Since that absurd outing in the wilderness, Xie Rongyue had kept a cold face and ignored him for several days. At night, she had just bathed, changed her clothes, and lay down on the bed when she heard rustling noises from the other side of the window.
Wang Hezhan has always been domineering. Whether it was three years ago or now, she has no chance to turn the tables. He is ruthless and will not give up until he achieves his goal. If he continues to be so stubborn, he will only stay locked up forever.
The thought flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but rub her eyes hard, then covered them with the blanket and closed them.
Wang Hezhan approached, took off his cloak and threw it on the rack, lifted the bed curtains with one hand, looked at the person who was pretending to be asleep, and raised an eyebrow.
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. "Moon."
Xie Rongyue sniffed at his familiar scent, her eyelashes trembling.
Wang Hezhan noticed her little gesture, pinched her nose, and got up to go to the washroom at the back.
As soon as the person left, she slowly opened her eyes, glancing sideways at the departing figure, her eyes shimmering with tears.
He used to be so arrogant and ruthless, with a sharp tongue. Back then, she needed his help and had to tolerate everything, humbling herself and feeling incredibly wronged, but she didn't dare say anything. So she would use some tricks to torment him in bed and deliberately provoke him in daily life.
He had a stubborn temper. He could see through her thoughts. When he was in a good mood, he would coax her with a few words. When he was in a bad mood, he would drag her to the bed and make a fuss over her.
They had a sweet and loving relationship when they were at the villa, but after he got married, she refused to back down anymore, and things became increasingly tense.
Memories long buried at the bottom of the lake were now being brutally torn open, and she vaguely remembered the child who had been abandoned, her eyes vacant and lifeless.
The candlelight on the table flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, the red candle swaying, and drops of candle wax fell onto the table, accumulating into layers of red ripples.
When Wang Hezhan came out, he saw her curled up under the covers. His heart ached, and he strode over, climbed onto the bed, and pulled her into his arms.
"Moon, what's wrong?"
Xie Rongyue snapped out of her daze, bit her lower lip lightly, and pushed him away, saying, "Don't hug me."
He gently rubbed her head, leaned closer to her, and said softly, "I haven't even held it against you for faking your death to deceive me, but you've become quite domineering, kicking and hitting me."
"Then you can pretend I'm dead, and never see me again---"
As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed her cheeks and his eyes turned sinister.
"If you don't die soon, I'll sew your mouth shut."
"---"
Xie Rongyue cried out in pain and rolled over.
He pulled her into a strong embrace, nestled his face in the crook of her neck, and whispered, "Moon, don't push me away."
A breeze rustled through the thin, cicada-wing-like bamboo curtain of Xiangfei Temple, half-open and half-rolled up, revealing silk flowers like mist, their delicate fragrance permeating the dimly lit couch. Her eyes stung with tears, but she ignored him.
Recently, the Emperor of Qi has been carrying out a major overhaul to clean up the officialdom of Northern Yan, providing disaster relief and collecting taxes, repairing roads and opening up trade, and restoring production. Wang Hezhan is busy with court affairs, quarrels with his family, and is almost never home.
In July, the weather was clear and the cicadas were chirping. The Emperor of Daqi wanted to take his wife and children to the palace in Lishan to cool off. He wanted to take Xie Rongyue with him. After several days of pleading, she finally gave in, having been cooped up for so long.
The imperial palace, like a lurking beast, is hidden among the mountains and mists. Everywhere there are magnificent palaces and halls, and the winding palaces rise and fall like mountains. The melodious wind and string instruments slowly echo in the palace.
After Xie Rongyue arrived at the palace, she saw Chu Changning, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, at the banquet and glanced at him from afar.
She seemed unchanged, still as beautiful as ever. She wasn't wearing palace attire, but rather a light green brocade robe with cloud patterns. The large, intricate lotus blossoms accentuated her swaying figure, and she wore a thin, gossamer-like shawl over it. Her eyes and brows looked more dignified as she looked over.
Suddenly, I remembered our first meeting, and a wave of emotion washed over me.
The banquet at the imperial palace was a scene of extravagance and debauchery. After she had eaten and drunk her fill, she secretly slipped out while Wang Hezhan was drinking and socializing with the other officials.
The warm yellow palace lanterns illuminated the surroundings, showcasing the grandeur and splendor of the imperial family.
The news that Wang Hezhan was going to marry the Xie family's illegitimate daughter had been making headlines in Jiankang recently. Chu Changning had naturally heard about it and had just seen him at the banquet, so he came to wait for him under the palace corridor.
When Xie Rongyue saw her, she paused slightly, walked over and bowed.
Hearing the voice, Chu Changning turned around, smiled, and took her hand, "Rongyue."
Hearing her affectionate words, Xie Rongyue felt a pang of bitterness in her heart for some reason. Over the years, she had witnessed the coldness and warmth of human relationships among noble families. This former princess of a fallen kingdom had long since become the empress of the imperial family, yet she still treated her with the same kindness as before.
"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in so long."
Chu Changning had always thought that she was with Wang San, but after the palace coup, too many things happened, and she was busy with many things, so she didn't hear any news about her. It was only after the war subsided that she heard the rumors.
Xie Rongyue didn't have many friends, and hearing that she was still the same as before, she spoke a few words in a low voice.
The two sat in Qingzhu Yage and chatted for several hours. Her depressed mood eased a bit, and a smile slowly appeared on her face.
Chu Changning was happy to listen. Later, seeing that she was interested in the crossbows and arrows he had designed, he pulled her aside and talked for a long time, even handing her a small musket, and said with a smile.
"This was designed by Ayu. It's very powerful. You can use it at the Autumn Banquet Hunting Ground in a couple of days. It's a lot of fun. I'll teach you how to use it then. If he dares to bully you, just blow his head off with one shot."
Xie Rongyue couldn't help but laugh at her joke. The music from the palace banquet gradually faded away, and the luxurious fragrance wafted through the palace. The two of them ate tea and snacks, and their soft laughter drifted out of the elegant pavilion.
A large hot spring pool was built in the North Garden of the Imperial Palace. It was surrounded by bamboo on all sides, with white jade walls, and connected to the hot spring. Banana trees provided shade from the scorching sun, and a cool breeze made it a great place to cool off.
This was Xie Rongyue's first time here since she arrived at the imperial palace. She glanced at the people following behind her and couldn't help but pull her clothes tighter around herself.
Seeing her guarded look, Wang Hezhan said with a stern face, "Xie Rongyue, what do you take me for?"
Xie Rongyue suddenly remembered what Chu Changning had said a couple of days ago, and slowly went into the water, saying in a deliberately affected tone, "Ex-lover."
"---"
He was annoyed, so he went straight into the water, scooped her up, and tried to press her onto the carpet.
Xie Rongyue kicked him, her expression turning icy cold.
Wang Hezhan felt as if he had been doused with cold water by her gaze. His cold and hard expression softened, and he hugged her affectionately, saying, "I am your future husband."
She ignored him, covered his head with a handkerchief, and went into the water.
"---"
He was furious and snatched the handkerchief away. He was about to say something, but when he saw her bright, sparkling eyes and charming appearance, all his anger vanished.
"Moon, the wound on my back hasn't healed yet, could you help me apply some medicine?"
Xie Rongyue paused in wiping her body, suddenly remembering the whip marks all over his back, and tightened her grip on the handkerchief.
A night breeze blew, and the moonlight was serene. She put on a clean robe and sat on the warm fur, slowly peeling off his clothes and gently applying ointment to his back with a medicine brush.
Wang Hezhan glanced at her eyes and suddenly hissed, "Yue'er, it hurts so much."
"---"
She muttered to herself, "I didn't use much force."
"It just hurts, my body hurts, and my heart hurts too---"
"---"
Xie Rongyue carefully applied the ointment layer by layer to him, ignoring his rambling.
Seeing that it wouldn't make any difference, Wang Hezhan turned around, grabbed her calf, and pulled her into his arms.
She was slightly startled, and clung to him like a koala, dropping the ointment she was holding. "What are you doing? I'm not finished yet."
"I'm so badly injured, don't you feel sorry for me?"
His body was hot, completely enveloping her, making her feel hot too.
The two were dressed in thin clothes, and as they struggled, their lower abdomens suddenly stiffened, as if something was pressing against them. Their faces flushed red, and they frantically tried to push him away.
Wang Hezhan, with his thick skin, lowered his head to kiss her, saying, "I missed you."
"---"
Xie Rongyue was about to speak when he silenced her with a kiss, his hot breath instantly enveloping her and engulfing her completely. The man's familiar scent permeated her senses.
His kiss was so deep and so forceful, as if all the unspeakable emotions were being poured out and flowing freely into her heart.
Lately, Wang Hezhan has been behaving very well and hasn't been too forceful. He's become much more compliant than before and considers her needs in everything. However, she doesn't pay much attention to him and always goes out to play with Chu Changning, which displeases him.
On the day of the autumn hunt, Xie Rongyue wore riding attire, riding boots, and her beautiful hair was tied up in a high ponytail, giving her a dashing and heroic air.
Wang Hezhan rarely saw her like this, and his eyes lit up. Not wanting her to go out, he lingered and wanted to take her to a hot spring.
Ignoring his shamelessness, and remembering that Chu Changning was still waiting for her, she led a brown-red horse directly to the hunting grounds.
"I'll take you for a ride."
He suddenly lifted her up by the waist, and the surrounding scenery rushed backward.
The resounding bells echoed through the deer farm, reverberating throughout the entire palace, and the hunting grounds stretching for hundreds of miles were abuzz with excitement.
When Wang Hezhan rode up, he saw a large number of princes and nobles coming out of the army's imperial tent, amidst the clamor of music and bustling crowds.
He looked at the person struggling to get down from his arms, then suddenly cracked the whip, and the warhorse galloped off, charging directly into the hunting grounds right in front of everyone.
Xie Rongyue was taken aback, then turned around and frowned, "Changning is still waiting for me."
"You can only stay with me today."
"you---"
Torches blazed in the square as hundreds of valiant warhorses charged into the hunting grounds, startling the birds, deer, and wild beasts. The young masters of various noble families all smiled, eager to hunt the newly arrived ferocious northern bear and win the first prize. On the field, young and beautiful noble ladies competed in horsemanship and archery, their voices rising and falling, making the entire hunting grounds lively and bustling.
Wang Hezhan glanced back and then spurred his horse towards a remote, sparsely populated area.
"Moon, when will you marry me?"
Suddenly, a low voice came from behind me, and if you listened carefully, you could hear a hint of longing in it.
Xie Rongyue was watching the lively crowd when she heard his words. She remembered the various rumors that had been circulating in the palace these past few days and lowered her eyes.
"Your family won't agree."
"I want to marry you. Even if it means turning the entire Langya Wang clan upside down, I will still bring you into my home."
The grand royal hunting grounds were filled with enthusiastic cheers, and the sounds of various wild beasts running and howling echoed all around. Her heart stirred slightly, and she turned to look at him.
The moonlight enveloped the vast hunting grounds. His eyes were dark, and the moonlight reflected her image in them. A surge of emotion welled up in his heart. A faint smile appeared on her lips, but she did not respond to his words.
Wang Hezhan couldn't get a response and kept nagging in her ear, which annoyed her so much that she finally raised her voice.
"I want the fiercest north bear. Can you hunt it?"
He raised an eyebrow. "How about we make a bet? If I catch the prey, you'll marry me; if I don't, you'll leave."
Her eyelids twitched, and she turned back arrogantly, "Fine."
(over)
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