The sounds of beating outside the hall made Duan Yang's eyebrows relax, and a relieved and contented expression appeared on his face.
"My beloved concubine, I have come to see you." Before the words were finished, a middle-aged man was escorted in by a group of palace maids, and the knocking outside the door quietly stopped.
The man walked a few steps to the bedside. Duan Yang gracefully rose and bowed her head gently, saying, "This concubine, Duan Yang, greets Your Majesty."
Shi Lan quickly took a half step back and followed Duan Yang in bending down. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the King of Zhao wrap his long arms around Duan Yang and hug her tightly, saying, "It's been a few days since I last saw you, my beloved concubine, you've become even more beautiful."
Duan Yang leaned against King Zhao's embrace, playfully punching him with her small, white fist. "Your Majesty loves to tease me. I've been having headaches lately and can't sleep at night. My appearance has become quite haggard."
King Zhao lifted Duan Yang's face and said affectionately, "Let me see."
Duan Yang obediently tilted her head back, blinking her affectionate eyes, letting King Zhao scrutinize her from all angles.
Shi Lan lowered her eyes, suppressing the twitching at the corner of her mouth, and silently retreated out of the hall.
Duan Yang noticed Shi Lan's actions, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a satisfied expression.
As soon as King Zhao entered, he noticed the beautiful and slender woman behind Duan Yang. Seeing her about to leave his sight, he quickly turned around and asked, "Who are you?"
Shi Lan paused, her foot, which was about to step out of the palace gate, had to stop. Her slender waist bowed gracefully, "This concubine, Shi Lan, greets Your Majesty."
King Zhao raised an eyebrow and sized him up, then suddenly released Duan Yang and strode towards Shi Lan.
Shi Lan was startled and subconsciously took a half step back. By the time she realized what was happening, King Zhao was already standing in front of her.
"Raise your head and let me see you."
Shi Lan frowned slightly and reluctantly raised her head.
The girl's exquisite appearance immediately caught the King of Zhao's eye, instantly attracting all of his attention.
“Look at me.”
Shi Lan raised her eyebrows and slowly looked up at the burly and rugged-looking King Zhao.
King Zhao stared at Shi Lan almost mesmerized, watching her large, watery eyes reveal a cold and aloofness that no one else possessed, her tightly pursed lips conveying her reluctance, and her delicate nostrils twitching as if resisting his approach.
This woman dislikes him—that was King Zhao's first impression. But the next moment, a desire to conquer suddenly rose in his heart. In this palace, in this country, he was the only one who disliked others; no one else had ever dared to show dislike in front of him.
King Zhao chuckled, raised his arm, and pulled Shi Lan into his embrace.
Shi Lan was shocked and struggled backward, but how could a woman like her possibly win against the powerful King Zhao? In just a moment, Shi Lan felt dizzy and disoriented. When she came to her senses, she found herself being lifted up by King Zhao.
Suddenly being lifted into the air, Shi Lan hurriedly grabbed Zhao Wang's neck, her bright, clear eyes pleading for help as she looked at Duan Yang.
Duan Yang, however, gritted her teeth and glared at him with resentment, as if she wanted to pounce on him and bite him to vent her anger. How could she possibly offer any words of help?
Shi Lan sighed inwardly, no longer relying on this fool. Now she could only save herself and hoped that the mind-controlling technique she had practiced before would be effective.
King Zhao turned his head and saw that the aloof and elegant beauty had been startled by him, her face pale and no longer showing her previous coldness and arrogance. He couldn't help but laugh out loud. With a mischievous thought, he actually picked her up and carried her out of Yiling Palace, heading directly to a side hall.
Shi Lan was not about to give in. She kept kicking her little feet and tried to jump down several times, but Zhao Wang stopped her. Seeing the man's big hands moving upwards from under her chest, Shi Lan closed her eyes, ignored the scattered stones on the ground, and risked disfigurement to jump down.
King Zhao had been tormented by her all the way, and with the couch right in front of him, his anger flared up. "If you dare to jump, I will strip you naked right here and have my way with you on the spot."
Shi Lan froze, then timidly looked up at King Zhao. Seeing his lips pressed tightly together and his eyes full of seriousness, she immediately obediently reached out and gently wrapped her arms around his neck. To show her submission, she rested her slightly disheveled head against his shoulder, looking very obedient.
King Zhao was pleased with her actions. He turned his head and rubbed his head against her soft hair before walking into the bedroom in the side hall.
Upon entering, King Zhao dismissed the surrounding palace maids. Shi Lan stared in alarm as she saw that only she and King Zhao remained in the large room.
What happened next was obvious. Shi Lan's face turned pale, and her small hands were sweating with nervousness.
"Your Majesty..."
King Zhao glanced at her sideways, then casually tossed her aside. Shi Lan felt as if she were floating on clouds, and rolled onto the couch in one swift motion.
King Zhao stepped forward, knelt beside the couch, blocking any escape route she could take, and stared intently at Shi Lan with his deep eyes.
Shi Lan clutched her loose collar and stepped back, cautiously pressing herself against the cold wall behind her.
King Zhao leaned forward, raised his hand, and ignored Shi Lan's attempt to dodge. His fingers gently caressed her smooth, delicate cheek, and an unprecedented flutter of emotion spread out like ripples on water. "Such a beautiful woman, why has she never appeared before me?"
Shi Lan tilted her head to the side, frowning as she endured the rough feeling of Zhao Wang's calloused fingers scraping against her, and said softly, "I was unwell recently and have been recuperating in the courtyard."
King Zhao smiled wryly. He knew a little about Duan Yang's domineering nature, so he didn't take her words seriously.
"Oh, now you're all better," Zhao Wang murmured in a low, languid voice that teased Shi Lan's eardrums. One hand caressed her cheek, while the other restlessly brushed against her slender waist.
Shi Lan's eyes darted around, searching for a way to escape. When King Zhao saw her like this, he chuckled and stretched out his long legs, trapping her firmly between the bed and the wall.
Shi Lan was stunned. She pinched her fingers, wanting to use a bewitching spell, but Zhao Wang grabbed her with his big hand and pulled her arms above her head. The embroidered belt that tightly bound her slender waist flew to the side of the bed in the blink of an eye. The layers of her clothes opened slowly like blooming flowers, revealing a pale yellow bodice that looked like a flower stamen.
King Zhao stared at the flower for a few moments with a dazed look in his eyes, then suddenly lowered his head, buried his rugged face in the flower's heart, and took a deep sniff.
A cool breeze came from her chest, and Shi Lan's expression changed. Helplessly with her hands bound, she could only struggle and kick with her long legs, trying to break free of her predicament with the strength of an ant.
King Zhao laughed at her action. He pressed his strong and muscular body up, trapping her legs firmly, and his large hand was about to cover her white breasts, which were about to break free.
Shi Lan struggled weakly for a few moments, and seeing that she was about to fall into the clutches of evil, she couldn't help but choke up a sob, and two humiliating tears slowly slid into her hair.
King Zhao looked up and saw her with red eyes and a pouting mouth, looking extremely aggrieved. He sighed softly, paused his large, soft hand that was about to reach out, and instead wrapped his arms around her waist, loosening his grip on her thighs slightly, and coaxed her softly, "Alright, don't cry, I'll be gentle."
As he spoke, he released his large hand that was tightly gripping Shi Lan's wrist, and instead gently stroked it.
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