Dritte Ehe

Kapitel 58

He searched with all his might, but still couldn't find that elegant figure. It was as if her initiative to approach him tonight and her rare banter with him were all fake, just like the sword she used to stab him—everything was done for a purpose!

Before I could even feel any emotion, my heart felt like it had been clenched and then torn apart in an instant.

"Do you never look back? Or do you think I would never take the initiative to contact you?"

A voice sounded behind him, a face close to his back, with a hint of amusement, "I never thought that the Third Prince, who is so powerful that everyone around him fears him, would have such an abandoned look on his face like a child. Seeing you like this, tonight was really not bad."

He grabbed her arm that was wrapped around his neck, this time holding it tightly. Even though she cried out in pain, he only used more force, pulling her through the crowd to a dark alley on the side of the street, and pushing her against the door panel of a house. The recessed doorway completely concealed their figures.

"Third Prince—uh—"

As he wrapped his arms around her, the sword fell to the ground, and his tall frame pressed down on her with a deep kiss!

His arrogance was solely focused on seizing her lips and tongue, a plundering that offered her no response whatsoever. The force with which he wrapped around her tongue was so intense, as if he were trying to pull it up completely, causing her to moan softly.

"How can I warn you—you are not allowed—you are absolutely not allowed to try this again—" he roared in a low voice, gripping her shoulders.

Ignoring his rage, she laughed and leaned on his shoulder.

"The Third Prince always plays with his prey repeatedly, but he can never resist a little joke from Shao Chu."

"Then let me, the prince, take over the little activity that was interrupted in the evening!"

"You—no, not here..." Seeing him reach for her clothes with lustful desire, Su Shaochu quickly blocked him. "I don't want, I don't want to be unable to leave this alley later." She knew very well how he had picked her up.

"If you can't get out, this prince can carry you. My dear brother still wants to go to the 'Fountain of Fate,' doesn't he?"

"Are you... serious?"

His eyes blazed brightly in the darkness, fixed intently on her without letting go.

“I’m already by your side, what’s a little longer… When we get back to Yunliu Pavilion, you can do whatever you want.” She swallowed, trying to suppress his desire, but his expression was so dangerous that her throat tightened, and she almost couldn’t speak. “Right now, not yet… okay?”

Her humble request made his eyes flicker. After a while, he slowly stepped back. Shao Chu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, only to see him suddenly step forward again.

"Third Prince!" Su Shaochu gasped in astonishment as he was suddenly pressed against the wall again, as his burning, erect penis pressed against her through her clothes.

“My dear brother, you're too complacent.” He laughed maliciously, his voice hoarse with desire. “This prince won't go all the way, but… I feel that you… you shouldn't have toyed with this prince like this…”

His large hand caressed her neck and chin, kissing her cheeks and slender neck, while his other hand gently caressed her delicate body through her clothes.

"Let me touch you, Shao Chu..."

"You... does that ferocious fellow have to act so recklessly, regardless of the time or place?" She was annoyed by his lustful teasing.

"Good boy, little brother, no matter how much you hate it or how angry you are at its monster-like ferocity, you should still let it get close to you. Otherwise, if you provoke this ferocious little guy, it will rush into your favorite place without hesitation."

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

"So, let's not provoke the big guys." He chuckled hoarsely. "Letting the little one snuggle up and kiss you is better than letting the big guys really attack!"

“One day, Shao Chu… will make your arrogance pay the price—” She bit his shoulder, suppressing the moan that almost escaped her lips.

"I have never dared to take your threat lightly, my beloved brother." He gave a wicked, seductive laugh, responding with intensified caresses.

***Exclusively produced by Fengmingxuan*** ***

As the night deepened, the bustling crowd had thinned out considerably, but the sounds of people coming and going remained constant. Soon, a familiar, urgent call rang out, causing the sleeping beauty to frown.

"Young Miss, Young Miss, wake up, get up!"

"Uh, it's you guys." She softened her eyes and stood up. "What happened to me?"

"When our men found you, they discovered you were asleep leaning against this big pillar."

When the guards saw her sleeping soundly against the pillar without any precautions, they were all terrified. If she encountered someone with ill intentions, it could lead to a major disaster.

"Really?" Huh? "I think I was talking to an old fortune teller, and then..." She scratched her head, but couldn't quite remember.

"Let's take Miss back to the inn first! Steward Yan just sent word that he has found the young master and young mistress and wants us all to go back to the inn first."

"I want to go find my father and mother too." Upon hearing the news about Zhu Yu and Su Shaochu, her eyes lit up, and her whole body perked up.

"Young Miss, you know very well how angry the master will be when he returns and finds out that you disobeyed and ran away, and even slept by the pillar." The leading guard quickly reassured her, afraid that she would run away again.

"Dad is so unfair, running off to play by himself. And Mom is... so annoying." She pursed her lips.

"Besides, if you go to find the master now and just pass by him, he'll be worried and angry when he gets back to the inn and doesn't see you. Let your subordinates protect you and get back first!"

"All right!"

Chapter Nine

"The Third Prince is young... and can walk on his own."

Ignoring public opinion, Zhu Yu tightly embraced Su Shaochu as soon as they emerged from the dark alley. To avoid attracting too much attention, she had to pretend to be uncomfortable and lean on him as they walked.

Fortunately, she was dressed as a woman today. Although others felt that her behavior was inappropriate in public, they probably still assumed that it was a man supporting his wife who was unwell. If she were dressed as a man, there would have been quite a commotion.

"No. With your impulsive and mischievous nature, do you think I would let you walk on your own?" He didn't want to see her disappear again. "Besides, I was so impulsive just now, I don't know if I... hurt you. If you can't move, I can carry you."

"Your wicked interests remain unchanged."

If the incident in the alley hadn't happened, he probably wouldn't have been so eager to go to the "Fountain of Fate".

“My dear brother always misunderstands me so deeply.” As if knowing what she was thinking, Zhu Yu suddenly leaned close to her ear, his words carrying a suggestive double entendre. “Or was it the little guy’s inappropriate ferocity that scared you? Don’t worry, when we get back, I’ll make it ‘go in’ and apologize properly.”

"To a fellow as ferocious as you, Third Prince, can Shao Chu say there's no need for such formalities?"

"Sigh! Is my brother rejecting the little guy, or the little guy's master?" It's necessary to understand this clearly before further communication. "To dispel your prejudices, this prince is happy to interact with the little guy day and night."

"The Third Prince truly lives up to his title of Prince Yingmo!" He can utter such arrogant and absurd words.

“Every time I see your aloof yet stubborn and cold gaze, it’s hard not to feel aroused. In the end, it’s because you are too attractive to be conquered.”

"Ahem, we've arrived at the old temple." She reminded him, interrupting his ambiguous remarks. "I remember the Third Prince said that we should let go when we get here."

On the slope ahead stands an ancient temple. Even at night, the two stone steps are still bustling with people, a testament to its enduring popularity.

"My dear brother insists that he does not need my kind offer of assistance..."

"Shao Chu thanks the Third Prince." Before he could finish speaking, she had already broken free.

"Ahem." Seeing that she was about to take a step forward, Zhu Yuqing cleared his throat. "I heard that someone expressed tonight that they wanted to take me to experience the folk temple market in return for making hairpins and giving me swords."

"It was Shao Chu's oversight." Su Shao Chu extended both hands, as if inviting him to take the place of a noble "royal relative." "Please, be careful when walking on these stone steps. They are not as wide as the Third Prince's mansion, nor as comfortable as the palace. They are steep and precipitous. After all, it is a small temple in the countryside. We never thought that a great Buddha would be here."

"Alas! My dear brother, you often make me feel that being born into the royal family, which everyone envies, is such an unforgivable sin."

"Alas! The fault lies with the person, not with their birth. If the Third Prince truly evokes such feelings in people, then he must have some real skill."

Zhu Yu's gaze swept across the area, and Su Shao immediately cleared his throat and turned to greet the people who came out of the old temple.

"Miss Liu."

A dozen or so girls walked out of the temple gate and came towards us, all dressed in the same apricot-yellow clothes.

"You..." Liu Tian'er looked at the elegant and refined woman before her with a puzzled expression. But when she met the woman's rare, clear and intelligent eyes, and saw Zhu Yu standing behind her, she understood and smiled. "How should I address you, Tian'er?"

Call me Shaochu!

"I'm afraid the people behind you... have something to say." She was clearly still shaken by Zhu Yu's indifferent gaze beside her, quickly lowering her head, not daring to meet his eyes. "I'll still call you Young Master; it'll suit me better."

"As long as Miss Tian'er doesn't mind this outfit, it's fine whether she's young or young."

"Young master is naturally handsome and refined, a quality rarely seen in either men or women. Whether dressed as a man or a woman, his charm remains undiminished."

"Your ability to judge character is useful for the pleasures of Green Bamboo Grove, not for this moment," Zhu Yu said coldly.

"What... what does this young master mean by that?" Liu Tian'er asked stiffly.

"Let's take this as his understanding of a woman of gentle and virtuous character."

"Is...is that what you mean?" Liu Tian'er frowned, looking puzzled. "Young Master seems to understand what he's saying quite well."

"Those who understand his words all have unavoidable circumstances and opportunities. Miss Liu is the lucky one who doesn't understand." It's precisely because she understands too much that she is in her current situation.

"My brother's way of speaking is getting better and better."

Faced with Zhu Yu's sarcasm, she could only clear her throat again. "Ahem, Miss Liu, are you here today to offer incense, or perhaps to seek a connection?"

"Besides accompanying a group of sisters for a walk, I also wanted to clear up any confusion in my mind."

"The question that has been bothering me? Could it be that Song Zishao is here today as well?"

Liu Tian'er lowered her head shyly. "You guessed everything, young master."

"The best way to express one's feelings is to keep them to oneself, and all I can do is offer my blessings to Miss Tian'er."

"My dear brother, before you offer your blessings to others, you should set an example for yourself first!"

"May I ask who this young master is...?"

"Hmm, Young Master Song is out." Su Shaochu immediately changed the subject.

Liu Tian'er turned around and greeted a man in a brown robe, and her sisters also stepped forward to greet him.

Song Zishao nodded to the girls surrounding him. At Liu Tian'er's prompting, he looked up and saw Su Shaochu with a puzzled expression. But when he saw Zhu Yu, he was completely shocked!

"Song Zishao, the son of Prefect Song who is in charge of the Jinghui City area?" Zhu Yu recalled that he had seen this young man who accompanied his father to the palace to meet the emperor two years ago.

Seeing that the other party was in a hurry to come over to perform the grand ceremony, Zhu Yu shook his head, implying that he did not want to reveal his identity in public. The other party hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, but did not come over.

"Steward Yan should have told you everything that happened at Green Bamboo Music Hall!"

"Song Zishao is a rare talent among the sons of officials who has mastered excellent swordsmanship. Judging from Pingfei's description, he has clearly improved since two years ago." Back then, it seemed that the young man's swordsmanship and physique were already well-developed, but he lacked the experience and sharpness of a true swordsman.

"I wonder if my dear brother has changed the subject several times in a row when faced with crucial questions, and if he plans to do it a few more times?"

"Sigh! At least we can play one more time. Look, Steward Yan is here." She pointed to a stone staircase below, where Yan Pingfei was leading his men up, clearly looking for his master.

"Since Steward Yan has come, let me speak with them alone for a few minutes!" Seeing Zhu Yu's frowning expression, Su Shaochu had no choice but to say, "They have feelings for each other. You should know from what Steward Yan said that they are already a couple. Giving them my blessings is not a taboo for you, Third Prince, is it?"

Hey, for the first time, she seriously guessed that Zhu Yu's blood must be acidic, since it was nourished entirely with vinegar.

"What blessing can't include having this prince by my side?"

"Given what you did recently, Third Prince, Miss Liu was terrified at first sight, and Song Zishao also knows your identity. Under these circumstances, unless you wanted to give the newlyweds a taste of 'fear,' your intentions are truly admirable," she said with a cool smile.