Chapter 35 Add fuel to the fire, push him a little harder.
Once inside the carriage, Su Tingwan said softly, "With such a beautiful princess, it's no wonder that others have designs on her. Fortunately, nothing serious happened. Your Highness and I were so worried. Next time, princess, please let us know where you're going. It's too dangerous for you to leave on your own like this."
The implication was that it was all Jiang Fenghua's fault for being beautiful, which attracted unwanted attention. Xie Shang was reminded that Jiang Fenghua also had ambiguous relationships with other men, and that she herself had run off and encountered the drunkard. All the blame rested on Jiang Fenghua.
Jiang Fenghua suddenly stared at Su Tingwan and asked with a deep gaze, "Does Consort Su mean that possessing a treasure is a crime, and that everything is my fault?"
Su Tingwan was stunned, and quickly explained, "That's not what I meant, Your Highness, please don't be angry. I didn't think that much, I was just in a hurry and spoke my mind, I didn't mean it..."
Jiang Fenghua pressed on, "Consort Su is so naive. A single unintentional remark can push someone into an abyss. Consort Su is also a woman. You should know how important reputation is to a woman."
Today, the prince saved me; I'm lucky to be alive. But what about those women who were murdered? Were they killed because they were too beautiful? Was it all their fault that they deserved to be killed?
Su Tingwan was stunned, her face flushed red, and she stared at Xie Shang with a wronged look in her eyes, "A Shang, that's not what I meant..."
A cold glint flashed in Xie Shang's eyes. "Watch your words in the future, lest you become a laughing stock if someone with ulterior motives overhears you."
He said in a deep voice, "The princess was frightened today, so don't disturb her. You should ride back to the manor. I will have my guards escort you."
Seeing that he was angry, Su Tingwan dared not be presumptuous anymore, and said, "I understand."
She lowered the carriage curtain, turned around, and left.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Fenghua finally got up from Xie Shang's embrace and sat up straight. She took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, ignored Xie Shang, and awkwardly turned to sit sideways.
Xie Shang saw that she seemed to be sulking. Before he could calm down, she had already gotten angry.
"Why did you wander off today?" Xie Shang asked her in a deep voice.
Jiang Fenghua's nose twitched, as if she was crying again.
He turned her body around abruptly and said coldly, "Raise your head, look at me, and answer my question."
Jiang Fenghua stubbornly raised her head to meet his gaze, her eyes brimming with tears, looking utterly aggrieved. "What does Your Highness want to know?"
Xie Shang was stunned. You're flirting with another man, and you still have the nerve to cry?
He lowered his voice, "What do you want to say?"
"I don't want to say anything," she muttered.
Xie Shang was angry, but there was nothing he could do about it.
"I saw Your Highness and Consort Su walking away hand in hand, and I didn't want to disturb your time together, so I prepared to return to my residence by myself," Jiang Fenghua explained, her tone tinged with jealousy and affectation.
Did he take Su Tingwan's hand and leave? No, he was really angry at the time.
Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, which evoked pity in him, he tentatively asked, "Is there anything else you wish to say to me?"
Jiang Fenghua shook her head defiantly, "No."
"Stop the car!" Xie Shang suddenly shouted outside.
The carriage suddenly came to a slow stop. He angrily turned around and got off the carriage, ordering the driver, "Take the princess back to her residence." He saved her and didn't even say thank you. How could she not know that another man was after her?
The coachman, naturally, dared not delay and quickly drove off. However, the carriage had only traveled a short distance when Xie Shang caught up again. The coachman, startled, hurriedly stopped the carriage, thinking to himself, "What's wrong with the prince today? But the prince doesn't seem to have been drinking!"
Xie Shang pushed open the car door, his eyes cold and filled with intense anger. He grabbed Jiang Fenghua's hand and got out of the car.
Jiang Fenghua was confused and struggled to ask, "Where does Your Highness want to take me?"
Xie Shang ignored her and held Jiang Fenghua's wrist tightly. His grip was so strong that it seemed he was going to dislocate her wrist. Unable to break free, she could only cry out to him, "Your Highness, you're hurting me! My hand is going to break!"
Ignoring everything else, Xie Shang pulled her directly into the restaurant next door. "Waiter, get us the best room."
Lin Yu stood in the hall, staring in disbelief at everything. The two maids followed behind, equally bewildered. They dared not interfere, knowing what had gotten into Prince Heng tonight. They could only follow respectfully behind him.
The princess's delicate appearance is so pitiful, why doesn't the prince know how to cherish her? They only pretend to be stupid and stand by because they know their master has his own ideas.
Jiang Fenghua was practically dragged upstairs, and the waiter quickly followed, welcoming them into the top-class room, "Is there anything else you need, sir?"
"No need, get out."
As soon as the door closed, Xie Shang grabbed Jiang Fenghua's frail body and threw her onto the bed. He leaned over her and kissed her lips frantically, almost venting his anger, showing no tenderness whatsoever.
Her lips were soft and sweet, but he couldn't appreciate them. He only had a bellyful of anger to vent. The woman in front of him belonged to him, and no one else could covet her. He wanted to brand her with his mark.
He was angry. Just two days ago he had told her that she would like him, but all she could see were other men. Didn't she know that she was already married?
Liar, little liar, I actually believed your lies.
Jiang Fenghua was already in tears. She was so scared that she trembled and her lips quivered. Her beautiful face showed no lust except for fear and terror.
Xie Shang kissed the tears on her cheek; her whole face was wet. He stopped instantly, his pupils filled with defeat, and asked her directly, "Is your reluctance because of that Young Master Xiao?"
"Xie Shang, you're bullying me! You're a bastard! It's one thing for them to bully me and ruin my reputation, but you've bullied me too! You've ruined my reputation as well!" Jiang Fenghua cried even louder.
Xie Shang was startled by her shouting at her by her name. Her eyes were like two clear springs, and tears kept flowing out like shooting stars across the sky. Her face was delicate and pale, and her lips were trembling, making people want to comfort her.
"Don't cry, that's not what I meant, and I would never bully you, I..." He hesitated, then stopped.
"Xiao Yu is my father's student, nothing more." Jiang Fenghua's crying stopped abruptly. Her eyes were like the moon in the night, clear and bright, radiating a resolute beauty.
She stared at him with unwavering determination, her very being filled with an indomitable stubbornness.
Only then did Xie Shang notice the bruise on her wrist. Her skin was delicate and fair, like snow, making the bruise stand out. He felt a pang of guilt. Why had he cared so much about her relationship with other men? Was it because she was the Princess Consort of Heng, or because…?
Xie Shang shook his head. The person he liked was Wanwan, not Jiang Fenghua. But when he kissed her just now, it felt like a thousand worms were tearing at his body. He wanted to take more from her.
He knew that Jiang Fenghua had helped him at Baihua Lake that morning, but he still avoided the topic, afraid that his heart would change so quickly.
Wanwan is already his concubine, he should be content and treat her well.
He was certain that the person he loved was Su Tingwan, and said in a deep voice, "Let's go back to the manor."
Jiang Fenghua slowly climbed off the bed. With her back to him, she began to tidy her clothes and hair accessories. She knew that Xie Shang was going through the most difficult time right now, as he was torn between his feelings for her and Su Tingwan.
The fire is burning brightly today, so let's add fuel to the fire and push him a little harder.
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