Chapter 2: Innocence

"Are you very close with them?" The masked man spoke again. It was unclear whether it was a question or a statement, so Ning Qian gave no reply. Even if she wanted to answer, she had nothing to say; she was not familiar with the prefect’s household at all.

"What kind of person is the prefect?"

"Huh?" Ning Qian was startled. Why was he suddenly asking about the prefect? Though surprised, she answered, "I’m not sure. I’ve only seen him a few times, and we hardly exchanged any words. Father and Mother never discussed him in front of me." It was only natural; whenever they met, they spoke about business or the affairs of the state. How could a daughter listen in on such matters?

"Do your brothers have any dealings with the prefect?"

"My brothers? No, I don’t think so. Father still handles all business matters. My brothers merely help out occasionally. Why are you so curious about my family? Who exactly are you?"

For reasons unknown, Ning Qian sensed that this masked man was no ordinary bandit. His bearing and manner of speech revealed as much. After speaking for so long, her initial tension had faded. Now, her worry was whether the masked man would harm her family.

The masked man stood and kicked the food basket toward her: "Eat." With that, he left the room.

Only when the door closed did Ning Qian rise and carry the food box to the corner. The meal inside was plentiful: rice, vegetables, and a bowl of soup whose name she did not know. They appeared ordinary, but to Ning Qian, who had been hungry for so long, it was a sumptuous feast.

Unexpectedly, the masked man let her off so easily. Lost in her thoughts, she devoured everything, uncertain whether another meal would ever come.

Meanwhile, the Ning family had already received the news, and their guests had been sent away. Ning Qian’s father, Ning Qian, had gone to Prefect Du’s residence. Such a grave matter required official intervention.

When Ning Qian returned home, his wife Ruan Qi waited anxiously in the hall with their three sons. Seeing him enter, she suppressed her anxiety and softly called, "You’re back." She helped him wash his face, and after he sat, she quietly asked, "What did the prefect say?"

Ning Qian sighed deeply. He recalled his conversation with Prefect Du at the yamen. From Du’s words, it was clear that this abduction was no simple matter. Never had he heard of such a large bandit gang nearby; he suspected it might be an enemy of the Ning family seeking vengeance. The traces left at the scene suggested these bandits were no ordinary rabble. Prefect Du had made it clear: private matters must be settled privately. Thinking of this, Ning Qian could only sigh in despair.

"This marriage for Qianqian may not..."

Ruan Qi grew anxious at his words. "What do you mean? Not what? Is the prefect reneging on the engagement?"

"Yes. He said that after Qianqian was taken by bandits, her reputation..."

"Outrageous!" Ruan Qi snapped. In this moment, her hidden temperament was laid bare. Matters concerning her beloved daughter left her heedless of decorum.

Yet no amount of anger could change the reality. It was said that the people cannot contend with officials. Even if they wished to fight, they lacked the means. The Ning residence seemed shrouded in a heavy cloud that showed no signs of dispersing.

Ning Qian did not know how long she had spent in the dark room. For several days, it was always the masked man who brought her meals. The rules were the same—only by answering his questions could she eat. Though the questions seemed trivial, after a few days, the masked man might well know the history of her family unto eighteen generations.

That night, as Ning Qian was drifting toward sleep, the door suddenly opened. Alerted, she sprang upright. She had slept little these days; in the dark room, day and night blurred together. If the masked man—whom she had never seen clearly—meant to harm her, would she not be left to weep in vain?

Though not certain the masked man was the leader of the bandits, his status was surely not low. Otherwise, why would he be the only one to visit her?

She grabbed a stool and held it in front of herself, determined to fight if the leader attempted to force her. No matter what, she would never become his captive bride. The stool was the same one the masked man had brought in last time. Aside from it, the room contained nothing else.

Tonight, however, the masked man felt strange to her—an oppressive darkness lingered about him.

He approached slowly. Though his expression was hidden, his footsteps conveyed a grim composure. It was as if Ning Qian’s words had not reached him at all.

Seeing him draw near, Ning Qian hurriedly hurled the stool at him. Midway, she felt a surge of force through the stool; her hand stung and the stool dropped to the floor.

She stared wide-eyed at the masked man—he truly was a skilled fighter. "What do you want?" At this moment, Ning Qian suddenly calmed. If the masked man truly meant her harm, she could not resist. Perhaps keeping calm would help her find a way out.

"You are very calm," the masked man finally said.

Ning Qian was taken aback. Was he complimenting her? Yet she could not shake the sense that his intentions were dubious. "What do you really want?" she pressed. The uncertainty of her fate was unbearable.

"To let you go," the masked man replied simply.

Ning Qian was stunned. Had she heard correctly? He said he would release her? Surely he must be up to some trick.

Before she could react, the masked man seized her and pressed a cloth over her mouth and nose. Her eyes widened in shock—this damned masked man was employing his old tactics again. Was he truly about to harm her? It was only a moment before she collapsed into his arms.

After she had fainted, another man entered. He wore flowing white robes that, though simple in appearance, were clearly the finest silk. His movements were elegant, yet laced with an unmistakable air of authority. He patted the masked man’s shoulder and laughed, "Why wait? Get on with it. Sooner or later it must be done..."

"I suppose I’ve fallen into your hands," the masked man murmured. With that, the room gradually fell silent.