The night was dark and windy, with an eerie silence enveloping everything. In a secluded courtyard nestled within the Ministry of Rites, a small door creaked open, and a slender figure slipped out unnoticed. Clad in a sleek, night-time attire and carrying a modest bundle on her back, Chu Huaiyu stole a glance backward, her thoughts echoing silently: "Apologies, but marrying a sixty-year-old man as a concubine is simply unbearable. I cannot accept it, so I must bid farewell!" Indeed, she was not the original Chu Huaiyu of the Chu family but a soul displaced from another realm. Formerly an elite special forces soldier in the modern world, she had been betrayed during a classified mission, leading to her decision to take down her target—an international drug lord—at the cost of her own life. She had expected oblivion, but instead, her soul traversed time and space, manifesting in the form of Chu Huaiyu, eldest daughter of the Chu family, destined to be wedded off as a concubine to an unscrupulous old man, prompting her desperate act of suicide. Chu Huaiyu was dumbfounded upon awakening to these revelations. Could this man truly be her father? Upon explanation from her maid, she realized the harsh truth: her biological mother had perished during childbirth, leaving her father to hastily remarry and father more children, relegating her to the status of a mere pawn in his schemes. Her suffering, it seemed, knew no bounds, whether in the modern or ancient world. Chu Huaiyu hadn't faced such mistreatment even in modern times, let alone now. So, after a day or two of rest and regaining her strength, she seized an opportunity to slip away! Carrying a bundle, Chu Huaiyu made her way to the wall at the back of the garden. Recalling details from the previous occupant's memories, she knew that beyond this wall lay a secluded and quiet alley, ideal for her escape. "Who the hell is so disrespectful, tossing trash around people's walls?" Chu Huaiyu muttered angrily under her breath. "Cough... Though my situation is dire, I wouldn't exactly call myself trash... Miss, you're being too harsh..." The voice from the ground caught Chu Huaiyu off guard, making her jump. Stepping back, she peered cautiously at the figure on the ground. With the faint starlight, she discerned a man, barely recognizable in his night attire blending into the shadow of the wall. "Are you... human or ghost?" Chu Huaiyu asked, her suspicion evident. The man let out a soft chuckle, his voice weak but steady. "For now, I'm still human, but it won't be long before I become a ghost." Chu Huaiyu caught a hint of blood in the air and frowned. "Are you injured?" she inquired. Gasping for air, the man nodded. "Yes, and I'm being pursued. They could arrive here at any moment. Miss, you should leave immediately!" Chu Huaiyu hesitated, torn between aiding the injured man and heeding his warning to flee. Her intuition warned her that this man was no ordinary person, and getting involved with him could spell trouble. Chu Huaiyu hesitated as she looked at the man on the ground, torn between saving him and heeding his warning to leave. Her instincts warned her that the man was no ordinary person and getting involved with him could spell trouble. After a moment of thought, Chu Huaiyu decided to leave. Watching her depart, the man's eyes flickered with a hint of darkness, and a mocking smile tugged at his lips. However, his smirk quickly faded as Chu Huaiyu returned, bending down to haul him up like a sack. "Why did you come back?" the man asked, his breath labored. As she tended to his wounds, Chu Huaiyu replied firmly, "Don't try to manipulate me. You wanted me to leave to play on my sympathy, hoping I'd stay to save you, didn't you?" Seeing through his ploy from the start showcased Chu Huaiyu's sharp wit. "If you knew it was a ploy, why save me?" the man pressed. Chu Huaiyu shrugged. "Because I'm kind-hearted and compassionate. Isn't that reason enough?" She wouldn't admit she couldn't bear to watch someone suffer, even if it meant trouble for herself. The man chuckled, triggering a fit of coughing. "Quiet down. If you attract the assassin's, I'll leave you behind," Chu Huaiyu warned as she tended to his wounds with herbs she had secretly collected. The man's eyes gleamed slightly at the sight of Chu Huaiyu, a girl from the Minister of Rites' family, dressed in night attire, sneaking out with a bag of medical supplies. It was quite intriguing indeed! Once the bandaging was done, Chu Huaiyu retrieved a bottle of premium tonic from her bag, perfect for aiding the man's recovery from his ordeal. After administering a pill, she watched as his condition visibly improved, indicating he was out of immediate danger. Relieved, Chu Huaiyu stood up and announced, "You're looking better now. Take some rest, and you'll be able to leave on your own. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be on my way!" As she turned to leave, the man's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Miss, please wait!" Curious, Chu Huaiyu turned back to face him, wondering what else he had to say. Seeing her attention, the man, now on his feet, towered over her. He then asked, "Miss, why the rush? Leaving the Minister of Rites' residence in the dead of night with such urgency—have you encountered trouble?" Chu Huaiyu raised an eyebrow. "Why not suspect me of being a thief breaking in?" she retorted. The man chuckled softly. "Breaking in, only to pack a bag full of medical supplies?" Chu Huaiyu was momentarily speechless, impressed by his astute observation. Undeterred, the man continued with a smile, offering his assistance if she needed it in return for her saving his life. After a moment's consideration, Chu Huaiyu decided to confide in him, revealing her predicament: her father's plan to marry her off as a concubine to an elderly minister the next day, and her desperate need to escape today. Listening attentively, the man smiled reassuringly. "If Miss Chu trusts me, go back home and rest. I promise to resolve this matter by tomorrow."