After Nightfall

Luo Ningcha's anger outweighed her fear. This was the second time she'd been kidnapped in the Dragon Court, and the treatment was even worse than the first time. Nobody had even told her why.

The moment her hood was removed and her bound hands were freed, she was still bewildered and at a loss. But she quickly widened her eyes and searched all around for someone to vent her fury on.

Four unfamiliar women... no, one... two of them were people she knew. Luo Ningcha glanced between Shangguan Ru and Xu Yanwei. She neither greeted them nor asked why she'd been captured. Instead, she glared at Xu Yanwei and snapped, "You traitor! How dare you come back and face me?"

Xu Yanwei had served Luo Ningcha for a long time. That threat immediately brought her back to those unbearable days. Though Luo Ningcha had liked her, and sometimes even depended on her, when she lost her temper, she could be utterly merciless.

Among the two familiar faces, Luo Ningcha chose the weaker one as her target. Xu Yanwei, meanwhile, had to pick the strongest of the three women as her protector.

Shangguan Ru, Queen Ju, Xiao Fengchai—Xu Yanwei's gaze flicked over them. Acting on instinct as much as judgment, she darted behind Shangguan Ru like a little rabbit being chased.

Luo Ningcha strode over to Shangguan Ru in two steps and glared at her. "Give me back my maid."

"Eighth sister-in-law, why are you so angry?"

"You and Shangguan Nu aren't Stone Fortress people anymore. Don't call me 'sister-in-law.' Get out of my way!"

Luo Ningcha had a gift for making people hate her with a single sentence. Shangguan Ru laughed a few times. "All right, we have nothing to do with each other. Luo Ningcha, this isn't your territory,