Chapter 21: Almost Lost Her Honor

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Almost Lost Her Honor

The sight of him filled Zhi Wan with disgust. She knew she was alone and would be at a disadvantage if she stayed. Without another word, she turned and ran.

Seeing her try to run, Wang Zeren quickly gave his nearby manservant a look.

The manservant immediately rushed forward, blocking Zhi Wan’s path.

Wang Zeren sneered and snapped his folding fan shut. "Zhi Wan, it’s only because I find you somewhat attractive that I’m willing to take you as a concubine. You’d best submit to me obediently. Otherwise, if you anger me, I’m not one to be gentle with women!" As he spoke, his lecherous gaze roamed up and down her body.

Thoroughly disgusted and seeing her path blocked front and back, beads of sweat broke out on Zhi Wan’s fair forehead.

’What do I do?’

She was no match for two men.

If she fell into Wang Zeren’s hands, she would be ruined.

Zhi Wan suppressed the fear in her heart, forcing herself to remain calm. "Mr. Wang, are you certain you want to make an enemy of the Duke Dingguo Mansion?"

Wang Zeren roared with laughter. "Zhi Wan, you’re just an orphan. The Duchess Dingguo took you in out of pity. Do you really see yourself as a young lady of the Duke Dingguo Mansion?"

"Did Lu Xin tell you that?" Zhi Wan asked, her hands clenched into fists.

"And what if she did?" Wang Zeren said dismissively.

"So, your ambushing me here today was also at Lu Xin’s instigation?" Zhi Wan pressed.

Seeing her endless questions, Wang Zeren lost his patience. "Enough nonsense," he snarled. "Submit to me while I still have some patience, or I’ll make you wish you were dead!"

’Last time, a moment of carelessness led to me being tricked by this little slut, turning me into a laughingstock for everyone. Today, I’ll get my revenge with interest!’

Cold sweat soaked Zhi Wan’s back. She deliberately raised her voice, "Wang Zeren, you’ve been tricked by Lu Xin!"

"What do you mean?" Wang Zeren froze.

"It’s true that Madam Lu initially took me in out of pity, but she is very fond of me now. The flower-viewing banquet at the Duke Dingguo Mansion last time was held for me by Madam Lu. Lu Xin and I have never gotten along. She wants to use you to get rid of me. If anything happens to me today, my aunt will surely avenge me. You, and your entire Wang family, will face a terrible disaster. Mr. Wang, you should think carefully about whether offending the Duke Dingguo Mansion is worth it for my sake," Zhi Wan said, enunciating every word.

Hearing this, Wang Zeren began to hesitate.

’If what Zhi Wan said is true, that Lady Wei is very fond of her, then if he were to harm her, the entire Wang family would undoubtedly face a terrible fate.’

’The Duke Dingguo Mansion’s power is immense. The Wang family couldn’t possibly withstand their retaliation.’

’Why should he bring ruin upon his family for a single woman?’

"Young Master, maybe we should just let this go," the manservant, growing fearful himself, couldn’t help but advise.

Wang Zeren was about to give up, but then he looked up and saw Zhi Wan’s pretty face and her delicate, alluring figure. In the end, his lust won out.

He stared at Zhi Wan with a predatory gaze and said recklessly, "What’s there to be afraid of? No one is around. We’ll just rape her and then kill her. Who’s going to know?"

Zhi Wan’s expression changed. Seeing the manservant was distracted, she quickly stomped on his foot. As he bent over clutching it, she bolted.

"Useless trash!" Wang Zeren roared. "Get after her!"

The manservant ignored the pain in his foot and scrambled after Zhi Wan.

Wang Zeren’s gaze turned sinister. ’Today, I will have Zhi Wan!’

Sensing the two men in relentless pursuit behind her, Zhi Wan was terrified. Casting aside all thoughts of her reputation, she opened her mouth to scream, "Hel—"

THUD!

Before she could get the word out, a figure suddenly emerged from the side. Running too fast to notice, Zhi Wan crashed right into him.

She was completely stunned. Before she could react, the person took two quick steps back. Having lost her support, she swayed and fell, landing hard on the ground.

A sharp pain shot through her backside, and tears immediately welled up in her almond-shaped eyes. She was about to look up to see who had caused her fall when a pair of long, powerful legs strode past her.

The next moment, a loud THUD came from behind her, the sound of a heavy body hitting the ground. It was followed by a man’s deep, ice-cold voice. "Looking for a death wish?"

Startled, Zhi Wan twisted around to see Wang Zeren—the very man who had been about to assault her—now pinned to the ground under someone’s foot.

"Mr. Lu, spare me..." Wang Zeren wailed, begging for mercy.

Zhi Wan froze. ’Mr. Lu?’

She scrambled to lift her head.

And indeed, the one pinning the man down was her cousin.

’Then the person I crashed into... was him?’

’But why is he here?’

Zhi Wan was both stunned and overjoyed. She had never been so thrilled and relieved to see her cousin.

Just then, another man walked over. "Wang Zeren, you have some nerve! Daring to commit such a vile act of harassment in broad daylight!"

"My lord, I was wrong! I’ll never do it again!" Seeing the two men, Wang Zeren was sick with regret. Tears and snot streamed down his face, whether from fear or pain, it was hard to tell.

"According to the laws of Great Chen, assault with a weapon is punishable by fifty strokes of the cane and three years of exile!" Lu Zhan’s voice was deep and authoritative, each word laced with an intimidating chill.

Duan Ling paused.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

’Assault with a weapon?’

But he quickly realized what was happening. ’Lu Zhan is trying to protect the young lady’s honor!’

Understanding at once, he pulled a dagger from his boot and tossed it next to Wang Zeren’s hand.

Wang Zeren, terrified out of his wits, began to struggle, screaming, "My father is a fourth-rank Court official! Lu Zhan, you have no right to punish me!"

"Even a prince is subject to the same laws as a commoner. You hold no office, no rank. You are nothing but a criminal who relies on his father’s influence. As the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, I have tried and sentenced more than a few powerful nobles. You think I have no right to deal with you? Furthermore, your father, a Court official, has indulged his son’s violent crimes. That is knowingly breaking the law. I will report this matter to the Emperor exactly as it happened and request His Majesty’s judgment!" Lu Zhan stared down at the man under his boot, his voice as cold as ice.

At these words, Wang Zeren’s face went deathly pale, and his mind went blank with terror.

’If Lu Zhan reports today’s events to the Emperor, not only will I be sentenced, but my father will also be implicated.’

’What do I do?’

In that moment, Wang Zeren was consumed by regret. His eyes darted to the dagger by his hand. Without a second thought, he snatched it and lunged viciously at Lu Zhan.

’If Lu Zhan dies, this will all be over.’

Zhi Wan’s face went white with fear. "Cousin, look out!" she shrieked.

The instant her voice rang out, it was met with the sharp SNAP of a bone being dislocated.

The dagger flew from Wang Zeren’s hand, and his arm dangled at an unnatural angle.

"AHHH—"

After letting out a bloodcurdling scream, Wang Zeren fainted from the pain.

"Attempted assassination of a Court official. That adds another, more severe charge," Lu Zhan added nonchalantly.

Wang Zeren’s manservant, who had been watching from the side, was chilled to the very marrow. His knees gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

’It’s over. The Young Master is finished. The Wang family is finished...’

"Take them away," Lu Zhan commanded in a low voice.

Chen Jiu, who had been following behind them, quickly stepped forward and hauled both Wang Zeren and his manservant away.

Zhi Wan watched, her heart pounding, unable to process what had just happened.

’She had always known her cousin was formidable, but she never imagined he could be so ruthless.’

’But thank goodness he came.’

’Otherwise, she wouldn’t have just lost her honor; she would have met a miserable end...’

"Are you all right?"

Just then, the man walked over, stopping a few feet away and looking down at her.

The young woman had been badly frightened. Her face was ashen, and her almond-shaped eyes glistened with unshed tears.