Qing Hua?!
Lan Murou’s eyes widened, her fair and delicate body trembling uncontrollably.
“Someone, bring the medicine.”
As soon as his words fell, the tightly shut door creaked open.
The old woman, head bowed respectfully, entered carrying a bowl of medicine.
Lan Murou glanced sideways at the medicine on the tray. Terror instantly flashed in her soft eyes, and tears cascaded down, soaking the jade pillow.
Tantai Ye lazily lowered his gaze to her, a cruel curve forming on his thin lips.
He took the medicine bowl, sent the attendant away, then leaned by the bedside, stirring the medicinal liquid and casting a sidelong glance at her.
“You haven’t taken this medicine since we left Zhongzhou, and your temper has become wilder. What, thinking that your brother has gone to Saibei and you have no worries, so you want to break free from me?”
Hearing his words, Lan Murou’s shackled hands clenched into tight fists. The suppressed rage in her heart made her gasp for breath.
What did this demon want to do?
“Dream on! What I can’t have, I’d rather destroy!”
He suddenly leaned in, his pale, strong hand cruelly gripping her jaw.
His narrow eyes were filled with a fierce, obsessive madness that made one’s heart pound with fear.
“I, Tantai Ye, detest betrayal most in my life. What I desire, I must obtain! If you dare to think of running again, I don’t mind keeping a cripple.”
Lan Murou remained silent, her eyes red as she looked at him. Though her complexion still appeared soft and yielding as usual, a closer look revealed a hint of stubborn anger simmering beneath the placid surface.
“What? Hate me?!”
Tantai Ye noticed the change in her expression, and an inexplicable pang shot through his heart.
He straightened up, stirring the soup spoon in the medicine bowl, and let out a cold laugh.
“Haven’t I treated you well? Why are you always thinking of running? You even dare to conspire with Wei Qingge in secret.”
Upon hearing his words, Lan Murou felt a mocking urge to laugh.
Treating her well?!
If he truly treated her well, would he marry someone else? Would he lock her on the bed and humiliate her like this?!
“In my opinion, only by drinking Qing Hua can your restless desires be suppressed.”
His hand idly stirred the medicinal liquid, the clinking of the bowl and spoon a jarring sound in the room.
Lan Murou’s chest heaved with anger, and she desperately wanted to abandon all pretense and tear into him. But as she looked at the bowl of medicine, a flicker of fear appeared in her eyes.
No, she couldn't.
She absolutely could not drink this humiliating medicine again.
“I wasn’t thinking of running.”
“You think I’m stupid?!”
His expression turned terrifyingly cold, his posture as he leaned by the bedside exuding an arrogant air that was utterly repulsive. kanδん
His long, slender hands continuously stirred the medicine in the bowl, his narrow, icy eyes fixed on her without any further movement.
Lan Murou’s fearful heart settled slightly.
She guessed he was trying to scare her.
In his eyes, had her disposition become so weak that a mere threat would make her too afraid to do anything?
“Murou, you must change your ways. If you don’t become stronger, you will always be manipulated by him.”
Ye Luan’s words still echoed in her ears, causing her heart to throb with pain.
Lan Murou desperately suppressed the unwillingness and anger within her heart. She looked at him with her water-clear eyes, her gaze slightly reddened, making her appear pitiable.
“General, I was wrong.”
He was now forcing her to admit fault, to bow her head, wanting to make her fearful so she would never dare to resist or harbor thoughts of escape.
Helpless, she could only feign submission for now.
Tantai Ye looked at her, her eyes red and her expression pitiable, and asked indifferently, “Wrong about what?”
“I shouldn’t have thought of leaving you, General.” As soon as she spoke, seeing his face darken considerably, she added an explanation, “You are about to marry, and I was afraid of being killed, so I thought of leaving.”
The implication was that it was all his fault!
Tantai Ye continued to stir the medicine in the bowl and asked, “You don’t want me to marry?”
Lan Murou didn’t understand his meaning and meekly replied,
“No.”
She wished he would marry someone else and grow tired of her.
“I was afraid your family would dislike me and want to kill me.”
Heh.
Indeed, she didn't care whether he married or not.
Tantai Ye glanced irritably at the medicine in his hand. Why, even after drinking this medicine, she still couldn’t fall in love with him.
Useless!
His expression suddenly contorted with rage, and he slammed the medicine bowl to the ground with a thud, splashing the liquid everywhere.
Lan Murou stiffened, looking at the man’s sudden outburst in a panic, instinctively wanting to flinch away.
But her limbs were firmly secured, rendering her unable to move.
Tantai Ye noticed her reaction and suddenly looked at her.
His dark eyes were somber, making it difficult to breathe.
“You’re afraid of me!”
He suddenly leaned in, his voice ferociously insistent.
“What exactly are you afraid of in me?!”
He truly couldn’t understand.
They had been together for so long, what was she so afraid of? What was there to be afraid of? Would he kill her, making her so terrified?
At such close proximity.
His warm breath brushed against her face, entwining.
Lan Murou could clearly see the brewing storm in his eyes, his irises bloodshot and terrifying.
Pain emanated from her jaw, and involuntary, physiological tears welled up.
“General, it hurts—”
Her voice was soft and tender, bringing back his reason.
Tantai Ye suppressed the murderous urge within him, his cold hand caressing her jaw. His somber eyes scanned her body, inch by inch.
Lan Murou felt a deep shame at her posture, and as she watched his expression, her body trembled involuntarily.
His gaze was truly like a vicious hound’s, filled with endless greed.
“General, the master has sent someone, saying the old madam’s heart condition has flared up and she wishes to see you.”
At this moment, the old woman’s voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Tantai Ye snapped back to attention, a flash of ferocity crossing his face.
He looked up impatiently and roared towards the door,
“Am I an imperial physician? What good am I? Get lost.”
The person outside was startled and dared not make another sound.
Lan Murou lowered her eyes, a sardonic glint flashing within them. What heart condition? It was all an excuse.
The Tantai family despised her status. As long as Tantai Ye was present, various pretexts would be used to summon him back to the ancestral home.
“General.”
Suddenly, another steady voice came from outside the door.
“The old matriarch’s heart condition has indeed flared up, and the Princess of Qinghe is also at the old residence, waiting for the General to arrive.”
It was Qiu He, a guard attending the old matriarch.
Tantai Ye’s eyes flickered with a barely perceptible killing intent.
He stood up coldly, donned his robe, and walked towards the door.
The door opened, and the man, radiating a fierce aura, strode out.
Qiu He quickly stepped back, but unexpectedly, a kick sent him flying, his entire body rolling down the steps with a crash.
He cried out in pain.
Tantai Ye looked down at the man tumbling on the ground with a sinister expression.
“Go back and tell him that he doesn’t need to find any excuses for me. If I agree to marry Li Yan today, I can go back on it tomorrow. If he causes more trouble, he knows the consequences.”
Qiu He scrambled to his feet and knelt on the ground, his voice trembling slightly.
“General, the old madam has been mentioning you, and I am merely acting under orders.”