The whole village said Lu Yujiao was a shameless seductress. She had married three men, and all of them died on their wedding night.

From then on, no one dared to marry her. Her uncle and aunt even planned to marry her off after the New Year to an old, deaf, half-blind widower in exchange for a few pounds of grain.

Terrified, Lu Yujiao’s almond eyes brimmed with tears as she glanced at the soldiers who had returned home on family leave. She set her sights on the tallest, strongest, most formidable officer.

On a freezing winter night, she slipped straight into his bed.

“Please…” Her soft, misty voice trembled with fear, tears clinging to her lashes, her cheeks flushed crimson.

His body, hard and cold, suddenly burned like fire. Flipping over, he pinned her beneath him, his voice hoarse beyond recognition.

“What are you begging me for?”