Xiao Chi Zhan glanced at her, saying nothing, as if lost in thought, his gaze growing cold and sinister.
"I understand what the Prince sent me here to do."
Seeing her so perceptive, Xiao Chi Zhan smiled. His calm, unperturbed crimson eyes held a hint of unfathomable meaning.
"My Prince, the Blood Fiend has been brought."
"Mhm."
His gaze shifted, and Ye Luan immediately understood his intent. Looking at the grim and terrifying Blood Wolf not far away, she grabbed the food on the table and threw it towards it.
With a roar, the Blood Wolf lunged at her ferociously, its blood-red eyes filled with intense killing intent, clearly mistaking her for food.
Ye Luan sneered and unceremoniously kicked the Blood Wolf in the abdomen. Seizing the moment it lunged, she pried open Xiao Chi Zhan's hands, leaped into his lap, and held him tightly.
The Blood Wolf, wary of Xiao Chi Zhan, retracted its claws and dared not attack further. It could only glare at her menacingly.
Her actions startled everyone in the slave-training ground. They had never seen a woman so bold as to feed the beast and then cause a scene, forcing her to seek protection from the Prince. She was truly daring.
"Have you made up your mind?"
Xiao Chi Zhan looked at the woman in his arms, not angry. He even played with a strand of Ye Luan's hair by her ear.
The Dragon Scale Guards seemed to realize something, silently sheathed their swords, concealed the killing intent in their eyes, and stood respectfully to the side.
Ye Luan understood his meaning and remained silent. She had seen clearly now; he harbored different intentions towards her. The torment of the past two days was a facade; he was forcing her to compromise. His true objective all along was her.
"This humble subject swears she will never be a concubine. Other than that, anything is permissible."
Xiao Chi Zhan naturally understood her meaning. But he wanted to laugh. He pinched her chin, forcing her to look up at him. His voice was chilling, carrying a coldness.
"Spirited!"
"Very spirited!"
Ye Luan thought he would force her further, but he released her.
"Let's go, we're eating."
Autumn arrived, bringing a sudden chill, then warmth again. As they walked, the wind swept through the garden, along the corridors, and under the bridge, howling like ghosts and making Ye Luan shiver. She wore only a thin dress, without even a cloak. The sudden cold made her hunch her neck, and she couldn't help but glare at the man walking ahead, draped in a sable cloak. Unchivalrous. He wouldn't even spare a piece of clothing for her.
Xiao Chi Zhan turned around and saw the woman behind him glaring at him angrily. Noticing he had looked back, she immediately pretended nothing had happened and offered him a smile. He couldn't help but touch the jade thumb ring he wore, raising an eyebrow, and quickened his pace. Ye Luan was certain he had noticed her little ploy. She followed him step by step until they reached the main hall. Upon seeing the table laden with food, she seemed to come alive. She hadn't eaten her fill yesterday, and today she hadn't even had a sip of water. Seeing so much food, her eyes lit up. She immediately scurried to Xiao Chi Zhan's side, smiling sweetly, "My Prince, shall I serve you?"
Xiao Chi Zhan raised an eyebrow, took off his cloak, and sat in the main seat.
"Didn't you want to serve me? What are you waiting for?"
"Oh, oh."
Ye Luan quickly handed him a handkerchief to clean his hands, poured him tea, and busied herself serving him, picking dishes for him. The only sounds in the entire hall were the faint clinking of porcelain bowls. Watching him eat at his leisure, Ye Luan's face turned pale from hunger. After serving him so diligently, would he let her eat?
"Wine."
He ate little of the food but drank his fill of wine. Despite her complaints, Ye Luan respectfully refilled his cup. Having not eaten, her hands were weak and tired, and she accidentally stumbled onto him. The entire hall fell silent, so quiet that the drop of a needle could be heard. Everyone immediately knelt on the ground. Social suicide. Utter social suicide. Ye Luan quickly scrambled to get up but heard his mocking laughter. Annoyed, she deliberately pinched him hard, pretending to lose her balance and stepping on him, before swaying as she stood up to apologize. He wouldn't kill her now, so she wasn't afraid.
"Such meager tricks truly disgrace Lord Ye's reputation."
Ye Luan detested his sarcastic tone the most, retorting directly, "Yet, you seem to like it very much." The moment she spoke, she regretted it. The terrifying aura in the hall intensified. With a clang, a knife was placed on the table. Ye Luan jolted and immediately smiled, "My Prince, I was simply too hungry and spoke without thinking."
"Actually, what you said isn't wrong," Xiao Chi Zhan smiled coldly, then suddenly pulled her into his embrace. "But that sliver of interest might make you die even faster."
Ye Luan lowered her eyes and sneered. Xiao Chi Zhan, perhaps that sliver of interest is the blade that pierces your heart. You are unwilling to pull it out, so you can only watch as the blood flows, slowly dying from blood loss.
"Do you want to eat?"
His icy, sinister voice instantly sobered her up. She nodded obediently, "I'm hungry."
A look from Xiao Chi Zhan, and the attending maids immediately served Ye Luan with chopsticks and bowls, waiting on her. Ye Luan dared not ask for more. Sitting on his lap, she quickly began to eat. So hungry, so hungry, so hungry. She was truly starving.
When Tantai Ye strode in swaggeringly, he saw such a dramatic scene, startling him enough to retreat several steps. After a closer look, it was him. He had finally opened his eyes. Hahaha. Which unfortunate girl had he set his sights on?
"Xiao Chi Zhan, you're inhuman!"
A clear voice tinged with laughter interrupted the somewhat intimate atmosphere. Xiao Chi Zhan released Ye Luan and looked up at the man entering, frowning, "Why are you here?" Ye Luan quickly became a silent observer, finishing her last bite of food and standing aside.
It's Ye Luan! Tantai Ye's smile deepened. He strode in with agile steps. "Third Brother said you broke the Zhennan King's leg and had his thigh stitched twice. His Majesty is furious. I, this general, have returned to handle this trouble for you."
"Tantai Ye, stop spewing mud on me. You're back to deal with your runaway fiancée, aren't you?"
Tantai Ye? Ye Luan started, her gaze shifting towards the man. As expected, just as described in the book, he had sword-like eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and was exceptionally handsome. Dressed in luxurious robes, he appeared tall and slender. Despite being a general steeped in warfare, he possessed the elegance of a scholar. This was the male protagonist, Tantai Ye, as described in the book. According to the book, this protagonist was not a good person; selfish and biased, after becoming a great general, he and Xiao Chi Zhan controlled the entire court, and later seemed to have installed a puppet ruler. Sadly, the author had assigned him a woman, causing his glorious and clear life to take a major tumble.