The Cold Minister’s Obsession: Chasing His Wife - Chapter 1

Early in spring, the chill still lingered.

In a certain courtyard of Liangyuan City, the air was thick with desire. Two figures entwined fervently, their heated movements accompanied by the woman’s muffled whimpers of overwhelming pleasure.

“Let go… mmm~”

Yet the man atop her seemed utterly deaf to her pleas, continuing his relentless assault without pause.

Time blurred.

Only when the heavy panting gradually subsided and the unnatural heat in Hua Qingyue’s body finally dissipated did her consciousness begin to return. But in its wake came an overwhelming pain that threatened to tear her apart, leaving her trembling uncontrollably.

“Hiss—” The sharp agony forced a gasp from her lips.

“Focus.” The man bit down lightly—yet warningly—on a sensitive spot, his grip around her waist tightening abruptly. His voice was low, dangerous. “Can’t take it already?”

Hearing the unfamiliar teasing, Hua Qingyue felt as though she had been plunged into an icy abyss, her body shaking even harder.

She didn’t need to think to know—this was her stepmother’s doing. To pave the way for her own children, she had treated Hua Qingyue as nothing more than a plaything to be gifted away. Had she truly failed to escape this fate? She had knocked that prefect unconscious, so why… why was this happening?

Tears spilled unbidden from Hua Qingyue’s eyes, each drop sapping her spirit. She looked like a piece of jade on the verge of shattering—fragile, tragic, and heartbreakingly beautiful.

Anyone else would have been moved to spare her.

But the man above her showed no such mercy.

She bit down on her tongue several times, then numbly released it. She couldn’t die—not yet at least.

Noticing her distress, the man roughly wiped away her tears with calloused fingers, his dominance unyielding. “Since you were the one who provoked me first, you’ll bear the consequences—even if you cry.”

“I didn’t… Let me go! Let me go!”

“Too late for that now.” With a voice laced with ruthless intent, he claimed her once more.

Hua Qingyue was terrified. She sobbed hysterically, pounding and thrashing against him, but it was futile—he didn’t budge an inch.

“Ah—! No…!”

Hua Qingyue jolted upright with a gasp, drenched in cold sweat, her chest heaving as she clutched at it desperately.

Just then, the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Tao Xi’s worried face.

“Miss, we’re already so far from Liangyuan… Did you dream about that damned man again?”

Her maidservant, Tao Xi, dabbed at the beads of sweat on her forehead with a handkerchief. As Hua Qingyue’s closest attendant, she had seen the state her mistress was in that night—covered in bruises, not a single patch of unmarked skin. She hadn’t needed to ask; she already knew what had happened.

Afterward, Tao Xi had secretly sought revenge on Hua Qingyue’s stepmother, Lady Huo, only to be beaten half to death.

But now, things were different. The Marquis of Anning’s household had sent for her lady. From here on out, only good days awaited them.

“Once we cross this mountain, we’ll reach the capital,” Tao Xi reassured her. “With Third Young Master Lu there, the Marquis’s estate is beyond that old witch’s reach. No one can hurt you anymore, Miss. Don’t be afraid.”

Hearing that they were nearing the capital, Hua Qingyue’s anxious heart finally settled.

Yes, this was a place Lady Huo couldn’t touch. Neither could Prefect Zhang. No one could. Yet the memory of that night—of the man’s brutality, of how he had seemed intent on crushing her entirely—still made her tremble.

She didn’t know why the Dowager Marchioness Lu had suddenly written, summoning her to the capital. But that letter had pulled her out of the abyss.

Perhaps, there was still another path left for her to walk.

By marrying the Third Young Master of the Lu family, she could, with their influence, request the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau to treat Qingyang’s illness and ensure his safe upbringing. This would fulfil her father’s dying wish.

Tao Xi noticed her mistress’s spirits had lifted somewhat and continued to console her, “I’ve heard the Third Young Master Lu is a scholar, surely a gentleman who understands propriety and restraint. Since it’s a childhood betrothal, he’s bound to treat you well.”

Hua Qingyue smiled bitterly without responding. With her tainted reputation, how could she dare hope for more? All she wished for was a roof over her head to protect Qingyang and ensure he grew up safely, preserving her parents’ bloodline—that would be enough.

–

About an hour later,

In the distance, they finally caught sight of the grand gates of the ‘Marquis of Anning’s residence’.

The stone lions before the vermilion gates stood imposingly inviolable, flanked by white jade-carved lacquered walls that spoke of untold wealth and unattainable heights.

At the entrance, Lu Zhining of the Lu family’s third branch watched the shabby carriage approach and couldn’t help but pout. “This wretched country bumpkin actually dares to come. Mother, don’t worry, I won’t let her enter so easily and disgrace our Spring Rain Pavilion.”

With that, she stormed toward the approaching carriage.

“Zhining, don’t act recklessly,” chided Lady Wu beside her, though she made no move to stop her.

An elderly matron near Lady Wu leaned in and whispered, “Third Madam, the Old Madam and Lady Ningsui are waiting in the main hall. It might be unseemly for the Sixth Young Lady to cause trouble now.”

Hearing this, Lady Wu glanced around and retreated behind the gate before scoffing, “What’s unseemly about it? It’s not as if my son is the only male heir in the Marquis of Anning’s household. If anyone finds it improper, let their own son marry her instead.”

She sighed after a glance at the earnest matron and added, “I know what’s at stake. The Old Madam only had me assist Lady Ningsui in managing the household as a way to compensate. If she can’t hold her own and leaves, that’s none of our concern.”

She already had her ideal daughter-in-law in mind, waiting only for the spring examination results to announce her choice to the Old Madam. She hadn’t expected this little upstart to beat her to it.

But it didn’t matter.

She would never allow the daughter of some bankrupt merchant, who offered no advantage to her son’s career, into the family. If not for saving face and avoiding gossip, they wouldn’t have bothered to greet this country bumpkin in person.

Letting Zhining take her down a peg would be good—it would also give her a chance to gauge the girl’s temperament for future strategies.

“Miss Hua, dawdling in the carriage like this—do you expect us to roll out the drums and gongs to welcome you?”

Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, Hua Qingyue, who was adjusting her appearance, heard the sharp words.

She had known this path wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t expected the first challenge to come so swiftly.

“Who are you? Our young miss— Hey! What are you doing?!”

Before Tao Xi could finish, several matrons yanked her down, pinning her firmly and raising their hands to strike.

“How dare you ask for my name? Go on, teach this ill-mannered country bumpkin a lesson—hit her hard!”

“Stop!” Hua Qingyue pulled aside the carriage curtain, stepped down in one fluid motion, and planted herself squarely in front of Tao Xi.

Lu Zhining watched coldly, her initial breathless pause slowly twisting into disdain.

Look at her outfit—how desperate is this woman to flaunt her curves? Just as Mother said, she’s truly acting like a fox spirit, dressing like this and travelling all this way to seduce her third brother.

Dressing like this to catch men’s eyes? As if the young men of the capital haven’t seen it all before.

And look at her—the fabric of her ruqun is something even I discarded years ago. Her hair is barely held up by a jade hairpin, and her earrings, the same shade of green as the pin, are her only adornments.

How laughable. If the noble ladies of the capital found out the Anning Marquis’ household had such a shabby relative, they’d mock her endlessly behind her back.

Lu Zhining frowned, covering her nose as she took a few steps back.

Hua Qingyue met her gaze without irritation, studying the resentful young woman before her. The eldest branch of the Anning Marquis’ family had only one son, while the second branch had two daughters—one already married, the other a renowned beauty in the capital.

The third branch had only one legitimate daughter. Though not the most stunning, she was still quite pretty, dressed in luxurious silks, her every gesture exuding noble grace. Given how hostile she was, this could only be the sixth young miss of the Lu family—Lu Zhining.

Hua Qingyue dipped into a slight curtsy, bowing her head respectfully. “You must be Sister Zhining. It’s a pleasure to—”

Before she could finish, the other girl cut her off coldly, “Who’s your sister? My sisters are all in the manor enjoying tea. Or do you think just because you’re somewhat pretty, you can actually become my sister-in-law? Don’t delude yourself—my third brother already has someone he likes. If you know what’s good for you, go back where you came from before you embarrass my grandmother.”

As she spoke, her slender fingers fluttered a handkerchief over her nose and mouth, fanning the air disdainfully.

When her mother had mentioned this woman might become her future sister-in-law, she’d nearly choked on her rage.

Hua Qingyue paused briefly but quickly regained her composure, her expression unchanging as she replied softly:

“Thank you for the reminder, Miss Zhining. I know my humble status is unworthy of the Third Young Master Lu. Once I fulfill my grandfather’s last wish, I will leave without causing any trouble for the Dowager.”

The words deflated Lu Zhining’s anger like a punch into cotton. Shouldn’t this vulgar woman have argued back? Then she could have unleashed a hundred tricks from the inner household playbook to assert her dominance as the marquis’ daughter.

But this?

Truly, country folk were spineless and crude. Her sidelong glance grew even more contemptuous. Someone like this wasn’t even worth tormenting, let alone considering as a sister-in-law.

Then Hua Qingyue added, “My maid accidentally offended you, Miss Zhining. We’ll accept any punishment you see fit. However,” her gaze drifted meaningfully toward the onlookers lingering nearby.

“…I only worry that any harsh treatment might tarnish your reputation.”