Lightweight gauze curtains, rain hitting banana leaves.

In the west wing of Guang Hou's mansion, jade pendants were scattered about. A gilded tripod emitted a wisp of dragon's essence mingled with the lingering scent of passion and pleasure.

Shen Luan woke up from the rosewood bed of yellow flowers, feeling a splitting headache, as if her head had been run over by a cartwheel.

Today is the homecoming banquet of Qin Shu, the legitimate daughter of Guang Hou Mansion and a close friend. Her husband, Cao Jin, has come to offer congratulations.

At the table, after being persuaded by Cao Jin, he drank a few cups of fruit wine, and then couldn't bear it anymore...

What happened after that, I can only remember vaguely. I have fragmented memories of being carried into a room and hearing the lock click shut. Then, in a daze, I was pushed onto a futon...

Suddenly, a person walked past the screen and towards me.

The room was dimly lit, Shenluan couldn't see the person's face clearly, only that they were tall and imposing, with a... strange kind of aura.

Holding my breath, I dared not move. A sense of foreboding spread from the bottom of my heart.

The man wore a crimson robe, and on the front of it was embroidered a jade unicorn stepping on auspicious clouds!

The qilin is a first-class warrior!

Shen Lan's head buzzed. Cao Jin was a third-rank official, and he had the audacity to spout Confucian ideals...

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the door, accompanied by Ling's approaching footsteps. Before he could even make out the person's face, the door was violently burst open.

"Qin Ge, you disregard the laws of the state and act like a beast towards my wife!"

Shen Luan suddenly raised her head, the person's face becoming clear as day with the outdoor lines.

How could it be him?

Every drop in Shen Luan's body was exploding, cold terror drilling deep into his bones.

Cao Jin's face was ashen. He strode forward and pulled her off the bed in one swift movement. Shen Luan stumbled and fell into his arms, the blanket covering her head, concealing her shamefaced expression.

Hisses of disdain seeped from under the covers, and she couldn't hold on any longer, collapsing into unconsciousness.

……

The East Garden of the Minister's Residence, Tangli Pavilion

Shen Luan sat on the bed, dumbfounded. She hadn't been feeling well lately, so her elder sister had called for the family doctor. Who would have thought it was a pulse of pregnancy?

Cao Jin was busy with work, and they hadn't been intimate for half a year. A scene from a month ago of him entangled with another person suddenly flashed in her mind...

In pain, she covered her face. She had Qin Ge's child.

"Master has arrived? The madam has woken up, she is inside." A maid's voice came from outside.

The door creaked open as it was pushed.

Caigen walked in around the screen, still holding a blue medicine bowl in her hand.

Shenluan raised her eyes and saw Cao Jin in a scarlet brocade robe, radiating an air of nobility. There was not the slightest trace of his former poverty.

She has been married to Cao Jin for three years.

Because of an accident during a family gathering, she suffered a long scar from her eyebrow to her cheek, taking her from being the belle of the ball to being ignored.

Only Cao Jin, persistently went to her door to propose marriage, his attitude was truly sincere.

Therefore, even though the Cao family's social standing was far inferior to the Shen family's, Shen Luan married him out of genuine love.

After she married him, Shen Juan devoted her whole heart to repaying him. She took care of the household chores, managed his business, and dedicated all her time and energy to this man.

What can be replaced instead?

In order to bring down Qin Ge, his arch-nemesis, the Third Prince was willing to use his own wife as bait, drugging her...

With a voice that was dry and cracked, he asked, "Why?"

Caojin held a bowl of congee in her hand, her pale fingers delicately gripping the porcelain spoon as she slowly scooped.

"Arlan, this matter is very important to me. Qin Ge is a cautious person and never lets his guard down with anyone, yet he's completely open with you. Could this not be an opportunity given to me by fate?"

(Editor in charge：dystopian novels)