Liu Rongruo paid no mind. After she finished eating, he scooped her up and carried her towards the bed.
"Put me down."
Chi You completely lost her pleasant demeanor towards him.
Liu Rongruo carried her onto the bed and said calmly, "Get some sleep."
She was placed by the bedside, and he crouched down to remove her shoes and socks.
Suddenly, Chi You forcefully stomped her foot onto his shoulder. His figure remained unshaken, and he grabbed her ankle, looking up faintly.
Although he had restrained his strength, pain still shot through her ankle.
"Do you not want your foot anymore?"
Her lips moved, and she let out a cold laugh. "If you have the guts, chop it off."
Liu Rongruo didn't argue with her. He released her, drew the bed curtains, and got onto the bed.
Outside, the rain pattered incessantly against the windowpanes.
Chi You pulled the covers tight against the wall, ignoring him.
Liu Rongruo leaned against the bed, his gaze falling on her for a few moments.
A moment later, he leaned down, embraced her from behind, kissed her cheek, and then nuzzled and suckled her neck.
"Is the Prime Minister so starved that he won't spare even someone carrying a child?"
Chi You turned her head, a mocking curve to her lips.
Liu Rongruo stared at her red lips, his eyes darkening slightly.
She hadn't noticed, deliberately trying to disgust him with her words.
Suddenly, he lowered his head and covered her lips, silencing her completely.
Chi You trembled all over, so furious she immediately reached out to pull his hair.
He reacted with lightning speed, pressing down on her and pinning her hands above her head.
Broken curses echoed in the silent, dim tent.
Liu Rongruo's expression remained unchanged as he repeatedly kissed her lips, his tongue delving into hers in a tangled dance.
Chi You struggled, twisting her body. When she felt his erection, she dared not move, closing her eyes in anger.
Who knew how long he kissed her. By the end, her lips were red and glistening.
Sensing her body go soft, Liu Rongruo released her and buried his head in her neck, his voice deep and hoarse.
"How about I arrange a new identity for you?"
Chi You's cheeks flushed, and she hit him hard. "Get lost."
He didn't move, holding her even tighter as he calmed the desire within him.
She was pressed against him, her fair skin squeezed firmly by his chest, the corners of her eyes reddening slightly.
"Beast."
"What, arrange an identity for you to be my concubine? You're sick."
Liu Rongruo said, "Break off the engagement with the Qin family and marry you as my wife, how about it?"
Chi You paused, glancing at him, and gave a cold laugh.
"Liu Rongruo, back then when Xiao Chizhan wanted to kill me and completely subdue Southern Xinjiang, you must have considered acting ruthlessly."
He didn't speak, and the tent was eerily silent.
"If I died, there would be no worries. Southern Xinjiang would completely become a vassal state of Daliang. If Xie Beihan hadn't sent troops to support us, Southern Xinjiang's fate, and mine, would have been utter annihilation. You were heartless back then, so why are you acting so pious now?"
"Don't disgust me. You're just coveting this body. After a while, you'll get tired of it too."
Hearing her words, Liu Rongruo let out a cold huff, got up, and leaned against the bed.
"Is that how you see me?"
Chi You turned her back, her eyes reddening. "Isn't it?"
"If Daliang was truly determined to take Southern Xinjiang, it wouldn't have let go, even if it meant going to war with Northern Qi."
"But when you led troops to attack Southern Xinjiang, on the city walls, those generals wanted to kill me, and you hesitated. I must have guessed this correctly."
Liu Rongruo didn't deny it. After a long silence, he spoke softly, "It's better to die than to live in pain."
The overwhelming hatred and pain suppressed within her surged forth instantly, rushing through her limbs.
Chi You sat up abruptly, roaring with red eyes.
"Then why didn't you let those generals kill me back then? Why did you save me? Wouldn't death have been easier?"
Liu Rongruo looked at her, remaining silent for a moment. Then, he suddenly smiled.
"I couldn't bear it."
He reached out and pulled her into his embrace forcefully, his voice deep.
"I couldn't bear to see you die, so we'll suffer together and torment each other for a lifetime."
The rain outside rustled. Lotus flowers in the pond were beaten askew. The cold wind, mixed with rain, slanted through the window, adding a chill to the room.
Chi You laughed at herself, tears welling up and soaking a large patch on his shoulder.
"You only wanted your Daliang's empire, why would you care about your enemy's life or death?"
"Can't I have both the empire and the beauty?"
Her back stiffened, and she angrily pushed and hit him.
"No. I'm telling you, you can forget it. Every day I spend by your side is agonizing, and I wish I could kill you--"
Liu Rongruo's face instantly turned grim, and he tightened his grip on her.
Chi You struggled furiously, beating at the child in her womb.
"This monstrous creature, I'll have it strangled the moment it's born."
Her hands were suddenly gripped tightly, and she kicked him forcefully.
Liu Rongruo grabbed her jaw.
"Believe it or not, I'll kill you."
"Even if you kill me, I won't marry you, nor will I give birth to your offspring."
Her eyes red, she stared at him.
Their argument was so loud that it drowned out even the sound of the rain outside. The maids and wet nurses serving outside the door lowered their heads in fear, not daring to speak.
"Then whose child do you want to give birth to? Xie Beihan's?!"
His eyes were ferocious, and his grip on her was so tight that her bones ached.
Chi You kicked him and yelled, "What business is it of yours!"
"The child in your belly, you conceived it after I made you cry out in pleasure every time--"
Before he could finish, a slap landed on his face.
"Scram."
Liu Rongruo was also enraged. He got off the bed.
"I will never marry you. Go marry your junior sister."
He turned back, his face full of malice.
"Fine, if you won't marry me, then you'll remain nameless and without status forever. Let's see if Xie Beihan dares to come and save you."
Chi You was enraged. She got off the bed barefoot, picked up a stool from the ground, and smashed it onto his back.
Liu Rongruo's mouth instantly bled from the impact. He said nothing, kicked open the door, and strode away.
Bai Ze, who was passing by in the corridor, heard the commotion inside and didn't dare to approach. Seeing Liu Rongruo emerge, he quickly followed.
"My lord, the person has been brought."
Liu Rongruo, his face grim, walked past the corridor and strode towards the study in the front courtyard.
Bai Ze followed behind him, his heart filled with shock as he looked at the bloodstain on his master's back.
The sky was dark and heavy, with clouds pressing down. The rain pattered incessantly, and the leaves in the courtyard rustled violently.
In the study, a middle-aged man in a black robe stood by the door with a medical kit. Upon seeing Liu Rongruo arrive, he immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Prime Minister."
Liu Rongruo entered the room with a somber expression.
The air was filled with a dead, cold silence.
Bai Ze brought the medicine. "My lord, should we tend to the wound first?"
"No need."
Liu Rongruo glanced at the man standing to the side and said, "Was this sent by the Young Marquis?"
Bai Ze immediately replied, "Yes."
Long ago, his master had asked him to find a Gu master from Southern Xinjiang. A few days ago, he learned that it was the Saintess who had placed the Gu within his master.
"Come here."