"Come, you want to see your maid, don't you? Kill the Black Dragon, and I'll let you see her."
Before Ye Luan could react, Xiao Chizhan, enraged, yanked her wrist and dragged her outside.
She cursed Xiao Chizhan repeatedly in her heart. The pain in her mouth made her feel inexplicably miserable, and she wanted to cry. Having inexplicably endured this, the thought of it made her feel agitated.
However, her character did not allow her to be weak.
She composed herself, shook off Xiao Chizhan's hand, and said calmly, "Your Highness need not drag me; I can walk myself."
"Hahaha, when did Miss Ye become so amusing?"
Behind them, Tantai Ye's laughter echoed.
They were all in the same circle and had heard much of Ye Luan's illustrious deeds. Seeing her now, this woman wasn't that annoying.
A chilling gaze pressed down.
Tantai Ye strode forward, placed a hand on Xiao Chizhan's shoulder, and chuckled, "No way, have you become so domineering now that you've awakened? Such strong possessiveness."
"Stop talking nonsense," Xiao Chizhan sneered. "She's just a plaything for sleeping. Once I'm tired of her, I'll give her to you."
Tantai Ye raised an eyebrow. "No thanks, I have someone I like."
Ye Luan, following behind them, felt utterly humiliated, wishing she could stab both men slinging arms in front of her. Yet, her reason told her to endure.
Endure.
Endure until she found an opportunity; she absolutely could not risk her life.
The manor was vast. After walking through winding paths for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Ye Luan saw the manor gates.
A glimmer of joy ignited in her heart; she could finally leave.
"Can you ride a horse?"
At the main gate, a servant brought three horses.
Xiao Chizhan mounted the wildest white horse and looked back at her.
Ye Luan could, of course, ride a horse. Just as she was about to mount, a shiver ran through her.
Something was wrong.
The original Ye Luan could not ride a horse.
"Xiao Chizhan, are you foolish? Apart from the little chili of the old general's family, which noble lady in the capital can ride a horse? They are all delicate and frail."
Hearing this, Xiao Chizhan beckoned to her. "Come here."
Ye Luan did not want to share a horse with this perverted madman.
She said calmly, "I'll take a carriage. Let the driver take me to where you are going."
The atmosphere around them suddenly became terrifying.
She knew he was angry again.
Ye Luan didn't want to bother with him and stood her ground.
"I'll say it again, get on!"
Ye Luan crossed her arms and looked at his anger with a faint smile. "This commoner is merely a plaything for sleeping, not worth Your Highness's great displeasure. This commoner dares not ride a horse with Your Highness."
As she finished, a hearty laugh rang out.
"Hahaha, interesting!" Tantai Ye laughed heartily, flicked his whip, and his horse galloped away, leaving only his words lingering in the air.
"Xiao Chizhan, you two have fun, I'll be going ahead."
"What? Did you dislike what I said?" Xiao Chizhan glanced at her, his expression icy. "Isn't it that you are unwilling to be a concubine, and don't even desire the position of a secondary consort?"
Ye Luan ignored him.
"En?"
A chilling killing intent filled the air.
Ye Luan regretted her stubbornness just now; she shouldn't have angered him.
No.
What she did was right.
Xiao Chizhan was a masochist; he liked it when she defied him.
Seeing her silence, Xiao Chizhan sneered. Like a whirlwind, he lunged forward, and Ye Luan's arm was seized, causing her pain.
She started in surprise. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Chizhan had thrown her onto the horse, followed closely behind, and pulled the reins with a strong hand.
With a high neigh from the horse, they galloped away.
Ye Luan was held tightly in his embrace, his presence enveloping her senses. She glared at him covertly.
"Are you unhappy?"
Ye Luan ignored him, marveling at the bustling imperial city.
This was her first time truly seeing a realistic ancient scene.
The capital city, Shangjing, lived up to its name as the imperial capital, bustling and lively.
Restaurants lined both sides of the street, along with tea houses, pawnshops, and workshops. As they passed through the marketplace, she saw vendors selling under large umbrellas, a scene of prosperity with merchants coming and going.
Ye Luan wanted to look for a pharmacy, but he was riding too fast, completely disregarding the lively streets, acting extremely arrogant.
Riding a white horse through the streets, their speed was astonishing.
Anyone who collided with them was doomed.
She didn't even have time to see where the pharmacies were.
She knew how to concoct poisons, and she wanted to buy medicinal ingredients to poison this madman.
"Thinking of how to kill me?"
Suddenly, a ticklish sensation spread through her ear.
Ye Luan immediately withdrew her gaze, her expression serene. "Your Highness jests."
Xiao Chizhan coldly sneered. "It matters not. If you truly possess that ability, this king will await you anytime."
She shifted uncomfortably, sensitively sensing his displeasure, and quickly said, "Where is Your Highness taking me?"
"Yunmengze."
Ye Luan frowned. What a familiar name.
That's right.
She remembered.
This was the place mentioned in the book that Xiao Chizhan and his companions had specifically built in the Ten Thousand Beast Valley outside the capital for their debauchery and amusement.
Tantai Ye had often taken Lan Murou there to frolic.
Yunmengze was a cluster of magnificent buildings behind the suburban palace, occupying a vast area.
Passing through the Ten Thousand Beast Valley and going further, there was a large expanse of flora. Seeing the vast golden flowers, Ye Luan's mood lifted slightly.
The scenery here was beautiful, with a clear blue sky, white clouds, and a gentle autumn breeze.
The horses galloped by, a scene of vitality.
Not far from the mountain peaks, there was an ancient hidden door, grand and imposing, with armor stretching for miles.
At the entrance stood two black-faced guards holding vajra spears.
Xiao Chizhan stopped before the hidden door and roughly pulled her off the horse.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"Open it."
The hidden door opened, revealing a tunnel, sinister and dark.
Ye Luan followed behind him, pouting as she watched him walk forward as if no one else was there.
"Keep up."
The paths here were winding, and the sound of water dripping echoed from the mountain walls. Ye Luan could even see snakes and insects on the ground. She frowned and hurried after him, holding up her skirt.
Along the way, hidden guards were stationed in the tunnel.
Fearing she would get lost, Ye Luan kept close. Unexpectedly, he suddenly stopped, and she bumped her head against his hard back, causing her pain.
"Ye Luan, if you want to throw yourself into my arms, there will be plenty of opportunities later."
Throw myself into your arms?
Seeing her head bowed and unresponsive, Xiao Chizhan narrowed his eyes slightly and pinched her chin.
It hurt.
Why was this lunatic acting crazy again?
She placed her hand on his chest, her brows clear and cold. "Your Highness truly lacks romance, being so hasty?"
Hearing her complaint, Xiao Chizhan sneered, released her, and then took her hand.
There was no path ahead.
The guards stationed there, upon seeing Xiao Chizhan's arrival, immediately opened the hidden door.
With a booming sound, the stone door swung open.
Light flooded in.
As Ye Luan stepped out, she was stunned.
What a beautiful place!
It was like a fairyland on earth.
In the serene spring valley, birds flew high and sang, streams cascaded, mountains and lakes appeared like those in immortal realms, and flowers bloomed everywhere.
Passing through an apricot blossom forest, walking through a misty peach blossom paradise, it felt like being in an ethereal realm.