Wang Wan was physically weak and had witnessed the intrigue and backstabbing within her family since childhood. She genuinely did not want to get involved in the internal struggles of the Xie family.
Xie An once defeated the Southern Yan army of 800,000 with 80,000 northern soldiers, becoming famous in one battle but ending up crippled. However, this battle also made him extremely prestigious in the Xie family.
After she married into the Xie family, she no longer needed to get involved in their power struggles, and no one dared to look down on her.
Xie Xuan was at the height of his power in the Xie clan of Chen Commandery. He heard from his elder brother that a few days ago, he had taken 200,000 Northern Army troops from Southern Liang and sidelined his elder brother, resulting in a fierce struggle.
Her frail body could perish at any moment, and she didn't want to get caught up in the vortex of power again.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when someone suddenly pressed close to him.
She looked up and met his bewitching peach blossom eyes, which seemed like a bottomless abyss.
"Do you really like my second brother?"
His eyes were like the moon, and he stared intently at her, as if trying to bore a hole through her face.
Wang Wan felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze, and her grip on the cat tightened slightly.
The room was dimly lit, and the two were standing too close, almost touching.
His warm breath brushed against her face, making her originally pale face unconsciously flush, and her eyebrows and eyes blushed slightly.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Xie Xuan gently lifted her chin with his slender fingers, forcing her to look directly at him.
"Um?"
His voice was deep and slightly seductive, and his devilishly handsome face carried the arrogance of a young man.
Wang Wan's eyes darkened slightly, and she quickly pushed his hand away, backing away slightly.
"Your second brother and I will be getting married soon, so naturally I am fond of him."
Whether she likes him or not doesn't matter; she's going to marry him anyway.
In an instant, the room fell silent, so quiet that only the cawing of crows could be heard outside the window.
Her fair chin was pinched painfully by him, and she couldn't help but furrow her brows and hiss, staring at him with wide eyes.
Xie Xuan loosened his grip slightly, staring at her calmly, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
“Look me in the eyes and say it.”
"---"
Wang Wan bit her lower lip, slapped his hand away, and silently backed away, giving him the order to leave.
"If word gets out that he broke into a young lady's room at night, the young master of the Xie family will be famous throughout Yandu for his womanizing."
Xie Xuan paused, then leaned back lazily on the jade pillow behind him and chuckled softly.
"If word gets out, it will probably be that the Xie family has produced a shameless playboy who broke into his sister-in-law's room in the middle of the night."
"---"
Wang Wan didn't want to waste time talking to him and urged him to leave.
But he just wouldn't leave, instead pouring himself a cup of hot tea and chatting with her.
"How have you been lately?"
She paused, then whispered, "Much better."
Why do you like my second brother?
Wang Wan, "---"
"Can't you say it?"
He glanced sideways, his eyes unreadable, the moonlight shimmering on his face, ethereal and pure.
Seeing that she remained silent, he chuckled to himself.
“My sister-in-law is truly devoted to my second brother. She would rather marry a cripple than have me.”
Wang Wan's heart tightened, and she lowered her head, staring at the cat in her arms.
Xie Xuan glanced sideways, staring intently at her eyes and brows, as if trying to see them into her very bones.
"I'm curious, what did your second brother do to make you so determined to marry him?"
She remained silent, and the room fell into a moment of tranquility.
Suddenly, he grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms.
Wang Wan was startled, and her body tensed instantly as she leaned on him. She tried to back away by bracing herself against his arms, but he held her waist tightly and refused to let go.
"Xie Xuan, you've gone mad."
"Yeah, you've driven me crazy."
He said it casually, then leaned down and bit her lip.
Wang Wan winced in pain and struggled to slap his shoulder, cursing in a low voice, but he took advantage of her vulnerability and entered her mouth to entangle her.
Wearing only thin clothes at night, her clothes were disheveled from the struggle, revealing her fair and smooth skin. Her white bodice could not contain her high breasts, which were squeezed into soft curves.
Xie Xuan rarely saw her so vibrant; her face was bright and charming, and a fire rose in his lower abdomen. He couldn't resist and pushed open her bodice to kiss her.
Wang Wan trembled all over, and an uncontrollable moan escaped her lips as her hands, which were gripping his shoulders, clung weakly to him.
"Thank you... Thank you, Xuan..."
Hearing her soft voice, he softened, gently stroking her skin inch by inch to soothe her nervousness.
"Don't be afraid."
She bit her lower lip hard, not daring to let out any strange moans.
Xie Xuan didn't dare to go too far, so he held her waist and pulled her into his arms to calm his desire.
Wang Wan sat on his lap and could sense his unusual behavior. She tensed up and didn't dare to speak.
Inside the quiet room, only the soft, lingering breaths of the two could be heard.
"When I kiss you, you can feel it."
Suddenly, he reached out and waved his hand at her, his long, slender fingers slightly white. Her face instantly turned bright red, and she quickly pushed him away.
Xie Xuan didn't let go, holding her waist tightly. "If you hate me, you'll call for your nanny, not let me do this."
"---"
Do you really like my second brother?
Upon hearing him mention Xie An, Wang Wan instantly realized her transgression and quickly tried to pry his hand away.
"We can't do this."
"Can't do what?" He suddenly reached out to touch her leg. "Can't do this, or like this?" His slender hand touched her waist, stroked her delicate neck, and stopped at her lips.
"They've already kissed."
His words reminded her of their private, absurd behavior, forcing her to confront it.
"It's all been done."
Wang Wan felt ashamed by his words, and tried to pry his hand away without saying a word.
Xie Xuan was afraid that she would get so angry that she would lose her temper, so he let go and let her get out of his arms.
"It was just a few kisses, it's nothing. Let's pretend this never happened and not meet in private in the future."
Nothing happened between them that night at the inn. After she came back, she specifically looked for those kinds of picture books to study. He didn't actually touch her.
Seeing her turn cold and distance herself from him, Xie Xuan couldn't help but sneer, a flash of malice crossing her beautiful peach blossom eyes.
"Does that mean if I take you, we'll have a relationship?"
Wang Wan was startled and looked up at him.
Seeing her expression, he paused slightly, composed himself, and regained his composure.
"My second brother is not the right person for you. If you're willing to break off the engagement, I'll help you."
Wang Wan looked at his profile, clenched her fists, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke.
"You are at the height of your influence in the Xie family, with a bright future ahead of you. Marrying a lady from a prestigious family would ensure a lifetime of happiness together."
"I'll only ask you one question: do you absolutely have to marry him?"
He abruptly interrupted her, his eyes flashing with hostility as he glanced at her.
Wang Wan clenched her fists, her voice calm, "I like your second brother, and I want to marry him."
Her frail body will only hold him back.
Xie Xuan's smile grew even colder. He flicked his robe, stood up, and looked down at her.
"Then so be it—oh no, so be it as you wish, sister-in-law. From now on, you will live with your sickly husband. When we meet again, we will be uncle and sister-in-law."
The cool night breeze blew in through the wide-open window, and as she watched the figure disappear into the night, her eyes welled up with tears.
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