Li Xueyue woke up with puffy eyes and parched lips. When her eyes peeled open, Yu Zhen was still on high-alert, as he had been the entire night.
"Sunshine?" Yu Zhen gently murmured as he softly caressed the side of her face. Had the storm passed? Was the sun peeking out of the horizon now? But she terrified him by breaking down, yet again. She slapped his hand away and curled into a tiny ball.
"Yu Zhen, I-I tried, I tried so hard I—"
"Shhh, it's alright." Yu Zhen slipped under the blankets. In an instant, she flinched away, recoiling in fear.
"No, I was violated I—"
"The guards made it in time before you were. The same for your little maidservant." Yu Zhen remained seated on the bed. He reached down and pulled her into his arms. She was shaking. Her fingers trembled as they dug into his shoulders.
