Chapter 16 (Liar)

Yu Wanyin's hair stood on end.

He lost his footing and fell off the carriage.

The servants around them shouted "Madam!" and rushed forward. Soon, a human wall of people separated them.

Rong Si remained motionless in her original posture, watching Chu Yu shield her around the waist.

Amidst the clamor, Chu Yu's gentle yet deep voice rang out, "How is it?"

"It's alright." Yu Wanyin tried her best to ignore the penetrating gaze, and for a moment thought it was her hallucination, but the burning gaze on her reminded her that it was real.

A belated sense of fear washed over her, and all she wanted to do was get out of there as quickly as possible.

Yu Wanyin steadied herself and was about to walk into the mansion when a sharp pain shot through her ankle.

Yu Wanyin couldn't help but let out a soft groan, and tightened her grip on Chu Yu's hand.

Upon seeing this, Chu Yu immediately bent down and picked the person up.

In an instant, a feeling of weightlessness swept over me, and even my heart felt slightly suspended in mid-air.

In full view of everyone, and in front of Rong Si, she was carried into the courtyard by her new husband.

Rong Si showed little emotion as he coldly observed the newlyweds' intimate actions.

After a brief pause, Yu Wanyin's heart began to pound violently.

It seemed to burst out of her chest.

Her hand on Chu Yu's shoulder slowly tightened, and the trembling and fear that arose from within made her break out in a thin layer of sweat in no time.

Chu Yu only felt the person in his arms holding him very tightly.

It was so tight he could hear her rapid heartbeat.

Each beat resonates with my own heartbeat.

Chu Yu walked steadily and powerfully, carrying her through the courtyards and back to the room.

The female physician who had come specifically to help Yu Wanyin recover received the news early in the morning and rushed over.

Chu Yu stepped aside so the female physician could examine her injuries.

Her pale ankles were now covered in red.

The female physician examined him carefully and reported, "Prime Minister, there is no need to worry. He just twisted his ankle; there is no injury to his bones or muscles."

She prescribed a cold compress remedy and asked someone to put some salvia miltiorrhiza and borneol in an ice pack and bring it over.

After the female physician withdrew, Chu Yu asked, "How did you manage to slip for no reason?"

Yu Wanyin lowered her eyes, feeling guilty as she lied, "Perhaps I was a little tired today and lost focus for a moment."

The servants quickly brought over the prepared ice pouches.

Just as Yu Wanyin was about to reach out, Chu Yu stopped her halfway. Chu Yu tidied the purse in his hand and placed his palm on her.

When the cool, refreshing sensation touched her slightly red ankles, Yu Wanyin flinched.

She instinctively curled up her knees, but the man's large hand grabbed them irresistibly, dragging her under his palm and pressing her down.

This action carried a hint of assertiveness.

He then asked, "But it seems to me that the lady has been distracted because she's seen someone."

Chu Yu raised his eyelids and scrutinized her expression. "Who did you see?"

Yu Wanyin's heart skipped a beat.

The coldness from her ankles traveled through her veins to her lungs, and she knew that since he was already suspicious, lying would be an extremely unwise choice.

The more she said no, the more questions he asked.

Yu Wanyin replied haltingly, "I saw... that coachman from earlier."

Chu Yu's words carried a dangerous, persuasive undertone: "Why are you looking at him?"

Yu Wanyin's lips tightened. "Look at him... handsome."

A moment of silence fell over the room, as if the air itself had frozen.

Yu Wanyin's heart pounded like a drum; she was extremely uneasy.

Suddenly, Chu Yu chuckled and his broad hand moved up her ankle, pinching her calf and applying force!

He practically dragged her right in front of him.

Yu Wanyin was so shocked that she didn't dare to breathe, and almost bumped into his nose when she was dragged over.

Chu Yu was still smiling, but asked, "How good-looking is it?"

His handsome face was right in front of her, so close that she could clearly see the fine hairs on his cheeks.

Yu Wanyin moved back slightly, trying to create some distance, and began to stammer as she spoke, "Compared to the Prime Minister, I'm not very good-looking either."

Chu Yu's hand moved back to her ankle, pressing gently, and he let out a soft, lingering "Oh."

He didn't believe it.

Yu Wanyin pursed her lips slightly.

Logically speaking, being pressed down like that by him should be comfortable.

However, Yu Wanyin felt that Chu Yu, who was now devoid of his gentle appearance, was more like a venomous snake, coiling around her from her ankles.

The tailbone felt cool and tingly, and my knees wanted to curl up but couldn't.

That feeling of being strangled by him on our wedding night came back again.

“But that man looked too rude.” Yu Wanyin took the initiative to soften the tone, gently placing her hand on his knee. “I just glanced at him a couple of times, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Chu Yu's lips curled up. "But I want to kill him now."

Yu Wanyin choked up, "Wouldn't that be my fault?"

"Only three days into my marriage, word spread that the prime minister's groom was suffering because of me. People who didn't know better would think I was mistreating my servants."

Chu Yu kept her within his sight and asked in a sinister tone, "Then what should we do?"

His closeness made Yu Wanyin flinch.

Even though he didn't touch her much, his undeniable sense of oppression made Yu Wanyin feel as if she were being wrapped even tighter around the snake's body.

It was nearly dusk when they entered; the sky was slightly brighter, and there were no lights on inside.

At this moment, the vision had become blurry and dim.

A chill spread from her ankles to her limbs and bones, and her clothes fell apart.

Only after he opened her body did Yu Wanyin call out helplessly, "Prime Minister."

"You answered incorrectly."

She was met with punishment and bullying.

Soft sobs mixed with intermittent cries of "husband" echoed in the red tent.

She gripped his shoulders tightly, hesitating and stammering.

He still asked her, "Yaoyao, tell me, how beautiful is it?"

There was an indescribable eeriness in his voice, "Do you look as good as you do now?"

"Want to watch it again?"

His voice was like a clear spring, yet extremely sharp, "Shall I take you to see him?"

Each sentence transformed into an unpredictable attack, making Yu Wanyin's head throb.

"I'll let you see as much as you want in front of him."

Yu Wanyin trembled at his words and instinctively hugged him tightly.

He started again, "She gets nervous as soon as she hears it, Yao Yao isn't really thinking about it."

"I didn't," Yu Wanyin replied in a trembling voice. "If you said anyone else, I would..."

"Anyone could have been replaced?" This remark only further angered the unpredictable prime minister.

Chu Yu knew that wasn't what she meant.

But he just went crazy for no reason.

Her pleas for mercy only elicited a false reconciliation.

She never knew when he would suddenly have an attack and ruin everything for her.

It was like a snake that suddenly bit her, its venom completely filling her and imbuing her with its scent.

It was still early when we came in.

Everything was over by 7:45 PM. It was completely dark outside, and there wasn't a single ray of light inside the house.

Yu Wanyin lay on the couch, her clothes thrown outside, but she hadn't completely taken them off, though they were in a mess.

She was so badly bullied that her breathing became rapid and disordered, and her chest was still heaving violently, while Chu Yu, on the other hand, was calm and composed, and impeccably dressed.

He sat by the couch, seemingly free of his inexplicable jealousy, and became much more tender.

Chu Yu checked her over and, making sure her sprain hadn't worsened, asked, "Do you want to get up or just go back to sleep?"

Yu Wanyin's voice was still lingering; she couldn't get up.

I'm tired.

Chu Yu removed the other restraints from her body and prepared to help her change into her nightgown and wash up.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was Chao Yue's voice, "Prime Minister."

Yu Wanyin quickly gathered the sash that had just been pulled open, covering Chu Yu's hand inside her clothes as well.

The emotions that had just subsided inexplicably began to gather again.

Yu Wanyin's cheeks flushed red.

Chu Yu suppressed the urge to continue, subtly withdrawing his hand. While helping her close her clothes, he asked, "What is it?"

Chao Yue succinctly replied, "There is a military report from the border."

These five words mean that Chu Yu cannot stay at the moment and has to go to attend to official business.

He had to get up. "I'll ask Qing Song to help you change."

Yu Wanyin called out to him, "Qingsong can come in later..."

Chu Yu looked over.

Yu Wanyin avoided his gaze, her voice barely audible, "I'll rest for a while."

She still didn't want to lose too much composure in front of others.

Especially when you come in and see this scene, seeing her so badly that she can't even get up.

Chu Yu knew what she meant. He looked at her for a while, then leaned closer and asked, "Hao Yaoyao, is he still handsome?"

Yu Wanyin hadn't expected him to still be thinking about that. "It's not pretty."

Chu Yu was very satisfied. "If he were any more handsome, I would have to peel off his face and hang it in our room so that Yao Yao could see it every day."

Yu Wanyin held her breath, her hair standing on end by his words. "I don't like it. I don't want it."

Chu Yu smiled, touched her cheek, and got up to leave.

Yu Wanyin breathed a sigh of relief and slumped down on the couch.

Fortunately, he didn't ask any further questions about her relationship with the coachman.

It's good that we can get by like this.

Yu Wanyin breathed heavily, trying to calm her wildly beating heart.

Although I can't get up right now, I'm not sleepy at all.

Her mind was filled with the man she had just seen at the door.

That familiar face.

How did he end up in Shang'an, and even become a stable boy in the Prime Minister's residence?

Yu Wanyin gently squeezed the mattress beside her.

If she remembered correctly, around noon, her father was telling Chu Yu about the imperial court's capture of bandits who had entered the capital.

Ordinary bandits, upon hearing such news, would at least keep a low profile, even if they didn't want to hide.

Right now, he's brazenly...

He's not afraid... That's right, if he were afraid, he wouldn't have come to Shang'an.

Yu Wanyin was extremely annoyed.

What kind of person has she messed with?

Yu Wanyin sighed deeply and closed her eyes to rest and calm herself in the dark light of the room.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of the door being pushed open.

Then someone walked in from outside.

Yu Wanyin thought it was Qing Song and stopped her, saying, "I'll get up in a little while."

But Qingsong did not reply; instead, she walked step by step toward the wedding bed.

He entered the inner room, and only then could Yu Wanyin clearly hear the heavy footsteps.

She doesn't look like a woman at all!

Yu Wanyin broke out in another layer of cold sweat.

He suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.

In the darkness, she met the gaze of the man sitting imposingly with wide legs on the bench opposite the wedding bed.