Chapter 90:
Liu Manrou seemed oblivious to her coldness, often coming uninvited to Shao Guang Courtyard, casually tugging at her collar and rolling up her sleeves to reveal some conspicuous marks.
Xie Wanning naturally saw them clearly; she was familiar with marks from bed matters, and with one glance, she could even imagine how that man had left these marks on this beauty whose allure penetrated to the bone.
That night, Lu Ziyan entered Shao Guang Courtyard once more.
Xie Wanning was sitting at the dressing table, having Er Qing wring out her hair, and when she saw him come in, both mistress and servant were stunned.
Er Qing had also grown cold toward this son-in-law who had taken her sister as a favored concubine, no longer naively believing that he had feelings for her own young lady.
Lu Ziyan was completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere in the room, walking slowly to stand behind her, taking over the maidservant’s task, holding a cotton cloth as if to wring out her hair for her.
Xie Wanning stood up to avoid his hand. “It’s already dry; no need.”
She rarely refused his overtures of goodwill, and the room instantly fell silent.
Perhaps because he had hastily elevated his favored concubine to proper wife and also taken the maidservant from his wife’s room, out of a desire to make amends, Lu Ziyan’s expression was unusually gentle.
His hand paused, and he said, “I’ll be leaving the capital in a few days.”
Xie Wanning gave a soft hum.
Another stretch of silence followed.
The two stood facing each other; the underfloor heating in the room blazed scorchingly hot, her nightgown was light and thin, and waves of warm fragrance emanated from her body.
Lu Ziyan’s adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, then he ordered the servants to withdraw.
The instant the door closed, he clasped her waist with one hand, tugged open her lapel with the other, and his lips fell to her shoulder and neck, soon leaving a string of wet, hot kisses.
Xie Wanning instinctively shrank her neck, reached out to push his face away, and said, “I’m a bit tired; go somewhere else.”
“……What?”
The man buried in her shoulder and neck lifted his head; Xie Wanning met his gaze, her tone mild. “I’m really tired.”
The man’s gaze was serene, showing no joy or anger. “The latter sentence.”
Only Lu Ziyan himself, who could sense his own emotions, knew that upon hearing her tell him to go somewhere else, his heart had uncontrollably sunk.
A chest full of fury, mingled with dense incredulity.
But Xie Wanning seemed oblivious, softly repeating, “Go somewhere else.”
Lu Ziyan savored the words, then suddenly sneered coldly. “Haven’t you recognized your own identity yet? You are my wife; serving your husband well is what you should do. Do you know that?”
As he spoke, he tugged at her sash, his lips drawing close again.
“I said I’m tired!” Xie Wanning clutched her lapel closed with both hands, dodging his touch, and also hardened her expression. “You have no shortage of wives and concubines; what’s the point in forcing me?”
“Tired from what? It’s been over a month since I touched you; haven’t you rested enough?” He gripped her waist and pressed himself against her, his nose bridge rubbing her neck, his voice hoarse. “There are no other wives and concubines; I said it, no one will be able to affect your status.”
“I’m leaving the capital soon; don’t make a fuss with me…… hm?”
He was pressed too close; the reaction of his body couldn’t be hidden.
Of course, he had no intention of hiding it anyway.
Even his eyes were filled with hazy desire.
Xie Wanning stared fixedly at him, the scene of him covering Liu Manrou’s body involuntarily appearing in her mind.
Was he this impatient with her too?
Or would he be even more gentle?
Right, there was also Er Xia.
It was said that he had been spoiling Er Xia a lot during this time too.
In a daze, her belt was undone, and a hand had slipped inside her lapel.
The scorching hot kisses finally moved from her collarbone to her lips; she urgently turned her head away to dodge, her gaze showing clear rejection.
Lu Ziyan’s whole body went rigid, the heavy desire slowly fading.
“Wanwan, be good and don’t make a fuss with me, alright?”
Xie Wanning took a deep breath. “Must we do this?”
………..
Lu Ziyan held her in his arms and carried her back to the bed, only then noticing that her lip had been bitten to draw blood.
He held her jaw and looked for a moment, frowning as he said, “What are you putting up with? If you shout, who besides me would dare to listen?”
When they were alone, there was never anyone waiting outside the door; hot water was delivered at set times.
Xie Wanning turned her head slightly and panted, saying nothing.
Lu Ziyan then lowered his head to kiss her lips.
Having spent too long in the military camp, he had inevitably picked up some roguish air; it was fine on ordinary days, but now in his anger, he was speaking without restraint.
Xie Wanning’s face showed embarrassment at his words; she turned her head, but her jaw was gripped by the man on top of her.
“Didn’t you used to call me Brother Ziyan?” Lu Ziyan said in a husky voice. “Call it a couple times for me to hear.”
Xie Wanning closed her eyes and made no sound; it had been a very, very long time since she had called him that, let alone in a scene like this.
The young lady who had once been utterly compliant toward him seemed to be changing in her feelings, and a flash of irritation passed through Lu Ziyan’s gaze.
Lu Ziyan smoothed her sweat-dampened temple locks with his hand, lowered his eyes to gaze at the young lady in his arms, and was silent for a long time.
In the end, he lowered his head to kiss her reddened eyelids, as if softly coaxing her.
“Two years; wait just a bit longer…… At latest in two years, I will definitely give you an explanation.”
Wait for what?
While he was inside her body, upon hearing this, Lu Ziyan began to suspect once more whether this world was truly the same as the one he was from.
Why did it seem like this world’s version of himself had encountered some person or matter he greatly dreaded.
Because of some hidden reason, he was forced to do these things that neglected her.
Could it be that there was an enemy secretly targeting him, and to confuse the other’s line of sight, he had put on this show of neglect?
Begging for red-sleeved monthly tickets~~~
