21: Coercion
Amidst the courtyard willows and blooming flowers, amidst the curling wisps of fragrant incense, when Qiao Shilian saw that figure, her heart clenched, and she stood rooted to the spot.
This guard belonged to the Eastern Palace, not the Imperial Guard. It was clearly a trap Qin Shuo had set specifically to bring her here.
What exactly did Qin Shuo want now? it was he who had loathed and disgraced her just yesterday, and now it was he again who went to such lengths to trick her into coming.
“As I thought… I still had to borrow another’s words to ‘invite’ you here.”
Qin Shuo slowly turned around, his brows and eyes relaxed with a smile, calling out to her from a distance. “Shilian.”
That voice held a trace of affection, yet it made her want to retch.
Qiao Shilian forcibly suppressed her fury, stealthily surveying the surroundings. She noticed Qin Shuo had quietly dismissed his attendants, and even Qiuying had been taken away by the Eastern Palace people.
It seemed she wouldn’t be able to leave easily today.
Qin Shuo leisurely descended the pavilion steps, walking towards her: “I know you resent me because of yesterday’s events, even hate me. But Shilian… you must also understand, I was kept in the dark, unaware of the truth.”
She found it utterly ludicrous! He sure knew how to wash his hands clean of it all! And what if he had known the truth? In her past life, her sincere devotion had already been trampled by him. When she fell into hardship and suffering, Qin Shuo never once extended a helping hand, instead, he pushed her into the abyss. Twice.
She had every reason to resent him, to hate him. While she struggled bitterly to survive, where was he, Qin Shuo? Busy in bed with others, or tending to his untouchable imperial power and interests?
Qiao Shilian retreated step by step, her tone resolute: “If Your Highness summoned me here to say these things, I have other matters to attend to and shall take my leave.”
But the moment she turned, she felt a sudden gust of wind beside her, accompanied by the enveloping scent of agarwood. In the next instant, Qin Shuo, who had closed the distance to her side, had forcefully grasped her wrist.
She immediately tried to pull free, but the hand on her wrist only tightened, squeezing painfully, forcing tears to well up uncontrollably in her eyes.
Qiao Shilian furrowed her brows, looking at Qin Shuo whose smile didn’t reach his eyes: “What does Your Highness mean by this?”
“What do I mean?” Qin Shuo let out a light, scornful laugh. Though his lips were still curved, that smile sent a chill down her spine.
“Don’t think I don’t know. Ever since you started interacting with Su Zhuoguang, you began to distance yourself from me, repeatedly rejecting me! The way you looked at him last night is proof enough… Shilian, do you still think you can deceive me?”
Hearing this, Qiao Shilian felt it was truly preposterous!
He actually thought she was distancing herself because of Su Zhuoguang? Seeing his self-righteousness and recalling all he had done, disgust crawled uncontrollably through Qiao Shilian’s heart and gut.
Qiao Shilian pressed her lips tightly together. “The innocent remains clear of suspicion. If Your Highness insists on viewing me this way, I have nothing more to say! Your Highness only needs to know that whenever I was unable to defend myself and fell into peril, Your Highness was always the one who abandoned me!”
She couldn’t suppress the fury boiling within her. “I have no fortune to enjoy Your Highness’s regard. I beg Your Highness to let me go and henceforth waste no more effort on me!”
A shadow of gloom flashed through Qin Shuo’s eyes upon hearing this, but he did not reply for a long while. Lost in thought, he seemed oblivious to her struggles.
After a moment, he slowly backed her against the high wall’s edge. His tall, imposing shadow fell, enveloping that face, both stubborn and delicate, now tear-streaked and rain-drenched like a pear blossom. An inexplicable sense of pleasure stirred within him, fueling the desires buried deep in his bones.
To possess her, or to destroy her… the prerequisite was that she must be his.
“What if… I insist on having my way?” Qin Shuo asked her in a low voice, watching a flicker of panic appear on her face.
Excellent, she was afraid of him. That way, she wouldn’t run away again.
He ought to lock her in that gilded cage, not let her soar freely in the world, attracting the covetous eyes of others.
If it were before, he wouldn’t have treated Qiao Shilian like this. But now it was different. Qiao Shilian’s heart was no longer with him, so he would have to resort to more forceful means… to make her stay.
“Shilian, I truly like you…”
Therefore, you must be mine.
“After all these years, don’t you understand that I only want you?”
Qin Shuo bent down, whispering into her ear as if tenderly expressing his feelings, yet it made Qiao Shilian’s hair stand on end. She anticipated what he was about to do.
The heavy daylight, filtered through swaying branches, outlined the increasingly thick smile on the face before her. Horrified, she frantically pulled and pushed against Qin Shuo, who was trying to embrace her, her efforts proving utterly futile under his strength.
“Let me go…” Qiao Shilian resisted, shrinking back, only to be pinned against the cold wall, unable to move an inch.
She knew Qin Shuo was dead set on forcing her hand!
“Young General Su! Young General Su!” Eunuch Jiude’s startled cry pierced the air.
Before Qin Shuo could gather the soft jade into his arms, still gripping Qiao Shilian’s wrist tightly, he turned to look at Su Zhuoguang, who had intruded upon the scene.
Eunuch Jiude’s calls grew closer as he chased after Su Zhuoguang, who was striding in, trying to stop him. But catching a glimpse of Qiao Shilian shrinking against the wall with her face lowered, his heart jolted in surprise, causing him to fail to stop Su Zhuoguang, who continued forward directly.
Su Zhuoguang saluted Qin Shuo unhurriedly: “Your subject was entrusted by Prime Minister Qiao to help find his missing second daughter. By chance, passing by this place, I heard Miss Qiao’s voice. Concerned for Miss Qiao’s safety, I had no choice but to intrude to investigate.”
When Qiao Shilian saw Su Zhuoguang appear, her panicked heart finally settled. Through tear-filled eyes, she thought to herself that her father hadn’t even seen her today, so how would he know if she was missing? Clearly, Su Zhuoguang had fabricated this excuse on the spot to rescue her.
Qin Shuo sneered: “There is nothing amiss with Shilian being here with me. Please relay that to Prime Minister Qiao, Young General Su. Later, I will personally escort Shilian back.”
He was determined to keep Qiao Shilian, even if it lacked justification. He didn’t care.
Su Zhuoguang didn’t retreat but instead stepped forward, glancing at the person leaning to the side, sniffling: “Whether it’s amiss or not should be stated by the person herself.”
“Young General Su.” Qin Shuo’s tone sharpened, his displeasure evident.
Su Zhuoguang remained expressionless: “Does Your Highness wish for your subject to invite Prime Minister Qiao here?”
Having said that, disregarding Qin Shuo’s intention, he slightly turned to make way: “Miss Qiao, please return.”
“Your Highness… the young lady has rested enough here today, it seems it’s time to return…” Eunuch Jiude hurried over with small steps, his face full of worry as he looked at Qin Shuo.
Regardless, Qiao Shilian was, after all, the daughter of an official’s family. How could she simply be detained? If Prime Minister Qiao took the matter to the Emperor, the Crown Prince would certainly face reprimand and scolding.
Worried for the Crown Prince, and also deeply perplexed, he thought that while His Highness had always acted boldly, he was also usually steady and proper. Why was he suddenly giving Miss Qiao such a hard time today?
Qin Shuo clenched his fist. Though unwilling, after weighing all factors, he could only release Qiao Shilian, allowing Su Zhuoguang to take her away.
Qiao Shilian only felt the grip on her wrist loosen, as if a great burden had been lifted. She hurriedly followed behind Su Zhuoguang, not wishing to stay in that place a moment longer.
Once out of the courtyard, walking along the shaded path, remembering Qin Shuo’s actions just moments ago, the more she thought about it, the more she felt wronged and humiliated. Lowering her head, scalding hot tears welled up in her eyes, falling silently onto the tips of her shoes.
Unnoticed by her, Su Zhuoguang ahead had already halted his steps. She bumped squarely into his chest as he turned around.
**