“Fine, fine. I’ll be gentler, all right? Honestly, I can’t tell whether you’re the one serving me or whether I’m the one accommodating you!”
The man let out a low chuckle. With a flex of his arm, he pulled her soft, delicate body into the blankets and turned over, wrapping his arms tightly around her slender waist from behind.
“I’m not going to touch you, but I do need to take care of myself. Be good and don’t move around, understand?”
As he spoke, he gently brushed the tip of his nose against her delicate neck. His warm breath made her shiver from head to toe.
“Oh…” Tang Lichu twisted restlessly, struggling to free herself.
Seeing this, Li Juechen was both exasperated and amused. He gave her tempting, peach-like bottom a light smack.
“I told you not to move, but you just won’t listen, will you? Keep squirming, and don’t blame me if I stop being gentle!”
Tang Lichu turned her head and gave him an imperious glare, like a little wildcat whose tail had been stepped on.
Li Juechen narrowed his phoenix-like eyes, a dangerous yet alluring smile appearing on his lips. He reached out, firmly taking hold of her delicate chin, then suddenly leaned down and kissed her tender, petal-soft lips.
At the same time, his other hand slipped quietly beneath the blankets, gently holding her slender, fair legs and slowly drawing them together.
At last, Li Juechen found the comfort and solace he had long been craving. His throat felt dry, and his Adam’s apple moved involuntarily. The sensation was like rain falling after a long drought, leaving him overwhelmed and unable to restrain himself.
They spent the entire evening wrapped up in each other, too caught up in the moment to even close the curtains. Soft moonlight poured through the transparent glass and spilled across the spacious bed, casting the intertwined figures upon it in a hazy glow.
The dim, pale-yellow light in the bedroom seemed like a thin veil draped over them, forming rings of intimate, ambiguous light.
In the quiet room, apart from the occasional soft creak of the bed, faint little whimpers from the woman could be heard drifting through the air.
The man seemed to have an endless reserve of energy, keeping her wrapped up in his embrace through the night. Before she knew it, dawn had broken.
Tang Lichu really did not dare imagine what would have happened if he had completely lost control. Would she even have lived to see the sun the next morning?
Early the next morning, Li Juechen opened his eyes to find the petite woman sleeping sweetly in his arms. Yet even in sleep, her brows remained tightly furrowed, and tear marks lingered at the corners of her eyes, as though she had suffered some tremendous grievance.
She looked utterly pitiful and endearing.
All right. He supposed he had been a little too much of a brute last night.
Feeling thoroughly satisfied, Li Juechen kissed her cheek before getting out of bed.
He left the room and called for Madam Cheng.
“Don’t wake her. Let her sleep as long as she wants. Also, make some nourishing soup and keep it warm in the pot. Once she wakes up, make sure she drinks every last drop.”
Cheng’s motherwas an experienced woman and naturally understood the deeper meaning behind his instructions. She smiled and replied, “Yes, Third Master.”
Li Yuanzhou had not seen his third brother this happy in a long time. From the moment Li Juechen stepped into the military camp, he had been wearing an unmistakably pleased expression.
Yet when he had left the residence the night before, his face had been frighteningly grim. How had his mood changed so dramatically after just one night?
It even made Li Yuanzhou want to find himself a woman…
By the time Tang Lichu woke up, it was already noon.
She lowered her head and immediately noticed the countless red marks covering her body. The insides of her thighs were swollen, and there were deep and shallow bite marks scattered across her chest.
It looked shocking—she looked absolutely pitiful.
Even now, she could still feel Li Juechen’s scent and warmth lingering all over her body.
“Too much!”
Tang Lichu grumbled as she took a bath. By the time she finished, most of her anger had faded.
After all, hadn’t her adoptive parents sent her here specifically to take care of him?
Did she really have any grounds to be angry?
Once she thought it through, Tang Lichu walked out of the room without hesitation.
The moment Cheng’s mothersaw her, she hurriedly brought out the soup she had kept warm all morning.
“Miss, have some soup to restore your strength. Third Master ordered me to make sure you drink it all.”
Tang Lichu pursed her pink lips and took small sips of the soup.
Cheng’s mothercalled over two women responsible for cleaning and washing, and the three of them went into her bedroom to tidy everything up.
Remembering the state of the room, Tang Lichu became so embarrassed that she nearly buried her face in the bowl of soup.
Over the next few days, Li Juechen once again “disappeared.”
Tang Lichu was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet. The marks on her body gradually faded as well.
However, she remembered what the man had told her, so whenever she had free time these days, she would write a couple of lines on paper and have someone deliver them to the military camp.
The military parade proceeded as scheduled, and naturally, the visiting Shen and Meng families attracted considerable attention.
The Shen family had come with Marshal Shen Xiong, along with his eldest son, Shen Chang’an, and eldest daughter, Shen Xianyue.
The Meng family was represented by Marshal Meng Yong and his wife, their eldest son Meng Xi, eldest daughter Meng Ling, second daughter Meng Jia, and their concubine-born daughter, Meng Qiu.
Marshal Li Xiao and his wife, Xiao Wanrong, warmly welcomed the entire group. For a while, the atmosphere was lively and harmonious, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Marshal Meng’s wife gave her eldest daughter, Meng Ling, a meaningful glance.
Meng Ling was exceptionally beautiful, with gentle and graceful features. She stepped forward and offered a polite curtsy, smiling softly.
“Marshal Li, Madam Marshal, I am Meng Ling. It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your gracious hospitality.”
Li Xiao stroked his gleaming bald head and laughed heartily twice.
“You’re too polite! Old Meng, you’ve raised a fine daughter. What wonderful manners!”
With that, he turned sideways and gestured for everyone to enter the main reception hall.
Li Juechen’s older sister, Li Yuzhu, stepped forward and affectionately linked arms with Meng Ling, inviting the other young women of the same generation inside.
“Everyone, please come in and rest.”
Li Yuanzhou walked beside Li Juechen. Lowering his voice, he leaned toward his brother’s ear and whispered,
“Looks like Father has a very high opinion of Meng Ling. I bet Mother is going to start trying to match the two of you up soon!”
Li Juechen remained expressionless, merely shooting Li Yuanzhou a cold sideways glance before sneering.
“You’re listening so carefully. Looks like you really do intend to follow Father’s wishes and make a political marriage, huh? Fine. If you like them all so much, you can marry every one of them and bring them home!”
Li Yuanzhou instantly shuddered in alarm and hurriedly pleaded,
“I was wrong, Third Brother! How could those ordinary women possibly catch your eye? They can’t even compare to a single strand of your precious little sweetheart’s hair! Please let me off. I don’t want to get married this young!”
“Too late.”
The main reception hall of the Li residence was spacious and brightly lit, perfectly blending Eastern and Western architectural styles. Tall columns supported the broad ceiling, while exquisite carved doors and windows were set into the pristine white walls. A magnificent carpet covered the floor, embroidered with intricate and vibrant patterns.
Everywhere one looked, the reception hall exuded an air of luxury and elegance.
Li Xiao took the seat of honor on the sofa with Shen Xiong and Meng Yong. Shen Chang’an, Meng Xi, and several of the Li family’s young masters sat in the side seats, while Xiao Wanrong and Madam Meng took the younger members of the families to the adjoining hall.