After Time Traveling, I was Forced to Marry a Wealthy Family

The medicine had sent Mu Ci into a deep and unyielding slumber, his heavy eyelids refusing to open. In his dreams, he replayed the moments leading to his unconsciousness repeatedly. The rain poured down, and he found himself sitting in the garden, near the ancient well, gently caressing a jade pendant in his hand.

He then lifted his gaze through the misty drizzle, fixing his eyes on the stoic and unfeeling figure before him.

Ji Yunshu regarded him with cold indifference, devoid of tenderness.

He whispered, “Ji Yunshu, if I had a knife in my hand, I would surely drive it through your throat.”

Behind Ji Yunshu stood his soldiers, their swords at the ready.

Ji Yunshu gestured for them to stay calm, offering a faint wry smile in response. “Indeed, Your Highness has always excelled in swordsmanship.”

Mu Ci clenched the jade pendant in his hand, and as he spoke, his voice wavered, no longer as steady as before. He questioned, “When did you begin to distance yourself from me? What promises did they make you to betray me?”

The rain intensified, its smooth streams tracing his face, crystal clear.

Although Mu Ci’s demeanor seemed nonchalant, Ji Yunshu inexplicably felt that ‘fragile’ was an apt word to describe him, despite his initial composure.

“From the beginning,” Ji Yunshu replied slowly. “I’ve been the First Prince’s man from the very start, and there was never any inseparability. My professed affection for you was a falsehood.”

Mu Ci’s lips quivered, and a tear rolled down his eyelashes. “So, did you place the dragon robe I discovered in my room?”

Ji Yunshu closed his eyes and remained silent.

Mu Ci then scoffed bitterly, “Are you still wary of me now? Is it necessary? Didn’t you come here to kill me?”

“I’m here on orders from the First Prince to bring you to trial.”

“To be tried?” Mu Ci found this notion laughable. “Concealing a dragon robe is a capital offense. Does it matter whether I’m in trial or not? Even if my father exposes it to the public, do you think my elder brother will let me leave the dungeon alive?”

Mu Ci’s eyes grew cold. “As long as I live, he will never be at ease. He fears the title of crown prince will slip from his grasp, so he’ll never allow me to live. But I won’t die by your hand, Ji Yunshu. Remember that I did not meet my end at your hands!”

Dark clouds enveloped the distant city, and deep thunder rumbled like a beast’s deathly growl. Mu Ci fixed his gaze on Ji Yunshu and then, without hesitation, plummeted backward into the abyss of the ancient well.

Ji Yunshu was taken aback and reached out to grab him, but his hand only managed to seize the jade pendant hanging from Mu Ci’s body. Before he could react, Mu Ci vanished into the fathomless depths of the ancient well.

Ji Yunshu broke into a cold sweat, the rain pouring relentlessly. Slowly, he opened his hand, and the moon-white jade pendant lay still within his palm, now soaked by the rain.

.

Why didn’t the rain stop?

Mu Ci was confused. Why could he still hear the sound of rain even though he had died?

The surface beneath him felt soft and warm, as if he lay atop something exceptionally plush and thick.

He fluttered his eyelashes, gradually unveiling his eyes, and observed a man in white attire not far away, pouring water into a cup, the liquid splashing.

This man’s clothing appeared rather unusual. Mu Ci gazed at him with a moment of bewilderment before realizing that the room was brilliantly lit, yet no candles were in sight.

Could it be daytime now? He glanced outside and, through the window, witnessed a full moon.

His own silhouette was reflected on the smooth glass pane, perplexing him. He had never seen anything so transparent before. The only transparent things he’d encountered were the ice served in the palace during the summer and exceptionally clear jade. But none of those were as transparent as that thing.

Mu Ci then looked up at the incandescent light fixture overhead, so blindingly bright that it forced him to squint, and he let out an involuntary exclamation.

The doctor, who was nearby, turned back and pressed a button to notify Bai Ling.

However, the bell failed to ring; instead, it connected directly to Bai Ling, sparing Mu Ci from the noise. Mu Ci continued to gaze at the incandescent light embedded in the ceiling with a perplexed expression. His dazed appearance was remarkably beautiful, his lips slightly parted like a newly bloomed bud.

The doctor remembered the moment when he had undressed Mu Ci earlier and cleared his throat uncomfortably.

“You’ve awakened. Would you like some water?”

Mu Ci’s throat felt parched, so he nodded. The doctor smiled and handed him a glass of water, “Here, drink.”

Mu Ci eyed him warily and took the water. His body felt weary, and he sat up with the quilt slipping down, causing him to blush, “Where is my clothes?”

The doctor, sounding somewhat uncomfortable, explained, “Well, your clothes got wet, and the main house doesn’t have spare garments for outsiders. You’ll have to manage with this for now.”

The doctor then removed his own white coat and handed it to Mu Ci.

After brief hesitation, Mu Ci put it on. The coat was far too large, hanging loosely on his slender frame.

When Gu Huai arrived upon hearing the news, he found Mu Ci’s fragile figure draped in the white coat, sitting on the bed and gazing at the floor-to-ceiling window.

Gu Huai paused, his breath catching for a moment.

His view was obstructed, and all he could see was Mu Ci’s long, ebony hair cascading down his back and the delicate tips of his ears. Gu Huai couldn’t help but think, ‘His back is stunning, and so are his shoulders.’

Deliberately choosing to approach quietly, Gu Huai slowly seated himself beside Mu Ci. He didn’t inquire about who Mu Ci was or what he was doing.

Instead, he asked in a romantic tone, “What are you looking at, the moon?”

The doctor next to him nearly choked on his astonishment. He felt an urge to grab a scalpel and dissect his boss’s head to discover which part had turned into mush due a beauty.

Mu Ci heard the question and cautiously turned, only to discover Ji Yunshu’s face! Mu Ci’s expression changed, his breath quickening. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and slapped the man.

Gu Huai was caught off guard and received an unexpected blow.

The doctor and Bai Ling on the side were left in stunned silence. They couldn’t fathom why someone with such a clean, elegant, and delicate appearance would strike someone without any warning.

Following the initial blow, Mu Ci was left slightly breathless, staring at Gu Huai with a dazed expression, as if harboring a deep-seated resentment.

The hatred and disgust in his gaze were palpable, tinged with a hint of sadness. However, Gu Huai didn’t examine this closely. It marked the first time in his life that someone had slapped him in the face, and he immediately retaliated with a forceful slap.

Their strengths were not on the same level, and Gu Huai’s retaliatory blow sent Mu Ci tumbling back onto the bed. Gu Huai had honed his shooting skills throughout the year, and his fingertips were calloused from the practice.

He unintentionally grazed Mu Ci’s delicate cheek, leaving behind a bright red mark on his fair skin.

“Are you seeking death?!” Gu Huai furiously pulled Mu Ci to his feet and raised his hand for another strike.

However, he couldn’t help but notice the moisture filling Mu Ci’s light brown eyes. Suddenly, large tears rolled down Mu Ci’s face without warning, landing on Gu Huai’s hand as the tears streamed along the slender chin.