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Chapitre 34

"What? You think I can't do anything to you if you don't open your mouth?"

Dongfang Lie's chilling question made Rongyue's already pounding heart sink even further! She touched her sleeve—empty, lacking the familiar, cold, hard texture of her beloved needles! Damn it! Because she feared Chu Xuyao would notice something amiss, she had never carried needles with her since entering the palace! Now, what was she to do? Given Dongfang Lie's martial arts prowess, she never thought he wouldn't be able to force her to talk!

Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Forty-One: Jealousy

The night is deep and silent, the sounds of nature are still.

The glass lamps hanging on the eaves of the palace had all gone out, and in an instant, the Qiankun Palace, which was filled with ambergris incense, was plunged into an endless darkness.

On the dragon bed covered with bright yellow snow silk, Dongfang Lie and Rong Yue faced each other, their gazes clashing in mid-air, occasionally sparking terrifying flashes of light.

Rongyue, completely immobilized by Dongfang Lie, could only grip his left hand tightly as he held the medicine, her nerves on edge, not daring to relax for even a second, lest this wicked hand take advantage of her vulnerability. Dongfang Lie, on top of her, looked at her with mockery, his slightly upturned lips seemingly laughing at her futile attempt to stop him.

"Dongfang Lie, you actually resorted to such despicable and underhanded means to deal with a weak woman. You are unworthy of being a ruler!" Rongyue's almond-shaped eyes widened in anger as she stared unflinchingly into Dongfang Lie's equally fiery gaze.

Ignoring Rongyue's accusations, Dongfang Lie slightly channeled his inner energy, his moist lips curving into a mocking smile once more: "Will you take it and swallow it yourself, or shall I feed it to you?"

Dongfang Lie's internal force caused her palms and her entire arm to ache as if pricked by needles! Rongyue bit her lower lip, enduring the sudden pain, but her hands still stubbornly gripped his wrists, refusing to yield an inch.

Little did she know, the more stubborn a woman is, the more she can ignite a man's desire to conquer her! Her inner strength surged once more, and a powerful pressure instantly spread from her palms across her arms, rapidly heading towards her internal organs!

Forcing down the hot, moist liquid that kept rising in her throat, Rongyue's face was deathly pale, but her expression remained resolute and stubborn.

Enraged by Rong Yue's stubbornness, Dongfang Lie failed to notice her unusual behavior. In his fury, three-tenths of his powerful inner force burst forth, directly attacking Rong Yue, whose skin was pressed against his! Almost simultaneously, a terrifying jet of red blood shot straight towards Dongfang Lie's horrified face!

"Liu Rongyue!" Dongfang Lie hurriedly withdrew his inner strength, not having time to wipe the bloodstains from his face, and frantically cupped Rongyue's pale and cold face.

A vast expanse of white stretched before her, neither mist nor smoke, like the dreamlike clouds and mist on the road to heaven… In a daze, Rongyue seemed to see her beloved brother Yao, dressed in a white suit, his handsome face still bearing the same doting and loving smile, gently waving to her in the clear white light…

Her lips, devoid of color, parted, tears glistening in Rongyue's eyes, yet she still smiled with a look of blissful contentment. "Brother Yao, you've finally come to take the orders... Do you know how long Dandan has waited for this moment..."

Struggling, she raised her hand and slowly reached out towards the white, luminous light that she so longed for…

Rongyue's expression inexplicably reminded Dongfang Lie of the phrase "a final burst of energy before death." His hands trembling, Dongfang Lie fearfully helped her up, quickly turning her body around and placing his broad palms on her back…

Inside Ran Yue Palace, Chu Xuyao gripped the secret report in his hand, his eyes filled with a sinister and cold expression.

That old scoundrel actually colluded with the Southern Sha Kingdom! No wonder our army was completely wiped out in the Battle of Yuling; it turns out it was you, this traitor, who betrayed our country and gave away all the topographical maps of our borders to the Southern Sha Kingdom as a gift! 130,000 of our brave warriors died tragically on the battlefield because of this traitor who sold out his country for personal gain, becoming lonely, wronged ghosts! His heart is despicable, his actions are heinous, even skinning him alive would not quell the hatred!!

With a wave of his hand, the sandalwood table in front of him shattered! You old scoundrel, did you think you could escape punishment just because you fled to the Southern Kingdom? You've seriously underestimated Dongfang Lie!

Chu Xuyao gave a sinister smile, forcefully flicked his robe, and strode towards the Qiankun Palace...

"Has His Majesty finished court?" Chu Xuyao asked coldly, his cold gaze sweeping over the two guards with swords standing outside the palace gate.

The two guards looked at each other, their faces showing difficulty, unsure of how to answer.

The guards' silence made Chu Xuyao's cold eyes narrow: "I'm asking you a question!"

The icy tone sent a chill down their spines. Without daring to delay, one of them quickly interjected, "Reporting to Lord Chu, His Majesty... hasn't gotten up yet..."

"Not up yet?!" Chu Xuyao glanced at the sun, which was already high in the sky, a look of suspicion appearing on his cold face. Although Lie was fond of women, he wouldn't be addicted to them, much less let them ruin the country! Why is he like this today…?

"Which concubine served me last night?" Could it be that the concubine used some kind of seductive arts to bewitch Lie?

A suspicious blush appeared on the guard's face: "Before the fourth watch it is Consort Lian, after the fourth watch..." The guard paused and fell silent.

"Who is it?" Lie was really in high spirits, actually sleeping with two women in one night! Heh, no wonder... Chu Xuyao smiled knowingly.

The guard who answered lowered his head even further: "Yes... Your Highness..."

The smile on his face vanished without a trace in an instant!

With his chest heaving violently, Chu Xuyao suddenly felt that the air today was so oppressive and stifling that he could hardly breathe!

The sunlight today is so damn glaring, it's so irritating, and all he wants to do is swing his sword and kill someone!

Dongfang Lie actually touched her! He touched her, he touched her!! How could he!!

Chu Xuyao's face was hard with jealousy and hatred as he stared intently at the tightly closed, lacquered red wooden door. His large, iron hand slammed towards the door like the wind...

But... what does it matter to him what happens between Lie and her? Yes, what does that woman have to do with him! Why should he be angry, why should he be furious? Just as his iron palm was about to touch the wooden door, he suddenly pulled it back, his five strong fingers slowly curling into a hard iron fist, which hung heavily at his side.

Trying to calm his breathing, Chu Xuyao glanced at the vermilion gate with feigned indifference, then abruptly turned around and hurried back as if afraid of regretting it.

Their adultery is their business, it has nothing to do with him! He won't feel uncomfortable or angry! The one who should be angry and annoyed is that foolish prince! His own woman has done something illicit with his own brother, cuckolding him, is he supposed to be angry for this outsider like him?

That woman usually acts like a virtuous nun, but the moment she turns her back on her husband, she can't wait to get into another man's bed, writhing and pleasuring herself beneath him! That damned woman, is she really that eager for a man?! If she can't stand being alone, why doesn't she come to him? Is he any less than Dongfang Lie?!

Blinded by jealousy, Chu Xuyao was completely unaware that his thoughts had strayed from their original course! With a face twisted with resentment, Chu Xuyao suddenly stopped, turned around angrily, and charged back towards the palace amidst the astonished and probing gazes of the guards!

That woman, Lie cannot touch! Absolutely not! Because…because that woman is the daughter of that old scoundrel Liu Zhiyi! Yes, that's it! That old scoundrel is a traitor, his crimes are unforgivable, so his daughter, Lie, cannot be touched!

Lifting his foot, Chu Xuyao kicked open the palace door with the force of a thunderbolt. With a loud bang, he stormed into the magnificent palace, his anger or perhaps jealousy blazing within him.

Inside the semi-transparent, bright yellow gauze curtains, a pair of lovebirds slept, their necks intertwined. Dongfang Lie's robes were half-open, revealing his perfect, muscular physique. His long arms were wrapped around the shoulders of the beautiful woman in his arms, intimate and suggestive. The woman nestled comfortably against his chest, natural and relaxed. A smile graced her face, her expression one of contentment and happiness. Chu Xuyao, standing nearby, could easily imagine the tender care she had received from Dongfang Lie just hours before…

"Dongfang Lie! Get up now!" The earth-shaking roar made even the roof beams tremble several times.

Dongfang Lie weakly raised his eyelids, waving his hand as if he hadn't quite grasped the situation: "Didn't I say I wouldn't attend the morning court session? Get out of here, I'm exhausted..."

Exhausted?! Looking at Dongfang Lie, whose face was pale and who was weak and powerless, Chu Xuyao naturally thought of another meaning.

With bloodshot eyes like an enraged wolf, Chu Xuyao slammed his iron fist down hard on the dragon bed! With one punch, a loud bang was heard, and the dragon bed suddenly dropped, causing Dongfang Lie and Rong Yue to fall simultaneously from the one-meter-high dragon bed and land!

Uh, was there an earthquake...?

With great effort, Rongyue pulled open her tightly stuck-on eyelids, her large almond-shaped eyes staring blankly at the slowly descending bed ceiling above her. A terrifying thought flashed through her muddled mind—it really was an earthquake!