Xiao Chi Zhan's back stiffened slightly. He straightened his body and narrowed his eyes to look at her.
If he guessed correctly, she should know it was him impersonating Xie Bei Han who broke into her room. Why was she acting so oblivious now?
Was this little temptress playing with him?
'When did I ever call you that? You must have remembered wrong.'
Ye Luan blinked, her expression innocent.
Seeing her demeanor, Xiao Chi Zhan chuckled and licked his lips slightly.
His bewitching, ethereal face had a unique allure under the moonlight, especially when he curved his lips, appearing both demonic and enchanting.
Ye Luan tilted her head back to look at him, swallowing discreetly.
This man was too bewitching. His eyes were deep and seductive, his nose bridge was high, his features were defined, and his red lips curved slightly. Though he was smiling, he possessed a cool, otherworldly aura.
"You're lying to me?!"
Suddenly, he leaned forward and gently bit her earlobe.
Ye Luan tilted her head, a flash of cunning in her eyes, which quickly disappeared.
"What am I lying to you about?"
Xiao Chi Zhan said, "You clearly knew it was me back then, and you're deliberately provoking me."
His voice was extremely confident. When he tilted his head to look at her, there was a hint of danger in his gaze.
Ye Luan played dumb, "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm going to sleep. You can stay here and finish your work."
With that, she tried to push him away.
Xiao Chi Zhan grabbed her with one hand and forcefully pulled her into his embrace.
"If you don't tell me, you won't be getting out of bed today."
His tone carried a terrifying coldness.
Ye Luan was not afraid at all. She giggled and wrapped her legs around his waist, looking up at him playfully and acting spoiled.
"Are you jealous?!"
Xiao Chi Zhan raised his eyebrows and pinched her nose. "Admitted."
Ye Luan snorted, "Serves you right for acting like a lunatic."
"----"
"Then why did you call me that?"
His tone was so sour it could pickle vegetables.
Ye Luan wanted to laugh. She swayed her long legs and said, "To provoke you, of course."
"Oh, and did you ever call him that?"
"No, no, you big醋坛子 (cù tánzi -醋坛子, literally 'vinegar jar', meaning someone who is easily jealous)."
As soon as she finished speaking, the ferocity in Xiao Chi Zhan's eyes instantly vanished. His smile was like the thawing of spring cold, bringing life back to the earth.
He leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her lips, caressing them inch by inch.
Ye Luan felt her body go soft from his kiss. Her fair hands rested on his shoulders, pushing him away.
"No."
"Are you trying to suffocate me?"
He stopped, lying on top of her, his breath deepening.
Ye Luan said, "You were a vegetarian for twenty-three years. What's wrong with enduring for half a year?"
Xiao Chi Zhan bit her neck. "Once it's opened, I won't want to be a vegetarian anymore."
"-----"
Ye Luan pouted, not wanting to argue with him about this. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled affectionately against him.
"I'm sleepy. I want to go to bed."
Hearing this, Xiao Chi Zhan suppressed the desires in his heart. He picked her up and walked towards the palace.
"Aren't you busy anymore?"
"Mm."
Ye Luan glanced at the desk by the window, where a pile of memorials lay scattered.
"If you become emperor, you'll definitely be a foolish ruler."
Xiao Chi Zhan heard her murmur and lowered his head. "Then you'll be a temptress who ruins the country and harms the people."
-------
That night, at the General's Mansion.
"If I break your legs, will you stop thinking about running?"
Lan Mu Rou was completely naked, locked to the bed with golden chains. The numerous marks on her body were particularly shocking in the darkness of the room.
She looked at the man leaning against the bed. Her small face was pale.
Tantai Ye, clad only in a thin robe, leaned over and gripped her chin. His dark eyes were arrogant and malicious.
"You think Wei Qing Ge can help you? Daring to try and escape me with her, Rou'er, you're too naive."
Lan Mu Rou looked at his terrifying expression and trembled involuntarily. The memories of past torment flashed in her mind. Her pale lips quivered.
Tantai Ye tightened his grip on her chin.
He felt the rage within him about to consume him. She actually dared to plan her escape in secret. The moment he heard the news, he wished he could chop off her feet with a knife, making her never dare to think of escaping him again.
"Gen--General, I-- Ah---"
The cold blade touched her ankle. The frigid gleam of the metal made Lan Mu Rou cry out in terror, her face filled with dread.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing her fear, Tantai Ye raised his eyebrows slightly. "If I sever your Achilles tendons, you won't think of running anymore."
Madness, was he insane?
From the moment she was brought back, she had been chained to the bed. She thought he had vented his anger.
She never expected him to actually want to chop off her feet.
"Are you insane? People die from this."
Tantai Ye sneered. "How could I bear to let you die? The imperial physician is waiting outside. I'll be careful with my actions."
Lan Mu Rou's eyes widened. Feeling the cold blade, she struggled uncontrollably, but her limbs were tightly bound, rendering her completely immobile.
Tantai Ye looked at her complexion, feeling a slight pang in his heart. But he wouldn't go soft today; he had to frighten her enough that she wouldn't dare to run again.
"Rou'er, it won't hurt. Blood will flow from your body, and your feet will slowly lose sensation, the pain."
"No--Don't--"
She shook her head in terror, tears streaming down her face.
Tantai Ye continued to scare her. "I've already custom-made a wheelchair for you. From now on, you'll stay in the mansion and won't go anywhere."
Lan Mu Rou felt a slight sting and shook her head frantically.
"I was wrong. I wasn't planning to leave. Tantai Ye, don't do this. I'm scared, truly scared----"
Her eyes were filled with tears, which slid down her fair cheeks onto her body. She looked withered and vulnerable.
Tantai Ye's eyes were filled with desire as he looked at her. He lowered his head, pressing himself onto her, and gently kissed the tears from her cheeks.
"Why were you planning to run?"
His voice was as cold as a hawk in the sky, arrogant and venomous.
Lan Mu Rou felt the blade leave her ankle. Her stiff, cold body slowly came back to life. She felt his warmth and, suppressing her fear, looked at him desperately.
He was just scaring her; he didn't really intend to chop off her feet.
"Mm?"
Her chin was suddenly gripped, and he looked down at her coldly, his narrow eyes flashing with a faint danger.
"Don't think you can trick me with your cunning. I know exactly what you're thinking."
"I'm telling you, as long as I don't let you go, there's no place for you in this world. Even if you run, you'll be caught, and you know the consequences."
Lan Mu Rou's words made her back tremble with anger. She forced down her disgust and opened her mouth.
"I didn't run. I was wrong."
He was so vicious and selfish. He was about to get married, yet he still wouldn't let her go.
Did he want her to watch him marry and have children, while she remained his secret concubine for life?
She had never hated him or felt so disgusted by him before.
Tantai Ye sneered, bit her lip, lowered his head, and looked straight at her, his long eyes flashing with a faint danger.
'Or, if you continue to drink the love flower, I'll spare you.'