Chapter 47 It makes one want to pity her, yet also want to ravage her…

Starting from the fourth day of his marriage, Xie Zhuo's wedding leave was used up, and he resumed his daily routine of going to the Imperial Guard. He was extremely diligent in his duties, spending most of his time at the guard post every day. Sometimes, even after returning to his residence, he would still have to receive guests, so he spent less time in the main courtyard.

With Xie Zhuo gone, Xue Mingyao felt quite content, living her life much the same as when she was at the Xue residence. Occasionally managing the accounts, she was in a good mood. Every day, she would go to bed early without waiting for Xie Zhuo, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. As for what Xie Zhuo did when they slept together, she didn't care at all, since he had never woken her up.

That afternoon, she stayed in Tingzhu Pavilion. She had decorated it into a small room for storing paintings; the windows were bright and the table was clean, with incense burning on the painting table, creating a simple and elegant atmosphere.

Xue Mingyao knelt on the soft cushion in front of the painting table, holding a fine brush and painting bamboo.

She was so engrossed in her painting that she didn't hear the door opening and closing. Only when the man's footsteps drew closer did she realize who it was. She quickly grabbed a stack of Xuan paper and covered it with her painting, then turned around and said irritably, "Can't you knock?"

"I knocked, but you didn't hear me," Xie Zhuo said calmly.

Xue Mingyao was quite skeptical of this.

Xie Zhuo seemed to have just returned from the garrison. She was still wearing a tight-fitting outfit, with broad shoulders accentuating her narrow waist. Her hips and legs below the narrow waist were particularly muscular and firm, making the soft fabric of her clothes both loose and somewhat tight, a stark contrast to her former slender figure.

Xue Mingyao had always thought that military officers were clumsy and stocky, but she couldn't help but glance at them a few times out of the corner of her eye.

"Are you painting?" Xie Zhuo looked at the painting table.

"Just a couple of quick strokes."

Can I watch it?

You can't look.

What are you drawing?

I won't tell you.

Xue Mingyao had been studying painting for a long time, and she began to try her hand at sketching and painting herself. She did it as she pleased, without asking a teacher for instruction. Of course, her paintings were not good, and it was only natural that she could not show them to others, especially not to Xie Zhuo.

Xie Zhuo didn't press the matter further. He sat down next to her and asked, "I've always wanted to ask, why are you interested in painting? Weren't you completely ignorant about calligraphy and painting before?"

"There's no reason why. People change. You've gone from a scholar to a general," Xue Mingyao said lazily.

"But there's a reason why I chose to join the army."

"What's the reason?" Xue Mingyao asked curiously.

I won't tell you.

"Are you making fun of me?" Xue Mingyao glared at him.

Xie Zhuo remained silent for a long while before saying, "If you want to learn painting, I can teach you."

“No need,” Xue Mingyao said without hesitation. “I paint for leisure. If you teach me, how can I still enjoy it?”

Xie Zhuo turned his head away, ignoring her.

The back window of Tingzhu Pavilion was open, and a gentle breeze blew in. It faced the martial arts training ground of the Xie family in the distance. When Xie Zhuo came earlier, he heard faint sounds and saw faint figures.

Since losing his duel with him, Qi Zhao has come even more often to hone his martial arts skills, and sometimes he even teaches the Xie family's servants basic punches and kicks. Since the Xie family has no guards, it's a good thing to let the servants learn some skills.

However, when Xie Zhuo looked around, the outside was deserted and empty.

"Qi Zhao ran away as soon as you arrived," Xue Mingyao said sarcastically.

Xie Zhuo felt a pang of unease. While Xue Mingyao stayed at Tingzhu Pavilion, Qi Zhao would come out to practice martial arts, the master and servant keeping each other company through the window, enjoying the cool breeze together. Was that so?

He was an unexpected guest.

Seeing his expression, Xue Mingyao became even more dissatisfied. "You don't need to take your anger out on Qi Zhao, and stop suspecting me of having an affair with him. Doing so will only make you look like a narrow-minded and gloomy person."

Xie Zhuo also knew that it was not advisable to repeat the argument caused by Qi Zhao last time. Xue Mingyao's words at the time seemed to be said in anger. In the past, Qi Zhao and Lüzhi served the princess like they used to, but now they rarely entered the inner courtyard.

Perhaps this was Xue Mingyao's way of showing him a tiny bit of respect.

Even so, thinking of Qi Zhao's past closeness with Xue Mingyao, and the distance separated by just a window, Xie Zhuo admitted that he was indeed not broad-minded.

How can one be broad-minded after marrying a woman like Xue Mingyao?

She was willful and reckless, even more so than men, and her passionate feelings could cool down overnight as she pursued new goals with endless delight.

Besides, she no longer has any feelings for him.

Xie Zhuo said calmly, "Qi Zhao is quite skilled, but he's not very useful under your command. It's a waste of his talent. He should be sent to the military camp to gain experience."

"You think you're the only one who knows how to cherish talent?" Xue Mingyao was too lazy to explain further and disliked his matter-of-fact tone. "My people don't need your arrangements."

Xie Zhuo kept a straight face and turned to look at the lush green bamboo outside the front window, as if he wanted to stare at the bamboo leaves until they bloomed into flowers.

"If you have nothing else to do, you can leave now. Don't disturb me while I'm painting." After waiting for a while and seeing that he didn't respond, Xue Mingyao gave him the order to leave.

Xie Zhuo turned around. "Something's up."

"What's up?"

Xie Zhuo rubbed his fingers, thought for a moment without revealing his thoughts, and said, "You and I—have not yet consummated our marriage."

Xue Mingyao was taken aback when he brought this up, and a mocking smile slowly appeared on her face. "You're always thinking about this?"

Xie Zhuo nodded frankly, "Otherwise, why would I marry you?"

As he spoke, he leaned closer to her, placing his hand on her leg and his knee on the hem of her flowing skirt, scrutinizing her from her face to her neck, to her chest, to her waist...

Xue Mingyao felt that his unrestrained gaze was like that of a wolf.

He was vicious and disgusting, as if he could tear her clothes off, suck her skin, grab and knead her flesh, and make her cry and scream with just his sharp eyes.

But Xue Mingyao's heart was clearly racing, and that familiar feeling of excitement surged up again, mixed with a hint of fear, which made her even more excited.

"Then come on." She smiled insincerely and reached out to hook her hand around his leather belt.

Xie Zhuo originally intended for her to go back to his room with him, but seeing that Xue Mingyao seemed to want to start right now, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He knew that her wanton nature had never changed.

Thinking back to that time in the Xue family's painting pavilion, when she didn't know his identity, she still dared to seduce him with her body, wishing she could press her breasts against his body and use her fragrance, her softness, and her bewitching posture to play with a man she didn't like at all.

He should have dealt with her then.

He pressed her down onto the dark carpet, watching her gorgeous dress unfurl like a blooming flower, vibrant yet fragile, swaying her waist and bowing her neck, making one want to pity her, yet also want to ravage her.

He dreamed of this scene repeatedly after that day.

Isn't this also a painted pavilion? The murals on all four sides once witnessed that violent yet restrained affair, now silently watching them. The windows are wide open, making it brighter and more transparent, as if he and Xue Mingyao are no longer so shameful.

After all, they became husband and wife.

The couple he cherished, the couple she disdained.

However, Xie Zhuo knew in his heart that they still couldn't be seen by others.

Xue Mingyao's red lips curled lazily as she slowly pulled Xie Zhuo's belt. He cooperated with her hand, getting closer and closer until Xue Mingyao could see her reflection in his cold eyes, and until she could open her mouth and kiss his lips, which were adorned with a mocking smile.

The next moment, Xie Zhuo suddenly reached out and pressed her head down, roughly pulling her into his arms.

Xue Mingyao slammed into his broad chest, half of her loosely tied hair falling down. Her chest was first rubbed painfully by his stiff clothes, and then squeezed uncomfortably by his firm grip, causing her to cry out in pain.

Xie Zhuo ignored him.

His hand, which had been cupping the back of her head, slowly moved downwards, his fingers spread wide as if to break her delicate neck. His large palm pressed against her shoulder blades, then roamed down her back, the oppressive heat seeping through her clothes and imprinting itself on her skin.

He was using his strength to suppress her, as if trying to soften every bone in her body.

Xue Mingyao trembled slightly, and for a moment she felt as if her clothes didn't exist. She slowly and obediently slumped into his arms. To find some support, she proactively wrapped her arms around his waist.

A sense of humiliation followed, and Xue Mingyao subconsciously resisted—she ran her hand along his waist and touched his buttocks.

A man's buttocks can be so full!

She couldn't even hold half of it with one hand...

The part in her soft palm suddenly twitched, and Xue Mingyao felt even more curious. She squeezed it and felt the slight twitch in her palm again.

"Xue Mingyao, you—" Xie Zhuo's voice betrayed a hint of annoyance.

Xue Mingyao smiled.

"What's wrong with me, General Xie? You like it very much."

She hugged him tightly, tilted her head slightly, and whispered warmly in his ear, "Xie Zhuo, your butt is so big and perky, how did you get it like that...?"

She keenly sensed Xie Zhuo stiffen for a moment, then moved her hand and pinched her as well.

"I can't compare to you," he said in a low voice.

Xue Mingyao felt that his words were untrue.

He completely covered that area with one hand, and that's where she suffered the loss.

He was kneading a lump of dough, shaping it however he wanted. Even though the dough seemed to have its own will and tried to break free of his control, he eventually managed to knead it into a docile shape.

He wasn't satisfied yet. *Smack*

They were really kneading dough, even going so far as to slap it.

Xue Mingyao was furious, but the angrier she got, the less her body obeyed her. This wasn't dough anymore; dough is always dry and doesn't make a sound.

She couldn't retaliate in the same way; he was too flexible, she couldn't retaliate.

Xue Mingyao had no choice but to switch weapons, using her sharp teeth to kiss and bite him.

Xie Zhuo's lips and tongue were not as hard as his muscles, and Xue Mingyao bit him with abandon. Hearing his increasingly rapid breathing, she felt extremely happy.

When she kissed his earlobe, Xie Zhuo reacted strongly.

After all these years, his sensitive spots haven't changed...

Xue Mingyao stuck out her tongue and rubbed it against the soft flesh of his ear.

Xie Zhuo took a deep breath and turned her head back. Their faces were close together, noses touching, and their mouths were slightly open. Her breath instantly entered his mouth. Two strands of hair, whose origin was unknown, clung to the tips of their noses, falling to Xue Mingyao's lips. She blew on them lightly, and they drifted onto Xie Zhuo's glistening lips.

Xie Zhuo looked at her intently, his eyes, filled with passion and desire, seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, none of which Xue Mingyao could decipher.

She nudged him with her knee. "What are you standing there for? Can't you handle it?"

Then he pushed her down onto the cushion.

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Author's note: Consummating the marriage!