Луна ярко светит над пустынными горами, а небо усеяно цветами

Глава 16

"You're bullying me," Huan'er said coquettishly, obediently not daring to rub her whiskers. However, Shi Wuji seemed to become curious about the size of her feet. He cupped one of her lotus feet in his palm; although slightly smaller than his palm, it was still a pair of perfectly sized feet.

"You didn't bind your feet! Why?"

"Thank goodness I didn't. That's an inhumane practice, and I probably escaped this fate because my status wasn't high enough. Wuxia didn't either! Thank goodness." Her breath was sweet and fragrant, and her eyes were full of coquettish charm.

“If her parents were still alive, she wouldn’t be able to resist clinging to them. In these extraordinary times, coupled with the fact that she grew up with her brother without any women by her side, she neglected many things that she should have paid attention to.” He said with some emotion.

Huan'er rolled over and lay on top of him, her eyes wide open.

"You mean you prefer my bound feet? I'm sorry, but I don't like your opinion. It hurts! It hurts a hundred times more than wearing ill-fitting shoes. And it's terrifying to bind perfectly good feet into such a weird shape. Try it yourself someday, you won't be able to stand it. I think the ancients who invented foot binding and insisted that 'three-inch golden lotuses' were beautiful must have been saying that because they couldn't attract women or find wives. Do you think a pair of feet turned into big meat dumplings would be beautiful?"

He smiled and kissed her lips.

“I don’t know if others look good, but your feet are like jade carvings, beautiful enough. With your personality, bound feet are not suitable for you, they look just right as they are.” His hands were still wandering over her body.

Huan'er stopped speaking, leaning languidly against him, enjoying the feeling of being kissed. She couldn't resist reaching out to knead his chest with her small hand. His firm muscles were warm and powerful, like iron blocks lined with velvet, brimming with boundless strength. It was strange; Northerners were mostly broad-shouldered, tall, and imposing. Southerners were different; they tended to be more refined and scholarly, and if they were good-looking, they were merely "pretty." They lacked that rugged, unrestrained quality. This was true for men, but what about women? Southern girls were just like that in their appearance; what about Northerners? Wuxia had bright eyes and white teeth, delicate and beautiful, but she was only half a head taller than Huan'er. Yet Wuxia said she didn't look like a Northern woman. Northern women were tall, athletic, and strong… In comparison, she, Su Huan'er, apart from a pretty face, was… rather unremarkable.

"Compared to the beauties of the North, my appearance is not outstanding."

“Absolutely stunning, that face, that body…” His hands were like fire, igniting flames inch by inch on her body as they moved over her. Huan’er’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounded, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably… She looked up, her eyes filled with affection. “You forced me into this first.” Her husband didn’t answer, only his predatory eyes flashed as he assaulted her again, proving it completely with his actions…

Huan'er hadn't meant it that way. She had originally planned to ask him many questions while they were alone in the room! Keeping all those questions bottled up inside would suffocate her. But tonight, he was a beast with insatiable desires, possessing all the rights that belonged to him. In the exhausting pleasure, her consciousness was finally conquered by sleep, and after their lovemaking, she fell into a deep sleep, nestled in his arms.

He was captivated by her baby-soft skin, and Shi Wuji lingered on her neck, which was covered in hickeys. Huan'er's figure was not exactly voluptuous, but no body had ever driven him so wildly and completely into his passion. Not even the renowned courtesan Ma Xianmei, as beautiful as a peach blossom. As the top courtesan of the North, Ma Xianmei was not only beautiful. She was skilled in dance, music, calligraphy, and painting, and every smile and gesture exuded charm. She had captivated countless noblemen and romantic figures. Although it was never officially announced, everyone knew that Ma Xianmei was Shi Wuji's confidante. Only Shi Wuji could be her intimate lover; others could only admire from afar. Her beauty gave her excessive confidence, leading her to believe that, given Shi Wuji's wealth and power, she could not afford to marry a courtesan as her principal wife and would surely secure her position as his concubine, winning his favor and ultimately making him hers.

Unfortunately, her wishful thinking backfired. He had never promised her anything, nor had he ever asked her to remain celibate only for him. Before marrying Huan'er, he genuinely didn't mind keeping Ma Xianmei as a concubine for life, after all, she was truly devoted to him. Now, Shi Wuji didn't think so anymore! Only Huan'er was the one he wanted. This little woman had captured all his attention. An inexplicable feeling within him always brought immense joy whenever he saw Huan'er. Every smile and frown was filled with his delight.

He kissed his sleeping wife again and again, whispering softly:

"Don't betray me, little thing, don't betray me..."

The dark and arduous years of the past twenty-eight years have forced him to harden and become ruthless. Before the enemy is defeated, all the self-imposed pressure has made him who he is today—dark and cold.

From the moment he first met this little thing, her every move and charming appearance made him unconsciously happy. She could make him happy and completely relax. No one else could make him feel this way.

He won't let her go! No matter if she's here as an undercover agent or to steal something from him! For the rest of her life, she can never leave his side again; because—he's determined to have her.

She couldn't believe she'd slept until late morning. No! Even worse, she didn't wake up until after noon! As the young mistress of the Shi family, such behavior would surely make the servants laugh at her! Why didn't Shi Wuji wake her? She hadn't slept much last night either; strictly speaking, she'd only slept about eight hours, and she was still exhausted. Not just exhausted, her whole body ached terribly—see! The result of indulgence.

The two middle-aged women who came to comb her hair and change her clothes reportedly waited outside the door for two hours until she woke up. What a sin! What embarrassed Huan'er the most was that her clothes couldn't cover the bruises all over her neck.

"Madam is so beautiful, no wonder the master dotes on her," said the older woman, her voice filled with envy. Another woman's tone was even more envious.

"He told us this morning not to wake the lady! The master has visited the ranch dozens of times over the years, and no one has ever seen him with a kind expression. But when he talks about the lady, his eyes are so tender, it's almost blatant. We all say, the master married the right woman!"

Huan'er smiled, not knowing how to respond, and asked softly: