Chaptеr 21: Shе Will Only Вe a Wifе, Nоt а Соnсubine
“Тhird Маstеr?”
The mаn’s gaze was toо intеnse, mаking Хi Ning fееl аs if neеdlеs wеre priсking hеr baсk, her entire bоdy stiffеning.
In the narrow сarriаge, thеir brеaths mingled tоgether, hot аnd аmbiguоus.
Рei Zhaо lеаnеd in slightly, his slendеr knucklеs resting on hеr fair and dеlicatе chin. His scоrсhing brеath sрrаyed aсross hеr сheeks, сausing Xi Ning’s bоdy tо sоftеn instantlу.
“How will уou thank mе? Нmm?”
With а slight pressure from the man’s fingertips, Хi Ning fеll into his embracе.
Тhe man’s chеst wаs hard enough to ache, his arms firmly gripping her waist, leaving Xi Ning unable to move an inch.
“I’ll cook for you, Third Master. Whatever you want to eat, I can make it…”
Her flushed face was radiantly beautiful, her voice delicate and trembling, stirring a dark tide in the man’s eyes.
“Not enough.”
He did enjoy Xi Ning’s cooking, but compared to her, the pleasures of the palate were far less important.
“Third Master…”
Xi Ning was on the verge of tears. He was clearly noble and aloof, indifferent to women, and she had never caught his eye. Why had he suddenly changed so drastically?
“Xi Ning, I want you.”
Pei Zhao’s thumb gradually moved upward from her chin, landing on her full, rosy lips.
As his thumb caressed her lips, her soft, fragrant tongue accidentally brushed against it, causing Pei Zhao’s breathing to grow heavier.
He wanted to kiss her, to have her.
Men were naturally adept when it came to women. Once desire was ignited, it could never be extinguished.
Xi Ning placed her hands on his chest, struggling to escape his grasp.
Yet her struggles only made the man’s thumb probe deeper.
“Mmm!”
Warm lips and tongues tangled and entwined, and the small of Xi Ning’s back gradually grew hot.
“Third Master, we agreed that once your matters are settled, you would return my deed of servitude to me. You can’t go back on your word.”
She spat out his finger and spoke in a trembling voice under the man’s scorching, ink-dark gaze.
Xi Ning didn’t know how captivating she looked at that moment. Her loosely tied bun had half fallen, her dark hair cascading down her back, some strands slipping into her open collar. The contrast of black hair against snow-white skin tempted one to leave crimson marks upon it.
The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he pressed her waist closer to him. Nestled in his embrace, he could look down and see her radiant face, her ears red as if dripping with blood, and the hint of snowy skin hidden beneath her collar.
Feeling the heat beneath her, Xi Ning’s eyes reddened completely.
“You promised, Third Master…”
Promised to let her leave.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Pei Zhao had always been a man of his word, but with Xi Ning, he had broken it time and again.
“I can give you the deed of servitude, but you’ll stay with me, hmm?”
What was so bad about him?
Every woman in the capital wanted to marry him. Xi Ning was alone, with no family or friends, and possessed such beauty. Without him, she would be like a lamb straying into a pack of wolves in the capital, destined to be devoured sooner or later.
The man’s voice was seductive, but Xi Ning’s blood ran cold, freezing her entire body.
She looked up, meeting the man’s eyes, and asked word by word:
“Does Third Master want me to be your concubine?”
Xi Ning’s gaze was as clear as a pool of water, reflecting the man’s desire and possessiveness.
Pei Zhao’s heart tightened, and he saw his own unworthiness in her eyes. Yet the pride of the Third Master of the Pei family prevented him from admitting his mistake.
“What’s so bad about being my concubine? In the future, I’ll protect you, and no one will dare bully you again.”
“Third Master, I will not be a concubine.”Xi Ning broke free from his embrace, her gaze more resolute than ever before.
“I am grateful that Third Master brought me out of Misty Rain Pavilion and gave me a clean identity. I am willing to repay this kindness in any way I can. However, my heart is wild—I do not wish to be anyone’s dependent. Though women are not as free as men, I too wish to travel across this vast land. Being confined to the inner quarters would be torture for me. Moreover, I will only be a wife, not a concubine. I ask that Third Master honor our agreement and return my deed of sale.”
“Only a wife, not a concubine? Hah! You want to marry me?”
Pei Zhao’s face darkened. In his eyes, Xi Ning’s desire for freedom was nothing more than an excuse for her unwillingness to become a concubine. Back when this woman had schemed for him to buy her, she had done no shortage of things to seduce him.
During this period, she had been well-behaved, opening a shop and selling food. He had thought she had given up, but it turned out she was merely retreating to advance, seeking even more.
“Third Master must be joking. I don’t even like you—why would I want to marry you?”
Xi Ning nearly laughed at his arrogance. Could it be that the only value of women in this world was to marry? Having lived two lifetimes, she too had her own aspirations.
She didn’t like him? She didn’t want to marry him?
The woman’s clear and pure eyes told Pei Zhao that she was speaking the truth.
Xi Ning did not like him. His earlier words had only brought humiliation upon himself.
A knot of frustration tightened in Pei Zhao’s chest, and a trace of embarrassment surfaced in his eyes.
“Get out!”
Xi Ning knew her words had been too blunt, piercing his pride. But if she didn’t make herself clear, Pei Zhao might continue to delude himself into thinking she liked him.
To avoid future trouble, it was better to clarify things now.
Even if Pei Zhao came to hate her, she wondered if she would still be able to retrieve her deed of sale.
Xi Ning stepped down from the carriage, where Chang Lin and Lu Yi greeted her with smiles.
When ambiguous sounds had emerged from the carriage earlier, Chang Lin had quietly pulled Lu Yi aside.
Their master had finally taken an interest in a woman—they couldn’t eavesdrop.
But wasn’t the time a bit short? Though he had no experience himself, less than a quarter of an hour? Could their master really be so… inadequate?
Chang Lin looked at Xi Ning’s pale face, her weak and trembling legs, and her slightly disheveled clothes. His eyes brimmed with sympathy, nearly overflowing.
“Miss Xi…”
Chang Lin wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but he feared angering his master inside the carriage. For Miss Xi to come down like this, it must be because the master had become embarrassed and angry, taking it out on her.
Poor Miss Xi.
Xi Ning was still worried about her future and forced a faint smile at him. Unbeknownst to her, this strained smile only confirmed Chang Lin’s suspicions.
“Drive!”
Before Chang Lin could react, Pei Zhao’s furious voice erupted from inside the carriage.
Chang Lin shuddered, knowing his master was in a foul mood and not daring to delay his orders.
“Yes.”
The carriage quickly sped away from Wutong Street. Xi Ning entered the outer courtyard, closed the door, and leaned against it, her strength completely drained.
In this era, she was not the respected Professor Xi, but a plaything that anyone could bully.
Her fate was in Pei Zhao’s hands. Though she refused to accept it, she had already been branded as his possession here.
No matter how much she deceived herself into believing she was independent, she could not escape Pei Zhao’s control.
She had to start planning her escape route as soon as possible.
Pei Zhao returned to the Duke’s mansion seething with anger. Chang Lin had never seen him so furious before.
The Third Son of the Pei family was known for his deep thoughts and rarely showed his emotions. This was the first time his feelings had been so visibly exposed.
Indeed, when it came to matters like this, men found it hard to remain calm.Chang Lin shook his head sympathetically. Who would have thought that their refined and noble Third Master was nothing but a useless silver spearhead?
“Chang Lin, if you were a woman, would you want to marry me?”