Chapter 44 What is Real Coercion?

Chu Siheng sat in the main hall, seemingly upright, but his mind was already far away. Ever since Lu Zhaoxue left, Chu Siheng had been absent-minded.

Chu Siheng's gaze slowly swept over Empress Dowager Rong on the high seat, and then unconsciously looked towards Chu Huaiyu's position. His eyes darkened, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.

Chu Siheng steadied himself, slowly stood up, and turned his gaze back to Empress Dowager Rong and Empress Dowager Yu on the throne. He bowed slightly, his voice carrying just the right amount of weariness: "Reporting to my two mothers, I suddenly feel a terrible headache and would like to take my leave to rest. I hope that my mothers will grant me permission."

Empress Dowager Rong's gaze lingered on Chu Siheng's face for a moment, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "You may go first." Empress Dowager Yu remained silent throughout, only nodding slightly to Chu Siheng.

After expressing his gratitude, Chu Siheng turned and left the main hall.

Not long after Chu Siheng left, Empress Dowager Yu waved her hand and whispered to the head eunuch beside her, "Go, send a clever eunuch to serve him."

The old woman quickly agreed and instructed the little eunuch beside her to follow Chu Siheng. Chu Siheng walked out of the main hall and searched for Lu Zhaoxue's figure along the palace road. The further he walked, the stronger Chu Siheng's unease became.

"Chu Huaiyu... let me go! Let me go..." Lu Zhaoxue's voice was broken and intermittent, but it was filled with undisguised panic and humiliation.

Chu Siheng suddenly stopped, his heart clenched, and almost subconsciously lightened his steps as he followed the sound.

Chu Siheng stepped into the palace and peered through the crack in the window of the left-hand bedchamber. He saw two figures tightly entangled together. One of them, with disheveled clothes and long, loose hair, was none other than Lu Zhaoxue, whom he had been searching for. The tall figure imprisoning her...

Chu Siheng's pupils contracted instantly, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. Lu Zhaoxue's intermittent voice continued to come through.

The door was suddenly pushed open, and Lu Zhaoxue hurriedly raised her head. Her messy hair clung to her sweaty cheeks, and her eyes, filled with panic and helplessness, stared straight at the doorway.

Chu Huaiyu followed Lu Zhaoxue's gaze and was startled when he saw Chu Siheng standing there.

It was Chu Huaiyu's momentary daze that gave Lu Zhaoxue the opportunity to break free. She used all her strength to push Chu Huaiyu away. Chu Huaiyu staggered back two steps and bumped into something, making a dull thud.

Lu Zhaoxue disregarded her disheveled appearance and messy hair. She was flustered and anxious. She staggered a few steps to Chu Siheng, but before she could touch him, Chu Siheng shook her off.

Chu Siheng looked at Lu Zhaoxue with sadness, disappointment, and unfamiliarity in his eyes.

Lu Zhaoxue's heart tightened, and she hurriedly explained, "Siheng, that palace maid wasn't sent by Empress Dowager Rong, it was Chu Huaiyu. He had someone trick me into coming here and then force me..."

Chu Siheng closed his eyes, clenched his fists tightly, and his voice trembled with suppressed emotion: "Coercion? Lu Zhaoxue, tell me! Have you never liked me? Have you only ever had Chu Huaiyu in your heart?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoxue trembled, as if deeply wounded by Chu Siheng's words. Her whole body swayed, and she hurriedly said, "No...it's not like that..."

"Since this is your choice, I respect it. Anyway, between us... it never even started."

Chu Siheng shifted his gaze from Lu Zhaoxue to Chu Huaiyu, his eyes blazing with fury. Suddenly, Chu Siheng charged at Chu Huaiyu, his fist slamming down with the force of a whirlwind, as if he wanted to unleash all his pain and anger upon his opponent.

Chu Huaiyu nimbly dodged the thunderous punch by sidestepping, then his eyes darkened, and he grabbed Chu Siheng's wrist with his other hand, instantly turning the tide and turning the tables on the attackers.

Chu Huaiyu's moves were cunning and ruthless, far superior to those of Chu Siheng, who was blinded by rage. Chu Siheng was ultimately no match for her and was struck in the chest by a vicious punch from Chu Huaiyu.

Chu Siheng groaned and staggered to the ground. Before he could get up, Chu Huaiyu strode forward and stepped on his shoulder. Chu Siheng was pinned down by Chu Huaiyu and could not move.

Chu Huaiyu looked down at Chu Siheng with a cold smile on his lips, "Since you've already seen it, there's no need for us to hide it from you anymore."

Chu Siheng's face flushed red as he gritted his teeth and glared at Chu Huaiyu.

Lu Zhaoxue rushed to Chu Siheng's side, looked at Chu Huaiyu with disgust, and scolded sharply, "Chu Huaiyu, don't go too far! What happened just now was clearly forced upon me by you!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Huaiyu's eyes darkened, and he became even more terrifying. "Lu Zhaoxue, don't force me!"

"You forced me! You forced us!!"

As soon as Lu Zhaoxue finished speaking, Chu Huaiyu kicked Chu Siheng hard in the chest again.

Chu Huaiyu grabbed Lu Zhaoxue, who was standing next to Chu Siheng, stared at her fiercely, and said, word by word, "Then today I will show you what real coercion is!"

Chu Huaiyu suddenly pressed Lu Zhaoxue down onto the soft couch beside him, pinning her down firmly. Lu Zhaoxue pushed against Chu Huaiyu with a look of terror on her face, her fear growing stronger.

"I don't want to! Don't do this! Don't do this..."

Looking at Lu Zhaoxue's appearance, Chu Huaiyu's anger intensified. Like a ferocious beast, he frantically tore at the remaining clothes of Lu Zhaoxue.

Lu Zhaoxue trembled all over, and tears suddenly streamed down her face. "I beg you, please let me go! I don't want to..."