Chapter 37 How Deep is the Courtyard? (2) Don’t scare me like this again. …

Meng Xuanli asked in a daze, "Why are you here?"

Lu Guanque stroked her face with one hand and kissed her lips eagerly.

It wasn't a kiss of desire, but more of a confirmation of what had been lost.

He wandered around and immersed himself in it.

Meng Xuanli was so stunned by his sudden intimacy that she felt frozen and at a loss as to what to do.

It was broad daylight, deep in the flowers, but not completely hidden. She tangled her lips and tongues with him, and a sense of absurdity welled up in her heart.

She just slept for a while.

Is he really like this?

And he showed an attitude of...surviving a disaster?

Seeing that she was lost in thought, Lu Guanque stroked her waist and kissed her fiercely.

Meng Xuanli heard the sound of footsteps and was terrified. Liquid flowed from the corner of his lips: "Someone...someone..."

Lu Guanque's lips and tongue were very hot, his breath sprayed on her face, and his arms pressed her down on the recliner, as if he didn't hear what she said.

After a long moment, he let go of her and rested his hand against her forehead, breathing heavily. Meng Xuanli lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and didn't look at him.

"Ali..."

Lu Guanque's voice was hoarse, almost coaxing, "Stop thinking about things you shouldn't be thinking about. As long as you stop thinking about leaving and stay by my side, I will treat you the same way as before, okay?"

He held her face in his warm palms, his thumb gently stroking her slightly swollen lips, his eyes focused with a frightening intensity.

He said in a low voice, "What do you want? Poetry and storybooks, rare toys, jewelry..."

"As long as you ask, I will find it for you."

Meng Xuanli's eyelashes remained calm. She remembered that he had recently lost his father and was in a difficult situation, with great pressure both inside and outside. His words and actions at this moment might be a result of his dependence due to his out-of-control emotions.

She couldn't provoke him at this time.

So, she took a deep breath, as if she was moved by his words, or as if she had no choice but to compromise. She raised her arms and carefully hugged his waist back.

Her movements were stiff, with obvious distance and hesitation.

Lu Guanque's body shook violently.

“…I don’t want anything.”

She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled and a little tired: "I just want you...don't scare me like this anymore."

This was half true and half false, and Meng Xuanli himself didn't believe it.

However, because of this rare closeness and dependence, Lu Guanque felt as if his heart was soaked in hot soup, feeling sore, hot, and indescribably comfortable.

He took a deep breath and held her tighter.

Nearly two months of gloom, fatigue, suspicion and violence seemed to be greatly comforted by this hug.

He said nothing more and picked her up horizontally. Meng Xuanli let out a low cry and subconsciously put her arms around his neck.

He held her in his arms and strode through the garden shrouded in twilight.

Entering the inner room, he laid her on the bed very gently.

Lu Guanque didn't do anything immediately, but just leaned over and looked at her, his eyes shining, as if he was counting lost and found treasures.

He reached out, his fingertips gently brushing her eyebrows and cheeks, and finally kissed her lips again.

This kiss was more gentle and lingering than before, almost pious and cherishing.

Meng Xuanli closed her eyes and let him kiss her, behaving extremely docilely and obediently, even reluctantly giving him a faint response when his tongue probed into her.

She could feel the satisfaction emanating from him, and he seemed to truly believe that she was "tamed" by him.

But her heart was filled with cold bitterness.

Why?

Why did he do those things?

Why use such extreme methods to keep her by your side?

If there hadn't been the long-planned plan, if there hadn't been the current strict surveillance, if there hadn't been those relatives and friends who were hurt because of her...

Perhaps, she could really try to believe the pitiful tenderness he showed at this moment.

But now, she just felt scared.

His gentleness was like the fairy robe draped over an evil snake, and this embrace was like a comfort before confinement.

The more docile she is, the more it fuels his desire for control, and the more satisfied he is, the less likely he is to let go.

As she thought about it, she felt that the future was hopeless, and her throat felt like it was blocked by cotton and she couldn't make a sound.

Lu Guanque keenly noticed her stiffness, paused, and saw that she had her eyes closed, as if she was enduring something.

The heat surging in Lu Guanque's heart slowly cooled down.

After a moment's silence, he used his fingertips to brush aside her hair and said in a low and gentle voice, "Come and eat first. You didn't eat much for lunch."

As he spoke, Lu Guanque propped himself up, as if the previous confusion of passion had never happened.

Meng Xuanli opened his eyes and looked at him blankly.

Lu Guanque had already stood up, walked around the screen, lifted the curtain, walked to the outer room, and began to instruct the maid to set the table.

His profile was straight, and no attitude could be seen, except that the innate sense of oppression had been restrained a lot.

Meng Xuanli slowly stood up, his palms were cold.

#

The candlelight had long been extinguished, and the hazy moonlight outside the window shone through the curtains, casting a clear light into the inner room.

The two of them lay flat on the bed, with a subtle distance between them, and their bodies under the covers were not touching.

Lu Guanque had no desire to sleep. The breath and faint fragrance coming from beside him were like scattered stars, constantly scratching his nerves.

His body was tense, and he longed to hold her in his arms, to be close to her, to absorb her breath to fill the anxiety in his heart.

But he can't.

In the evening, her forbearance and the trembling "Don't scare me again" echoed repeatedly in his mind, causing "concerns" and restraining his desires.

In the end, he just turned over, facing away from her, and forced himself to suppress the boiling blood.

After an unknown amount of time, he heard the breathing behind him become even and long. Confirming that she was asleep, he couldn't help but turn around.

In the hazy moonlight, her outline was soft and beautiful, and she seemed to be sleeping very comfortably.

His eyes were deep and he approached carefully, his movements as light as a thief. Suddenly, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against her pajamas.

It was a very secretive kiss, full of possessiveness.

Not lust, but a silent mark.

His eating manner was extremely elegant, almost rigid, his lips and teeth lightly pressed together, sucking slowly, the sweet juice overflowing in his mouth.

But there was no fluctuation on his face, and it seemed that nothing had happened.

Meng Xuanli, who was sleeping, seemed to sense something. His body trembled slightly and he let out a moan, as if he was about to wake up.

Lu Guanque paused, quickly lay back in his original position, closed his eyes, and pretended to be in deep sleep.

Meng Xuanli opened his eyes in a daze, not knowing where he was for a moment.

Just now, it seemed like there was something warm and soft to the touch?

She subconsciously pressed her legs together, but felt something strange. She suddenly woke up, her cheeks flushed in the dark, and her heart was pounding.

She opened her mouth in disbelief and turned her head to look at the man who was sleeping soundly beside her.

He...he just...

At this moment, Lu Guanque seemed to be awakened by her. He slowly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her.

His eyes were lazy and his voice was low and hoarse, as if he had just woken up: "Awake? But you're thirsty?"

Meng Xuanli's face was embarrassed, her toes curled up, and desire flowed beneath her skin.

“No…no…”

Her voice was very soft, and she wanted to turn her back to him, but he stretched out his long arm and held her waist.

"Now that you're awake..."

He lowered his head, his nose touching hers, their hot breaths intertwined: "Then do something else?"

This time, he didn't give her a chance to think, he held her lips precisely and took her forcefully.

He expertly reached into her clothes, ripped them open, and tossed them aside.

Meng Xuanli's mind was in a state of confusion, and she felt as if her body had overlapped with her dream. He grabbed her hand, pressing it against the pillow.

His kiss was no longer the gentle temptation during the day, but an invasion of complete possession.

Perhaps it was the moonlight that bewitched her, perhaps it was the teasing, or perhaps she was paralyzing herself...

Gradually, her originally soft body turned into water.

"Don't……"

She spoke vaguely, but Lu Guanque understood: "...I know."

He thought, as long as she was by his side, it didn't matter whether they had children or not.

The night is still long, the curtains are floating. Her hair is disheveled, her limbs are limp, her heart is hidden, her eyes are downcast, and her face is flushed.

#

One day, at dawn, the gates of the Duke's Mansion were wide open. The servants, all dressed in new clothes, stood solemnly on either side of the walkway with their heads bowed, in complete silence.

The eunuch who announced the decree was dressed in crimson-purple uniform and holding a bright yellow scroll. Surrounded by a group of eunuchs, he walked into the main hall with steady steps.

The incense table had already been set up, with smoke rising up and the air filled with the aroma of ambergris.

Lu Guanque stood at the front of the incense table, wearing the court robes of a duke, a jade belt around his waist, and his figure was upright.

His face was stern, showing no emotion, and he felt more oppressive than usual.

Meng Xuanli stood beside him, also dressed in high-class makeup. The heavy gown and the cold jade made her neck ache.

The eunuch stood still, glanced at everyone in the hall, slowly unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand, cleared his throat, and a sharp and clear voice echoed throughout the main hall.

"The Emperor, by the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, hereby decrees: You, Lu Guanque, are the eldest son of Duke Lu Weijun of Lu. You are of great talent and vision, talented in both civil and military matters, and are both filial and loyal... I hereby decree that you inherit the title of Duke of Lu and bestow upon you the imperial decree. I wish you will remain loyal and bring honor to our family!"[1]

"I thank the emperor for his grace." Lu Guanque's voice was steady and powerful, without any ripples.

He performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows according to etiquette. After the ceremony, he raised his hands above his head and took the imperial edict.

Then, the eunuch brought out another imperial edict, which was awarded to Meng Xuanli.

"The decree says: 'A man of virtue accompanies a gentleman... and the wife of Duke Lu, Mrs. Meng, is of a gentle and kind nature, chaste and quiet, and a virtuous wife... I hereby confer upon you the title of the first-rank wife of Duke Lu. I wish you all the best in receiving this grace!'"[2]

Meng Xuanli's heart trembled with the shrill voice. She took a deep breath, took a step forward, and just like Lu Guanque had just done, she knelt down according to etiquette and lowered her head to listen.

Every word that fell into her ears was like an invisible thread, entangling her tighter.

She could feel countless eyes focused on her back, some with envy, some with awe, and perhaps some with scrutiny.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace." Her voice was steady, but there was a slight tremor in it.

She stretched out her hands, and the imperial edict fell into her palms, as if it weighed a thousand pounds.

When she walked to Lu Guanque's side, she noticed that his eyes were always on her. It didn't seem like an examination, but more like a confirmation.

The ceremony is over.

The eunuch smiled and said a few polite words. Lu Guanque nodded in greeting and said calmly, "Look and enjoy."

Uncle De was well prepared. He handed over the red envelope and respectfully stuffed it into the eunuch and his entourage.

Only then did the servants in the hall begin to move, kowtowed in unison, and said in unison: "Congratulations, Lord Duke, congratulations, Lady Duke!"

Waves of sound assaulted Meng Xuanli's eardrums. She held the imperial edict in her hands, standing beside Lu Guanque, accepting the crowd's congratulations.

The sunlight shone in from the corridor and fell on her crown and clothes, shining brightly and dazzlingly.

But she felt cold.

This magnificent Duke's Mansion, the heavy imperial edict in his hand, and the increasingly mysterious man beside him...

Everything was like a gorgeous golden cage, locking her firmly in the title of "Lady of the Duke".

She raised her eyes slightly, looked over the crowd, and looked out the window at the four corners of the sky framed by high walls.

Freedom seems to be even more out of reach.

She felt dizzy and as if she was about to suffocate, but she could only use all her strength to maintain a decent smile on her face.

Lu Guanque waved his hand, and everyone left. The main hall suddenly became quiet.

He reached out and took her hand, which held the imperial edict. Her fingertips were cold, and when they touched his warm palm, she shuddered slightly.

Lu Guanque exerted force on his hand, leading her without question, and walked towards the armchair on the other side of the main hall. He sat down first, then led her to sit next to him.

Meng Xuanli sat down passively and placed the imperial edict on the table.

"Tired?"

Lu Guanque spoke, his voice much softer than before. He didn't look at her, his gaze fixed on the screen opposite him, as if he was considering something.

Meng Xuanli replied, "Thank you for your concern, Duke. I'm fine." She used the new address and spoke in a respectful tone, which was impeccable.

Lu Guanque had naturally noticed her recent "docility." She no longer stiffened in bed, resisting, and even responded every time. In their daily interactions, she had also suppressed all her sharp thorns, accepting whatever she said.

This kind of texture is like silk, extremely smooth, but also makes it difficult to figure out its true nature.

Lu Guanque tapped his fingertips on the armrest twice and said casually, "This matter has been resolved, and everything in the mansion is gradually getting back on track."

He paused, then finally turned his head, his gaze landing on her profile: "Didn't Madam He send you an invitation to go to Luoshui Pavilion to admire the lotus?"

"You have been confined in the mansion and are bored. You can go when the time comes."

Meng Xuanli's heart suddenly shook and his fingers clenched involuntarily.

He actually brought this up on his own initiative?

He actually allowed himself to go out?

Is he so...confident in himself?

She tried her best to control her tone, turned her face and met his gaze.

"Really?"

Her voice was timid, like someone who had lived in darkness for a long time and saw a glimmer of light. She pretended to be incredulous and said, "Can I go?"

Lu Guanque's gaze stayed on her face for a long time.

He saw the light in her eyes and her cheeks flushed slightly with surprise. Everything was a normal reaction.

"Um."

He replied calmly in a normal tone, "Ms. Xie has a straightforward personality, so it's good to interact with her more. Staying alone all the time won't do you any good."

"Thanks."

Meng Xuanli lowered his head, his voice was soft, but his eyes dimmed.

The reason he said such words was not because he was confident in himself, but rather a more subtle and dangerous temptation.

He wanted to see if, when he had freedom, he would break free from the shackles he had put on himself.

Seeing her smiling silently, Lu Guanque reached out his hand, placed his warm palm on the back of her hand, and patted it gently.

"Let's go and change out of this dress first." He noticed that her earlobes were red.

Meng Xuanli raised her eyes, nodded, and walked into the inner room with him.

#

Three days later, at the Luoshui Pavilion in the villa garden.

Despite the scorching summer heat, this place is much cooler due to its proximity to the water. Green leaves stretch to the sky, lotus flowers stand gracefully, and the breeze brings a gentle fragrance.

Xie Mingtan was warm and considerate, and took Meng Xuanli to appreciate flowers, drink tea, and chat and laugh.

Meng Xuanli responded with a smile, but his mind was not here.

She had been observing quietly since she entered this place.

It wasn't long before something unusual was discovered.

Because of the previous incident, Qiu He was directly expelled from the Duke's Mansion by Lu Guanque. The people he sent to monitor her this time seemed... too lax.

The maid beside her hurried along, as if on important business. The guards following her from a distance kept whispering to each other, but they didn't even look at her closely.

Even when she went to change her clothes, there was no one on duty in the corridor.

What surprised her even more was that Xie Mingtan had just mentioned to her during a casual chat, "When I came in just now, I seemed to see the Duke riding his horse towards the west of the city, as if he had some urgent business."

West of the city...completely opposite to the direction back to the city.

Everything seemed to be paving the way for her, silently tempting her——

Look, here's your chance.

Run away quickly.

The guards were lax and Lu Guanque fled far away. This place is next to the water and the terrain is not complicated. If we don't escape now, when will we escape?

Meng Xuanli's heart was beating wildly, and her desire to escape suddenly grew wildly, almost taking away all her sanity.

Her fingertips were cold and trembling slightly in her sleeves, but her eyes involuntarily drifted to the end of the corridor, calculating the route and time.

As long as she excused herself to go out for some fresh air, walked quickly along the corridor, and bypassed the rockery... maybe she could...

My body almost stood up uncontrollably.

However, at that moment, she recalled what Lu Guanque said to her on the day she inherited the title.

It went so smoothly.

It went so smoothly that it was almost eerie.

Lu Guanque is a meticulous and suspicious person, especially when it comes to her affairs, he would never make such a mistake.

In other words, this didn't seem like a mistake, but more like a carefully set stage, waiting for her, the protagonist, to lose control and go on stage to act out an escape.

He hadn't gone far at all.

He must be somewhere, staring at her coldly. As long as she took the bait, all her previous disguises would be wasted. What awaited her would be a more brutal imprisonment than before...

The chill rushed straight to his head, extinguishing all of Meng Xuanli's desires.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to shift her gaze back to the lotus in full bloom.

She forced a smile and said, "This pair of lotus flowers is really rare. Thank you, Madam, for taking a look."

"That's right, I didn't notice it just now." Xie Mingtan handed her the plum soup.

Meng Xuanli took it, her fingertips trembling slightly. She sipped it, the sour, sweet, and cold plum soup sliding down her throat, but it didn't bring any comfort.

This time, she couldn't leave.

She had to suppress all her thoughts, be unaware of all this, and even show her enjoyment and satisfaction in viewing the lotus.

Meng Xuanli lowered his eyelashes, hiding all the coldness and calculation in his eyes.

There is ample time.

Since he gave her the first chance to come out, there will be a second time, a third time...

She had to be more patient than before and be more like a "tamed" Meng Xuanli.

Only in this way could he completely let down his guard, and she could wait for a foolproof opportunity.

Thinking of this, the smile on Meng Xuanli's face became softer and more natural. He even took the initiative to take Xie Mingtan's arm, pointed to another lotus, and whispered to her about the flower catalog.

In the distance, behind the window of a hidden water pavilion, a cold and scrutinizing gaze lingered on her back.

After a long time, it slowly moved away.

-----------------------

The author has something to say: [References]

[1] Reference and quote from Jiao Hong et al.’s “Zhuangyuan Ce”

[2] Reference and quotation from Emperor Gaozong Hongli’s “Comprehensive Examination of Imperial Literature”

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