Lust
Late at night, when all was quiet, the rich fragrance of osmanthus blossoms permeated the air, penetrating deep into the senses.
“Your Highness, this consort is so frightened. Is that man really dead?” Xia Ruochu twisted her handkerchief between her fingers.
“Completely dead. The bolt struck his throat.” Xiao Chengyi looked at her with amusement. “If Xia Yunxiao were still alive, he’d be furious enough to die on the spot after seeing how wildly inaccurate your aim was.”
Xia Ruochu thought this man was truly wicked.
He knew perfectly well how important her elder brother was to her, yet he spoke without the slightest restraint, deliberately poking at her most painful memories.
She suppressed the urge to jump up and argue with him, filling her eyes with grievance.
“I originally wanted to help Your Highness capture someone alive, but my hands were wet, and the rain was getting into my eyes. Besides…”
Besides, given the circumstances at the time, who could possibly have remained calm enough to aim properly?
The blood throughout her body had practically been brought to a boil by his body heat. It had taken all her effort just to fire the bolt. How could she have paid attention to her aim?
“What did you say?” Xiao Chengyi bent down and asked.
She weakly touched her forehead.
“Besides, this consort still has a fever and hasn’t slept well.”
The corners of Xiao Chengyi’s lips curved upward.
“Then let’s go.”
“Where?” she asked blankly.
“Where else?” The man turned around, his gaze slowly sweeping over her entire body.
“To sleep.”
Inside the plain and simple meditation room, a tiny candle flame burned faintly.
Xia Ruochu sank comfortably into the clean bedding.
Looking at the man sitting with his legs spread wide on the small wooden chair, she secretly struggled to suppress her laughter.
Fortunately, the bed was not large enough.
Although Liandeng Temple was situated in the mountains, it was no ordinary temple. It had been renovated by the late Grand Princess Roujia, and its facilities were already of an exceptional standard. When the temple buildings were reconstructed, several refined guest rooms had been specially reserved for imperial consorts, members of the royal family, and high-ranking nobles to stay in while worshipping Buddha and observing religious fasting.
As a place devoted to spiritual cultivation, the temple could not be excessively luxurious. Everything strictly adhered to simplicity. The sandalwood meditation beds were only wide enough for one person to lie down comfortably, symbolizing sincerity and self-restraint. Even if the Emperor and Empress came, they would have to sleep in separate rooms.
Xia Ruochu prepared her emotions.
“This consort really is foolish. I can’t do anything properly. Brother Yunxiao taught me for so long, yet I still couldn’t learn well. Cough, cough, cough…”
After several consecutive dry coughs, her eyes reddened at precisely the right moment.
Xiao Chengyi raised his eyes, his gaze as calm as ever.
“You’re not foolish. Everyone at Yangyi Hall respects and trusts you. That shows you have the ability to win people over.”
…Was he praising her?
Xia Ruochu was momentarily stunned, almost failing to keep up her act.
Originally, she had not intended to wait for him.
Bihan had already learned from Guan Shuo that Xiao Chengyi had rushed over during the night because he had encountered Zhao Shu leading people to smash up Yangyi Hall.
No matter how much consideration Xiao Chengyi ordinarily showed the Duke of Rong’s residence, he would never stand by and watch the powerful bully ordinary commoners. That was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
“Some fool who didn’t know his place swung a saber at His Highness and ended up losing both his eyes. The remaining residence guards were all given a thorough beating by Commander Guan, then bound and sent to the Lin’an Prefectural Office for investigation and punishment.”
“As for Zhao Shu, she was sent to the Empress, with a request that the palace matrons responsible for enforcing palace rules discipline her. Quite a few people are laughing at her now. It’s truly satisfying!”
When the young maid had come to report these events, her voice had been filled with admiration for Prince Su.
“In this servant’s opinion, Your Highness holds a place in His Highness’s heart. Otherwise, punishing Zhao Shu would have been enough. Why would he concern himself with your whereabouts and even brave the rain to come up the mountain in the middle of the night to fetch you?”
Xia Ruochu had been stunned for a moment, and Master Wangchen’s words seemed to echo in her ears.
“No matter how many hardships and obstacles stand in his way, Prince Su will certainly come.”
“How could a man willing to sacrifice his life for the common people abandon his lawfully wedded wife?”
She shook her head.
There was no affection between them as husband and wife.
Xiao Chengyi had come on a rainy night and happened to save her through a fortunate coincidence. That merely showed that he still possessed a sense of justice and a conscience.
At the time, Xia Ruochu had just taken the medicine Xinyi had sent over and was feeling listless.
“Why don’t you try persuading that prince of yours to stop acting so fierce toward me all the time?”
Bihan stuck out her tongue.
“This servant wouldn’t dare persuade him.”
“When His Highness isn’t speaking, just standing there makes him look as though he’s about to draw his saber at any moment. All of us servants are terrified of him.”
That was quite an accurate description.
Xia Ruochu laughed.
“Then why do you keep urging me to get along with him?”
“You’re different. You and His Highness are husband and wife,” Bihan said. “All marriages in this world are arranged by Heaven. Some people are simply born for each other, and no one else could ever take their place.”
“Young Lady is so beautiful. If the Eldest Young Master hadn’t guarded you so closely, suitors would have worn down the threshold of our residence long ago. Yet you and His Highness had never even exchanged a single word, and somehow, you were the one betrothed to him.”
“When Heaven decides to bring two people together, even thousands of mountains and rivers cannot keep them apart.”
Even after she was left alone in the room, Xia Ruochu remained lost in thought.
But this was all an accident. She had not even married him of her own free will. Perhaps one day, this soul of hers would leave this body. Why create unnecessary worries for herself?
Nor had she forgotten how he had despised her on their wedding night, even harboring murderous intentions toward her.
What nonsense about marriages being destined by Heaven? Rather than believing in something as intangible as fate, it was better to believe in herself.
And so, she had struggled to her feet and crouched outside the meditation room, waiting for Xiao Chengyi in the bleak, cold wind.
They had, after all, endured danger together tonight, and he had personally witnessed Yangyi Hall’s difficulties. Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to win his favor?
“What are you thinking about?” the man asked after waiting a long time without receiving an answer.
Xia Ruochu abruptly returned to her senses.
The medicine was taking effect, and her fever had subsided considerably. Nevertheless, she leaned against the headboard and coughed twice more, looking like the sickly beauty Xi Shi[1]Xi Shi (西施) was one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China. The expression “sickly Xi Shi” (病西施) describes a woman whose delicate, frail appearance while ill makes her seem … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3614832_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3614832_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
“Your Highness, I’m afraid this consort is going to die.”
Xiao Chengyi: “…”
“If this consort dies, I’ll have only two regrets. The first is that I never had the opportunity to serve Your Highness. The second is… sigh, forget it. I won’t say any more.”
“Your Highness needn’t worry about it. If there are things this consort cannot accomplish, then it must be fate. I certainly won’t become a restless ghost and haunt Your Highness after my death.”
Xiao Chengyi: “…”
“What’s all this talk about dying?” He sat leisurely on the edge of the bed, folding his arms as he looked at her. “What is it you want to do?”
Xia Ruochu revealed an expression of boundless sorrow.
“If I tell Your Highness, will you help me?”
“How will you know if you don’t tell me?”
A bright gleam flashed in her eyes.
“Your Highness, Yangyi Hall is part of the dowry my maternal grandfather left me. The common people living at the foot of the Western Mountains are deeply grateful to the Shen family because of this medicine shop.”
“The shop operates solely for the benefit of the common people, and running it has always been difficult. Now that the Duke of Rong’s residence has come to bully us, I’m powerless to do anything. I’ve truly let my maternal grandfather down.”
She believed that every word she spoke was heartfelt and sincere, yet the man’s gaze remained completely unmoved.
“There’s no need to make an enemy of the Duke of Rong’s residence over a mere medicine shop. The allowance you receive as Princess Consort is enough to ensure you’ll never have to worry about food or clothing.”
“It’s not about the money!”
At this point, Xia Ruochu could no longer concern herself with referring to herself as “this consort.” She abruptly kicked off the quilt and sat up.
“If I’m confined to the inner courtyard of a grand residence all day, as time passes, I’ll forget how to prepare medicinal cuisine, how to regulate the health of people with different constitutions, and even lose all my enthusiasm for researching new prescriptions. How would that be any different from being dead?”
Xiao Chengyi raised an eyebrow slightly.
The person before him was not cautious and timid at every moment after all.
Right now, she resembled a cat whose tail had been stepped on, with every strand of fur standing on end.
“Is it really that serious?” he asked.
“It really is that serious. My mother was exactly like that. I don’t want to end up like her, tying all the joys and sorrows of my life to my husband until my life is completely drained away.”
Genuine fear appeared in Xia Ruochu’s eyes.
She remembered that her mother, Shen Wan, had initially been a cheerful woman who loved talking and laughing.
Born into a merchant family, she was quick with an abacus but knew little about scheming against others. She always approached people and situations with a certain innocent enthusiasm.
At the late Emperor’s birthday banquet, her mother had shielded the Empress Dowager from a fatal blade, earning imperial rewards for the entire Marquis’s household. Xia Wujiu had been promoted in noble rank, enjoying boundless prestige.
During the year her mother spent recovering from her injuries at her maternal grandfather’s residence, she had still taught Xia Ruochu how to assess the quality of medicinal ingredients and calculate fluctuations in commodity prices across different regions. She had told her that a woman who possessed certain skills could help supplement her husband’s household income while supporting her husband and raising their children.
Ironically, her mother had failed to win her husband’s loyalty.
When Madam Liu first entered the residence, she never competed with Shen Wan for superiority.
She always kept her head lowered. Whenever Shen Wan became angry, Madam Liu would gently and softly admit her mistakes.
When Shen Wan’s coughing illness flared up, Madam Liu would summon a physician who was supposedly highly skilled in acupuncture.
She also made her own son and daughter pay their respects every morning and evening, reciting poetry and practicing their writing in front of their father, presenting themselves as obedient and clever children.
Those invisible, subtle, seemingly affectionate methods gradually eroded the last traces of guilt Xia Wujiu felt toward his wife.
Then disaster struck the Shen family.
Dozens of their commercial establishments, stretching from the capital to the Jianghuai region, were confiscated. The business empire built by three generations of imperial merchants from the Shen family collapsed overnight.
With the Shen family ruined, her mother lost her final source of support and confidence. She gradually became silent, no longer protesting when Madam Liu overstepped her authority, nor caring about her husband’s growing indifference.
She shut herself away in an increasingly cold and desolate courtyard. Her health deteriorated day by day, her coughing illness worsened, and the medicine she took never seemed to work.
“Ruochu… Mother was wrong… A woman mustn’t tie her entire life to someone else.”
That had also been the moment Xia Ruochu’s beliefs crumbled.
The affection between husband and wife that she had once believed in, the status of a legitimate daughter that she had once relied upon, and the justice of the world that she had once trusted so firmly were stripped away one by one. In the end, only she remained, facing her bedridden mother alone.
And the Xia Ruochu of today was even less likely to repeat her mother’s mistakes.
“Your Highness is a noble member of the imperial clan. No one dares obstruct you in the slightest, so naturally, you cannot understand how painful it is for someone to have ambitions in their heart but nowhere to put them into practice.”
“It’s like a bird with its wings broken, trapped inside a cage and gazing at the sky outside. Isn’t that terribly cruel?”
She spoke with heartfelt emotion.
“I beg Your Highness to persuade Grand Madam Rong’an to allow me to manage Yangyi Hall personally. I promise to be cautious in everything I do and never bring disgrace upon Prince Su’s residence.”
“This unjust world doesn’t follow the rules of commerce at all. Only with Your Highness’s approval will no one dare bully Yangyi Hall again.”
Negotiation was an exchange of equivalent value. If she wanted the other party to agree, she naturally had to offer terms that would satisfy him.
Xia Ruochu understood this principle very well.
“I know Your Highness never wanted to marry me in the first place.” She lowered her eyes.
“If Your Highness has a woman you love, I won’t use my position as your principal consort to make things difficult for her. In the future, when Your Highness is enjoying a passionate romance with her, I’ll stay far away.”
As the words left her mouth, it felt as though an extremely fine needle had pierced her heart.
Although they had never loved each other, what woman could possibly feel comfortable saying such things to her husband?
But she could only plan for the long term. According to the laws of the present dynasty, a woman could not receive a share of her husband’s family property after a divorce. Only her dowry would remain hers, which meant Yangyi Hall.
She had to accumulate enough strength so that one day, the vast world would open before her, allowing her to roam freely wherever she pleased.
Thinking of that beautiful possibility made her feel a little better.
“Would that be all right… Your Highness?” She tilted her small face upward and looked at him.
Without realizing it, she had already moved directly in front of Xiao Chengyi and was kneeling beside him.
The young woman’s figure was soft and supple, and her nightclothes were thin. A cluster of white peonies embroidered on her chest covering rose and fell gently with her breathing, like flower buds waiting to bloom, tempting someone to pluck them.
Xiao Chengyi’s expression darkened, and his gaze unconsciously lingered on those rosy-red lips.
After a long moment, he looked away and let out a cold scoff.
“Are you suggesting that I take a concubine?”
To Xia Ruochu, his words sounded as though there was room for negotiation.
She hesitated for a long moment.
“…Zhao Shu from the Duke of Rong’s residence won’t do. She’s not a good person. She’ll bring harm to Your Highness…”
Suddenly, a shadow swept over her, and a forceful movement pushed her heavily down onto the bed.
“Xia Ruochu, is there a single truthful word that comes out of your mouth?” Xiao Chengyi’s breath was scorching as he leaned close to her face.
“Desperate to conceive a child? You and I haven’t even consummated our marriage. How exactly do you intend to conceive, hmm? What did you really come to Liandeng Temple for?”
The unexpected interrogation made Xia Ruochu’s breath catch.
People had mouths so they could speak. How could she allow someone to accuse her unjustly without defending herself?
“I came to investigate the truth behind Madam Xiao’s death all those years ago. Whether Your Highness believes me or not, I’m absolutely not someone who clings to life out of fear of death. I would never have stood by and refused to help after seeing Madam Xiao fall into the river.”
Xiao Chengyi sneered.
“And the truth? What exactly happened that day?”
“I can’t remember.” Xia Ruochu turned her face away, avoiding his burning gaze.
He gripped her chin and forced her to turn back toward him. His rough fingertips brushed against the tender corner of her lips.
“Do you remember what I told you? You’re this prince’s slave. Even if I don’t like you, I can still take possession of your body.”
Xia Ruochu trembled all over.
This man was completely twisting the truth. That was clearly not what they had agreed upon back then!
But his eyes were like black jade tempered in fire, their scorching intensity making her heart flutter with panic and robbing her of speech.
She recognized the way he looked now.
When they had embraced in the hot spring, his gaze and his body’s reactions had been exactly the same, like a raging fire spreading across the plains.
He was overcome with lust.
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