“Jiang Xingzhou, don’t go too far!”
The deliberately lowered voice Feng Yi had been maintaining broke under the tide of arousal, revealing the soft, sweet tone she used to have. Her misty eyes shimmered with moisture. Though the words were meant to sound fierce, they carried no real intimidation.
“I’m the one going too far?” Jiang Xingzhou’s fingers continued their mischief, stroking and kneading her mercilessly. “You faked your death and deceived me. Wasn’t that going too far, Mianmian?”
His fingertips, still damp, caressed her face, tracing every contour of her brows and eyes.
“Do you know how I’ve lived these past three years? Do you know?”
“You’re the youngest marquis in Great Zhou, holding real power. Surrounded by beauties, commanding the winds and rain. Could your life possibly have been bad?” Feng Yi panted, her words coming apart.
“Good? Of course it was good!” Jiang Xingzhou cursed bitterly. “It was so damn good!”
His finger slid to her lips, but she turned her head away. Nearly rough, he grabbed her face and forced her to look at him.
“Such a wonderful life… naturally it would’ve been even better if my Mianmian had been there.”
“What exactly do you want?” she asked.
“That bastard child,” his voice suddenly turned icy. “You call her Yangyang. What’s her full name?”
Feng Yi’s pupils shrank instantly.
That single reaction gave him his answer.
“You actually gave the name we’d picked for our daughter… to someone else’s child?”
“Linyuan, if we ever have a daughter, how about calling her ‘Weiyang’?”
“Why Weiyang?”
“Changle Weiyang. May she live in everlasting joy and peace, blessed with a long and happy life.”
The tender words they’d once whispered to each other still echoed in his ears.
Now she had given the name Weiyang to another child.
Feng Yi sensed the killing intent radiating from him and hurriedly pleaded,
“Don’t hurt Yangyang.”
He let out a cold laugh.
The more she cared about the child, the more he wanted to destroy what she cherished.
“Please… don’t touch her,” she begged urgently. “I’ll do anything you want. She’s only two years old. She knows nothing. Please spare her.”
Jiang Xingzhou suddenly stepped back and sat down in the chair. Still gripping her wrist, he yanked her forward, making her stumble.
With a tug, she fell to her knees between his spread legs. Yet instead of striking the hard stone floor, her knees landed on a cushion he had quietly thrown down beforehand.
Using one finger, he lifted her chin, the corner of his lips curling into a wicked smile.
“Serve this marquis well first. Then we’ll discuss terms.”
“There are countless beautiful women willing to serve you, Your Lordship. Why make things difficult for me?”
“It seems Master Feng doesn’t love her daughter that much after all.”
He sneered before raising his voice toward the door.
“Qingshan. Go and bring—”
“No!”
Feng Yi interrupted desperately.
“I’ll do it. I will…”
Qingshan’s voice sounded from outside.
“What are your orders, Your Lordship?”
“Nothing.”
Jiang Xingzhou’s gaze remained fixed on the woman before him.
“Stand down. Stay farther away.”
He lifted his robe.
The unmistakable evidence of his desire strained visibly beneath the fabric.
His eyes lowered halfway, his voice hoarse.
“Begin.”
He had to admit it.
He missed her.
At the very least, his body missed her—so much it had seeped into his very bones.
“So… this is how Your Lordship wants me to serve you?”
Feng Yi looked up at him.
When she had left three years ago, his marriage negotiations had nearly been finalized.
If he had already married—or taken concubines—she refused to submit.
It disgusted her.
Jiang Xingzhou quietly studied her.
The scholar’s headscarf. The sallow complexion. The thickened brows.
Once, he wouldn’t have minded playing along with her disguises.
Now they were merely proof that she had abandoned him.
A brand of humiliation burned into his heart.
“Go wash yourself.”
He ordered coldly.
The sun sank below the horizon, and lamps were lit throughout the room.
Feng Yi sat immersed in the bath.
Her long black hair floated freely. The disguise had been washed from her face and neck, revealing skin as fair and luminous as jade.
Her long lashes trembled with unease.
Steady footsteps approached behind her.
A warm hand settled upon her neck.
The jade thumb ring he wore was so cold it made her shiver.
“You’ve been bathing for quite a while.”
Standing above her, he took in every inch of her beneath the water.
“If Master Feng is unwilling, there’s no need to force yourself.”
Feng Yi gave a bitter smile.
At this point…
What choice did she have?
She gently placed her hand over his and tilted her face upward.
“Linyuan…”
“Have you married?”
The familiar nickname caused the rigid chill surrounding Jiang Xingzhou to soften for the first time.
“…No.”
“Why?”
Back then…
Hadn’t he desperately wanted a noble wife to stabilize his political standing?
“Why do you think?”
Suddenly, he lifted her out of the bath in his arms.
Water splashed everywhere, soaking his robes.
“Feng Yi…”
“I really want to cut open your chest and see whether you even have a heart.”
Feng Yi had no idea what she’d said to provoke him again.
Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Tonight…
There was no escaping.
She chose to believe him.
At least if he truly hadn’t married…
She would feel a little less guilty.
Soon enough…
She believed him completely.
Jiang Xingzhou tossed her onto the bed.
He wasn’t worried about hurting her.
This woman had always been delicate.
No matter where she lived, she’d make sure her bed was luxuriously soft.
Their expensive robes scattered across the floor.
He embraced her from behind.
There was no tenderness.
No lingering affection.
Only relentless urgency.
Unexpectedly…
She wasn’t dry.
Feng Yi muffled a gasp before biting her lower lip tightly.
The courtyard was filled with guards.
More importantly…
Yangyang was still at home.
Why hadn’t he married?
Because she had “died.”
When she died…
His heart died with her.
How could someone whose heart was already dead live an ordinary married life?
Jiang Xingzhou gripped her waist tightly, each movement more forceful than the last.
He needed to feel her.
Her warmth.
The way her body responded.
Only at this moment…
Did he finally believe she was alive.
Not the mangled corpse ravaged by wild dogs.
Not the phantom that vanished the moment he reached for it in his dreams.
Suddenly…
Several warm droplets landed against her lower back.
Though cool at first…
They burned like fire.
“Linyuan…”
she whispered softly.
The instant she turned to look at him…
A hand covered her eyes.
“Don’t call me that…”
I’m afraid… I’ll forgive you.
I’m supposed to hate you, Feng Yi.
He bent down and bit gently at the back of her neck and shoulders—not hard enough to break the skin, only enough to punish.
He thought:
Better not bite too hard.
If I kill her now… it’d be letting her off too easily.
She owes me.
She’ll spend the rest of her life making it up to me.
He moved to her ear, teasing and nipping until the simmering tension between them boiled over.
She tightened around him unexpectedly.
Caught off guard, he lost control as well.
They reached their peak together.
When the trembling finally subsided…
Feng Yi laughed softly.
Just a little over fifteen minutes.
Exactly like their first time.
So…
He truly had gone without a woman for a very long time.
That wasn’t his usual stamina.
Her laugh wounded Jiang Xingzhou’s pride.
He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek and ground his teeth.
“Again.”
He turned her over.
This time…
He wanted to watch her melt because of him.
He stubbornly refused to kiss her lips.
Kissing…
Was proof of love.
And he no longer loved her.
He didn’t.
He only wanted her body.
That was all.
That had to be all.
As he lowered his head toward her slender neck…
She stopped him with her hand.
He frowned in displeasure.
Ignoring it, Feng Yi’s gaze settled on the scar over the left side of his chest.
It was so close to his heart.
Her fingertips gently traced it.
Her eyes reddened instantly.
“Did it hurt?”
He stared deeply into her eyes.
The concern there didn’t seem fake.
Suddenly…
He lowered his head and captured her lips in a fierce kiss.
His tongue forced its way past her teeth as though trying to determine whether that concern was genuine…
or merely another lie.
If it was genuine…
Then why had she left him?
If it was fake…
Then so be it.
He accepted even that.
She kissed him back just as fiercely.
Their tongues tangled passionately.
Her arms circled his neck.
Her legs wrapped around his lean waist.
Lose yourself, Feng Yi.
Just this once.
Pretend this is only another dream…
One of the countless dreams she’d had over the past three years.
The modest bed creaked until midnight.
The moon hung high overhead.
Their voices echoed again and again until she completely melted into his embrace.
“I’m hungry.”
Her voice was hoarse, lazy, and alluring.
“Bear with it.”
Jiang Xingzhou answered stiffly.
Even so…
He ordered food to be brought in.
He draped a robe over her shoulders and carried her to the table.
She didn’t ask whether Yunniang and Yangyang had already eaten.
First, because she feared angering him again.
Second…
He wouldn’t bully women and children.
Except her.
Near the end of the fifth watch, dawn’s first light streamed through the window.
Sparrows chirped outside in search of food.
Feng Yi awoke as she always did.
The arm beneath her neck…
The arm wrapped tightly around her waist…
And the lingering soreness between them…
All reminded her that another person shared the bed.
She quietly turned and watched him for a long moment.
Asleep, Jiang Xingzhou had shed all the coldness and ruthlessness he wore during the day.
He looked unexpectedly peaceful.
Her heart softened.
Unable to resist, she gently kissed his forehead.
Carefully lifting his arm away, she prepared to get out of bed.
She had barely pulled back the blanket…
When he suddenly dragged her back into his embrace.
“Where are you going?”
Without opening his eyes, he instinctively pulled her closer.
“To teach at the school.”
She sighed helplessly.
His energy was unbelievable.
After dinner the previous night…
He had wanted her twice more before finally sleeping.
And now…
Again?
Wasn’t he worried he’d exhaust himself?
“You’re not going.”
He tightened his hold.
“I didn’t tell my students class was canceled yesterday.”
“I have to go.”
She explained patiently.
“Tomorrow is our day off.”
“I’ll accompany you to see the sights around Ruyi Town.”
“All right?”
“When will you be back?”
he muttered.
He had felt the kiss on his forehead earlier.
He decided to let her off—for now.
“At dusk.”
He frowned.
“Too late.”
“School always ends at this time.”
“I’ll come find you after I wake up.”
For the past three years, he’d rarely enjoyed peaceful sleep.
Yet beside her…
He’d slept dreamlessly.
He wanted to stay wrapped in bedding scented with her a little longer.
After a brief silence, Feng Yi nodded softly.
“All right.”
She climbed out of bed.
The weakness in her body nearly caused her to collapse.
After putting on the specially made height-increasing boots Yunniang had crafted for her, she carefully applied the skin-darkening ointment over every exposed patch of fair skin until her complexion became sallow once more.
The love bites on her neck could only be concealed beneath a scarf.
Fortunately, the weather was still cool enough that no one would find it suspicious.
When she entered the main hall, Yunniang had already prepared breakfast as usual.
Seeing Feng Yi’s unsteady steps, she hurried over with concern to support her.
“I’m fine.”
Feng Yi patted the back of her hand reassuringly before lowering her voice.
“Yangyang wasn’t frightened, was she?”
“No.”
Yunniang smiled gently.
“That child has a big heart.”
“She calmed down after a little comforting.”
“She’s still asleep.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I dragged both of you into this.”
“What nonsense.”
“We’re family.”
Had it not been for Feng Yi back then…
He Yunniang would likely have been destroyed by malicious gossip long ago.
Picking up a steamed bun, Feng Yi lowered her voice even further.
“Yunniang…”
“Can you do me a favor?”
“Of course.”
“What is it?”
“Please… get me a dose of contraceptive herbal medicine.”