Chapter 62 "Give you to me".

She looked at him in surprise.

Wei Zhang sensed a pair of cold, watery eyes and came back to his senses. He lifted his eyes and met her gaze through the red veil.

The red sleeves, like the sash worn during a wedding, connect the two.

The two remained deadlocked for a long time.

Xue Lanyi pulled out her sleeve with all her might.

"What business does Your Excellency have with me?"

She took half a step back.

Wei Zhang's hand missed its target, and his stiff finger bones rubbed together lightly.

"sit."

Wei Zhang uttered only one word, heavy with emotion.

There was no other place to sit next to him, only the couch he was sitting on, with empty space to his left.

This daybed is not an old item from the bedroom; I don't know when it was moved here.

It was bright red, similar in color to her wedding dress.

The chair back and armrests are carved with intertwined lotus blossoms.

The tatami mat was very narrow; if two people sat there, they would almost be shoulder to shoulder.

Xue Lanyi did not want to leave with his scent on her.

She bit her lip. "Your Excellency now holds a high position, and I dare not compare myself to you."

"You're not bad either, you're going to be a wife soon."

A hint of inscrutable interest flickered across Wei Zhang's lips as he pulled a document from his sleeve that Xue Lanyi found quite familiar...

Her concubine's book!

Xue Lanyi's pupils contracted slightly, and her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly in her palms.

She thought he wanted to use this concubine's document to control her again.

However, he handed her the concubine's letter directly.

"His Majesty said you are gentle and virtuous, a good wife and mother, and suitable to be a wife. I was wrong about you before."

Xue Lanyi didn't understand what he meant by that, and remained where she was.

He slightly raised the middle and index fingers holding the concubine's book, indicating that she should handle it herself: "From this day forward, you are no longer a concubine."

Xue Lanyi knew, of course, that once she was free from him, she would no longer need to be someone's concubine, so why did he need to say anything more?

He's not usually a talkative person, so his sudden seriousness in saying such things made people feel quite uneasy.

But the letter from the concubine handed to me was like tempting bait; I knew it might be a trap, but it still gave me an urge to grab it and then tear it up completely.

Tearing up the concubine contract meant she would have no further connection with him.

She was bewitched and reached out her hand.

Wei Zhang curled his fingers, which were holding the concubine's book between his fingers.

The document passed through Xue Lanyi's fingertips.

Her hand missed its target, and she looked at him in surprise.

He remained unmoved, only glancing sideways at the empty seat beside him.

Xue Lanyi hesitated for a moment, then finally lifted her skirt and sat down beside him.

Wei Zhang was also dressed in a magnificent and elaborate official robe today, the gold dragon pattern on the black fabric matching the phoenix pattern perfectly.

The shadows of the two sitting side by side were projected onto the ground, their clothes touching and their shoulders brushing against each other, and she was covered with a veil.

It's hard not to think of other scenarios.

The scene that was left unfinished on the night of the concubine's arrival.

"This concubine...this concubine's letter."

A hand timidly reached out to him, interrupting his thoughts.

He gave her the concubine's book.

It was a light sheet of Xuan paper, almost weightless.

Xue Lanyi's fingertips trembled slightly.

She still felt that everything had come too easily, and she could hardly believe it. She unfolded the concubine's book and read it word by word, trying to verify its authenticity.

He was reading so intently that his head was slightly lowered.

The veil concealed her nervous expression, making her appear more like a shy, downcast woman waiting for her fiancé to lift the veil.

Wei Zhang's eyes darkened, and he readily agreed, pinching the edge of the veil with two fingers.

The red corner was lifted.

Xue Lanyi was suddenly exposed to the light and looked up in fear, only to meet Wei Zhang's eyes, which were as dark as night.

They were so close that Wei Zhang's breath sprayed onto her face.

It's piping hot.

Xue Lanyi did not expect him to do this.

She held her concubine tightly in her arms, her wet eyes warily fixed on him, her lips slightly parted.

Her full lips were coated with bright red lipstick, like cherry blossoms, as if they would burst with juice with a gentle bite.

So vibrant and captivating.

At that moment, Wei Zhang finally understood why women must wear red when they get married.

A beautiful woman in red makeup is like a fine vintage wine, intense yet with a lingering aftertaste.

A strange thought flashed through his mind: he might never forget the moment the veil was lifted.

His gaze remained fixed on the beauty beneath the bridal veil, on those two red lips that already belonged to him.

His lips were as red as cherry blossoms, so vibrant and full, yet he had never seen them painted bright red.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

"What are you doing?"

Xue Lanyi immediately avoided it.

At this moment, the wedding procession was outside Chong'an Hall, and the matchmaker was only fifty paces away from the bedroom.

Today is her wedding day, what is he doing?

Wei Zhang could not answer her question.

He summoned her to his bedroom this time because he had some important matters to discuss with her.

But just now, as she walked towards him in her wedding dress, Wei Zhang realized that there were more important things to do.

For example, help her understand one thing...

"Turn around."

Wei Zhang's slightly cool lips were still on her cheek, and his cold and stern face showed no sign of moving away.

The two were separated by a hair's breadth, their breaths mingling.

Xue Lanyi's eyes were fixed anxiously on the window. "Wei... Wei Zhang, Prince Xiao's men are still waiting outside. You don't want the marriage alliance to fail, do you? Prince Xiao, he..."

"Turn around!" Wei Zhang interrupted her, his voice slightly stern this time.

On this beautiful day, he didn't want to make her cry again, so he didn't press her any further.

But before she could even leave his side, she started using other men to pressure him.

She was indeed full of anticipation, eager to get married.

Would she be willing to go to a foreign country for that matter?

Cracks appeared in Wei Zhang's icy eyes; beneath the glacier lay a bottomless abyss.

Xue Lanyi then realized that she had spoken impulsively and without thinking.

He wasn't even afraid of the Emperor, so why would he be afraid of Prince Xiao?

This is the Duke's mansion, his territory.

A ferocious beast will not tolerate anyone invading its territory.

In the dim candlelight, she saw the extremely complex emotions in his eyes.

It was anger, resentment, and a vague sense of loss.

That sense of loss gradually sank into the depths of his eyes, while an extremely strong aggression gradually surfaced and became more and more apparent.

Its towering figure loomed over her, its shadow enveloping her as if it could devour her whole.

Xue Lanyi leaned back and faintly smelled the cool scent of his breath.

"You...you've been drinking?"

He never gets involved in anything that disturbs his mind.

Moreover, even when angry, they won't easily bare their fangs.

Today, he was far too emotionally expressive.

"Drink less, drink less." Xue Lanyi's breathing rose and fell, her breath spraying onto his chest.

Wei Zhang paused slightly as he leaned towards her.

The soft, gentle voice penetrated his chest, giving him a feeling that was both strange and familiar.

It seems like it's been a very, very long time since I've heard her inquire about his affairs.

Xue Lanyi had no interest in caring about him; she just wanted to escape as quickly as possible.

Seeing that he was slightly more receptive, she quickly got up and said, "I'll go tell Qingyang to make some hangover soup!"

A strong hand grabbed her wrist.

Xue Lanyi slumped back down beside him, gasping for breath.

Martial arts practitioners are strong and decisive. When he holds her hand, he unconsciously uses force, which hurts her.

In the past, Xue Lanyi dared not speak of her pain, but now that she was leaving, she no longer needed to endure it. "It hurts!"

Wei Zhang's hand stiffened slightly, and he slowly released her, his anger subsiding considerably as he tried to remain calm.

He was very different today; from the moment Xue Lanyi entered, one could sense that he was trying to conceal his brilliance.

Beneath the calm surface, who knows what kind of storm he's brewing?

She became increasingly wary.

Wei Zhang turned to the side, picked up the wine pot on the table behind him, and poured himself a cup of wine.

There were two gold cups on the table, one of which had some wine stains on it, indicating that he had used it.

The other one is carved with phoenix patterns and shines with golden light.

He handed her the golden cup.

Why drink alcohol?

Xue Lanyi was confused and, being a light drinker, opened her mouth to refuse.

However, she had already disobeyed him once.

She didn't know how much patience he had in enduring her.

In short, drinking is much better than kissing him.

Xue Lanyi's fingertips trembled as she took the wine, then covered her sleeve and took a small sip.

Then she respectfully raised the cup with both hands and presented it to him, saying, "I am not a strong drinker, so I will only drink half a cup to express my feelings. I wish the Duke a smooth promotion ceremony today and that he will rise to great heights in the future."

Xue Lanyi's words were both a blessing and a reminder that it was time for him to enter the palace and embark on his path to advancement.

Instead of doing pointless things with her in this dark and gloomy bedroom.

However, the scene of her in her wedding dress holding a golden cup and drinking from the same pot with Wei Zhang carries a special meaning.

Wei Zhang didn't hear what she said, but he saw a drop of clear wine shimmer on her lips as they parted slightly.

It kept shaking, as if reminding him of what he hadn't finished.

Wei Zhang grabbed her wrist again and pulled her sharply to his side.

Caught off guard, Xue Lanyi leaned forward, and a corner of the veil covering her phoenix crown drooped down.

Just as her vision was about to be obscured, a cold, stern face appeared beneath the bridal veil.

The bridal veil slowly fell, trapping the two in an even smaller space.

And he finally kissed the drop of water on her lips.

The wine was cold, but the lips were soft.

The scent of rouge filled Wei Zhang's mouth. He swallowed hard and then took her lower lip into his mouth.

Xue Lanyi was enveloped and covered by a warm, damp sensation, and quickly pressed against his shoulder.

"Wei Zhang! Wei Zhang! Wake up, wake up!"

The officials of Dayong offered their congratulations outside.

The officials of Western Qi were waiting outside.

What are they doing?

On the eve of parting, should we still cling to the past and try to make do?

Although he is not a good person, he values ​​his official reputation and rules the most. What is he making a fuss about today?

She could tell he was really drunk!

She kept pushing him away and turning her head away from his kisses.

“Wei Zhang, I know you’re resentful that Xiao Cheng openly demanded people, but didn’t you also gain both fame and fortune from it?”

"You've gained the support of the people and risen to great heights in exchange for just one concubine. What more could you ask for?"

"Besides, you punished me as I should have that day in the rain, and you vented your anger as I should have! What more do you want from me... um!"

Xue Lanyi's fierce refusal felt like a futile attempt to break a rock in his arms.

He didn't let go of her; instead, when she opened her mouth to speak, he easily probed her mouth.

Her breath instantly filled her mouth.

She hated that smell.

She just wanted to leave cleanly!

In a fit of anger, she bit his tongue, shouting, "Wei Zhang, what exactly are you trying to do?!"

Could you... could you explain it clearly in one go?

She was fed up with his silent, endless torture.

I've had enough of the unpredictable pressure from being around him.

She couldn't take it anymore!

She rarely raised her voice.

The voice echoed in the cramped space.

Wei Zhang tasted a hint of blood and sweetness, and his kiss stopped.

He retreated to his own territory and straightened his back.

The veil slipped off their heads.

The two saw the light of day again and could see each other's faces clearly.

He looked at her beautifully made-up face and gave her a definite answer, word by word: "I want you."

"..."

Xue Lanyi's face turned pale instantly, and her pupils dilated in disbelief.

What nonsense is he talking about?

She was no longer his concubine, and could no longer take whatever she wanted from him.

She shook her head repeatedly, backing away until her back pressed against the chair back.

After Wei Zhang gave this answer, the confusion that had been shrouding his mind seemed to become clearer and clearer.

Everything cleared up, and he saw his most primal and instinctive thought: "I want Xue Lanyi, and I also want Li Zhaoyang."

impossible!

Xue Lanyi's body had already been given to him against her will.

He could never have Li Zhaoyang.

His sudden request startled Xue Lanyi so much that she fell to the ground.

She was adorned with jewels and gold ornaments, which jingled loudly.

The sound of the collision quickly caught the matchmaker's attention.

"Young lady, are you alright?"

"The wedding envoys have already urged us three times. I wonder if the Duke has finished asking his questions?"

...

Xue Lanyi grasped at a straw as if it were a lifeline, lifting her skirt and stumbling towards the door.

He was about to rush out the door.

Outside, Ying Qi blocked the matchmaker with a knife, saying, "The master hasn't finished asking his questions. Anyone who dares to disturb him will be ruthless."

"A man and a woman alone in a room for almost half an hour, what are they having so much to say?"

The wedding procession was also getting impatient.

The two sides are locked in a fierce battle, and it seems like things are about to escalate into a major conflict.

Xue Lanyi tried to open the door, but she was too flustered to even open the latch.

After a while, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

Wei Zhang had somehow appeared behind her, his broad shoulders and narrow waist starkly reflected on the window paper.

Everyone immediately spotted the imposing figure standing in front of the door.

The wedding procession members then calmed down a bit and knelt at the entrance to the bedroom. "Lord Duke, Prince Xiao has been waiting at the city gate for a long time. If the wedding sedan chair doesn't depart soon, I'm afraid..."

I'm afraid Xiao Cheng won't let this go easily. He'll either storm into the Duke's mansion to take the man away or go to the palace to meet the Emperor.

Either way, it will become common knowledge.

Xue Lanyi felt there was no way to end this situation just by thinking about it.

She wanted to break free from Wei Zhang, but if she made any sudden moves, people outside would easily discover that there was someone else hiding in Wei Zhang's shadow.

Wei Zhang was not standing alone at the door, but was embracing their "princess".

If the envoy knew that the woman to be married to their prince was having an intimate affair with another man before getting into the bridal sedan chair.

Can she still be a princess? Will she be able to leave Shengjing smoothly?

She dared not move, hunching her shoulders as much as possible, hiding herself in Wei Zhang's shadow.

He sensed that she had become obedient, and gently kissed her cheek, saying, "Give yourself to me."

His voice was low and magnetic, half seductive and half soliciting.

In reality, Xue Lanyi had no choice at all.

If she doesn't budge, Wei Zhang will just keep dragging things out with her indefinitely.

The longer it drags on, the slimmer her hope of leaving becomes.

Anyway, we've been intimate before, so there's no need to cause trouble at this time.

She closed her eyes slightly and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he nodded.

Wei Zhang picked her up horizontally. She subconsciously pushed his shoulder, but after a moment, her stiff fingertips gripped his black robe. She glanced out the window and looked at him with pleading eyes.

Wei Zhang's attention was only on the pitiful bride in his arms, and he casually called out to someone, "Qingyang."

"Ladies and gentlemen, our master's robe has a hole in it. Aunt Xue will have to mend it. Please come back in half an hour."

Qingyang gestured for them to enter from the outside, and then rattled off a set of words that had clearly been planned in advance.

He laid a trap, just waiting for her to jump in!

Xue Lanyi felt angry and tightened her grip on his shoulder.

Wei Zhang remained expressionless as he lifted the curtain and carried her inside.

Behind them, the envoy and Qingyang were still negotiating, "In such a large Duke's mansion, is it possible that they can't find a single embroiderer?"

"What a coincidence! Only Aunt Xue can fix this hole in our master's body; no one else can do it. Gentlemen, please come to the front hall and have some tea!"

Qingyang's voice was clear and brooked no argument.

The sounds outside gradually faded, and the bustling figures on the window disappeared into the distance.

Xue Lanyi watched the wedding envoy's retreating figure for a long time, helplessly watching her hopes fade away.

A hand grabbed her chin, forcing her to turn her head.

Only then did Xue Lanyi realize that she was sitting on the edge of the bed where they had shared a bed for many days.

The red silk curtains on the couch had been replaced with those from the day the concubine was taken, and the double happiness characters from that day were still pasted on the windows.

And she was wearing a wedding dress.

How ironic.

Xue Lanyi felt a lump in her throat and turned her head away.

Without turning her head away, Wei Zhang straightened her head and lifted it up.

Her gaze could only be directed upwards at that face with features as deep and sharp as a knife.

She never imagined that before she had gone to such lengths to escape him, she would still have to endure his disdain.

What he didn't expect was that before leaving, he would use her to relieve his lust one more time.

She had seen how men abused women in the brothel, whether out of anger or pleasure, they would grab any woman at random to vent their frustrations.

Xue Lanyi used to feign madness, ugliness, and stupidity, and escaped death several times to avoid those filthy people.

Ultimately, they could not escape becoming mere playthings.

The one who toyed with her was someone she once considered a close friend.

She couldn't help but ask the aloof man, "Wei Zhang, what do you take me for?"

At the very least, have you ever been a human being?

Wei Zhang looked down into her clear, watery eyes, slightly taken aback.

Indeed, he had never thought about it before, nor did he feel it was necessary to consider such abstract questions.

It wasn't until these past few days, when someone dared to openly enter his residence and seize what already belonged to him, that he began to seriously consider this issue.

What did he take her for?

He gently lifted his index finger, forcing her to raise her chin even higher, so that her face was fully revealed to him.

Just then, dawn broke outside.

A ray of morning light slanted in through the skylight and fell on Xue Lanyi.

Everything around her was dark, except for the golden halo surrounding her, as if she had descended from the sky.

It was as if it were a gift from heaven.

He deserves her, possesses her, and makes her... his wife.

By giving her his surname and binding her to him for life, she could become completely and utterly his.

Instead of being a concubine that anyone can take away and that everyone dares to covet.

The Wei family was her final resting place.

The thought of that title sent a surge of emotion through Wei Zhang's chest.

He leaned down and kissed her.

Xue Lanyi instinctively turned her head away, and his lips landed right next to her ear.

The man's deep, husky voice whispered in her ear, "I will tell you who you are in three days."

Three days later?

Three days later, Xue Lanyi had long since given up on life and death.

Who would want to hear his answer?

In fact, Xue Lanyi didn't care about his answer at all; her words were just a spontaneous expression of her feelings.

He didn't care how he treated her.

Even Xue Lanyi secretly hoped that he would treat her as a tool or a lover.

I just want to end this absurd deal as soon as possible, so that we can have nothing to do with each other from now on.

She stopped pushing and refusing, suppressing her disgust, and turned her face towards him.

Wei Zhang was very close to her, and when she turned her head, her lips brushed against his.

The lip rouge on the cupid's bow has faded.

It must have brushed against his lips, or perhaps he had kissed it into his stomach while it was under the bridal veil.

The faint scent of red plum blossoms still lingered between their lips and teeth. Wei Zhang's breathing became slightly heavier as he leaned down and kissed her lips once more.

But he didn't rush to attack; he just intermittently kissed her lips, swallowing the bright red color of her lips little by little, claiming it as his own.

Even though it had only been five or six days since I last tasted those cherry lips, the moment I touched them, I felt a sense of long-lost pleasure.

Grooves gradually appeared on his chest, urgently needing to be filled.

He gently parted her teeth with the tip of his tongue, leaning forward to deepen the kiss.

Xue Lanyi's head, adorned with a phoenix crown, was too heavy, causing her to lean back and fall onto the couch along with the other woman.

Her phoenix crown fell off, and her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

A vibrant wedding dress was also spread out on the bed.

A beautiful woman in red makeup lay before him, her body gleaming with jewels, as if presented before him, awaiting his careful appreciation of rare and precious treasures.

His kisses became lighter and more tender, kissing her cheeks, her earlobes, her neck...

Continue downwards.

Xue Lanyi secretly clenched her sleeves, suppressing the urge to push him away, while her eyes never left Wei Zhang.

Wei Zhang seemed to be completely absorbed in the kiss.

A touch of pale pink tinged the corners of his upturned eyes, and coupled with his fair complexion, in this secluded place, he no longer resembled a savage, tearing wolf, but rather a white fox.

A white fox, rubbing against her neck, was used to being clingy.

Xue Lanyi was not surprised by his appearance.

In the quiet of the night, when he was half asleep, he would sometimes hug her tightly from behind, bury his head in her neck and rub it against her, even coaxing her with a thick nasal voice, making her repeat the words: "Xue Lanyi will never abandon Wei Yunjian."

"Xue Lanyi will never abandon Wei Yunjian."

This is when he is least on guard and when he is most comfortable speaking.

Since she couldn't avoid having sex with him this time, Xue Lanyi couldn't keep suffering losses. She had to get something in return. "After it's over, could I see Granny Liu?"

Her clear voice fell, and Wei Zhang's kiss came to an abrupt end.

His eyes, flushed red, looked at her, but all she saw was the coldness of a transaction.

Wei Zhang always preferred to have everything in writing, clearly outlining the terms and benefits.

At that moment, a fire burned in his chest. "Are you trying to use your body to negotiate with me?"

"Yes," Xue Lanyi did not deny it.

Besides this body, what else could she offer? Love and affection?

Does he have one? Is there one between them?

She took his hand, which was covered in veins, and placed it on her heart. "Since this is the last time, don't you want me to cooperate and leave you with a good experience?"

As soon as she spoke, her soft flesh was placed into Wei Zhang's palm, so tempting that one couldn't help but want to caress it fiercely.

However, he must get everything he wants; why should he trade with others and be controlled by them?

He suddenly pulled his hand away and slipped it under her skirt, using skillful movements, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, to make her feel like spring water flowing gently, causing her skin to flush.

He has a hundred ways to make the experience in bed better.

Xue Lanyi lay on the couch like an emotionless rag doll, letting him manipulate her as he pleased.

What should have been a scene of mandarin ducks entwined turned into a one-man show by Wei Zhang.

He stared intently at that expressionless face, feeling increasingly empty inside. Just as he was about to reach his climax, Wei Zhang pulled away, sat up on the edge of the bed, his chest heaving, and looked down at his own shadow on the floor.

"Grandma Liu, here you go!" The voice sounded somewhat fierce, but it didn't seem like she was angry at Xue Lanyi.

A long silence followed.

His tone softened a bit, "I'll give you Granny Liu, you can keep her with you if you want."

He actually took two steps back, and only then did a glimmer of light appear in Xue Lanyi's eyes as she glanced at his back.