The woman turned and threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“It’s me, Brother Xingjian.”
His voice trembled.
It's Zhou Wanxiu.
Even without the lights on, she could sense that his expression was terrifying.
His entire body was tense, resisting her approach.
Her eyes were glistening with tears, and she seemed a little lost.
The man ruthlessly pushed her away, quickly pulled his clothes together, and got out of bed, his voice chillingly cold:
What are you doing here?
Zhou Wanxiu's self-esteem was severely damaged.
She's offered herself up to him so readily, and he still won't take her?
She crossed her arms over her chest as if trying to save face, looking pitiful.
"Auntie told me to stay here..."
The blame must be shifted immediately.
Where is she?!
Lu Xingjian interrupted her directly, his face expressionless, suppressing his anger.
Zhou Wanxiu bit her lip, got out of bed, stood up, and took off the only thing she was wearing:
"Brother Xingjian, can you take a look at me?"
"I'm no worse than her..."
I'm younger than her, I've never been married, and I love you with all my heart. How am I inferior to her?
The moment she reached for her clothes, Lu Xingjian turned and left, entering the dressing room.
When he kicked open the door to the side hall, Su Wanwan had just woken up. She quickly sat up and asked warily:
"who?"
The two people looked at each other in the darkness, neither of them speaking.
Their eyes were locked in a silent battle.
Su Wanwan could sense his anger.
He looked at her with icy eyes, his brows furrowed tightly, and his voice taut.
"Is there anything you'd like to say?"
Su Wanwan simply said, "The Empress Dowager sent Zhou Wanxiu to the Eastern Palace. So..."
"So, you're letting her into my bed?"
Lu Xingjian said almost through gritted teeth.
He sneered, "You're really generous."
The tone was condescending and sarcastic.
"You don't have the life of an empress, but you have the illness of one!"
These words were like a bucket of cold water, completely chilling Su Wanwan to the bone.
It hit me so hard my chest went numb.
She was just being presumptuous.
She mistakenly believed that he had some genuine feelings for her.
He just liked sleeping with her.
In reality, there wasn't even a shred of respect or trust.
The words I wanted to explain, which had been stuck in my chest, suddenly became meaningless.
A surge of anger welled up from the bottom of his heart.
This prompted her to blurt out, "The Emperor is right!"
"I just want to be the empress!"
"You can't do it anyway, so why bother making yourself suffer?"
Lu Xingjian's body stiffened for a moment, and his pupils trembled slightly.
He took a long stride and sat down on the edge of the bed with an air of authority.
Su Wanwan tried to back away, but he grabbed her shoulders.
The man's face was cold, his eyes were sharp as knives, and his voice was low and hoarse, carrying a questioning tone.
"Is it only my fault?!"
"If you hadn't deserted and married someone else, things wouldn't be like this now!!"
Footsteps came from outside the door; it was Zhou Wanxiu coming over.
Su Wanwan's body tensed instantly like a bow, her eyes filled with panic as she tried to break free from Lu Xingjian's grasp.
I wonder how much of what I said in anger was heard by Zhou Wanxiu, and what the consequences will be.
But Lu Xingjian showed no sign of letting go; instead, he gripped her tighter and tighter, until the veins on his forehead bulged.
"Su Wanwan, you provoked me first, you're not allowed to back down now!"
Su Wanwan's eyes widened: "How did I offend you?"
Lu Xingjian sneered, "The Imperial Study deliberately seduced you, and you've already forgotten?!"
The footsteps outside the door grew closer.
Su Wanwan panicked.
"So what?"
"Times have changed. Now I just want to go home. Please, Your Majesty, allow me to leave the palace!"
She raised her hand to try and push him away.
But it felt like a slap in the face.
Zhou Wanxiu, who was outside the room, was terrified.
Is Su Wanwan really not afraid of death?
How dare they slap the emperor!
This is extremely damaging to one's dignity.
Lu Xingjian was stunned, clearly not expecting her to do that.
He finally released Su Wanwan, leaving her with a cold, detached statement:
"dream!"
Zhou Wanxiu's depressed mood suddenly brightened.
Su Wanwan, you're really asking for trouble!
marvelous!
The Emperor is furious; he's probably going to completely despise Su Wanwan!
She, Zhou Wanxiu, has a chance!
Lu Xingjian stormed off in a huff, not even sparing Zhou Wanxiu a glance at the door.
After Su Wanwan fell asleep again, her body was still trembling slightly.
I don't regret offending him.
Xia Xueyi and Su Wanwan are irreconcilable enemies; he can only choose one.
If he wants to enjoy the blessing of having two women, he has to give up Su Wanwan!
For a long time afterward, Su Wanwan did not see Lu Xingjian again.
She stayed in the East Palace and did not go out.
Occasionally, he would use his crutches to stretch his muscles, hoping to regain his mobility as soon as possible, and quietly wait for an opportunity.
Zhou Wanxiu kept coming in and out, bringing all sorts of news.
It is said that Yu Yong, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, presented the emperor with twelve beautiful, graceful, and talented women of mixed ethnicities who were skilled in singing and dancing. He was promoted to deputy commander-in-chief, a promotion of two ranks.
"No wonder there has been a constant stream of music in the Qianqing Palace lately."
Zhou Wanxiu's tone was tinged with sourness.
“I used to think he was indifferent to women, but now it seems he was just hiding it.”
"Now that the mourning period for the late emperor is over, and he is once again the emperor in a high position, there is no need for him to hide it anymore."
Su Wanwan paused slightly, then looked at her calmly:
"So you're going to stay in the palace?"
"At his age, he'll have more women than he can handle in the future."
Are you sure you really want to marry him?
After a moment of silence, Zhou Wanxiu nodded solemnly.
“Aunt Wan, I was taught from a young age that I should marry into the palace.”
"Becoming his woman is my destiny, and it's also what the Zhou family expects of me."
“Even if he refuses to give me any official status, I must stay by his side.”
She said to Su Wanwan with remorse:
“Aunt Wan, it’s all my fault for taking it upon myself to anger the Emperor that night. I shouldn’t have been so hasty, and now you’ve been made the scapegoat.”
Su Wanwan did not speak.
That night, she had no idea that Zhou Wanxiu had secretly offered herself to him.
Zhou Wanxiu caught him completely off guard.
She now feels more fear than apprehension towards the instigator.
With Zhou Wanxiu around, who knows how many more times she'll be betrayed.
I need to find a way to get away from Zhou Wanxiu.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
