When Wu Qiuyue finds out that Mo Wei left her on her own, she was elated. When she heard that Li Jun has immobilized his army to look for her, she feels her heart shattering into pieces.
At night, the capital is awake due to the chaos caused by General Li's army. The fifth prince and his wife are also awake. Wu Yixing is too busy seeding the fertile ground. He couldn't care less if the city gets drowned in the fire.
Li Jun, after finding out that Mo Wei had left after saying goodbye Mo Qian, immobilizes his army to look for his second concubine dressed like a man and wandering the capital at night. Nobody knew about the existence of General Li's second wife. Li Jun also never acted like this for a woman before. The emperor's sleep is disturbed. Curious to see this woman who can steal Li Jun's rationality, the emperor also commands his people to look for a runaway concubine everywhere.
The capital is turned upside down until Mo Wei is found in a cart on the road going out of the capital at dawn.
***
"She's here!" I open my eyes when I hear a shout. Someone grabs my arm and drags me out of the cart. There are numerous soldiers surrounding the cart. Before I can ask any question, my hands are being tied.
"Hey!" I glare at him. "What are you doing?"
They don't answer me. I try to fight. I kick them. I bite them. I do everything in my power to escape their clutches. Why don't I have super strength? All freaking immortals have some superpowers. Instead, my superpowers are inactivated. What kind of justice is this?
Someone ties my legs and wraps a cloth around my face. I can't see anything. I scream at them. "You bastard! Are you soldiers? At least, tell my crime before taking me to prison."
Nobody answers me. Someone shoves me into a carriage. I hear the sound of the door locking. The carriage is already running.
What the hell! Am I being abducted during my escape? Why though? I think of a million reasons. Witch-hunting? Weren't witches burned in old times? Wait, that was a different era. Timekeepers? That timekeeper must have used this opportunity to get rid of me.
I roll on the floor of the carriage. I hit something hard. "$#!%! Why cover my face? I didn't kill anyone."
After a long time, the carriage finally stops. I hold my breath. What lies outside of this? The timekeeper's den? I can't think of any other enemy.
Someone pulls me out. I hear gasps. The rope around my feet is untied by someone. I am pushed to walk ahead. I am not going down without a fight. That timekeeper is a big liar. He said that he would play the game fairly.
I feel a chill running down my spine. The black cloth covering my head is removed. I find myself sitting on my knees right in front of Li jun.
The way he is looking at me reminds me of the first time I met him on the battlefield. He is watching me with the same cold emotionless eyes when he placed the sword against my throat. I know for sure that the timekeeper is not currently active.
Is he offended because I left without saying goodbye? Was it because of the nonconsensual kiss? I wreck my brain and think about the times I have offended him. He's a real freaking General after all. How did I forget that fact?
I can't die. He already knows that. Then, how he is going to kill me?
Li Jun looks at the men beside me. "200 lashes for all the men who have touched her."
"..."
Not for me? Did I hear right?
I follow his gaze and look behind me. The soldiers who brought me here are kneeling on the floor. Their bodies are stiff. I can't see their expressions, but I can imagine it.
"500 lashes for men who treated her roughly."
"..."
Some men shake once before going still again.
"Leave."
In less than a minute, two of us are alone in the room. I purse my lips. I didn't expect that things would turn out like this. I underestimated his reactions and craziness. The previous Li Jun wouldn't send soldiers to catch me. Then, he wasn't a general and he probably couldn't send people through time.
Li Jun doesn't untie my hands. He keeps staring at me with a hardened jaw. I notice the dark circles around his eyes. He is wearing the same clothes that he wore yesterday. I feel a little bit guilty.
I bow my head a little. "I am sorry for leaving without saying goodbye."
"That's what you are sorry about?" His icy voice makes me shiver in fright.
I thought that I couldn't feel cold. I have been proven wrong. Gathering whatever left of my courage and pride, I meet his eyes. "I don't remember doing anything wrong to you?"
His thin lips curl up. My shoulders tense up when I see him walking toward me. I can't feel pain, but that doesn't mean that I can't feel fear. This man seems so scary. He reminds me of Li Jun who used to wear a mask.
He bends down on one knee and lifts my chin with his finger. "Do you know the punishment of a runaway concubine?"
For a while, my brain can't digest his words. Did that kiss really cause a problem in his relationship with that princess? "That princess ran away?"
He pinches my chin hard. "You ran away."
"Excuse me?" I look at him with disbelief. "Li Jun, is your IQ that low? Didn't you understand the situation? Your wife thought that you were gay. I said those things to save your reputation. When did I become your concubine?"
His gaze turns colder. I think that only my body is immune to death temporarily. My soul wants to fly away.
"All I know is that you took advantage of my body when I was asleep." His face inches closer to mine. "You conspired in a way that everyone saw what you did to me. You openly asked me whether I want you as my concubine. My little witch, I already accepted your request. How dare you run away after doing whatever you wanted?"