Chapter 119 Order me to tell you to kiss me!
"Xie Zhao, let me go first." Lu Tingwan moved away a little. Xie Zhao was afraid that Luo Yunchu would lose his composure again, so his palm was still not loose. Lu Tingwan stood beside him, blocking half of her body.
"Whatever she chooses is her freedom, don't force her." Xie Zhao said solemnly.
"This is a matter between Yanli and me. When is it General Xie's turn to intervene?" Luo Yunchu didn't want to pay attention to Xie Zhao. "Yanli, can you give me some time? I want to talk to you."
Lu Tingwan: "Luo Yunchu, it's over between you and me a long time ago. I made it clear to you back at Qingyao Mountain. I thought you understood."
"Yes, you were still Madam Cheng back then, but you're not now. Everything can start over, right?" Luo Yunchu said, "I can't forget the days and nights I spent in Zhichunli."
Lu Tingwan didn't want to reminisce with him here, so she held Xie Zhao's arm and said, "Let me handle it myself."
Xie Zhao released his hand. Lu Tingwan stood on the upper steps. "Everyone, I, Lu Tingwan, am divorcing Cheng Xianzhi, but I won't just marry any man. I will have someone register and return all the gifts brought into the mansion today."
"Mrs. Lu, look at me. My family has thousands of acres of fertile land and millions of dollars in wealth. I will definitely ensure that you have enough food and clothing."
"And me, and me. I heard that Madam Lu is from Jiangling. We are from the same hometown. Why don't we go back to Jiangling together and start a small business?"
“…”
Suddenly, the front hall and yard became noisy again.
"Master, what do you think?" Cangshu didn't know what to do.
Cheng Xianzhi's face was gloomy. "What are you looking at? Get out."
"What about General Xie and President Luo?"
Cheng Xianzhi said nothing more and walked straight towards Lu Tingwan on the stairs. Everyone's attention was attracted by Cheng Xianzhi's aura.
"You all come here today to ask for marriage, but I wonder what kind of marriage you are asking for?" A cold voice passed through the hall, like a gust of cold wind.
Lu Tingwan was the first to see the cold figure, his back stiffened, and he concealed his guilty conscience.
Cheng Xianzhi paid attention to the color of Lu Tingwan's skirt, and when he got closer, he quietly put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. His eyes lightly moved to the side where Xie Zhao and Luo Yunchu were standing, as if declaring his sovereignty. Lu Tingwan was just at his chin, and he could feel the warm breath on his head as he spoke.
"It's hard for you to choose between Xie Zhao and Luo Yunchu?" Cheng Xianzhi gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Do you need my help?"
The arm that was trapped around her waist made her uneasy. "It's not what you think."
"What am I thinking?" Cheng Xianzhi's face looked normal, but Lu Tingwan heard a different tone.
"This isn't the time to talk about this," Lu Tingwan said, not wanting to argue with him. "I don't have time to argue with you."
"Lu Tingwan," Cheng Xianzhi ignored everyone's gazes, grabbed her wrist, and pressed against her chest, pressing closer to her. "You want to divorce me, and you can act out any temper you want in front of me. Now you're doing this, are you trying to make the whole of Kyoto laugh at me, Cheng Xianzhi, and force me to give you a divorce?"
"Do you want me, your legitimate husband, to personally choose a husband for you and then marry you off?" Cheng Xianzhi's arms tightened, pressing her against his chest. She looked around for help, and finally landed on Xie Zhao.
"I didn't. Can you please stop going crazy here?" Lu Tingwan scolded in a low voice.
"Who are you looking at?" Cheng Xianzhi clenched his jaw and turned her face back to him. His eyes were fixed on Lu Tingwan, but he was giving orders, "Anyone who enters this mansion without my permission will be charged with burglary and sent to Jingzhao Prefecture."
The people who came to propose marriage were surprised to hear this, and some asked unwillingly, "Minister Cheng, since you are going to divorce your wife, you should both be well. Even if the Cheng family does not send a bride, my sincerity will not be less. Madam Lu, what do you think of me?"
Xie Zhao and Luo Yunchu looked up. Judging from Cheng Xianzhi's behavior, the two of them didn't seem to be getting a divorce. Could there be some other hidden story?
Cang Shu knew he was a man of his word, so he ordered the guards to draw their swords and chase the man away. Seeing this, Lu Tingwan advised, "Just chase Cheng Xianzhi away. Don't hurt anyone, or else someone will use you as a weapon."
"Care about me? Or are you afraid that I'll hurt someone?" Cheng Xianzhi stared at her nakedly, "Xie Zhao? Or Luo Yunchu?"
"Don't go crazy." Lu Tingwan felt uncomfortable with what he did.
The palace guards drove the people out and closed the door, but the noisy crowd outside could not be stopped for a while.
Cang Shu saw that Xie Zhao and Luo Yunchu were still there, and said with a salute, "You two should leave."
"Cang Shu, invite Xie Zhao and Luo Yunchu in." Cheng Xianzhi never let go of her hand, holding her tightly to prevent her from hiding. There were only four people left in the front hall, and Lu Tingwan was forced to sit next to Cheng Xianzhi.
Luo Yunchu spoke first, "There's a rumor in Kyoto that Minister Cheng and his wife are getting a divorce and are planning to marry her off. That's why I've come. I, Luo Yunchu, have been in love with Yan Li for a long time, and Your Excellency knows that. If you really want to allow her to leave, I can give her the best place."
"As long as Yanli is willing."
"Are you willing?" Cheng Xianzhi questioned Lu Tingwan with a sidelong glance.
Lu Tingwan glared at Cheng Xianzhi and didn't speak to him, but her expression showed that she was anxious to explain things to Luo Yunchu.
"Whether Cheng Xianzhi and I divorce or not, I won't choose you, Luo Yunchu. I, Lu Tingwan, admit that I once had feelings for you, but that's all in the past. Now that I've let go of the past, I won't have anything to do with you anymore. Your obsession is useless to me."
"This has always been my answer. If you have any other questions today, just ask them all." Lu Tingwan was having a headache.
"You don't want to accept me anymore, is it because I lied to you?" Luo Yunchu said, "I had a secret that I couldn't tell you before."
He ignored Cheng Xianzhi and walked straight towards Lu Tingwan. Cheng Xianzhi raised his eyes and squinted, wanting to see how Lu Tingwan would react.
"I know." Lu Tingwan said calmly, "But I've already stopped liking you. Why are you so unwilling to let me go, and yourself, because of the regrets we once had?"
Cheng Xianzhi's eyes gradually darkened, as if these words were pointing at him.
"Do you really like me, or is this just to satisfy your own selfish desires? If I were to reconcile with you now, would we really be as open-hearted as before? Or is this to make up for your guilt towards me, or to satisfy your own selfish desires? Luo Yunchu, it's okay if you can't see yourself clearly, but I, Lu Tingwan, can see myself clearly."
"Yan Li you..."
Xie Zhao remained unmoved. He understood Lu Tingwan. He treated Lu Tingwan differently from others. He admired her, but respected her wishes even more.
"Jiang Yanli, I..." Xie Zhao also took a step forward.
"Don't say anything," Lu Tingwan ordered, "I'll come after you next."
Xie Zhao stood there motionless, head down, like a scolded wolf cub.
"Or do you think why I, Lu Tingwan, would want you again?" Her question made Luo Yunchu feel ashamed. Although her words were hurtful, Luo Yunchu would not give up if she was not so cruel.
"After returning from Qingyao Mountain, I knew that there was no chance for us. In the past, it was because of your status, but now that you are no longer the wife of the Shangshu Mansion, I have the right to fight for it again."
"If it's not me, then who is it? Xie Zhao?" Luo Yunchu asked dejectedly.
Cheng Xianzhi raised his eyes again. This was the answer he had been looking for.
The three people's eyes were focused on her for a while. Lu Tingwan was like a prey, being coveted by the hunter, but this prey held the right to choose.
Lu Tingwan looked up at Xie Zhao and said, "Come with me."
Cheng Xianzhi's palms, hidden in his wide sleeves, clenched the armrests, and the wooden chair almost cracked with a sound. His scarlet eyes stared at the two figures turning from under the moon cave door.
Swallowing silently through his dry throat, Luo Yunchu's gaze fell on him, "Minister Cheng, do you really want to divorce Yan Li?"
"What did she say to you when you two were together?" Cheng Xianzhi had never paid attention to their affairs before, but now he wanted to know very much.
"What did she tell you about me?"
"You two had already secretly decided to spend your lives together before I agreed to divorce you, right?"
"If I had given Lu Tingwan a divorce letter at that time, would you have taken her away from Kyoto?"
“…”
Cheng Xianzhi's series of questions were all about Luo Yunchu and Lu Tingwan's past.
"Your Excellency already has the answer in your heart, so why ask me?" Luo Yunchu noticed that Cheng Xianzhi was unwilling to let her go. "This divorce was what she wanted, and Your Excellency still doesn't want to let go. Am I right?"
"Just as she said, I missed the best Jiang Yanli, so I am no longer qualified to be with her."
"So what about Master Cheng?"
miss?
Cheng Xianzhi fell into deep thought. Did he miss it? When had he and her even started? How could he miss it? He was in a trance. At this moment, he was even worse than Luo Yunchu.
Beneath the red wall, Lu Tingwan lectured the others, "Xie Zhao, your most important task is to go to the northwest to establish your career and realize the ideals you have always wanted to achieve. Why are you fooling around with me?"
"I've told you before, if you want to leave, I can take you. The Northwest is vast, you can ride a horse and shoot arrows. No one can contain you, not even me." Xie Zhao said sincerely.
He would keep Lu Tingwan's words in mind and give her everything she wanted. Even if his abilities were limited, as long as Lu Tingwan was willing to walk through thorns and mountains of swords and seas of fire with him, he would rush to the front.
"I know you won't." Lu Tingwan's expression was gentle, but there was no love in his eyes, but gratitude and relief. Perhaps no one understood him better than Xie Zhao, or maybe it was not that they didn't understand, but that they were unwilling to let go like Xie Zhao.
The suffocating feeling that Cheng Xianzhi was trying to force to stay was the guiding thread that pushed Lu Tingwan away. Even if he loved her, Lu Tingwan couldn't accept it.
"You lead your brothers to build great achievements, and I'm doing well in Kyoto. We've just made this journey together from Qingyao Mountain, and that's enough for me." Lu Tingwan said, "We each have our own paths to take. If your path has even half foreseen mine, I'd be grateful. But I never foresee others' paths, I only keep my own. Do you understand?"
"If what you want is the best, I, Xie Zhao, still say the same thing: be yourself." He paused and added, "I can be your backer."
"Thank you, Xie Zhao. I can handle it myself," Lu Tingwan said gratefully. "You go back first and make good preparations for your departure. I'll help you with that."
Xie Zhao nodded heavily.
Cheng Xianzhi's eyes never left the courtyard wall where the two of them stood.
By the time Lu Tingwan sent Xie Zhao out, Luo Yunchu had already left.
Xie Zhao bowed to Cheng Xianzhi in the main hall. Lu Tingwan looked away and turned to go back to Yansheng Hall.
Cheng Xianzhi followed with great strides. As Lu Tingwan entered Yansheng Hall, Cheng Xianzhi pushed open the door and asked, "What did you say to Xie Zhao?"
"Do I need to report this to you?" Lu Tingwan took off his fox fur coat.
When she turned around, Cheng Xianzhi was standing in front of her, leaving her only a little space to breathe. "It wasn't you who spread the divorce news?"
"So what? Minister Cheng knows that he has been going back on his word so many times. If you don't respond to me, I can only take a risky move."
"You're not in a hurry to leave Beijing, so why are you so anxious to get the divorce papers?" Cheng Xianzhi asked, "Do you really want to marry someone else?"
"Cheng Xianzhi, don't treat me like a caged bird." Lu Tingwan looked straight at him. Cheng Xianzhi liked her confrontational nature, but he also hoped that she would be a little more docile.
The affection in his eyes was wrapped in desire. He leaned over and kissed her warm lips. Lu Tingwan didn't have time to react. She raised her hand but he pressed it down again. He tasted Lu Tingwan's breath lightly and said, "I like it!"
"Lu Tingwan!" Cheng Xianzhi said hoarsely, "You can ignore my feelings, but don't let those questionable men get close to you."
He could allow Lu Tingwan to not accept him, but he could not love others. If he couldn't get her, others wouldn't allow him to.
"Give me the Sunset Bow!" Lu Tingwan said indifferently.
"Kiss me and I'll give it to you."
"Cheng Xianzhi, don't go crazy."
"Crazy, so what? If you want the Sunset Bow back, kiss me."
He didn't seem to be lying; his expression was extremely cold. Lu Tingwan didn't respond and turned her face away from him. Cheng Xianzhi stared at half of her profile and shouted outside, "Cang Shu, go to the warehouse and destroy the Sunset Bow."
"You..." Lu Tingwan didn't expect that he was serious. She tried to stop him, but he pulled her back and held her in his arms.
"I told you to kiss me!" Cheng Xianzhi wanted to see how far she could go for Xie Zhao.
But the person standing between the two of them was not Xie Zhao, nor anyone else.
"Let Cangshu come back, come back..." Lu Tingwan gritted his teeth, his voice choked with sobs.
Cheng Xianzhi flashed a self-deprecating smile, and with his eyes wide open, he said, "Come here."
Lu Tingwan had to stand on tiptoe to reach it. When she touched his lips tremblingly, she left.
"So insincere and perfunctory?"
"What do you want?"
"Kiss me until I'm satisfied."
Lu Tingwan sneered, with sarcasm in her eyes, and suddenly put her arms around Cheng Xianzhi's neck. The straight body stood there in a daze. Lu Tingwan closed her eyes and kissed him, her hot lips rolling around. This was what Cheng Xianzhi wanted, but for some reason, his heart was about to break.
The more proactive Lu Tingwan was, the more his heart ached. After kissing her for a while, she let go and asked, "Is Minister Cheng satisfied with this?"
She didn't seem to be surrendering, but more like a provocation.
"Not enough?" Lu Tingwan pushed away, her fingertips brushed across the collar, and unbuttoned it in front of Cheng Xianzhi. The white collarbone was visible in the eyes. The outer shirt fell lightly to the ground, and the cold wind blew in, blowing on the thin body.
The plump bulge of her chest was clearly visible. "How about this?"
Cheng Xianzhi stood there motionless, his breath trembling.
Can you do this for Xie Zhao?
He picked up Lu Tingwan's clothes and put them on her. Her shoulders were exposed to the winter sun and were cold, but her mouth still had the warmth of her kiss.
His voice was hoarse and bitter, "The Sunset Bow will be given to you."
Cheng Xianzhi turned and left, feeling disheartened. If this kiss was not for the bow, but just for him, he would be happy.
The biting cold wind blew away Lu Tingwan's remaining strength. Cheng Xianzhi's figure walked away from Yansheng Hall. She leaned on the table and tried to calm down. The residual heat was still there. She put on her clothes with trembling hands, as if she was gambling.
She was still frightened and was glad that Cheng Xianzhi was not completely crazy.
In his study, where he was alone, the desk was already a mess. The usually upright and calm man now looked like a mad trapped animal. "Lu Tingwan, for Xie Zhao, you can humiliate yourself. Even if you hate me and despise me, are you willing to be close to me for him?"
His heart was broken, and he vented his unbearable feelings on every visible item in the house, leaving nothing behind. When the morning sun shone, he regained his usual gentle, reserved, and calm demeanor.
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