Chapter 1: I'd do anything as long as my brother is happy...

"Yiyi, the lilies I planted have bloomed!"

"Yiyi, you said you would marry me when the flowers bloom, is that still true?"

"Yiyi, you're not going to lie to me for the eighteenth time, are you?"

In the bright spring sunshine, a boy in red, holding a bouquet of lilies, followed Xue Lanyi around and around.

The girl in yellow stood with her hands behind her back and her chin raised, "Of course it is..."

She deliberately drew out her voice very long.

Boom—

Suddenly, a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder sounded outside the window.

Xue Lanyi convulsed and suddenly opened her eyes.

The boy's bright, sunny smile vanished, and everything went dark.

Outside, the rain was falling silently, dripping from the eaves, forming lines and weaving a net.

The damp night breeze stirred the curtains, and the flickering light shone in, illuminating the back of a man fast asleep on the edge of the bed.

The man was too far away from her, and the wind was blowing fiercely into the blankets.

Unable to bear the cold, Xue Lanyi quietly moved closer to the man, intending to reach out and wrap her arms around his waist.

She raised her hands in mid-air, then brought them back, folding them in front of her chest, using only her forehead to gently press against the man's back for some warmth.

My body was covered in a dense layer of cold sweat, yet it still wouldn't stop seeping out.

She dreads thunderstorms like this the most.

Five years ago, she was confiscated and relegated to a lowly status for committing a crime. During her wanderings, she lost her memory and was taken into the juvenile ward, where she was disciplined and trained by a "mother".

That was a place for the Northern Army to have fun. Once they were properly trained, they would be sent to the Dragon Pool and Tiger Cave.

Many girls, unable to bear the humiliation, hanged themselves from the rafters during a stormy night.

The girls who shared a bed with Xue Lanyi changed one after another, and one after another died.

Xue Lanyi never knew when thunder would strike, and when she opened her eyes, there was another corpse spinning around her bed, bleeding from all seven orifices.

In the blue and white electric light, the hanged girls smiled stiffly at her, as if inviting her to find release together.

She had also considered ending her life; on that occasion, a white silk ribbon had already been thrown onto the roof beam.

A clear, melodious voice rang in her ears, “It’s alright. If asking for my hand eighteen times isn’t enough, then nineteen, twenty… In short, I will marry no one but Yiyi.”

In the end, she couldn't bear to leave her beloved husband who loved her so much and depart this world alone.

I endured it all, relying on these fragmented memories, day after day.

Finally, as dawn broke, a young man surnamed Wei came to pick her up with a token.

She went back to Beijing with him and was settled in a courtyard on the outskirts of the city.

Life finally settled down.

The heart-wrenching cries of the girls were no longer in his ears; only the even breathing of the men could be heard.

It was light yet composed, gently enveloping Xue Lanyi.

Xue Lanyi's ear was pressed lightly against his back, listening to his strong heartbeat. Her hands and feet gradually warmed up, and she managed to squeeze out a hoarse sentence from her still tense throat: "It counts."

The promise I made to marry him has stood the test of time.

The sound was softer than a mosquito or a fly.

The man suddenly lifted his eyelids.

In the darkness, a pair of deep eyes seemed born with an icy quality.

"What?" A deep voice sounded, seemingly without joy or anger, yet carrying an unyielding and authoritative aura.

Xue Lanyi's expression froze, and she silently took a step back, not daring to say those three words again.

After she returned to the capital with him, she learned that her husband, Wei Zhang, was the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, who had once led troops to pacify the west, and later abandoned his military career to pursue a literary career, and was promoted to Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

Rumors are circulating that the position of Grand Secretary is already in his grasp.

A man of such high position and power will surely marry a noblewoman from a wealthy and influential family.

She was merely a slave who could not show her face in public.

They were worlds apart, so how could they possibly get married?

She silently swallowed the bitterness in her throat and forced a smile, saying, "Did I wake the young master?"

"Um."

The man closed his eyes again.

The shards of ice sank into the depths of my eyes, leaving no ripples.

A deathly silence fell between them.

Xue Lanyi faced his back with an embarrassed smile.

Wei Zhang is very different from the boy in my dream.

He was not talkative, and he would no longer follow her with fervor.

At the beginning of their reunion, Xue Lanyi inevitably felt doubt and disappointment, but after guarding this courtyard for three years, she gradually came to terms with reality.

Times change, and people's hearts easily drift apart.

Now Wei Zhang has a vision that encompasses the world, while she can only lean against the door, counting on her fingers how many more days it will be before he comes to see her.

She couldn't see the landscape in his eyes, so how could she expect him to say anything to her?

Being able to live peacefully under his protection and sleep soundly for several nights when I hear his heartbeat is a life that was once unattainable.

She should be content, right?

Right...

Xue Lanyi lowered her long eyelashes, concealing the sadness in her eyes, and then covered Wei Zhang's shoulder with the blanket that had been rolled up around her when she was frightened.

Hold your breath and gently lower yourself down little by little.

Wei Zhang instantly lifted the lid.

Xue Lanyi's wrist trembled. "I...I'm worried that the prince's back injury might flare up if it gets cold."

She was almost dragged into the army camp when she was at her most desperate.

It was her beloved husband, riding a white horse with a silver saddle, who broke through the endless yellow sand to rescue her.

He shielded her with his body, while cannonballs rained down on his back.

Amidst the rolling rubble, Xue Lanyi didn't even have time to see her husband's face clearly, but she vividly remembered the blood that kept gushing from the corner of his mouth, seeping into half of her arm.

Such a serious injury would likely cause a dull ache during the rainy season.

"Your Highness, please loosen your inner garment. I will rub your old wound so you can sleep better."

Xue Lanyi knelt beside him, picking out some ointment. "Your Highness almost lost his life because of me, and I have never taken care of your wounds. I feel uneasy..."

Her fingertips had just touched the back of Wei Zhang's collar when Wei Zhang stood up, gathered his collar to cover the back of his neck, and went straight to the clothes rack to get his court robes.

Xue Lanyi's hand missed its target, and she finished speaking only halfway.

Seeing that Wei Zhang was preparing to go to court, she had no choice but to quickly wipe off the ointment from her fingertips and get off the bed.

The moment my bare feet touched the ground, a sharp pain, as if my inner thighs had been crushed the night before, struck me again.

Xue Lanyi staggered half a step while holding onto the table. Before the pain could subside, she dragged her unsteady steps forward and took Wei Zhang's court robes. "This concubine will help the young master change his clothes."

Wei Zhang glanced at her briefly, said nothing, and spread his arms wide.

It was already dawn. The man stood by the window, his posture upright. The light of dawn fell on his high nose, highlighting his handsome and solemn face.

Fortunately, there was no anger.

While wiping his sleeve, Xue Lanyi lowered her eyes and observed his expression out of the corner of her eye.

After a long pause, she hesitated before finally managing to squeeze out her words: "Will Your Highness come again tomorrow night? The day after tomorrow is Your Highness's birthday, and I have prepared longevity peaches."

"It's filled with red bean paste, and it might not taste good if left out for too long," Xue Lanyi added, worried that he might not come.

Knowing that he liked red beans, she learned how to make many red bean desserts and made them for him.

However, the red beans she recently bought were mixed with a lot of small stones, so she started sorting the red beans one by one three days ago. She filtered and washed them, and then steamed and boiled them three times. She didn't dare to ask anyone else to do any of the work.

After all, his birthday coincided with his promotion, and although Xue Lanyi had no valuable gifts to give him, she still wanted to be as solemn as possible.

"What else would you like to eat, Your Highness? I'll prepare it all tomorrow." She squatted down to straighten her clothes.

A moment later, four words casually appeared above his head: "Not going to happen tomorrow."

Xue Lanyi paused for a moment, "It's alright, Your Highness is busy. I'll prepare a small gift for you the day after tomorrow..."

"The day after tomorrow won't work either."

Wei Zhang's tone was slightly harsher this time, clearly showing some impatience.

Xue Lanyi bit her lip and swallowed the rest of her sentence.

It's likely that someone like Wei Zhang would have his doorstep thronged with people bringing gifts even before his birthday.

The Emperor might also host a banquet, and there would be countless royal relatives and nobles to entertain.

Xue Lanyi wanted to celebrate his birthday, but she estimated that it would be at least half a month from now.

I wonder if the birthday gift she prepared will still be available on that day...

"Yes," she replied.

After a long while, he said nothing more.

In the empty bedroom, only the soft sound of her footsteps as she busied herself around Wei Zhang could be heard.

An unusual quiet.

Wei Zhang's gaze finally fell truly on her.

At that moment, Xue Lanyi knelt down in front of him to tie his belt.

Her hair was loosely tied up and hung over her shoulders. Her fair skin and delicate bones, which could not be concealed by her undergarments, appeared even more radiant and white on the dim, rainy day.

Perhaps she had gotten up too hastily, for she hadn't had time to straighten her clothes. The ties of her undergarment hung loosely around her neck, and half of her private parts were peeking out from the pale yellow silk with her movements, bearing the marks of her fingers that had not yet faded.

She usually stays in the courtyard, sheltered from the wind and sun, which makes her skin even more delicate.

However, if the force was slightly too strong, bruises would cover his body, with purple marks winding all the way to his collarbone and neck.

Wei Zhang's gaze involuntarily moved upwards, and he finally saw Xue Lanyi's long eyelashes lowered, lightly covering her misty eyes.

Wei Zhang lifted her chin with his fingertips, looking down into her almond-shaped eyes that seemed to be crying. "Are you unhappy?"

"No." Xue Lanyi shook her head, her lower lip, which she bit tightly, was bright red and slightly swollen, but she couldn't suppress the sound of a sob from her aggrieved voice.

Just like last night, even though I don't like it, I still like to say one thing and mean another.

Wei Zhang playfully traced the teeth marks on her lips with his thumb, grinding them inch by inch.

The calluses rubbed against the cracks at the corners of her lips, sending a tingling, stinging sensation through her. Suddenly, certain images from last night flashed through Xue Lanyi's mind.

Her ears burned, and she hurriedly tried to turn her head away.

Wei Zhang tightened his grip on his fingertips. "Come to Tingyun Pavilion tomorrow."

Xue Lanyi was stunned.

Tingyun Pavilion was Wei Zhang's residence in the Duke's Mansion.

Xue Lanyi stayed by Wei Zhang's side for three years, and she didn't even know where the gate of the Duke's mansion was, let alone his residence.

Why did he suddenly send her to the Duke's mansion this time?

Surprised and anxious, she thought, "I am a criminal; will my sudden entry into the mansion attract the Emperor's attention?"

"I've heard that the Crown Prince has an elder brother. I wonder if he minds?"

It was common knowledge that the old Duchess of the State lived a secluded life, so Xue Lanyi had little chance of encountering her.

However, this eldest son was rarely mentioned, and Xue Lanyi did not know what kind of person he was.

If we were to clash with him, wouldn't that damage our brotherhood with Wei Zhang?

"Should I prepare a gift? I wonder what the eldest young master likes?"

She tilted her head back.

Her bright eyes, white teeth, rosy cheeks, and jade-like face were all devoted to him.

Wei Zhang did not answer, but instead, with an ambiguous gesture, he stroked her eyebrows, her eyes, and her long, fair neck.

The jade thumb ring between her fingers felt cool and piercing, like a serpent coiling around Xue Lanyi.

Xue Lanyi was puzzled, her heart inexplicably racing, and the soft, undulating fabric beneath her loosely draped clothes revealed a delicate, cherry-red hue.

Wei Zhang glanced at him indifferently, "You're willing to give anything as long as your brother is happy?"

A note from the author:

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My darlings, my next novel is "The Blind Girl," please add it to your favorites!

Copywriting:

Su Wansheng was born with a delicate and beautiful appearance, like jade, but her pair of bright, clear eyes suffered from night blindness, and she could only cover her eyes with a white veil all day long.

Because of her illness, she and her husband had not consummated their marriage for half a year.

Her husband, who used to treat her with gentleness and tenderness, has become increasingly distant and indifferent lately.

Su Wan realized that this was not a long-term solution, so she mustered up her courage and tried to get closer to him.

In the long, cold night, she took the initiative to undress and nestled her smooth body into his arms.

Her soft fingers clumsily explored his body as she softly called him "husband."

However, her husband remained unmoved and even pushed her away in disgust.

Until one rainy night, her husband was being chased and killed.

Leaning on her white cane, she stumbled and groped her way through the mountains.

Through the thickets and the assassins' blades aimed at her, she finally found her husband at the crossroads leading out of the village.

She nestled pitifully into his arms, tears blurring her white veil: "Husband, are you hurt?"

The man paused slightly, then finally leaned down and kissed her tearful eyes.

However, the light gauze swayed and fell.

Su Wan's vision suddenly cleared, only to be met with the face of a strange man.

"You are not my husband!" she cried out in alarm, pushing him away and turning to run away.

A large hand gripped the back of her neck.

The man's voice, heavy and authoritative, descended, "Now, it is."

*

Crown Prince Zhao Huai was ambushed and mistakenly entered a farmer's house to recuperate, where he was entangled with a blind girl.

This woman not only showed him concern and care, but was even bold enough to sneak into his bed at night and serve him with her body.

Zhao Huai coldly watched her ingratiating tactics, feeling utterly contemptuous, but he could only endure it for the time being.

He summoned his old subordinates and returned to the capital.

The blind woman followed.

When Zhao Huai saw that the girl's white clothes were covered in bloodstains, he cried uncontrollably for her.

Suddenly, I realized that keeping an injured sparrow by my side might have a unique charm...

Forced acquisition + wife-chasing crematorium