"Still not admitting it? Look what you've done to Yuan Liu Niang's arm!" The girl got angry as she said this.

That was Yuan Liu Niang's own doing, used a knife to threaten Black Beard! Lin Qiang was too lazy to argue anymore.

"Alright, stop talking." Lin Qiang wanted to smoke again. "You take good care of this girl. I'm going to check on Yuan Liu Niang."

As Lin Qiang walked out, he heard the little girl muttering behind him, "When she was brought here the day before yesterday, she called him by his maiden name, Luo'er. Now that she's with another girl, she immediately calls him Yuan Liu Niang. Humph! Men are no good!"

Lin Qiang: "......"

I freaking...

Yuan Liu Niang, who lived next door, had been on edge ever since she heard Lin Qiang enter the courtyard. The intermittent voices coming from next door were indistinct, but they only made her more uneasy.

"Knock knock knock!" The sudden knocking startled her, making the hairs on her body stand on end.

"Miss Yuan, are you there?"

Yuan Luo stared intently at the doorway, picked up the teapot from the table, and dared not utter a sound.

"I'm coming in if you don't say anything," he said helplessly.

The moment Lin Qiang pushed open the door, Yuan Liu Niang screamed "Ah—" and smashed the teapot in her hand. Years of emergency training allowed Lin Qiang to dodge quickly.

"Crack!" The teapot shattered on the ground.

Lin Qiang turned his head and the first thing he saw was Yuan Liu Niang's pale face. The female lead's features were indeed impressive; at only thirteen, she already possessed a certain charm, and her delicate features suggested she would become a stunning beauty in a few years.

"Alas! What a terrible thing!"

Lin Qiang could hear the old-fashioned voice of the little girl next door clearly, thanks to his original body's internal energy.

"......."

My head hurts, and I want to smoke.

"Um, Miss Yuan, I'd like to talk to you." Lin Qiang tried his best to appear sincere, but his beard made him look anything but a good person. "You don't need to be afraid."

In a way, Yuan Liuniang was a time traveler, and he was a transmigrator from a book, so they were practically from the same hometown. Although Lin Qiang didn't want to have any connection with her, much less acknowledge her as his wife, he couldn't just stand by and watch her commit suicide like in the book.

"I know I did some awful things before, but don't worry, I've thought it through and I won't make things difficult for you anymore."

Clearly, Yuan Liuniang didn't believe her at all. The memory of being tied up on the mountain that night was too vivid; the bandit almost succeeded! In her eyes, this bearded bandit was a devil!

The little girl next door pressed her ear against the wall, eavesdropping with a mischievous grin.

At this moment, Yuan Qiong on the bed coughed lightly and slowly opened her eyes.

"Huh? You're awake?"

Tan Xiaoque immediately ran over.

"Are you thirsty? Shall I get you a glass of water?"

Yuan Qiong nodded, clutched her chest, and slowly sat up. She subtly surveyed her surroundings before her gaze finally settled on the little girl pouring water.

She took the water glass, took a small sip but didn't swallow, and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you." Then she lowered her eyes and sat on the bed, saying nothing more.

Tan Xiaoque chuckled, "You're welcome!" She then ran over and pressed her ear against the wall to continue her eavesdropping.

“Miss Yuan, now that things have come to this point, the news of your kidnapping by bandits must have already spread. Even if I release you now, others may not believe your innocence.”

They might end up on the same path described in the book.

"Why don't you stay in the village for a while? I'll find a way to clear your name." Consider it his way of atoning for the original owner's sins.

"You would be so kind?" The girl's voice was soft and sweet, but full of doubt.

Lin Qiang rubbed his temples and said, "Just stay here with Granny Tian for now. I won't bother you for the next few months." With that, he left.

Watching his departing figure, Yuan Liuniang felt a sense of relief for some reason. The bandit had sounded sincere; she hoped it was true.

Tan Xiaoque straightened up, looked at Yuan Qiong on the bed, blinked, and rushed out: "Boss! Your new sister is awake!"

Yuan Qiong, who was inside the room, and Yuan Luo, who was next door, were both taken aback.

"Take good care of her now that she's awake. I'll come back in a few days." Lin Qiang noticed Tan Xiaoque's obviously provocative look but didn't bother with her. "Give Grandma Tian my regards when she gets back."

After saying that, he took a long stride and left.

"Tch~ No fun~" Tan Xiaoque, having failed to stir up trouble, made a face and skipped into the house.

"Sister, what's your name?" She leaned over the bed and innocently rested her chin on her hand. "Sister is so beautiful. No wonder the chief didn't want the Yuan family's daughter anymore after seeing you."

Yuan Qiong slightly curved her lips, her slender eyes upturned, like a young fox just out of its den, cunning yet harmless.

Why should I tell you?

Forehead......

For the first time in her life, Tan Xiaoque choked.

"Sister..." she pouted, tears welling in her eyes, "Your words hurt me so much..."

"Sister, don't you even want to ask me where I am?"

Aren't you curious about waking up in a strange place?

"Don't you want to ask me for some information?"

Aren't you afraid of danger?

Yuan Qiong closed her eyes directly, demonstrating her stance through her actions: she didn't want to!

No matter how much Tan Xiaoque tried to charm her or threaten her, she wouldn't say another word, treating her like she was invisible the whole time. Tan Xiaoque was so angry that she gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, and left.

Yuan Qiong opened her eyes after the room quieted down.

Judging from the surroundings, this is a medicine hut. Based on the conversation I just overheard, she should be in Black Cloud Village.

The "boss" the little girl just called out to must be the burly, bearded man who kidnapped her. Before her, this man probably had a lover or sweetheart also surnamed Yuan. The fact that the burly man didn't come in when the little girl said she was awake suggests that he was in a hurry or didn't care about her.

After analyzing all the information, Yuan Qiong's tense mood relaxed slightly.

It seems the situation isn't too urgent yet. If she can hold out against these bandits for a few days, Grandpa should be able to find out she's in trouble and will definitely send someone. At that time, she won't let any of these bandits, or those who dared to plot against her, get away with it!

As for the mastermind behind the plot against her... Yuan Qiong sneered. Did she really think she was as easy to deal with as her aunt? Some debts, once settled, she would collect them with interest!