A few people naturally had no objections and left the manor together.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, the couple went upstairs first.
Lan Murou pulled澹台野 and dodged to a secluded spot.
"General—"
Before she could even speak,澹台野 pinched her cheek and retorted.
"Call me husband."
Lan Murou removed his hand, ignoring his words, and said softly.
"You should return to the capital with your parents."
澹台野's expression darkened. "If you try to send me away again, I'll tie you to the bed and you won't be able to get out of it."
"—"
Lan Murou looked at his threat with a numb expression.
She paused, intending to take off the bracelet on her wrist, but he immediately grabbed her hand and dragged her towards a private room.
"It's just a broken bracelet, take it if I give it to you."
Lan Murou was caught off guard by his forceful behavior and couldn't control him. Seeing they were about to enter the room, she quickly struggled and said angrily.
"Can you be more proper in front of the elders?"
"How am I not proper?"
She shook her hand hard and whispered sternly, "What would your parents think if they saw you like this."
In the past, they always said she was a vixen who seduced him.
澹台野 raised an eyebrow, let go of her, and lightly pinched her face.
'You care so much about their opinion.'
"—"
Lan Murou was afraid of being accused by his family of seducing him again, so she whispered a few instructions.
澹台野 looked at her gentle, watery eyes and ruffled her hair.
"I know, I'll listen to you."
The door to the room opened, and a waiter came out with a tray.
The two followed suit and entered the room.
Having been admonished by Lan Murou,澹台野 did not act presumptuously and ate quietly.
Madame Yuehua intended to get closer to Lan Murou and made conversation with her, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
"I've heard that Gusu has ten scenic spots, like the Evening Ferry on the Upper River and Snow on Fengtai. Murou, next time you come to Gusu, you must take us to see them."
Lan Murou nodded faintly in response. She didn't want to embarrass her elders, so she engaged in conversation for a few pleasantries.
In the past, she rarely saw anyone from the澹台 manor. After returning to the capital, she mostly stayed in the General's manor, and even then, it was always unpleasant.
She never imagined that such a scene would occur one day.
"Come, eat more."
Madame Yuehua used serving chopsticks to put food on her plate.
"Mandarin fish in sweet and sour sauce, Ah Ye told me you like it."
Lan Murou thanked her, her demeanor graceful and impeccable.
"Phoenix Returns to the Nest, a famous Gusu dish, indeed very good."
澹台 Lie listened to their conversation and saw that they were both poised and refined in appearance. His cold expression gradually softened.
He glared displeasantly at his own son, unable to bear to look.
Such an unpromising fellow.
澹台野 paid no mind to his father's thoughts. After the meal, he urged them to leave quickly.
The journey back to the capital was long, and it was inconvenient for them to delay. The carriages were already waiting outside. After leaving the restaurant, they got into their carriages.
Madame Yuehua lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the two people at the door, chuckling.
"Murou, next month is the Old Madam's seventieth birthday. We hope you can come back."
Lan Murou's heart trembled, and she remained silent sheepishly.
澹台野 put an arm around her waist and began to hurry them away.
澹台 Lie, seeing his protectiveness over his wife, became annoyed. He pulled down the curtain to block his view and ordered his men to depart.
"Alright, let's go, we're going home too."
Lan Murou listened to his flippant tone, pushed his hand away, and walked forward silently.
澹台野 knew she was feeling awkward and strode forward to take her hand.
Neither of them spoke, and the surrounding air flowed with tranquility.
Lan Murou thought it over and over, truly unwilling for him to give up everything and stay here. However, no matter how she persuaded him, he refused to return to the capital.
If she pressed the issue, he would embrace her and kiss her, preventing her from speaking.
Ever since Wei Qingge and Li Qiongyu had visited them a month ago, they had been in contact through letters.
Wei Qingge often wrote to Lan Murou. From the letters, she learned that A'luan was about to give birth and that Qingge was also getting married, which sparked her desire to return to the capital. She also wanted to see A'yan.
One day, she quietly entered the study and saw various letters from the capital being passed to him. Her heart felt a slight heaviness.
"Rou'er."
Suddenly, a voice came from the doorway.
Lan Murou looked up and saw him standing in the corridor, tall and elegant, dressed in a black robe.
She quickly put down the letter and walked out awkwardly.
澹台野 saw her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms and couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her.
Lan Murou gave him a numb look. "The Prince has always wanted you to return to the capital. You should go back as soon as possible."
"You don't need to worry about it. Gusu is very good. I just want to stay here."
After saying that, he directly swept her up in his arms and walked into the room.
"What are you doing? Put me down."
澹台野 refused to let her go, carried her to a pear blossom chair, parted her legs, and forced her to straddle him.
Lan Murou was no longer as indulgent of him as she used to be and immediately tried to get down from him.
How could he possibly let her go? He held her waist, leaned down.
She said numbly, "Let go."
澹台野 pressed her body against him, the candlelight on the desk flickering and illuminating his eyes, wild and unrestrained.
"Books say that virtuous women are susceptible to persistent suitors."
His voice was hoarse and deep, with a trace of undisguised desire in his eyes.
"Rou'er, I've been pursuing you for so long, can you give me a little sweetness?"
Lan Murou looked at him, a sense of powerlessness rising in her heart.
She knew his temperament well; what he wanted, he wouldn't let go of.
Seeing her silence,澹台野's hand caressed her back, and his lips brushed past her face and earlobe as if unintentionally.
She turned her head to avoid him. He let out a dissatisfied hum, burying his face in her neck and gnawing, his hands pressing her soft body tightly against him.
Lan Murou's ears turned red as she twisted and struggled.
"Let go."
Her voice was soft and weak.澹台野 grew bolder and simply refused to let go.
He raised his bloodshot eyes, held her head down, and heavily covered her tender pink lips.
Lan Murou could not escape at all and bit his lip hard in anger.
He seemed even more excited and kissed her more fiercely.
Broken whimpers echoed in the quiet room.
He couldn't control himself and pleaded with her.
"Rou'er, I'm almost like an ascetic monk."
In the past, she would indulge his every whim. Now, everything had changed.
澹台野 felt miserable but dared not provoke her.
Lan Murou's face was flushed red. She pushed him, wanting to get down, and weakly retorted.
"Aren't you still the same as before, kissing whenever and wherever you want?"
He retorted righteously, "No way."
He had already restrained himself considerably. He only dared to kiss her lips, not even touch her. The moment she put on a cold face, he became scared.
Lan Murou didn't want to talk about this with him; it was strange.
She caught his restless hand and asked.
"A'luan is about to give birth, isn't she?"
澹台野 casually grunted, his waist restlessly grinding upwards.
Lan Murou didn't notice his small movements. Looking at his head of white hair, her heart ached.
To what extent of pain would one's hair turn white overnight?
She suppressed her thoughts and looked at him.
"I want to return to the capital to see A'luan. Are you coming back?"
She didn't want to see any more members of the澹台 family, but she also didn't want him to reach such a point of conflict with his family.
澹台野 was displeased. "Ye luan is more important than me? She's giving birth, so you're willing to go back."
Lan Murou: "—"
She said nothing and tried to pry his hands off.
"Then I'll go back to the capital by myself. You can stay here."
澹台野 snorted, held her head down, and covered her lips.
"How is that possible? Wherever you go, I go."