Chapter 53, Section 53: She pleaded tearfully...
The silent and imposing palace, its walls soaring into the clouds, its winding, glazed-tile roofs gleaming a cold gold in the silvery moonlight.
The roads inside the palace were lined with lush green trees, and deep inside, ancient trees reached for the sky. A eunuch could be vaguely seen hurrying along until he reached a secluded and dilapidated palace. He fastened a heavy copper ring and stepped through the fallen branches and leaves. He walked quickly through the winding corridors until he stopped panting at the end of the corridor.
Behind the lush green fence, a person was hiding. A sharp voice came from behind, demanding, "Why did you take so long? You made me wait here for so long. Where are you? How did things go?"
The eunuch, looking terrified, replied in a flustered manner, "I messed it up; I didn't bring the person out."
"What?!" The hidden man was furious, unable to believe that he couldn't even handle something so simple. "Idiot! We've already lured them out, how can you still not do it right?"
"...The female official who delivered the message was arrested. Although the fire in the courtyard was set, it seems they knew about it beforehand and quickly put it out. All of us waiting outside were arrested. The prince did not keep his appointment but instead led us into a trap. I'm afraid...the prince already knows the reason for this."
As night fell in the palace, the silence added to the eeriness. The sudden quiet startled the eunuch, who broke out in a cold sweat.
After waiting for a long time, the person hidden inside finally spoke, "Okay, I understand. This is your reward."
A thick purse was tossed out from inside. The eunuch caught it with lightning speed, opened it, and found it full of gold. He grinned from ear to ear and hurriedly replied, "Thank you very much."
The eunuch, thinking that the matter was now settled, could not hide his joy and left by the same route.
The bright moon hanging high in the night sky was suddenly obscured by dark clouds, and the palace path became extremely dark in an instant. The eunuch continued walking along the familiar palace path.
As they passed a corner by a lake and artificial hill, a person suddenly rushed out from a hiding place and attacked.
When the bright moon reappeared in the night sky, its silvery light shone on the rippling lake surface. A eunuch lay motionless on the lake, and even as the wind rippled the surface, he remained completely still.
A glittering gold pouch was picked up by someone from the grass by the lake, and then the person hurriedly left.
-
Pear Blossom Lane.
The night was dark, and the hazy moonlight shone through the carved and openwork doors and windows, casting its light on the floor of the dormitory, making the room seem even colder and quieter.
Inside, where the moonlight couldn't reach, rustling sounds were mixed with faint, pleading breaths.
The cool sandalwood scent emanating from Xie Huaiyuan enveloped Lin Wanya, causing her to lean tightly against the table.
The force was so great that it gave her no chance to dodge.
"No……"
Lin Wan was so tightly restrained that she could hardly breathe. Her eyes flashed with terror, and cold sweat began to appear on her temples. Her tone was almost pleading.
In the dormitory room where no candles were lit, an endless darkness pervaded, silent and cold.
Lin Wan's helpless plea had barely escaped her lips when a low, hoarse chuckle escaped her lips. Xie Huaiyuan could no longer contain himself, his gaze fixed on her with a dark intensity that seemed to want to tear her apart.
His hands fell and cupped her cheeks, then covered them with his lips, pressing them heavily against hers.
Her aura seemed to be imprisoned. Lin Wan's retreating movement completely enraged him. The palms that landed on either side of her cheeks were so strong that they gave her no chance to dodge.
Lin Wan was powerless to resist. Her eyelashes trembled, and silent tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to raise her hand to find something to support herself, but unexpectedly bumped into the guqin that was already on the table.
Her back fell onto the table, bending her back. In her struggle, her fingertips accidentally brushed against the strings, and the music broke and became chaotic.
Amidst the sharp, shattering sounds of the zither, Xie Huaiyuan could no longer conceal his murderous aura, and like a madman, he forced her to engage in a passionate kiss with him.
Lin Wan opened her eyes and met a pair of cold, dark eyes. Startled, her mind became tense, and her rapid breathing became uncontrollable. It seemed that only her sense of touch remained, and she instantly felt Xie Huaiyuan's hand moving around her waist and body.
"No, no, Your Highness..."
Tears streamed down her cheeks and landed on the table. Her rosy, moist lips were once again fiercely sealed, leaving her no chance to breathe.
Suddenly, Lin Wan clearly noticed that the belt around her waist had been untied, and the wandering hand deftly slipped inside when no one was looking.
What is he doing?
Lin Wan was both surprised and frightened.
In the dim light, her cheeks gradually and suddenly turned red.
Xie Huaiyuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, burying his head in her snowy waves.
Her body, which had been drenched in cold sweat, gradually began to feel warm from Liao's touch, and the movement of his fingertips ignited every inch of her body.
From the moment he met her, Xie Huaiyuan's peaceful life was shattered.
She is the enchantress in the storybook who seduced the scholar, leading him into the abyss of love and despair, ruining his colorless life, and captivating his soul, yet now she still wants to leave.
How could things in this world go as she wished? She lured him into her heart, only to then abandon him.
He no longer wanted to argue with her about who was right or wrong.
Since you've already provoked him, you shouldn't abandon him like this.
"Wanwan, marry me, and you'll never leave me for all eternity. Even if we search the highest heavens or the deepest hells, you'll never have to think of leaving me!"
In the chaotic gaps of the scattered debris, the black jungle was filled with the sound of stones hanging low.
The fire spread like wildfire, with overwhelming force.
Lin Wanmi gasped for breath, her heart pounding in her throat, tears streaming down her face like pearls. She pleaded, "No... I won't run away again, really, believe me, I'll never leave you."
Xie Huaiyuan stared at her, his forehead already covered in fine beads of cold sweat, as if he had heard a joke, his eyes filled with a terrifying fierceness.
This wasn't the first time he'd heard it. A mocking smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his crazed expression landed on Lin Wan's face.
A few months ago, she vowed to wait for him, but then turned around and resolutely left Beijing with someone else.
Last month, she was still adamant that she wouldn't run away, but today, she secretly joined hands with others to plan to set fire to the place and escape in the chaos.
Xie Huaiyuan sneered, his eyes, devoid of any warmth, fixed on her. His brocade robe was disheveled, making it impossible to tell who was who, and something shockingly uncomfortable about it.
Lin Wan's cold gaze met Xie Huaiyuan's, and Lin Wan subconsciously shuddered. She had come to her senses somewhat by now. No matter how much she kept saying that she wouldn't run away again, no one believed her. But she couldn't pretend not to know anything.
"No, I..." Lin Wan stopped trying to back away, suppressing her trembling and fear and turning to begging for mercy. She huddled in his arms, her voice trembling with tears as she looked up at him, "I'll marry you, I'll marry you, Your Highness, can you have pity on me and wait until we are married before doing this, okay?"
Her eyes were filled with tears, and in the dim light, her tear-streaked face could be vaguely seen. She looked up at him, took the initiative to meet him, and kissed him intimately.
Tears streamed down Lin Wan's face, falling like shattered pearls.
Xie Huaiyuan was very pleased with her ingratiating actions. His eyelashes trembled, and he murmured her name softly. He raised his fingertips to gently stroke the corners of her red, tear-filled eyes. Xie Huaiyuan's eyes were filled with a morbid obsession.
He finally retreated again, his heart aching at the sight of her tear-streaked face. He had softened, unable to bear it even in the end, despite his anger and frustration just moments before.
He closed his eyes briefly and sighed almost imperceptibly... concealing the darkness that was about to overflow from his eyes, the stone hardened and retreated, leaving behind the soft spot, but the burning sensation beneath was still worth the effort.
Xie Huaiyuan held Lin Wan's lips, glistening and moist, gazing at her mysteriously. He desperately wanted to untangle her, his entire body reaching its limit, his trembling body straining with suppressed tension. He said in a low voice, "Wanwan, do you know what to do?"
She stopped resisting so much, raised her eyes, and looked at him with wet and delicate eyes, seeing the hidden meaning surging in Xie Huaiyuan's eyes.
Lin Wan knew that she could not disobey him any longer. Only by going along with him could she catch her breath. As long as it didn't come to that point, she was willing to help him as many times as she wanted.
She glanced at him sideways, tilting her head back to trace his lips, their lips meeting, while he held her large hand in his, guiding his soft fingers to touch and rub against hers, until in an instant, his touch was almost burning hot.
Her eyes were still brimming with tears, but her cheeks were flushed red, and the fingers she held were incredibly soft.
Lin Wan gripped it tightly, and it swelled even more fiercely, like a red-hot branding iron in a blacksmith's shop, even clearly writhing. Xie Huaiyuan, who saw it, was also aroused.
Her delicate fingers were stretched and worn out from the stone.
Until the bright moon hung high in the sky, the moonlight and shadows shifted to their feet.
The cool moonlight illuminated Lin Wan's flushed cheeks. At that moment, she hesitated and withdrew her fingers, which were covered in moonlight.
Xie Huaiyuan's heavy breathing gradually subsided. He remained silent, glancing at her with deep meaning in his eyes.
Lin Wan understood what he meant. Even though he had just compromised and let her go, she had still agreed to what he said...
How did it become like this?
Lin Wan lowered her head and remained silent, trying to gather her disheveled dress, but both her hands were covered in those things, leaving her at a loss for what to do.
Xie Huaiyuan seemed to be in a good mood after being pleased, and he stopped tormenting her. Instead, he helped her put on her disheveled clothes one by one and tied the belt that had been thrown on the ground back to her waist. However, no matter how carefully he tidied her up, the messy wrinkles on her clothes could not be hidden.
A moment later, a servant brought clean water and a handkerchief.
The candles in the room were lit, and he held her hand, patiently washing away the sorghum slurry from her hands one by one, until the clean water gradually became murky.
Xie Huaiyuan dried his hands and said in a light tone, "I will go and prepare for the wedding. Wanwan, you can just wait here in peace."
Lin Wan was startled upon hearing this.
It was late at night.
In the steamy inner room, Lin Wan glanced down at the body that was faintly visible in the steam. It was indistinct, but she could still see the snowball, the slender moon on the side, and even the moon's retreat, all marked with traces of his hand, some deep and some shallow.
After a moment of silence, she frowned, closed her eyes helplessly, and stopped looking at the imposed marks, letting out a soft sigh.
She was distressed that things had come to this point with him.
After finally finishing her bath, Lin Wan, dressed in newly made clothes, was led by Liu Ye to her new residence.
Although the fire had been extinguished, there was still a faint trace of smoke in the backyard, so Xie Huaiyuan moved his residence to another place.
When it was time to rest, Lin Wan was surprised to find that Xie Huaiyuan wanted to share a bed with her.
Xie Huaiyuan did not miss the subtle changes in Lin Wan's expression. His gaze fell upon her, and Lin Wan, who had just bathed, exuded an alluring fragrance. The chaotic scene from just moments ago flashed before his eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed. His eyes sparkled, and his brows and eyes shone with a captivating light.
"Wanwan, come here."
Lin Wan's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't show it on her face. Her raven-feather eyelashes trembled slightly, and she obediently followed his words. She took a few light steps forward and was unexpectedly pulled into his arms. The cool sandalwood fragrance filled her nostrils.
Warm lips landed.
Lin Wan frowned slightly but did not shy away; she opened her lips to meet his.
A cool breeze entered the room, and the candlelight flickered.
Suddenly, Xie Huaiyuan secretly opened his eyes, a dark undercurrent surging within them.
Wanwan, this is the last time I'll trust you. If you...
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