Chapter 47
Li Wan followed Xie Qi out of the Jiang residence. The moonlight cast long, thin shadows of the two of them on the bluestone path, one in front of the other.
She didn't want to put the Jiang family in a difficult position, nor could she let go of Lu Liang's safety, so she had no choice but to follow Xie Qi.
"You..." She looked at the luxurious carriage in front of the mansion gate and said cautiously, "Fei Che said he did not conspire with Prince Rui, then... when will Lu Liang be released?"
Xie Qi turned around, his dark brocade robe shimmering like water in the night, a jade belt cinching his tall and straight waist. He looked down at her calmly and said, "Let's talk in the carriage."
Li Wan hesitated, her fingertips clenching until they turned white. But she had no way out. The servant beside the carriage had already lifted the curtain, and the candlelight inside shone on the soft cushions spread on the seats.
Xie Qi lifted his long legs and stepped onto the carriage, glancing at her without making a sound.
Li Wan took a deep breath and bent down to sit inside. Before she could even sit properly, her wrist was gripped by a strong force.
The man's palm was burning hot as he gripped her wrist with such force that he almost crushed it. Caught off guard, she tried to pull her hand away, but he pulled her into his arms.
His broad and warm embrace was... long-lost and familiar.
After a moment of distraction, Li Wan struggled to her feet, the neckline of her coarse cloth dress was pulled loose, revealing her slender neck.
"Let me go!" Her voice was tinged with panic. Her fingertips pressed against his chest, trying to push him away, but she only touched the firm muscles beneath his clothes, the heat of which made her fingertips go numb.
Xie Qi didn't let go; instead, he hugged her even tighter, lowered his head, and before she could say anything more, his lips covered hers.
The kiss came suddenly, with a rough urgency, yet concealing unspeakable grievances. His lips were burning hot, lingering and caressing.
Li Wan's blood was boiling. She closed her eyes tightly, her long eyelashes trembling violently.
Her struggles weakened, and Xie Qi's strong arms encircled her waist like iron, rendering her immobile and leaving her only able to passively endure. His kiss gradually lost its initial urgency, becoming more tender and lingering, his tongue prying open her teeth and penetrating deeply.
He pressed her down with both arms, as if trying to draw her close to his body.
She didn't know how much time had passed when she felt a drop of liquid fall on her face, slide down her skin to her lips, and taste salty and bitter, but it quickly disappeared between their lips and teeth.
Li Wan froze, completely frozen in place, because she knew Xie Qi was crying.
The kiss finally ended.
Xie Qi did not let go of her, but held her tightly in his arms, his forehead pressed against hers, their breaths mingling.
“Wanwan,” his voice was terribly hoarse, with a heavy nasal tone, “you have such a cruel heart.”
Li Wan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him.
"Do you know how I've been all these years?" His fingertips caressed her cheek, the movement so gentle it was almost unbelievable. "You just left, leaving me alone here, blaming myself day and night. I always think, if I had investigated you more carefully back then, if I had known your purpose sooner, if I hadn't been so stubborn with you, perhaps you wouldn't have died."
His breathing was somewhat unsteady, and the blood vessels in his eyes were clearly visible. His usually deep and calm eyes were now filled with surging sorrow, and every word seemed to be squeezed out of his throat.
Li Wan's eyes stung, her lips were red and swollen from the kisses, and she looked somewhat disheveled. She whispered, "I'm sorry."
Her voice was barely audible as she moved slightly away from his embrace, "But the past is the past. You and I were worlds apart. Now I'm back to where I was, and you can rest assured being your emperor. We... will each be well."
"I can't go!" Xie Qi suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms again, holding her tightly. "Are you both doing well?" He sneered. "Li Wan, don't even think about it! You can only be mine!"
Li Wan was choked and couldn't breathe. She regretted provoking him; she knew Xie Qi's domineering and forceful nature better than anyone.
Lu Liang is still in his hands.
"Xie Qi," Li Wan called to him, "Give me some time, let me think about it, at least let me make arrangements for the people around me, okay?"
Her voice was soft and soothing, and through the fabric of his clothes, she could feel his tense muscles gradually relaxing.
"Okay." Xie Qi remained silent for a long time before burying his face in the crook of her neck, his voice deep and muffled.
The carriage stopped in front of the Lu residence.
Xie Qi finally released her, watching her straighten her slightly disheveled collar, his eyes filled with suppressed emotion. "Go back and rest for now," he said, his voice regaining its usual deep tone.
Li Wan nodded, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped out. The cool night breeze cleared her muddled mind somewhat. She didn't turn around, walking straight into the Lu residence. Only after the gate closed, shutting out the burning gaze behind her, did she lean against the door, slowly slide down, and ponder for a long time.
Inside the carriage outside, Xie Qi stared at the tightly closed gate, hesitant to start the carriage.
The next morning.
Just as Li Wan got up and finished tidying up, she heard a knocking sound coming from outside the courtyard.
Li Wan was stunned for a moment, thinking it was Lu Liang, and she opened the door.
But the person standing outside the door was not Lu Liang.
It's Xie Qi.
He was still wearing the same dark brocade robe as yesterday, but the hem seemed to be damp with night dew, making it slightly dark, and the collar was a bit loose, unlike yesterday when it was so meticulous.
Li Wan's fingers tightened suddenly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. How could he be here? And looking like this... Had he not left all night?
Xie Qi saw through her thoughts but didn't point them out. He simply raised his chin, his gaze passing over her and landing on the breakfast laid out on the table in the hall. Before Li Wan could speak, he strode in, his movements casual.
"I haven't eaten either." Xie Qi's voice was low and hoarse, yet still pleasant to the ear. He walked to the table, picked up a steamed bun, broke off a small piece, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly.
Li Wan turned to look at his actions, and for a moment she didn't know what to say. She couldn't very well kick him out, after all, he was the emperor. She could only gently close the door and turn to walk to the table.
The two finished their meal in silence. Xie Qi wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, stood up, straightened his robes, and looked at Li Wan, saying, "I should return to the palace now."
Li Wan also stood up, nodded, and didn't say anything.
He walked towards the door, but when he reached her, he suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.
His arms were strong and extremely hot.
Li Wan's body stiffened, and she subconsciously wanted to push him away, but his embrace was like an invisible cage, making her unable to move.
He lowered his head, turned his face to the side, and took her lips into his mouth, caressing, penetrating, and merging together. He held her like that for a long time before letting go of her, resting his chin on the top of her head, and speaking in a very low voice, "Three years ago, you didn't want to be close to me. Was it because it wasn't your own body, and you couldn't make your own decisions?"
Li Wan's chest jolted, her pupils contracted sharply, and she looked up, meeting his deep eyes.
The smile in his eyes deepened, knowing yet tender. "Last night was our first kiss, and also the first time you didn't push me away."
His words pierced the secret in her heart. She had always thought she had hidden it well, but she never expected that he had seen through it all along.
Li Wan didn't dare to look into his eyes, her gaze lowered, her fingertips tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.
Xie Qi looked at her like this, chuckled softly, ruffled her hair, and said, "I'm leaving."
Li Wan was the only one left in the room. Her burning face cooled down and suddenly turned deathly pale.
She's still engaged to Lu Liang, how could she... do such a shameless thing with Xie Qi!
But……
For the first time, Li Wan asked herself, "Do I really want to marry Lu Liang?"
...
She stood by the window for a long time, until the sun gradually rose higher.
Around noon, familiar footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Li Wan snapped out of her reverie, realizing that Lu Liang had returned.
"Wanwan." Lu Liang smiled when he saw her and stepped in, saying as he walked, "The court has investigated and found that I was not suspected of forming cliques or engaging in corrupt practices, so I have been released."
Seeing that he was in good physical and mental condition, Li Wan felt relieved and looked at him, thinking about how to be honest with him. But she noticed that Lu Liang's expression suddenly became somewhat evasive.
Li Wan sensed something was wrong and asked softly, "What's wrong? Is there anything else?"
Lu Liang was silent for a moment, then said in a somewhat solemn tone, "His Majesty has decided that Prince Duan will go to Liangzhou to take up his post, and has ordered the Imperial Guards to volunteer one hundred men to accompany Prince Duan to Liangzhou."
Upon hearing this, Li Wan paused, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and asked, "Do you intend to go to Liangzhou with Prince Duan?"
Lu Liang looked up, nodded, and said, "I have already been suspected by His Majesty in the capital, and I will certainly not have a good future. It would be better to go to Liangzhou with Prince Duan and become a local ruler, where I can also make a difference."
Li Wan's heart sank again, and she asked, "Then should we bring our family along?"
Lu Liang's eyes darkened, and after a long silence, he slowly spoke, "Liangzhou is bitterly cold, even more difficult than the border, and the journey is long. My mother is in poor health and will certainly not be able to endure the long journey. My younger sister is still young and cannot withstand such hardship."
Li Wan felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on her heart. She looked at Lu Liang and demanded, "What do you mean?"
Lu Liang saw the sincerity and pleading in her eyes, "Wanwan, I hope you can return to the border and take care of my mother and younger sister for me. I feel very reassured leaving them in your care."
"What?" Li Wan stood up abruptly, staring at him in disbelief. Her body trembled slightly, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
According to the law, the soldiers accompanying him to the barbarian tribes are never allowed to leave their barbarian territory. Is he going to abandon his mother, his younger sister, and... her?
“I have no choice.” Lu Liang’s face showed pain. “I have spent my whole life pursuing fame and fortune. I can’t just be an unknown nobody in the capital. But I really can’t rest easy about my mother and younger sister. You are kind and sensible. Only you can put my mind at ease.”
Looking at him, Li Wan felt that the man before her had become utterly unfamiliar. She had always believed that he had feelings for her, and that their engagement was their destiny. But now she understood that to Lu Liang, she wasn't his fiancée, but merely a woman, a woman who could take care of his family. Perhaps, he had always held this view.
She felt a surge of anger rising within her, and her whole body trembled.
After calming down, he slowly spoke, his voice composed, "You are a man, and you should be responsible for your own family... As for me, I have my own path to walk, and I will not take care of anyone for you."
After Li Wan finished speaking, she turned around and didn't look at him again.
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