Zhao Xuanzhen’s initial intention had been to “just take a look.”
After pressing her down onto the bed, he had told himself it would be just this once… After all, this was the Cuiwei Pavilion. Even if they had already crossed the line long ago, in the study, it had been her offering herself; for him to come here of his own volition made him seem somewhat base. The heir to Prince Ding did not wish to acknowledge this baseness, so he tried to deceive himself.
However, after a heavy storm of passion had passed, he still felt unsatisfied.
Zhao Xuanzhen couldn’t bring himself to entangle with her again, so he thought Su Wantang should take the initiative… After all, during their previous encounter, he had been deliberately gentle and accommodating, and he had witnessed with his own eyes the boundless beauty in her misty, near-entranced gaze…
Fortunately, this fool seemed to be craving more as well, leaning against his chest, her eyes looking at him longingly, with words hovering on her lips. Zhao Xuanzhen forcefully suppressed his restless urges and asked with feigned calm, “What is it?”
Then he saw Su Wantang bite her lip and lower her eyes in shyness, “Your Highness…”
Zhao Xuanzhen endured his growing impatience and urged, “Speak if you have something to say!”
So wild just a moment ago, now she’s bashful? He hinted, “I am not that cold and harsh… If you want something, just say it.”
As he spoke, one hand was already uncontrollably pulling her waist toward him. Yet, it was then that he heard Su Wantang gather her courage and look up at him, “Your Highness, could you send someone to the Imperial Academy to check on Xu Jinnian?”
She bit her lip, “I encountered him today and saw he looked quite ill… Given his current destitute state, I fear he cannot even afford a doctor. I am worried something might happen to him.”
In an instant, Zhao Xuanzhen’s burning urges vanished into thin air.
“What, you can’t forget your old flame?”
Zhao Xuanzhen’s face turned into his usual icy mask, his eyes dangerous. Even though he viewed Su Wantang as nothing more than a surrogate for pregnancy—someone not even fit to be his concubine—he still felt a coldness fill his heart upon seeing her fretting over another man. It wasn’t that he cared; it was simply that no man could tolerate such a thing.
Zhao Xuanzhen sneered coldly, “If you are so preoccupied with your former fiancé, why don’t I make the decision to let you two reunite? How about that?”
Su Wantang’s eyes widened, and she sat up in a panic. Her long hair slid down to her collarbone, revealing mottled hickeys. She looked aggrieved, “I did not.”
She looked at him with watery eyes, “Did I not tell you before, Your Highness? I only feel gratitude toward Young Master Xu… During those days when I first arrived in the capital and was mocked by everyone, it was he who protected me in every way. Now that I have failed him, I only wish to repay him…”
Zhao Xuanzhen remained icy, “Since you chose wealth and status back then, you should know your place. Now you are here dwelling on the past; it is hypocritical and laughable… Or is it that you have truly never forgotten your feelings for that young Master Xu?”
Before he could finish, a string of tears fell from Su Wantang’s eyes.
“Wealth, status, hypocrisy, and ridicule… so that is how Your Highness thinks of me.” Su Wantang lowered her eyes, “I am grateful to Young Master Xu, but for Your Highness… it was love at first sight. No matter how unloved I am or how humble my biological mother was, I am still a daughter of the Marquis’s estate. Even as a daughter of a concubine, marrying a minor official as a first wife would not have been difficult. If not for Your Highness… why would I choose to live in the shadows like this?”
She looked up, “Eldest sister promised that after I bear the child, the first one will be raised at her knees, and she will allow me to stay by your side. I thought… that you might understand the sincerity of my feelings for you.”
Zhao Xuanzhen’s lips parted, but no words came out. His cold expression finally softened slightly. He especially reacted to her mention of Su Huajin promising to let her stay—Zhao Xuanzhen knew Su Huajin would never allow that, and until now, he had thought the same.
But now, looking at Su Wantang—beautiful as jade and covered in marks of their intimacy—Zhao Xuanzhen realized, with a start, that a thought had emerged: he was reluctant.
He was somewhat reluctant to let her leave.
But then he thought of Su Huajin. He and Huajin had been childhood sweethearts; after marriage, they lived in mutual respect, and he had promised her a lifetime of devotion to only one person… If he betrayed her, how would he be any different from his father, the Prince?
In that instant, realizing he had actually harbored thoughts of failing his wife, Zhao Xuanzhen felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, chilling him to the bone. The remaining passion evaporated instantly. He didn’t even want to look at Su Wantang, who had held his gaze so easily moments ago. He stood up expressionlessly and pulled on his clothes.
“You should rest. I am leaving.”
Without a backward glance, he strode out.
It was a long time before Su Wantang looked up. There was no trace of sorrow in her eyes; she secretly clicked her tongue. Zhao Xuanzhen had performed well in bed; if not for other circumstances, she wouldn’t have minded another round… but she had business tonight and couldn’t indulge herself. She had intentionally mentioned Xu Jinnian to dampen his spirits.
After quickly tidying up, she prepared to wait for the signal from her companions to track their progress… But just as she finished, Xiaotao flew into the room from outside.
Xiaotao’s other skills were average, but her light-footwork was top-tier. She had been hiding in the dark, watching the Xianyue Residence, and saw that Grand Tutor Xie was wearing a black robe, not the purple one her mistress had mentioned. Seeing that he was awake late at night and seemed intent on going out, Xiaotao hurried back to report.
Hearing that Xie Yan had changed his clothes again, Su Wantang felt completely numb!
Did that guy have some sort of curse where he would die if he didn’t change his clothes? People said he was as ethereal as an immortal, so he truly lived as if he were unstained by dust—changing clothes three times a day, not afraid of the trouble… I give up!
Xiaotao was nervous, “Mistress, what should we do now?”
According to their intelligence, Section Chief You and his team should be entering the capital today, and Xie Yan’s midnight departure suggested her initial hunch was correct. Grand Tutor Xie had cruel methods; if he caught them, he would surely force a confession. If she couldn’t rescue them tonight, there would be endless trouble… If Section Chief You betrayed the sect, it would surely be affected. If he remained loyal, rescuing him later would be even harder.
“Have they set off?”
Xiaotao’s brow was furrowed, “I just saw them packing and preparing to leave.”
There was no time to lose. Su Wantang walked into the inner chamber, ripped off her long dress, and quickly coiled her hair. A black night-traveling suit covered the traces of intimacy on her body, and her long hair and entire face were wrapped tightly, leaving only her eyes exposed.
“Be ready. I might return at any time.”
This time, she had to follow Xie Yan herself; she couldn’t be careless. Xie Yan was deep in cultivation, and he had the Fish-Dragon Guard sent by the Emperor… Beyond that, there were the unknown depths of the Xie family’s secret guards, the “Night Qilin,” with numerous powers surrounding him both in the open and in the shadows. One slight slip, and she would be doomed.
Su Wantang dared not risk following him openly. Instead, she darted to the backyard and, like a ghost, silently slid beneath Xie Yan’s carriage.
She was thin and lithe by nature; as she held her breath and pressed tightly against the underside of the carriage frame, hidden by the night, it would be almost impossible to discover her unless someone bent down to inspect it closely…
Almost the moment Su Wantang had concealed herself, footsteps rang out. A moment later, she heard the voice of Xie Yan’s personal attendant, and the carriage frame shifted slightly…