Chapter 184:
“It’s not what you think,” Lu Ziyan gripped her hand, trying his best to explain, “I told them your true cause of death. They didn’t believe me at first, but later they went to the heavenly prison and saw your aunt and cousin…”
“Wanwan, you know, your father and brothers are all talented gentlemen. They couldn’t accept that a woman of the family had killed her own kin for power, and they didn’t want to stay in the Capital City, this place of heartbreak.” He paused, then said softly, “Believe me, I still had some reason at the time. I hadn’t gone completely mad, and I didn’t make things difficult for them.”
Xie Wanning frowned tightly and sat up.
This wasn’t the first time she’d heard him call himself a madman. She had originally thought he was just mocking himself, but after witnessing that ‘chopped into minced meat’ was truly chopped into minced meat, she could no longer comfort herself upon hearing his words.
Had he really gone mad?
A monarch was a madman?
“Don’t look at me like that,” Lu Ziyan gave a stiff smile, “Even if I’m mad, I won’t harm you.”
“…” Xie Wanning was silent for a moment, then probed, “You said after I died, you only lived for five years?”
Lu Ziyan clearly didn’t want to mention his past life. He lowered his gaze to their clasped hands and gave a faint hum in response.
Xie Wanning ignored his evasion and continued asking, “Did you appoint a Crown Prince for the Great Khan?”
Lu Ziyan was stunned, then said seriously, “I had no harem, never touched another woman, and had no offspring.”
Xie Wanning fell silent again, knowing he had misunderstood her meaning. Helplessly, she said, “…I just want to know who the Great Khan’s successor emperor was after you.”
Even if he ascended to the throne right after her death, that was only a short five years.
And when she died, the Jin Dynasty hadn’t been fully pacified yet. The Great Khan still faced internal and external troubles, yet the emperor who ascended was an irrational short-lived madman…
If no Crown Prince had been appointed, once he died, with no legitimate heir to the dynasty, Xie Wanning, a woman who knew nothing of state affairs, could imagine what chaos this land would fall into.
It would surely be war everywhere, warlords dividing the land, and the people suffering immensely.
Though she was merely a woman, she too had a patriotic heart. The Great Khan’s dynasty had lasted nearly three hundred years…
Xie Wanning looked at him and saw he remained silent for a long time. How could she not know the answer? Her expression gradually changed. “How did you die?”
Sudden death? So he hadn’t had time to arrange his affairs?
This time, Lu Ziyan answered quickly, “Died on the battlefield.”
When that arrow came flying, he could have dodged it, but he didn’t. But there was no need to tell her that.
Xie Wanning deflated and glared at him. “As a monarch, you didn’t even appoint a Crown Prince before personally leading the army to war. Have you ever thought that if something happened to you, what crisis the Great Khan would face? What hardship the people would suffer!”
…What crisis would the Great Khan face?
Lu Ziyan wanted to laugh a little. During those five years she lay unconscious, he was a complete madman. How could anyone expect a madman to worry about state affairs?
He was a madman who only knew slaughter!
“Wanwan is truly concerned for the country and the people,” he took her hand and brushed it against his lip, smiling. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been so willful. In this life, remember to keep a close eye on me, so I can be a monarch who loves his people like his own children.”
Xie Wanning: “…”
Her speechless, choked expression was also vividly beautiful. Lu Ziyan’s brow arched slightly as he asked, “It’s been three days. Wanwan, are you ready to accept me again?”
Xie Wanning was stunned for a moment.
Yes, three days had passed.
It had been three days since her rescue from the Jin Raiders’ hands.
These past few days, his gaze had grown increasingly scorching, like a wolf starved to the extreme, his eyes gleaming green when he looked at her.
If not for considering that she had… been traumatized by the Jin People, he wouldn’t be so cautious.
They both had memories of their past life.
And in their past life, they were a couple.
For a full two years, they had done every intimate thing.
Those memories of entanglement on the bed kept surfacing in his mind. His beloved woman was right there before him, within reach…
She wouldn’t know how torturous this was for a vigorous young man not yet twenty.
Even glancing at her once made his whole body scorching hot and aching, even his soul yearning to hold her.
Xie Wanning truly didn’t know his torment, but she could read the intense desire in his eyes—it was utterly alarming.
The carriage, originally carrying a hint of coldness, gradually warmed under his burning gaze.
Xie Wanning noticed and hurriedly averted her eyes from his stare, stammering, “I haven’t decided yet. You promised not to force me!”
“…Alright, I won’t force you.” Lu Ziyan’s adam’s apple bobbed, his deep eyes fixed on her for a moment before he suddenly sighed. “Wanwan, haven’t you missed me at all?”
Clearly, in those two years, he had served her meticulously. Though she said she only felt disgust at the time, her body’s reactions didn’t lie. She…
“Shut up!” Xie Wanning pulled her hand back too, her face flushing red as she scolded, “Don’t mention that kind of thing again!”
His palm empty, Lu Ziyan, openly disdained, gritted his teeth inwardly and blamed it all on the fleeing Jin Wuji.
It was all the Jin People’s fault, giving her trauma and making her unwilling to try with him again!
These past few days, her attitude had softened considerably, no longer so cold toward him. He wanted to take the next step to repair their couple’s affection—how could they not have sexual intercourse?
As long as they tried once, he was confident he could make her forget that sickly person and only remember his goodness.
He was young and strong—how could he compare to that sickly old man!
Thinking of this young lady being lovingly entangled with that old man for half a year filled Lu Ziyan with sour pain. Slightly aggrieved, he said, “But Wanwan, I’m about to burst from holding back.”
Two lifetimes combined, how long had he abstained from sex?
And she wouldn’t even let him mention it.
Xie Wanning’s expression turned serious as she said angrily, “You’re only thinking about that! What if I just refuse?”
“…If you refuse, then forget it.” Lu Ziyan leaned his head closer, looking at her earnestly. “Wanting you is a man’s instinct, but I can restrain myself. I’m willing to wait until you nod and accept me again. As long as you don’t want any other man, no matter how long, I can wait.”
As long as she was truly reconsidering their relationship and not thinking of returning to that sickly person’s side, he could proceed gradually, letting her slowly accept him.
He leaned too close, so close that Xie Wanning thought he wanted to kiss her again. She hurriedly pushed his face away. “Don’t get too close.”
“…” Lu Ziyan gritted his teeth inwardly, adding another mark against Jin Wuji in his mind. He lifted the carriage curtain and got out to ride his horse.
Once he left, that oppressive aura vanished, and Xie Wanning let out a long breath.
She had been kidnapped by the Jin People. Even if Lu Ziyan took full responsibility, the fact remained that she had been taken by another man—her reputation was ruined, and her marriage to Pei Yuqing was destined to end. Yet even so, she was still Pei Yuqing’s legitimate wife at this moment. How could she comfortably be intimate with Lu Ziyan?
She couldn’t do that.
Fortunately, Lu Ziyan thought she had suffered greatly in Jin Wuji’s hands, become afraid of men, and feared triggering her painful memories, so he was being cautious, maintaining the current balance.
Xie Wanning knew how much he regretted all she had endured and had considered explaining everything clearly to him. But whenever she thought that once explained, this excuse would be gone, and he would press even harder without restraint, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
At least… at least let her settle things with Pei Yuqing first, get the divorce papers, and then talk about the rest.
She thought it through carefully, analyzing the situations between the Pei Family, Xie Family, Pei Yuqing, herself, and Lu Ziyan. Divorce would be the best outcome.
Lu Ziyan was too mad. Even for everyone’s good, she had to divorce and try to accept him again.
If she didn’t want rivers of blood, this would be the best solution.
As for her own heart…
These past few days, Xie Wanning had asked herself if she still loved Lu Ziyan, but she couldn’t get a clear answer.
That pure, heart-fluttering feeling from when they first fell in love in their past life was gone, and she couldn’t find it again.
Her feelings for Lu Ziyan were very complex, so complex even she couldn’t sort them out. Perhaps, as he said, they were destined to be entangled for life.
She had resisted and struggled, but in the end, she was still entangled with him.
Since that was the case, as long as everyone was safe and sound, she wouldn’t struggle anymore.
For now, she only hoped this balance could continue without being broken.
…
Probably all things in this world go against one’s wishes.
On the morning of the fourth day, already very close to the Northern Frontier, Jin Wuji, who had been hiding along the way, was captured by Lu Ziyan’s men.
Upon receiving the news, Lu Ziyan ordered to slow the pace. Thus, that very night, the injured Jin Wuji was escorted over.
By then, they had arrived at that night’s lodging, an old, dilapidated official residence.
Xie Wanning had finished dinner and returned to her room, preparing to sleep, when the door was knocked loudly.
“Wanwan, open the door.” Lu Ziyan’s voice came from outside.
As soon as Xie Wanning opened the door, her wrist was gripped by him.
“Want to take revenge personally?” he said as he pulled her outside.
Xie Wanning understood instantly.
Jin Wuji had been caught.
Sure enough, in the brightly lit courtyard, Jin Wuji, who had disappeared for days, had his hands bound behind his back.
He knelt on the ground, surrounded by Ming Feng and several deputy generals. His hairpin was askew, his long hair disheveled, his originally clean face bruised purple—he looked utterly embarrassed.
Perhaps these days of hiding had been too harsh, stripping the Crown Prince of Great Jin of his former lofty demeanor. Seeing them arrive, he stiffly raised his head, his face expressionless.
Lu Ziyan released Xie Wanning’s hand and stepped forward, placing one foot on the back of his hand, saying indifferently, “When you came to the Great Khan to kidnap someone, did you ever think you’d end up like this today?”
The sound of bones cracking rang out in the night air. Cold sweat beaded on Jin Wuji’s forehead, but he was tough, not uttering a single cry of pain.
“Winners and losers—nothing to say,” he gritted out. “But you can’t kill me.”
“Oh?” Lu Ziyan seemed puzzled. He moved his foot away, looking down at the hand with its finger bones shattered, a satisfied arc curving his lips. Then he stepped on the other intact one, chuckling, “You still don’t understand me enough. In this world, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
For example, these hands that had once been on her waist—he had decided that day to destroy them, even if it meant going to the ends of the earth.
Ten fingers connected to the heart—the bones of both hands shattered, no divine doctor in the world could save them.
This time, Jin Wuji couldn’t endure the pain of his joints fully crushed and shouted, “Stop! Let me go. With my identity as Crown Prince of Great Jin, no matter the conditions, just name them.”
Lu Ziyan ignored him, grinding his foot harder for a while until the kneeling man was drenched in cold sweat and fainted before releasing.
A basin of cold water was dumped over his head, waking Jin Wuji. Seeing Lu Ziyan’s face like a God of War descended, he hurriedly said, “How about a deal? Killing me only satisfies you for a moment. Let me go, and you gain greater benefits.”
Lu Ziyan squatted down. “So afraid of death?”
Who isn’t afraid of death!
The higher the position and power, the more one cherishes life.
Jin Wuji was about to speak when Lu Ziyan added, “Afraid of death, yet you dared to touch my woman?”
“That’s not my fault.”
Jin Wuji shuddered and quickly said, “That day, you led your army to press the border. Great Jin was retreating steadily, at a loss, when I received a secret letter detailing your past affection with Miss Xie, saying she was the key to breaking the deadlock. It promised to help me kidnap her. To gain my trust, it bore the private seals of two of your Great Khan’s princes. You’re a commander too—if it were you, would you pass up a chance to turn the tide of battle?”
He hadn’t trusted it lightly at first, suspecting a trick. After sending men to verify everything in the letter, he believed about thirty percent. Then, learning Lu Ziyan was actually the Great Khan emperor’s own son, and that the Great Khan’s princes were fighting over the position of Crown Prince, he believed seventy percent.
He tried replying, and they responded quickly. This time, the messenger was the Second Prince’s brother-in-law.
Seventy percent trust became full trust. With the Great Khan’s imperial family fighting internally, even colluding with the enemy for the position of Crown Prince—how could Jin Wuji miss such an opportunity? For absolute certainty, he even went personally to the Great Khan’s capital to kidnap her.
The plan had executed perfectly, but Lu Ziyan’s reaction caught Jin Wuji off guard.
He had anticipated kidnapping a woman Lu Ziyan cared about, but not that Lu Ziyan would learn so quickly, abandon the warfare for one woman, and rush day and night a thousand miles to rescue her.
One wrong step led to all wrong. Ending up in this state was his own miscalculation.
Who could have thought this cold killer general was actually a lovesick fool?
Jin Wuji said, “As long as you let me go, I can hand over those two letters sealed with your Great Khan’s two princes’ private seals. If that’s not enough, you can name conditions.”
Those two letters were ironclad proof of colluding with the enemy and treason. Eliminating two rivals for the Crown Prince position at once—Jin Wuji was certain Lu Ziyan would be tempted.
But he was wrong again. Lu Ziyan’s expression didn’t change as he said to himself, “Do you remember what I said that day?”
Dare to harm her even a little, and I will slaughter every last person in the Jin Dynasty.
“You’re mad!” Jin Wuji’s eyes widened, as if seeing a monster.
