Chapter 301:
Even the later consummation was due to his fanning the flames.
He gave that old man Warm Affection Wine, only for the other to turn the tables, deceiving her onto the bed.
From beginning to end, she had never loved that old man.
If that were the case, Lu Ziyan would feel much better.
It would be better than her truly shifting her affections to another.
However, after he asked, Xie Wanning remained silent for a long time.
Of course she knew what would be the most appropriate thing to say at this moment.
It was just that the reason their path together had been so difficult was all because of those self-righteous deceptions, which had turned their childhood sweethearts’ mutual love into complete separation, even parting them by life and death.
Since they had decided to start over, Xie Wanning did not want this time to begin a new chapter with deception.
In the strange silence, she said softly: “I don’t want to deceive you, I…”
“Enough!” Lu Ziyan gripped her nape and pressed her into his arms, “No more of that, never mention it again.”
“…”
Xie Wanning choked back the words in her throat, swallowed them hard, thought for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his waist and said softly: “I love you, really.”
“Good, …I know,” His aching heart was infused with a warm current, and Lu Ziyan gently patted the back of the young lady in his arms, “Sleep, Wanwan.”
Outside, the sky was about to brighten.
Xie Wanning was already so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, and with a soft hum in response, she quickly fell asleep.
After five years apart, being held in his arms again, she felt not the slightest bit of unfamiliarity or discomfort.
She slept very peacefully.
Lu Ziyan lowered his gaze to contemplate her sleeping face, watching for who knows how long.
Until the sky fully brightened and faint footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, he finally shifted his position.
He carefully released the young lady in his arms, got off the bed, put on his clothes, and walked out.
Ming Jian was waiting outside and was about to speak upon seeing him, but was stopped by a look from Lu Ziyan.
He did not stop walking until he passed through the courtyard gate, then turned his gaze, “Where is he?”
“In the front courtyard,” Ming Jian said: “He knows what he has done wrong and seems to have a death wish.”
Lu Ziyan tugged the corner of his lip slightly, “Tortured?”
Ming Jian hurriedly bowed: “Without your orders, this subordinate dare not use torture, and not a grain of rice has been sent in.”
Less than a day had passed, nothing could happen.
Cold light flickered in Lu Ziyan’s eyes as he stepped toward the front courtyard to confront that Top Scholar who had occupied her five years, when Ming Jian behind him added: “The young master threw a tantrum last night wanting to see Miss Xie and Master Ji, fussing for half the night and only falling asleep earlier.”
Suddenly having a birth father who took over his mother, with several strange men guarding him— in the world of a young child, it was indeed a earth-shattering change.
But Lu Ziyan showed not a trace of a father’s loving kindness.
Hearing this, his brows furrowed tightly, “Already four years old, yet still fussing for his mother at night— probably never weaned.”
As he spoke, thinking of something, he asked again: “How does he address Ji Chengfeng?”
By seniority, Ji Chengfeng is Wanwan’s cousin; if there were truly no improper feelings, then Ran’er should call him cousin once removed.
“This…” Ming Jian hesitated for a moment, then said softly: “It seems he calls him Uncle Ji.”
……
The air fell silent for a moment.
Lu Ziyan seemed to chuckle lowly, “Truly, intentions as obvious as Sima Zhao’s.”
Ming Jian nodded inwardly.
He had poached from the corner all the way to His Majesty’s head.
Under the heavens, who did not know that Miss Xie of the Xuanping Marquis’s Estate was the person beloved by the current Emperor.
Bestowed the posthumous title of Empress upon death.
