Chapter 47 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)

Chapter Sixty-Seven

If Lin Rong hadn't missed the earthy smell wafting from outside during the rain, she would have truly believed that the incessant pattering of water was from the night before.

Exhausted, Lin Rong's eyes sparkled with allure as she softly wrapped her arms around Pei Zan's neck, clinging to him.

Lin Rong and Pei Zan were completely honest with each other.

Between the two bodies, apart from the lean muscles and soft, snow-white flesh, there were no superfluous clothes separating them.

Lin Rong was sweating profusely.

It was as if only in this way could the heat rising from the lower abdomen and lungs dissipate from the pores of her smooth, jade-like skin.

Once the dryness is relieved, the body feels comfortable, and one will not experience the same dry mouth and throat as today.

But clearly, Pei Zan had other ways to relieve his pain, and it wasn't just about engaging in a passionate kiss with Lin Rong.

Fortunately, Pei Zan's method worked and satisfied Lin Rong's emptiness and urgency stemming from her unknown origins.

The bad thing is that Lin Rong felt that she had clearly done nothing wrong, but she was beaten for no reason, and her snowy buttocks were burning hot.

Fortunately, the pain in my leg bones was not as intense as the caning I had suffered as a slave in the past.

It was nothing more than a sore and numb waist, and lips that were rubbed raw and tingling.

Lin Rong's almond-shaped eyes were bound by silk cloth, plunging her into darkness, where her five senses became extremely acute.

The room smells so good.

It wasn't the scent of old wood incense, nor the musky fragrance emanating from Pei Zan's robe, which was already soaked with snowflakes, nor the acrid sandalwood that soothes the soul...

It is a kind of boiling incense that can burn a person's internal organs to ashes.

The fragrance was almost everywhere, penetrating her nose and mouth, eroding her reason, and tormenting her mind.

"Lin Rong, open your mouth."

Lin Rong was forced to tilt her head back and obediently part her lips, only to have Pei Zan silence her with a kiss.

He kissed her deeply, until the back of her tongue went numb from his sucking.

The kiss trailed down the corner of Lin Rong's mouth again.

Whether it's her slender, lotus-stem-like neck, her sharp, crescent-shaped collarbone, or her full, rounded chest...

Pei Zan swallowed all the cool, fragrant sweat that belonged exclusively to the girl.

Even with her eyes covered, Lin Rong didn't dare to look at Pei Zan through the thin cloth.

The man was in control of the situation and could also guess what she was thinking. In just half an hour, Lin Rong was almost completely seen through by Pei Zan.

Pei Zan's cool hand rested on Lin Rong's lower abdomen.

He pinched her supple waist, coaxing her to sit properly so she wouldn't actually fall off the bed.

Lin Rong couldn't break free from Pei Zan's grasp. Despite her fear, she retorted.

"Why bother with all that effort on me every day? I can't give birth, isn't it a waste to feed me all that rain and dew?"

Pei Zan, who had initially felt a sliver of pity, could only sneer and retort coldly upon hearing Lin Rong's provocation, "Lin Rong, you talk too much."

Lin Rong cried out in surprise as Pei Zan flipped her over.

The silver chains wrapped around Lin Rong's hands accidentally dug into her flesh as she knelt on the bed.

One after another, grotesque shackles wrapped around his arms, squeezing out his delicate, soft flesh.

Fortunately, Pei Zan applied the force in time, preventing Lin Rong from suffering broken skin and bones.

Then, the bells rang urgently in the dark tent.

The bells rang, the rain pattered loudly.

Those pretty little bells, shimmering with silver light, swayed swiftly.

Lin Rong was bound by iron chains, with nowhere to hide, and could only endure the torment of the evil spirit.

As for those bells meant to ward off evil, it was unclear which evil spirit had offended or challenged them, but they didn't stop ringing for a full hour.

A terrifying scream echoed throughout the bedroom.

...

The rain and clouds have stopped.

Pei Zan came three times and untied the silk ribbon tied behind Lin Rong's head with one hand.

Lin Rong was suddenly exposed to the light, her mind went blank, and her beautiful eyes were already glistening with tears, red and wet.

She had been crying for over an hour, and now the tip of her nose was red, making her look pitiful and endearing.

Pei Zan suppressed the wicked thoughts in his eyes, and, unusually kind, helped her wipe away her tears.

Pei Zan stroked Lin Rong's shoulder, where the scabs had fallen off and only jagged new flesh remained. "Uncomfortable? Lin Rong, you can even endure burns, what's this little discomfort?"

He originally intended to let Lin Rong off the hook, but she was sharp-tongued, so he could only suffer a little more.

Pei Zan pulled the limp and boneless Lin Rong into his arms, letting her curl up in his wet embrace.

He then grasped her knees and taught her how to entwine his waist and how to entwine the energetic young master.

“I have been merciful enough to you. At first, I thought I could use medicine to blind you, so that you would be able to escape once and for all. But you look beautiful when you cry, and I couldn’t help but feel a little pity for you… Lin Rong, you should be grateful.”

Hearing his fierce words, Lin Rong felt a chill run down her spine.

Lin Rong trembled slightly: "That's really... thank you for your mercy, Grand Commander."

Pei Zan stroked her gently and asked in a low voice, "What did you call me?"

Lin Rong was bewitched by the love incense and couldn't concentrate. She just stared at him blankly, not understanding what was going on.

She raised her wet eyes and answered weakly, "Young Master?"

Pei Zan's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her tone unfriendly: "Shouting like that...aren't you familiar with me?"

Lin Rong was shocked by his lewd words. She didn't know whether to be angry or ashamed. Her face flushed and her chest felt like it was on fire.

"Lin Rong, I'll give you one more chance... Since I am your husband, what should you call me?" Pei Zan coaxed and lured the naive young girl, Lin Rong, as astray.

Lin Rong racked her brains for a long time, and she seemed to understand something... Could it be that Pei Zan wanted to hear her call him "husband"?

Lin Rong felt a tightness in her throat and couldn't utter a sound.

She lowered her eyes and didn't speak, only lowering her head and burying her face in Pei Zan's equally sweaty shoulder.

Perhaps sensing the heat emanating from Lin Rong's cheek, Pei Zan did not make things difficult for her.

He hugged Lin Rong and, with unwavering resolve, bullied her relentlessly.

...

By the time Pei Zan was satisfied, Lin Rong was already on her last breath.

Pei Zan removed the incense sticks from the room, and the man also disassembled the bracelet and put it back in the box.

Lin Rong struggled to open her eyes, looked at her empty hands, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After Pei Zan bathed and changed his clothes, he went out to discuss matters, leaving his servants to attend to Lin Rong's meals and bathing.

Behind the pomegranate-patterned mother-of-pearl inlaid screen, the steaming hot bathwater had already been prepared.

Lin Rong disliked having servants wait on her, so she had them wait on the side while she supported her aching knees, steadying herself against the wall, and stepped into the bathtub.

Once Lin Rong was immersed in the wooden tub with the perfect water temperature, she felt like a loofah that had absorbed all the water, and comfort even seeped into her bones.

She gradually came to her senses and realized that Pei Zan's depression was slowly dissipating. Although the days ahead would be difficult, they shouldn't be too unbearable.

Otherwise, Pei Zan wouldn't have prepared such exquisite furniture in her bedroom and arranged her food, clothing, and daily necessities to the highest standard.

But the place she was in was a cage.

He set up a golden house specifically to imprison Lin Rong.

Lin Rong closed her eyes, lost in thought, and eventually fell asleep.

Lin Rong was woken up again, her eyes still sleepy.

It turned out that the old women sensed something was wrong, and they were all terrified. They quickly carried her out of the water.

Some were wiping her body, others were changing her clothes, and by the time Lin Rong opened her eyes, a glass of water was already being offered to her lips.

"Madam, would you like some water?"

Lin Rong didn't want to make things difficult for anyone; she took a sip of the warm tea.

When another bowl of red bean porridge was brought to Lin Rong's lips, she turned her face away and pushed the bowl away, saying, "I don't want to eat."

The old women looked at each other, each of them facing a dilemma.

The doctor had previously examined the young lady and said that she had a weak spleen and stomach, so she should pay attention to her meals and eat more easily digestible liquid foods.

But today, Lin Rong didn't eat much, and she had a fight with the Grand Commander last night. If she continues to go hungry, and gets a headache, fever, or stomach upset, her servants might be punished by their masters.

Thinking of this, the most senior and experienced Granny Zhou still mustered up her courage and went to the front hall to request an audience with Pei Zan.

-

The generals held meetings in the hall, while their personal guards, fully armored and armed, stood watch outside.

Granny Zhou peeked out and, upon seeing the well-disciplined troops, immediately decided to retreat.

Perhaps because Granny Zhou's commotion was too loud, Pei Zan, sitting in the main seat, glanced at her indifferently, his expression cold, and put down the military report in his hand.

"Let's disperse for today. We'll discuss the marching arrangements tomorrow."

The retainers and generals looked at each other, not daring to urge him on.

But seeing Pei Zan's cold brows and stern eyes, she felt a sense of panic and unease: Could it be that there was something wrong with some battle report? Otherwise, why would the Grand Commander look so terrified? That's not right. Even when the Wei emperor sent troops to Ji Province, the Grand Commander didn't show the slightest sign of distress... Could something really have gone wrong?

Pei Zan was always one to keep things to himself, so he didn't say much to anyone, and his subordinates dared not ask any further questions.

After Pei Zan inquired about Lin Rong's recent situation, he turned and headed towards the bedroom.

The bowl of sweet porridge had been heated and cooled repeatedly, and by the time it was handed to Pei Zan, it had already been steamed for the third time.

Lin Rong leaned back on the large pillow, feeling drowsy.

She took a bath and washed her hair, then dried it with a fluffy towel. Her dark hair fell across her face, making her chin look even thinner, and her big eyes were as black as sea pearls.

Seeing Pei Zan approach, Lin Rong instinctively curled her fingers, wanting to turn away but not daring to be too obvious. She could only remain tense, then slowly moved back and leaned against the edge of the bed.

Pei Zan took a porcelain spoon, scooped up the porridge himself, and fed it to Lin Rong.

The red bean porridge was at the perfect temperature. When it was placed against Lin Rong's lips, the small spoon, warmed by the porridge, wouldn't burn her mouth.

But Lin Rong still turned her head away, her tone cold and hard: "I don't want to eat."

Pei Zan was not an easy person to talk to; she wouldn't eat, but he insisted on feeding her.

Lin Rong was angry, her jaw clenched, looking ready to fight Pei Zan to the end.

Until Pei Zan put down the wrinkled bowl, his thin lips uttered a few words: "Lin Rong, if you have a mouth but don't eat porridge, do you want to eat something else?"

Lin Rong understood Pei Zan's implication. Was he referring to the young master, who was on the verge of conflict?

No matter how much she let Pei Zan seduce her, she had never... never served him with her lips.

Lin Rong trembled with anger: "Aren't you afraid I'll bite it off?"

Pei Zan gently pulled her jaw down, pressing his fingertips against her full, soft lips: "Your canine teeth are rather sharp. If I'm going to bite you, I should just pull them all out."

As he spoke, he stirred the bowl of sweet porridge again and fed it to her once more: "While there's still a choice... would you like some porridge?"

This guy is an invincible bastard. Lin Rong couldn't do anything to him. Her nose stung with tears, so she could only lower her head and angrily bite the porcelain spoon that Pei Zan handed her.

As she swallowed the porridge, the girl's salty tears rolled into the rim of the bowl.

Pei Zan looked at the woman who seemed to be made of water and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly: She's not missing any arms or legs, so why is she crying?

He gently wiped the grains of rice from the corner of her mouth, his tone indifferent: "...Isn't it salty?"

Lin Rong was taken aback, then understood.

This is a sarcastic remark directed at her for letting her tears fall into her porridge bowl, implying she's a real crybaby.

Unable to bear Pei Zan's mockery, Lin Rong thought for a moment, then pressed her palm against the corner of her eye, holding back her tears.

"fine."

She brought over some porridge, preventing Pei Zan from feeding her any further, and obediently finished it all herself.

Author's note: Pei Zan always had a gloomy face, which terrified his troops and generals.

Generals: The Grand Commander looks worried every day. What major event has occurred in the military?

Pei Zan wore a cold expression, but thought to himself: ...My wife isn't eating.

Don't rush, 190,000 words is still a short length, there's still a story to write.

It's not a tragic ending, but it's a story of forced marriage and isn't a traditional sweet romance, so the way the characters interact is definitely different and closely related to the protagonist's personality.

Finally, Pei Zan's love is definitely much, much, much deeper than Rong'er's. I can guarantee that. I won't spoil anything else. I'm writing this slowly, mwah.