Chapter 16 It was an increasingly distorted form of possession…

Su Muying really had no idea what Xie Linyuan wanted to do or what he was planning to do.

A damp mist swirled in his peach blossom eyes, obscuring what was in them.

She only saw him lower his head, lower and lower, getting closer and closer to her.

Su Muying could even feel the warmth between his lips and teeth.

It's so hot, way too hot.

It was so hot that she was shaking all over.

All eyes were on them, all staring at her.

What exactly does he want to do?

How do you want to humiliate her?

Su Muying was terrified of him.

In her panic, she seemed to see him close his eyes, his long eyelashes folding like small fans, and his high, straight nose seemingly brushing lightly across the tip of her nose like a feather.

It looked like some sparks exploded.

...

Alarm bells rang in Su Muying's mind. Just as those thin lips were about to brush against hers, almost instinctively, Su Muying suddenly raised her hand and braced herself against Xie Linyuan's chest, forcefully pushing him away.

Perhaps it was because Su Muying had used all her strength at this moment, or perhaps Xie Linyuan was too immersed in his own world and his consciousness was so low that he was completely unprepared, but this tall man was actually pushed back half a step by her.

Suddenly, gasps and gasps of surprise rang out from all around. The crowd began to whisper amongst themselves, a flurry of discussion ensuing.

"What is she doing? She actually pushed General Xie away?"

"Aren't they husband and wife? Why are they so distant? Are they having marital problems?"

"Can someone tell me what just happened? General Xie tried to kiss me in front of so many people, but he was pushed away?"

"Rare indeed, truly rare. Everyone says that General Xie is indifferent to women, even disdaining the Princess's advances, yet he would publicly ask a woman for a kiss, only to be pushed away by her?"

"I heard that this woman is the fiancée of his elder brother, Lord Xie. Lord Xie and this woman were deeply in love and admired each other. Lord Xie even died protecting her from a knife. With such deep affection, this woman must still be thinking of her brother and can't forget him, which is why she couldn't accept General Xie and pushed him away..."

Upon hearing this, some people suddenly realized and said, "I see. But it's understandable. Lord Xie is indeed an outstanding person. He is handsome, upright, and honest in his official duties. He is truly impeccable. It's normal that we can't forget him."

"This relationship is really complicated. But then again, which high-ranking family doesn't have some shady dealings? It's just that now that this matter has been exposed to the public, the Xie family's reputation is going to be tarnished."

"The younger brother succeeds the deceased brother, brothers fight amongst themselves? That's really interesting..."

...

Xie Linyuan was stunned the moment Su Muying pushed him away.

The girl's unique fragrance vanished almost instantly.

There was no sunset, and the peach blossoms were gone.

All gone.

But why can't she give it to him?

Why not?

Xie Linyuan took half a step back. Before the mist in his eyes had dissipated, his peach blossom eyes, still filled with lust, looked at the girl in front of him with a hint of bewilderment.

In those wet eyes, the panic and fear in the girl's eyes suddenly struck his pupils.

And there is that real, tangible resistance and opposition.

Would she treat her brother the same way?

No, she won't.

In an instant, the mist dissipated, and the dazed and lost look, the passion and longing in those peach blossom eyes vanished completely.

Another snowstorm hit.

Those peach blossom eyes instantly turned into cold and ruthless ones.

The tenderness and warmth he showed her were fleeting, transforming into something far more brutal before Su Muying even realized or appreciated it.

It was an increasingly twisted, violent, and all-consuming possessiveness.

My brother.

He was concerned about his elder brother.

These words were magnified in his mind, becoming the sharpest swords.

They stabbed not only him, but also others.

The next instant, as the taste of blood filled his throat, Xie Linyuan chuckled softly.

But my brother is dead.

He died.

He is completely dead.

He saw it with his own eyes.

He witnessed it with his own eyes.

Xie Lin'an is dead.

Xie Linyuan's peach blossom eyes lifted up with pleasure, the corners of his eyes tinged with a faint blush, making his peach blossom eyes even more alluring.

But to Su Muying, that smile was eerie and twisted. Today was another day of continuous rain, and in such weather, his skin always had a whiteness that seemed to be bathed in moonlight, and his body also exuded a bone-chilling coldness. His face was obviously extremely handsome, even more beautiful than a woman's, but... the coldness and sharpness of his whole body made people dare not look directly at him.

It was a kind of oppression that had solidified into reality.

Su Muying was afraid of him, terrified of him, and at this moment, the smile on his thin lips, the whiteness of his skin, and the beauty and handsomeness of his face only made him seem even more terrifying.

Su Muying's heart sank into an icy abyss.

She keenly sensed something, but as she looked at the man who was constantly approaching her, and at Xie Linyuan's captivating eyes, she couldn't understand what was causing that utterly twisted thing about him.

I have no idea why he suddenly became so terrifying.

Was it because she pushed him away?

Was it simply because she pushed him away?

Why?

Su Muying didn't understand, but even though she didn't understand, when Xie Linyuan's overwhelming pressure poured down on her at this moment, all she could do was tremble instinctively and feel fear.

Her body went limp and she was about to slip to the ground when he caught her by the waist with remarkable ease and pulled her into his arms.

The chill emanating from him made Su Muying shiver uncontrollably.

His hand rested on her waist.

It hurts, it hurts so much.

He really broke my back.

Ears too...

Before the burning pain in my waist had subsided, a sudden, sharp pain shot through my earlobes.

Then, the faint smell of blood dissipated.

She's bleeding.

He bit her earlobe again, nibbling and biting it little by little, tearing at her flesh, then gently licking away the blood and rolling it into his lips and tongue.

In front of so many people, he held her tightly in his arms, whether it was punishment or defilement, he didn't care whether the surrounding people could see it or not.

Propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame have never been things that can bind him.

In his eyes, everyone else was like ants or dead things.

Su Muying, however, was different.

Su Muying's legs were trembling. She could feel the gazes around her growing increasingly intense and piercing.

She couldn't bear it, but she had no other choice but to shrink into his arms to avoid those gazes.

Xie Linyuan's thin lips held her still-bleeding earlobe, licking and swallowing, as his extremely cold, forceful words slowly entered her ears.

"After I leave, sister-in-law had better behave herself and stay here obediently waiting for me to return. Don't wander around, stab people, or seduce anyone, otherwise..."

"Sister-in-law should know the consequences."

"Does sister-in-law understand...?"

"Your sister-in-law is so good at seducing people, be good, be obedient, be well-behaved, understand..."

"Otherwise, I would really lock my sister-in-law up and give her a good lesson, so she would know what it means to be a good concubine."

"What does it mean to be well-behaved and not seduce people..."

"Su Muying, don't be ungrateful."

His deep, forceful voice reached her ear, initially carrying a faint smile, but when he called her name at the end, the smile vanished, replaced by a gritted teeth.

It was all deep-seated hatred, as if he wanted to devour her.

Why?

Don't you know what's good for you?

How could she be so ungrateful?

Su Muying truly didn't know what Xie Linyuan meant by those words, but the pain in her body and the lingering smell of blood reminded her just how crazy he really was.

She mustn't provoke him.

Su Muying could only softly hum in agreement as she listened to the words whispered in her ear.

Xie Linyuan seemed quite satisfied with her obedience at this moment. He turned her face with one hand, his fingertips caressing her chin. When her skin turned red, his fingertips explored her lips.

However, the instant he touched her, it was as if he had touched something he utterly loathed. His brows furrowed, and he abruptly withdrew his hand, releasing her.

And so they simply drove away.

No one dared to speak, treating it as a good show. But Eunuch Li, following behind Xie Linyuan, turned around and glanced at Su Muying.

His round face was plastered with smiles, but his tiny eyes were filled with a nauseating scrutiny, as if he were looking at a piece of merchandise waiting to be sold.

Although Su Muying had not yet recovered from the fear instilled in her by Xie Linyuan, she suddenly had a bad feeling.

She recognized the man's clothes; he was a eunuch.

Eunuchs should be people who serve the emperor...

Why look at her like that?

And why was he following behind Xie Linyuan?

Su Muying was very puzzled, but she couldn't figure out the reason.

She stopped looking and thinking about it.

She sat quietly at the banquet, her eyes fixed straight ahead, only raising her hand to wipe the blood from her earlobe with a silk handkerchief.

She knew she couldn't afford to anger Xie Linyuan any further.

Absolutely not.

She could only sit here quietly, adopting a submissive posture.

I don't look at anyone, and I don't talk to anyone.

Just wait for him to come back.

otherwise……

Su Muying remained dignified, the panic on her face fading away, replaced by a calm as still as a windless lake.

But where no one could see, her hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, dug into flesh, staining the white jade red, leaving it a bloody mess.

A tear rolled down her cheek without warning.

——

At the banquet, people continued to toast and drink, while young men and women played various games and admired all kinds of exotic and precious flowers.

In a secluded spot away from the hustle and bustle of the banquet, Wu Zizhuo stood behind the artificial hill, watching the misty rain slowly fall on the lake. His fox-like eyes, unusually, were devoid of any smile.

He held some small pebbles in his hand, playing with them, and casually tossed one into the lake, watching the ripples expand in circles.

He asked, "Has the heir of the Marquis of Changping come to the banquet?"

A servant stood behind him and respectfully replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, we did not see the Heir Apparent of Marquis Changping present."

Wu Zizhuo seemed unsurprised by this.

"Oh, they must still be staying at the brothel." He threw another pebble into the lake, breaking the lake's tranquility once again.

"Since he didn't come, I'll kindly remind him."

"This great show wouldn't have been possible without him..."

After saying this, Wu Zizhuo turned around and gave the order. His figure was perfectly hidden in the shadow of the artificial hill, and he could not be seen from the outside.

“Go to Qimeng Pavilion and find the heir of Marquis Changping. Tell him that the Princess’s flower-viewing banquet has begun, and there are many beauties at the banquet, including one who is so beautiful that she is rare in the world. She will surely please him.”

The servant immediately obeyed: "Yes, sir."

After saying this, he withdrew and disappeared from the scene.

At this moment, the spring drizzle intensified.

Wu Zizhuo turned around and looked at the lake again.

As the drizzle fell, ripples spread across the lake's surface.

The image of the woman sitting alone, silently shedding tears, suddenly flashed before his eyes.

Even the fox-like eyes, usually so alluring and refined, were dampened by the spring rain.

She was also a beautiful woman who suited his taste perfectly.

Wu Zizhuo sighed and threw all the pebbles in his hand onto the lake surface: "What a pity, what a pity..."

That woman... was indeed stunningly beautiful, with unparalleled charm, and pitiful to behold.

In this chaotic world, beauties are nothing more than sacrifices used in the struggle for power...

Glass is fragile, and beauty is easily broken.

"Xie Linyuan, Xie Linyuan, this time, you will definitely lose."

"You've won so many times, basked in the limelight, and enjoyed all the power. It's time for you to lose once."

As Wu Zizhuo spoke these words in a low voice, a bird suddenly flew across the lake. He abruptly raised his eyes, his usual carefree and unrestrained demeanor vanished, replaced by an undisguised ambition and resentment.

He was unwilling to accept being subordinate to others.

He was unwilling to rely on his older sister to enter the palace as a concubine and secure a nominal position for him.

Commander of the Imperial Guard?

But those Imperial Guards were all incompetent fools! How could they compare to the troops commanded by Xie Linyuan?

In this chaotic world, why can't Wu Zizhuo hold military power and command troops?

He served in the army, fought in battles, and shed blood. Why can't he?

Is it simply because he doesn't have Xie Linyuan's family background?

Didn't his father pass down his troops to him?

In what way is he inferior to him?

He was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept it.

In these chaotic times, with the world torn apart, he also wants a share of the spoils.

If Xie Linyuan can be kicked out of the game and forced to rebel, then Wu Zizhuo will be the only general that the Great Liang can rely on.

He can also command thousands of troops and fight on the battlefield.

Outstanding military achievements? Never defeated on the battlefield?

If he could command troops, he could surely defeat him and turn him into a homeless dog.

At this moment, Wu Zizhuo stared at the rippling lake surface, his fox-like eyes shining brightly with ambition.

"The Marquis of Changping commands 80,000 troops and controls a strategic fortress in the southwest. Xie Linyuan, if you kill his only son, do you think you can still recruit him into your camp?"

"And without the Marquis of Changping's support, if you were forced to rebel, what would your chances of success be..."

"Regarding the matter of the Eldest Princess and Xie Lin'an, you have no way out..."

"Then I'll bet you, will you kill the son of the Marquis of Changping for this woman..."

A charming smile returned to Wu Zizhuo's face.

He bets he will.

He knew the answer from that time at the funeral hall.

He also knew that Xie Linyuan would die at that woman's hands sooner or later.

It's just a matter of sooner or later.

A note from the author:

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Female lead: Feng Zi