Trapped by the Emperor's Toxic Love

Chapter 1

For ten years, I was the sharpest blade in Jeremy's hand.

When he ascended to the throne, he ordered me to die.

Later, he came to see me.

I lowered my gaze and said, "Let's not meet again."

But he leaned in close, his eyes dark and menacing.

"Not meet again? Justine, you belong to me. Don't ever think you can leave."

...

War erupted at the border, and the army suffered defeat after defeat.

After the city fell, the once grand Powell Residence was looted and then set ablaze.

The large family of over a hundred members perished in the chaos.

Overnight, the number of beggars in the city multiplied, and the people were displaced, living off begging.

During the turmoil, some turned their attention to the young children.

With a tasty treat or a piece of candy, they could easily lure the naive children away and sell them to the whorehouses.

So, I secretly smeared dirt on my face, swapped my luxurious silk for tattered clothes, and took refuge in the abandoned temple.

I lived there for almost two months.

Living in the open, with tattered clothes and little to eat.

Those days were particularly hard to endure.

But later, when I looked back, I couldn't remember much of it.

I only remembered how he walked into my world.

It was like he came against the light, not very clear.

I forgot when exactly it was.

I only remembered that day was a dark blue, with a steady drizzle. He came with a blue bamboo umbrella, stepping gracefully into the light.

He probably came around noon because the light was especially bright then.

His gaze lingered on me, and those boots embroidered with cloud patterns in gold thread came into my view.

Then he squatted down and gently wiped the dirt off my face with a handkerchief.

I stared at him in a daze, and he seemed to smile and asked me,

"What's your name?"

I just shook my head and didn't speak.

"No name? That's okay." He paused, then continued, "Would you like to come with me? I can give you a name."

During my escape, others had asked similar questions.

Some even tried to take me away by force.

Luckily, I managed to slip away halfway and followed the refugees here.

I had learned to be smart, knowing that those people only cared about children with fair and pretty faces.

But this person in front of me was different.

He didn't look at me as if I were an object, nor did he speak rudely. He was patiently waiting for my answer.

I thought, maybe I could go with him.

So I nodded.

The tall young man relaxed his brows and spoke gently.

"My name is Jeremy."

"From now on, you will be called Justine."

When the golden wind meets the jade dew, it surpasses countless earthly encounters.