Jiankang.
At the foot of the emperor's throne lies a vast private residence, with golden gates and towers, flying eaves and green tiles, red terraces and arched bridges, and winding streams flowing under the corridors. Dozens of buildings are connected, winding and meandering. In spring, the luxurious chime bells resound throughout the courtyard.
A gentle breeze carried the lingering voice of the entertainer through the window. The young girl, who had just come to her senses from the couch, suddenly threw off the layers of soft white gauze curtains, got off the couch barefoot, and ran outside.
The night air was cool, and the fragrance of Du Ruo flowers wafted through the courtyard along the bluestone path. A maid carrying medicine walked around from under the paulownia tree and saw a girl in white clothes running barefoot under the eaves. She quickly called out to her.
"girl---"
Wang Wan turned around in a panic, saw the person, her heart tightened, and she desperately tried to run out of the courtyard, lifting her skirt.
The moonlight was desolate, and the sounds of warbling birds and stringed instruments drifted from afar. The wind tossed her long hair, making it flutter and dance. Leaves from the sycamore trees outside the corridor fell on her. A gust of wind blew, and a dozen maids rushed over, blocking her path.
"Please go back inside, young lady."
The cold wind blew brightly, seeping into the white dress and penetrating to the bone, making the person's face pale with cold.
The head maid noticed the fear in her eyes, gestured for everyone to step back, and bowed, saying, "My mistress invited you here as a guest; I apologize for my rudeness."
"Who is your master?"
"It's cold, and the young lady is frail. She should go back and take her medicine first."
The spring chill lingered, the full moon shone brightly on the courtyard, the lotus flowers in the clear pond gleamed with a faint luster, and the faint, melancholic sounds of string and wind instruments drifted intermittently from the main courtyard in the distance.
Wang Wan glanced at the medicine the maid was holding, walked over, and opened it.
As the spring breeze first stirred, the familiar scent of medicine wafted over Du Ruo. She looked at the medicinal soup in the porcelain bowl, her pale hands trembling slightly, as if covered with a layer of frost.
A sense of unease rose in her heart, and she pushed aside the maids who were surrounding her, running towards the direction where singing and dancing were taking place.
The maid behind her quickly stopped her, not daring to pull her away, and could only follow behind calling out to her.
The early spring air was cold, the night sky was pitch black, and a gust of wind blew through the long corridor, gently lifting the soft white dress and revealing a section of tender white ankles.
A dense multitude of thoughts, like cold, biting snow, instantly crept up her spine. She listened to the distant, boisterous sounds of music and dance, and ran, stumbling and staggering as she ran—
The magnificent villa was filled with a sense of desolation. The towering pavilions and pavilions stretched far and wide. She walked through the covered walkways, paths, bamboo groves, and pavilions, her figure gradually disappearing into the dense sycamore trees.
The long, ethereal song flowed gently through the quiet, cold night. The Qingchi Garden was ablaze with lights, beautiful women danced, and delicacies were plentiful.
Inside the hall, a man in a red robe lay languidly on a high chair, with an overturned wine cauldron on the table, its jewels jingling, displaying extreme luxury.
The dancers, dressed in light clothing, climbed and crawled at her feet, holding up golden cups and revealing their smooth, white breasts, serving her with charming smiles.
Xie Xuan's half-closed eyes were intoxicated. The golden cup in his hand fell with a clatter, and the sweet aroma of wine flowed down Mei Ji's snow-white skin, creating a unique charm.
"Sir, would you like some more?"
The bold and beautiful woman climbed up his long legs and gently fell into his arms, her eyes alluring and her breath sweet and fragrant.
"This strong liquor from the Western Regions is incredibly potent; I'm already drunk."
Xie Xuan half-opened his eyes and looked at the sweet and beautiful woman in his arms, then lightly hooked her chin.
"What's your name?"
"This humble servant is Fu Zhuang~"
"Xie Xuan!"
Inside, the beautiful courtesans continued their singing and dancing, paying no heed to the intruding girl. Dressed provocatively, her thin veil could barely conceal her beautiful figure, revealing glimpses of her alluring body.
Wang Wan looked at the absurdity inside the room, her hand gripping the threshold turned white and tightened, her beautiful eyes staring straight at the man on the high chair.
Xie Xuan glanced up indifferently, and their eyes met. The music inside the room grew even louder, its decadent sounds filling the air.
She walked in barefoot. The floor was covered with a soft, velvety carpet, light and airy, as if she were walking on clouds.
Fuzhuang saw the man walk over on his own, glanced at his expression, and awkwardly got out of his arms and stepped aside.
Xie Xuan didn't move, but raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the person standing in front of him with amusement.
"Sister-in-law goes out without even wearing shoes?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a crisp, loud slap landed on his face, causing him to turn his head to the side.
With a sharp crack, the music and dance abruptly stopped. The musicians and performers inside the room were startled and immediately knelt down. The air was eerily silent.
Xie Xuan was stunned for a moment, and his expression became dazed for a moment.
Wang Wan used almost all her strength in that slap, and her face immediately turned almost transparently pale. She weakly leaned on the table next to her.
There was a moment of stillness in the air. He touched the half of his face that had been slapped, then suddenly chuckled, turned to look at her, and resumed his usual casual demeanor.
Wang Wan glanced at his nonchalant attitude, her chest heaving with anger as she cursed him.
"On the eve of our wedding, you kidnapped me. Do you want the Wang family of Langya and the Xie family of Chenjun to become a laughing stock among the noble families of the world?"
The bride's elopement not only caused her family to lose face, but also made Xie An a laughing stock in Yandu. By doing so, he was putting her in an unjust and immoral position. She couldn't even imagine what kind of chaos would ensue at home, and how they would become the laughing stock of the entire Yandu.
"Are you crazy?"
Incense smoke curled from the golden beast-shaped incense burner, and the palace lanterns flickered dimly, casting a soft, dim light throughout the room.
Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow, her crimson lips curving into a light smile as if smeared with rouge.
"What's done is done. Even if you beat me to death, I will never marry him."
"You—" Wang Wan's eyes were red-rimmed, her breath was rapid, and her pale lips trembled slightly, "You've done such a heinous and outrageous thing, disregarding the family's honor! You've been blinded by greed! If word gets out, the Longkang Heng family will lose all face—"
Xie Xuan grunted and lazily asked, "Then what should we do?"
"---"
Wang Wan bit her lower lip hard, forcing herself to calm down, and said coldly.
"Take me back to my residence."
"Going back to Yandu, that would take several days round trip---"
"Isn't this Yandu?" Wang Wan exclaimed in shock. "How many days have passed since the wedding?"
Xie Xuan smiled faintly, "Three days, I'm afraid it will be too late for you to rush back now."
"---"
"The Wang family announced that you had suddenly fallen seriously ill, while the Xie family said that my second brother had to observe three years of mourning for our grandfather, and the marriage between the two families was called off in front of all the guests on the wedding day---"
Wang Wan felt dizzy as she listened to his words. On the wedding day, the bride could not be found, and the family could only use this clumsy excuse to cover up the filth inside. People from noble families are all shrewd, and who knows what they might say behind the scenes.
But going back now will do no good; it will only make the rumors spread even more. Shameless, utterly shameless.
"He's your own brother, how could you put him in such an embarrassing situation? Xie Xuan, you—you've gone too far—"
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