Chapter 2 My Heart is as Solid as a Rock

Xue Lanyi shook her head.

The man's cold eyes narrowed slightly.

Outside the window, the wind and rain arrived unexpectedly, breaking the century-old tree.

The swaying shadows of the trees on the gauze window added to the eerie atmosphere inside the room.

Xue Lanyi, unusually, defied him, saying, "Though I am of lowly status, my heart is devoted only to the Prince. How could I willingly serve someone else?"

She usually dared not look him in the eye, but when she said those words, she did not hesitate at all, and the affection in her clear eyes was undisguised.

The man's fingertips paused slightly.

A moment later, a mocking smile flashed across his lips.

Her fingers traced the piping of the undergarment up to the mountainside, gently tugging at the pale yellow fabric to cover the cherry blossom color that had seeped through.

Do you want... to do it again?

The cold fingernails grazed her sensitive spot, sending a shiver down Xue Lanyi's spine. Only then did she realize how frivolous and obsequious she had been.

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she hurriedly adjusted the ties.

The hem of his dark robe had already brushed past her eyes as Wei Zhang departed.

The beaded curtain in the outer room swayed gently.

Xue Lanyi looked in the direction of the sound

Without an umbrella, Wei Zhang stepped alone into the pouring rain.

His black fox fur coat and red robe fluttered in the wind, and he walked alone against the vast sky, never looking back.

But his casual remark echoed in the dormitory, lingering for a long time.

Xue Lanyi was extremely embarrassed. With her cheeks burning, she squatted down to pick up the clothes that had been scattered all over the floor at night.

"It's done?" Granny Liu, who had been waiting outside, squatted down next to her at some point, looking her over.

The girl was slender, but her usually flat stomach was now slightly protruding.

Granny Liu immediately understood and said, "Congratulations, young lady, on achieving your wish."

"Mom, let's not talk about last night again." Xue Lanyi frowned and shook her head.

Wei Zhang is now cold-hearted and not interested in romantic love.

Each time he finally managed to get someone to come, he would only sit for a short while, and most of the time he would stay in his study to handle official business.

Xue Lanyi rarely had the chance to speak with him, let alone engage in any intimate behavior.

The old women around her were even more anxious than the young lady, seeing that she had been with the young master for three years and was still a virgin.

When Wei Zhang arrived last night, he smelled slightly of alcohol.

The old women then surrounded Xue Lanyi and helped her change into light nightgowns before pushing her into Wei Zhang's study.

Wei Zhang happened to be standing at the door at that moment, and she bumped into him.

Her slender figure pressed against his strong waist, and through only a layer of plain white gauze, she could clearly feel his outline.

Although Xue Lanyi had been in the world of pleasure for a long time, she was still a pure and innocent woman. She was so ashamed that she ran around the room for a while before finally finding the exit.

The moment she stepped out of the door, she caught a faint scent of cool pine on her wrist.

That was the scent left behind when she lost her balance and grabbed Wei Zhang's waist.

His body heat seemed to still linger on my fingertips.

Xue Lanyi's heart pounded, and the image of Wei Zhang's usually icy eyes cracking when their bodies were pressed tightly together suddenly flashed into her mind.

Although it ended in an instant, it was the clearest distance she had seen him in three years.

She hesitated as she pushed the door open.

Even though she had convinced herself a thousand times that things had changed and people were no longer the same, deep down she stubbornly believed that the boy's love would not be extinguished so easily.

That was a light that burned for two years during her darkest time. Even if it was just a tiny spark, Xue Lanyi wanted to do everything she could to reignite it.

She was unwilling to remain coldly distant from him, watching helplessly as the flame died out.

Her stiff fingers hesitated as she pushed the latch back little by little, locking the door completely and cutting off the outside world.

“Your Highness…” she called softly.

Then, disregarding everything, she ran towards him and embraced the tall man from behind.

The man was about to break free in an instant.

Xue Lanyi wrapped her arms around his waist even tighter, her slender fingers tracing the contours of his breathing.

"I truly wish to be the Crown Prince's person." She breathed on his chest, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

The man's abdomen stiffened slightly.

Xue Lanyi's heart was also racing, and she could even foresee how cold and sinister the man's expression would be at that moment.

Just when she was about to give up, she saw a family portrait hanging on the wall a step away.

There were three people in total.

The old Duke and Duchess sat in front, while the red-clad boy she longed for stood to their right rear.

He was always unruly, leaning on his father's shoulder and laughing with his head tilted to one side.

Her ponytail swayed in the wind, with a glittering silver bell tied to the end of the braid.

It's as if you can hear the clear, tinkling sound even through the painting.

In my memory, he was such a bright and cheerful person. Did he become so aloof because of the treacherous nature of officialdom?

When Xue Lanyi burst in, she actually saw him silently looking at the painting with his hands behind his back.

Could it be that he appears so lonely because the old Duke passed away three years ago, leaving him abandoned by his family?

Xue Lanyi guessed as much as she could, and tiptoed to kiss his earlobe.

Her lips moved slowly downwards like a dragonfly skimming the water, finally touching his earlobe. "My lord will no longer be alone. I will stay with you for a long, long time, and never abandon you in this life."

The last four words were gentler than the spring breeze in March, softly drifting into Wei Zhang's ears.

Wei Zhang's pupils contracted slightly.

A moment later, his expression turned even colder, and he suddenly grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in front of him.

His thumb pressed against her chin, forcing her to raise her head, his sharp gaze piercing into her eyes.

He was looking so deeply that she felt like she was suffocating.

On the windowsill, the candle flame was constantly being blown around by the wind.

The candlelight shone alternately on their faces, revealing the deep affection in her eyes and the wariness and probing in his.

His large hand tightened, and Xue Lanyi's vision became increasingly blurred. She saw that the fire was about to go out and return to complete darkness.

Xue Lanyi weakly placed her hand on his thumb and forefinger, pulling him to place his hand on the spot where her heart was beating.

"My heart is as firm as a rock, it cannot be changed." The voice was broken and intermittent.

Each word transformed into a powerful heartbeat, sent into Wei Zhang's palm.

What a ridiculous attempt to flatter.

A hint of mockery flashed in Wei Zhang's eyes, and his knuckles curled back.

"Don't leave me!" She gripped his fingers firmly with both hands. "I want you, I want only you..."

The wind stopped, and the faint candlelight finally shone entirely on her.

Everything around them, including Wei Zhang, was swallowed up by darkness.

Only she was bathed in a gentle halo.

She looked up at him, her slightly damp hair clinging to her thin cheeks, and his image was reflected only in the pool of spring water.

It's like a parasitic plant, it can't live without people.

Even their breaths clung to each other, and with each rise and fall, their hearts brushed against Wei Zhang's fingertips.

It was scalding hot, completely different from the temperature of his fingers.

The air was moving slowly, slightly intoxicating.

The next moment, her jade-like long fingers touched the edge of her undergarment, where a different kind of warmth lingered.

They walked for the first time in front of the portrait of the boy's bright smile...

Xue Lanyi thought that after she had shown him her innermost thoughts last night, their relationship could become closer.

But no.

If Wei Zhang had only been indifferent to her before, this morning he inexplicably felt disgusted and wary of her.

Xue Lanyi sighed almost inaudibly.

Granny Liu saw through her thoughts and patted her wrist. "Don't be impatient, young lady. There's no such thing as getting fat in one bite. The young master has allowed you to enter the Duke's mansion, which means he cares about you."

Xue Lanyi certainly knew how difficult it was for someone at the bottom of the abyss to reach a cloud.

It's just a matter of having plenty of time in the future.

"It's alright."

With a slight tremor of her long eyelashes, she showed no signs of distress. She silently tidied up the mess on the floor and headed to the study.

Grandma Liu noticed that she was weak and followed her.

“Mom…” Xue Lanyi stopped in her tracks.

Last night's commotion was so intense, the study was a complete mess, especially the painting, which she had damaged during their passionate moment...

Xue Lanyi's earlobes felt slightly hot. "Please trouble Mother to go and get some clam powder first."

"Clam powder?"

How much clam powder is used for painting? Everyone in this courtyard is of low social status, who would dare to dabble in literature?

Grandma Liu waved her hand, "We've never stocked clam powder in the courtyard. What would you, young lady, want with those scholar's trinkets?"

Xue Lanyi didn't answer, but took off a pair of pearl earrings and gave them to Granny Liu. "Mother, grind these into powder, mix them with warm water until they are thick, and bring them to the study."

"This..." Granny Liu looked at her without any hairpins or jewelry and felt somewhat embarrassed.

Although the prince never skimped on the young lady's food, clothing, or daily necessities, he was not meticulous enough to pay attention to her personal needs.

Therefore, I often had to take apart old clothes and sew these intimate items like undergarments, panties, and menstrual belts myself. The same goes for hairpins and earrings; I've been wearing a plain silver hairpin and a pair of pearl earrings for almost three years.

The girl was too shy to ask for it, and the prince was too busy to notice.

"If these earrings break, and the young lady goes to the Duke's mansion tomorrow without makeup, wouldn't she be laughed at by the noble masters?"

"Let's go, Mother," Xue Lanyi insisted.

Grandma Liu had no choice but to comply. After mixing the pearl powder, she pushed open the door to the study.

A beam of sunlight shone directly onto the portrait on the wall.

The boy's red clothes were splattered with a sticky liquid, and tear tracks remained in the corners of his eyes as they trickled down from above.

The entire painting was covered in fingernail marks and faint traces of blood; just looking at it made you feel pain.

"The girl has suffered."

Xue Lanyi didn't respond, but focused intently on half-squatting in front of the wall wiping away the stains.

Granny Liu hurriedly handed the cup and brush to Xue Lanyi, "Miss, do you want to repair the painting? This painting is so damaged, I'm afraid even the most skilled craftsmen in the palace couldn't fix it."

"Yes, it's possible." Xue Lanyi's voice was soft yet resolute.

If she hadn't lost control of her body last night, she would never have wanted the boy in her heart to be tainted in any way, not even by painting.

She held the brush with her wrist suspended, and dipped it in pearl powder.

The indelible stains on the rice paper transformed into lily petals at the tip of her brush.

The young man shines brightly once again amidst the falling blossoms.

The pearl's light reflected off the girl's face, as if gently caressing the purple marks on her lips and brows.

Despite her injury, she maintained a straight back and a swan-like, fair neck, displaying a graceful posture.

Granny Liu immediately thought of the phrase "a talented man and a beautiful woman" and flattered her, saying, "Young lady, you must have served a young lady in a wealthy family before, right? You look like someone who has been a head maid."

Xue Lanyi paused, her pen poised.

Granny Liu continued, "My distant brother also served the eldest young master at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. He picked up some of that noble air and now he's started putting on airs from time to time..."

Granny Liu stammered halfway through her sentence, "Young lady, that's not what I meant. I just wanted to say that you've really learned how to behave like a noble master."

Xue Lanyi smiled.

Knowing that Granny Liu meant no harm, she didn't intend to make a fuss. While carefully smoothing out the creased painting, she asked, "So, Mama knows the eldest son of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? Why isn't he in the family portrait?"

The painting bears the inscription "When people are together, good fortune arrives; the whole family is reunited," clearly conveying the meaning of completeness and fulfillment.

But clearly one person is missing.

"How would an old woman like me know the intricacies of wealthy families? But even in ordinary families, there are still distinctions of kinship."

Granny Liu thought for a moment and then said, "I heard my brother mention that the eldest young master's fiancée died three years ago. After that, the eldest young master left Shengjing, the place of his sorrow, and only returned to the capital in the last two days. Could it be that this has caused him to become estranged from the Duke and his wife?"

"The eldest young master's fiancée has passed away?"

Xue Lanyi is going to the Duke's mansion tomorrow, and she is worried that she may have violated some taboo, so she should learn more about it.

"She could hardly be considered a fiancée. I heard that even after she died, the eldest young master still insisted on marrying her."

As Granny Liu spoke, her eyes were filled with terror.

"Speaking of which, the eldest son is a strange man. He and his deceased wife were childhood sweethearts. The late emperor had long intended to bestow a marriage upon them, but the eldest son insisted on personally going to the girl's house to ask for her hand in marriage. It is said that he went to the girl's house every year, but each time he asked, she refused."

Granny Liu covered her mouth and chuckled, "It is said that one spring, the eldest young master spent the whole night in the garden loosening the soil and digging up roots, and from who knows where he got the confidence that this time he would definitely succeed."

That night, he dragged my brother along to rehearse how to propose, repeatedly questioning him: "If he succeeds in proposing and holds the girl's hand, will she think he's too forward and then refuse to marry me?"

Xue Lanyi chuckled softly, "She's quite a remarkable person."

"What's so wonderful about him? In my old woman's opinion, the Duke and Duchess don't care about him at all." Granny Liu curled her lip.

Xue Lanyi looked at Granny Liu, puzzled.

Granny Liu whispered in her ear with a sneer: "Which young master from a respectable family doesn't have a few concubines by his side?"

The eldest son is in the prime of his life, and he doesn't even dare to touch his own wife's hand. If it really comes time to consummate the marriage, wouldn't he be too heartbroken to go in...?

"Mom!" Xue Lanyi hurriedly stood up.

At the same time, a surge of pain came from the bottom of my abdomen.

The image of the man who suddenly barged into my mind last night flashed before my eyes. The pain of my flesh being torn apart layer by layer was enough to make me pale and short of breath just by recalling it.

She held the painting, took a while to catch her breath, and breathed intermittently, "Don't say anything lewd!"

Although she did not know the eldest son, a sincere person should not be repeatedly mocked as a pastime.

"Don't say it again. If the masters above hear it, will it be as good as your mother?"

"Yes, yes, we common women spout filthy words that would get us beheaded or beaten, unlike some people who clearly come from brothels but pretend to be high-class ladies!"

In the courtyard, the cook, Yan Chun, spat out sunflower seed shells while yelling and cursing at the top of her lungs.

The palm-sized gold hairpin on her head dazzled the eye.

"You can put on airs all you want, but at least try to bewitch the young master! You haven't even properly served him yet, and you're already eyeing some other young master?"

"The eldest son was personally appointed by the late emperor as the General Who Crossed the Liao River. His deceased wife was an extremely noble princess who could attend court and was even called 'sister' by the former crown prince! How could the eldest son possibly look down on a shameless hussy like you?"

Yan Chun cursed so fiercely that his spittle flew everywhere, and the whole place, not just the courtyard, probably heard it almost everywhere.

Many eyes peeked into the study from behind the trees and in the corner, as if watching a spectacle.

It pierced me like an icicle.

Xue Lanyi's pain had not yet subsided when she felt a chill run through her body. She clutched her lower abdomen, her pale lips moving slightly, "Please trouble you to close the door, Mother."

She was not favored, and her subordinates could not get any benefits, so they inevitably complained and spoke sarcastically.

Over the course of three years, she also tried to suggest to Wei Zhang that they disperse the group.

Wei Zhang continued flipping through the official documents, only his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly: "If you don't want to use them, just leave them aside."

He's busy with official duties, how could he have time to deal with such trivial matters?

Saying more will only annoy people.

It's best to listen to as little as possible.

"Mom, close the door. You can go out too."

Granny Liu treated her well, so Xue Lanyi didn't need to drag her down and make her the target of the other old women's eyes.

Grandma Liu looked at Xue Lanyi with concern, but she was also powerless to help, so she bowed and closed the door.

The room grew cold, with only Xue Lanyi's short, labored breathing due to pain remaining.

She slid weakly down the wall and sat on the ground.

The cold blue brick against my inner thighs eased the burning pain considerably.

The cursing outside had faded into the distance, but it still kept pouring into my ears, lingering in the empty room for a long time.

She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and held back the tears of pain.

After a long while, a breeze from who-knows-where brushed against my cheek, carrying the fresh scent of flowers after the rain.

She struggled to open her eyelids and glanced to the side.

It was the lily on the back windowsill that pushed open the window, and the buds, about to bloom, playfully peeked through the crack, their petals trembling slightly.

The boy who seemed to always hide outside the window and scare her was chuckling.

This pot of flowers is the birthday gift she plans to give to the boy tomorrow.

It was the year Wei Zhang brought her back to the capital that she asked Wei Zhang for the seeds.

She nursed him back to health day and night for three years.

The flowers are about to bloom.

It will reopen eventually.

She had a feeling that it would happen tomorrow.