Смертная любовь в эпоху Северной Сун

Глава 16

A strange feeling spread through his entire body. Suddenly, he felt an urge to pull her into his arms, and he simply followed his impulse, scooping up the still trembling and cowering Rongyue in her unconscious state, and gently holding her in his embrace. Her cold, soft body stirred a flutter in his heart. For the first time, he realized that she wasn't so hateful, so repulsive after all. In her sleep, she was like a child yearning for a warm embrace, quiet and peaceful, without any fierceness or sharp teeth, so docile that one couldn't help but feel tenderness and affection for her.

His hand had unknowingly slid to Rongyue's lips, wet and soft, making him unable to let go. He caressed them gently like a lover, touching every inch of her lips, rubbing every corner. Dongfang Lie's black eyes gradually darkened, a terrifying storm gathering within them, while a familiar heat began to surge in his lower abdomen.

Damn it, what kind of spell did this woman cast on him! Just touching her lips was enough to rekindle his desire that had just subsided!

He quickly withdrew his hand, turned his face away, closed his eyes, and exhaled a long breath...

Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Twenty-Two: The Delusional Madman

In her dream, Liu Rongyue's memories rushed towards her like a fleeting montage, from the moment she could remember at age three until her untimely death at fifteen. Her life unfolded like a dramatic movie, replaying in her mind. Her mother had truly been poisoned. She still remembered that cruel moment: her mother's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the jade wine pot in Liu Zhiyi's hand, then burst into maniacal laughter—a bittersweet, resolute laugh: "The Liu family is truly a bunch of filthy beasts! I curse you all, I curse you all to meet a terrible end!! You just wait and see, Heaven does have eyes after all!! Hahaha—" Snatching the wine pot from his hand, her mother drank the wine in one gulp amidst her maniacal laughter. Instantly, horrifying blood streamed down her lips, stinging Rongyue's eyes and breaking her heart…

A tear silently slid down Rongyue's pale cheek. Did she hate her? Perhaps. Having absorbed the original owner's memories, she felt them deeply, retaining some of the original owner's emotions. Who was she now? Rongyue? Or Jian Dan? Or a combination of Rongyue and Jian Dan? Perhaps even she herself didn't understand! But whether she was Rongyue or Jian Dan, since heaven had granted her a second chance at rebirth, it meant she had to discard her past memories, everything from the past, and start anew! Yes, discard the past, live a new life; now she was simply herself!

Wiping away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes, Rongyue smiled contentedly. From now on, she would live for herself!

"What are you laughing at?" Doesn't this woman know how hard he was trying to hold back while applying the medicine? How dare she still show such a 'licentious' smile! Is she really trying to seduce him? (Xianxian: Licentious? Perhaps it's your own impure thoughts that are being misinterpreted?)

A deep, low voice suddenly came from behind her, startling her. Looking closely, she saw Dongfang Lie behind her, his peach blossom eyes narrowed, looking at her with displeasure. Only then did she realize that her upper body was completely naked, and a large, cold hand was roaming over her back, sending shivers down her spine wherever it touched.

"What are you doing?!" Rongyue jumped out of bed and glared at Dongfang Lie warily, while his hand holding the medicine stood awkwardly in mid-air.

"come over!"

"I...I am your brother's wife..."

"Don't make me say it a second time!"

How could there be such a person! He even dared to lay a hand on his own sister-in-law! Rongyue glared at him with a face full of shame and indignation, but remained wrapped in the quilt and huddled in the corner of the bed, unmoved.

Rongyue's wary demeanor greatly displeased Dongfang Lie. He raised his eyebrows and curled his lips into a mocking smile: "What, are you shy? You've gone to great lengths just to climb into my bed! Now that you're almost there, why are you still acting all coy! I don't really like this 'playing hard to get' act. If you want my favor, I advise you to take the initiative!"

"I went to great lengths?" Rongyue's eyes widened, and she pointed at herself in astonishment as she asked.

"You won't admit it?" Dongfang Lie leaned closer to Rongyue, his tall frame casting a large shadow over her. "In the dead of night, instead of resting in your palace, you ran around in the pouring rain with your injuries, and 'coincidentally' startled me. Then you feigned madness and pitifulness to gain my sympathy and attention, hoping to achieve your goal of winning my favor. Liu Rongyue, am I wrong? At first, I was genuinely fooled. I really thought you'd suffered some kind of shock and gone mad! But when you opened your eyes, you smiled lewdly—what else could it be but trying to seduce me! I never expected that after all this time you still wouldn't give up. I thought..." "Is it really that good, worth all this fuss and obsession? Oh, perhaps it should be said that the Empress's position is your ultimate goal! After all, you two sisters have been at odds since childhood, and Xu'er took your original position. Naturally, you're resentful, so you're still determined to take her place, aren't you? Heh, I knew it all! I understand you women's minds perfectly well! Liu Rongyue, if you want to surpass your sister, you'll have to put in a lot more effort on me. Don't say I won't give you a chance; if you truly satisfy me, perhaps I really will… Heh, do you understand what I mean?"

Rongyue was stunned, staring at Dongfang Lie's thin lips as they moved, unable to recover for a long time. Had this emperor developed delusions? How could he have such absurd thoughts! Was she feigning madness? Was she smiling lewdly at him? Was she going to defeat her sister and become empress?! This idea was too unbelievable, too terrifying!

Rongyue pulled the blanket tighter around herself and shrank a few inches further into the corner. It's best to keep your distance from this delusional person!

"Didn't I make my words clear enough!" With one hand, Dongfang Lie pulled Rongyue, who was huddled in the corner of the bed, and his wicked peach blossom eyes narrowed dangerously again. His piercing gaze went straight into Rongyue's eyes, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"Huh? Oh, I understand..." She did understand. Based on his own subjective speculation, he categorized her as a scheming and lewd woman.

"Then what are you waiting for!"

"Wait...wait for what..." She repeated like a parrot, completely unable to follow his train of thought.

Dongfang Lie's patience had been worn down to nothing. He pulled a gleaming dagger from the sole of his boot and, to Rong Yue's horrified gaze, swiftly sliced the tightly wrapped blanket into countless strips of cloth and flying catkins...

"Ah--" Rongyue quickly shrank into a ball to reduce her exposed area. Her eyes blazed with intense fire, spitting it energetically at the arrogant Dongfang Lie.

After wiping the dagger clean, Dongfang Lie placed it back on the sole of his boot. Glancing at the humiliated and furious Rong Yue, Dongfang Lie chuckled, "What are you waiting for? Come and please me!"

"Please you? I'm your sister-in-law!"

“Sister-in-law,” Dongfang Lie chewed on the three words with sarcasm, his large, well-defined hand lightly lifting Rongyue’s chin: “So, my dear sister-in-law, you came to seduce me in the middle of the night just to emphasize that you are my sister-in-law? Don’t you find that ridiculous?”

"Whether you believe it or not, Your Majesty, I absolutely did not intend to seduce you! What happened today was truly a coincidence..."

"Coincidence? The coincidences in this world are truly unbelievable, my dear sister-in-law?" Dongfang Lie emphasized the words "sister-in-law," sounding as if he were gritting his teeth.

"If you insist that this is a trick I played on purpose, then I have nothing to say."

"Liu Rongyue, my patience is finite! I'll ask you one last time, who are you..."

"I will never betray Brother Yao!"

Dongfang Lie stiffened for a moment, but then feigned disdain, shoved Rongyue's chin away, jumped off the bed, and looked down at Rongyue: "Remember what you said today! Also, I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it. Don't regret it later!"

He turned and strode quickly towards the palace gate. He dared not look back, afraid that if he did, he would regret his decision…

"Liu Rongyue, do you know what you're doing?!" Dongfang Lie gasped, gritting his teeth as he roared at Rongyue, who was hugging him from behind. Her soft, cotton-like body exuded a faint pear blossom fragrance; he wondered what kind of intoxicating pleasure such a body must taste like... Damn it, was this woman born to torment him?!

"No! You can't leave now!" If he leaves, and the old witch gets the news and finds this place, she'll be doomed!

"Liu Rongyue, I am not a saint!"

"Huh? Ah!" With a startled cry, Rongyue hurriedly withdrew her hands, crossed them in front of her chest, and immediately squatted down. Damn it, she had been so focused on getting out of bed to stop him from leaving that she had forgotten she was still naked! How utterly shameful!

"You regret it? You want me now?" His suppressed lust made his voice exceptionally sexy and alluring, and his seductive peach blossom eyes shone with a hidden light, appearing even more bewitching in the flickering candlelight.

Seeing that Dongfang Lie was about to turn his head again, Rongyue quickly stopped him, saying, "Don't turn your head yet! Your Majesty, what Rongyue means is, could you please let Rongyue leave the palace and return to her residence first?"

"Back to the manor? Now? Are you sure?" Dongfang Lie looked suspiciously at the torrential rain outside the palace, glancing sideways at Rongyue who was squatting on the ground, and asked tentatively.

"Yes, now!" If we don't leave now, we might lose our lives!

"Since you insist... very well, someone, escort the Princess back to her residence!"

Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Twenty-Three: First Arrival in the Port City

He misses his wife so much! He's only been away from her for a day, and he's so anxious he feels restless all over. He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, his mind filled with images of her. He wonders if she misses him as much as he misses her. Last night he planned to go to the palace to fetch her, but fate intervened; a sudden downpour enraged the thunder, and the deafening roar of thunder kept him from venturing out. Thankfully, this morning the sun finally chased away the thunder, and he can finally leave the palace to find his wife!

Honey, your brother Yao has come to take you home!

Skipping and hopping along the winding corridors of the palace, Dongfang Yao hurried happily toward his elder brother's bedchamber.

"Greetings, Your Highness." The guards at the gate quickly bowed and paid their respects upon seeing Dongfang Yao.