Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Could You Bear It?

The autumn night air was bitterly cold. As soon as Sheng Zhi Wan stepped out of Tao Ran House, her frail body shuddered.

An Zhi was just regretting that she had not brought a cloak when a sweep of black fabric brushed past her and settled over Sheng Zhi Wan’s shoulders.

An Zhi frowned and tried to refuse: “This…”

But Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes were half closed, half open. Without thinking, Sheng Zhi Wan drew the cloak tighter and curled up inside it, shrinking into the warmth.

Seeing that, An Zhi swallowed the words she had been about to say. Nothing mattered more than the Princess’s health. An Zhi lowered her voice and said, “Then thank you, Young Master Shang Er.”

Once they were in the carriage, Sheng Zhi Wan acted like a child after drinking. She quietly huddled in a corner and fell asleep.

By the time they returned to Duke Qi Manor, Shang Xing Yu was ready to take his leave. Sheng Zhi Wan only lifted her eyes lazily, gave a soft answer, and did not speak again.

An Zhi had no choice but to ask, “Young Master Shang Er, could we return this cloak another day?”

“Of course,” Shang Xing Yu replied.

He watched until the carriage entered the manor. Only when even the sound of the wheels over the ruts had faded did Shang Xing Yu turn away and disappear into the moonlight.

Qi Shu Xian still had not slept. The moment he heard Sheng Zhi Wan had returned, he went to find her and demand an explanation.

Yet when he arrived at Ping Lan Residence, what greeted him was silence. The little maids in the courtyard moved with careful hands as they carried away used hot water. When they saw Qi Shu Xian, they only bowed in hushed voices, as if afraid to disturb someone.

Qi Shu Xian’s brows tightened. “Where is Sheng Zhi Wan?” he demanded, reaching for the door.

Just then, the door opened. An Zhi and Ting Lan stepped forward, bowed, and blocked his way.

Ting Lan said softly, “Heir Apparent, the Princess only just came back. She was exhausted and has already gone to rest. If you have matters to discuss, perhaps tomorrow-”

“Move!” Qi Shu Xian snapped.

Fury burned in his chest. He had stayed awake waiting for Sheng Zhi Wan, but Sheng Zhi Wan had gone to sleep first.

“Heir Apparent…” An Zhi tried to stop him again.

Qi Shu Xian did not care. He shoved the door open and strode inside.

Hearing the noise, Sheng Zhi Wan opened her eyes in a daze. Dim light spilled over her smooth neck and collarbones. A flush lingered on her cheeks from the wine, and a warm, faint fragrance rose from the bedding. Even her blurred, shimmering gaze carried a different kind of charm.

The anger in Qi Shu Xian’s eyes dimmed. His throat suddenly felt dry.

Qi Shu Xian stepped forward and said, “Sheng Zhi Wan, didn’t you say we have not yet been husband and wife in truth? Today, I will grant you what you wanted!”

Before Sheng Zhi Wan could react, Qi Shu Xian scooped Sheng Zhi Wan up.

The last trace of Sheng Zhi Wan’s drunkenness vanished in an instant. Every hair on Sheng Zhi Wan’s body seemed to stand on end.

“Qi Shu Xian!” Sheng Zhi Wan struggled. “What are you doing? Let go of me!”

“I won’t,” Qi Shu Xian said. “We are husband and wife.”

At first, Qi Shu Xian had only been furious. Now, with Sheng Zhi Wan in his arms, feeling that soft waist that seemed as if it could snap with one bend, seeing that pale ear that looked almost translucent, the fire in Qi Shu Xian’s eyes surged higher and higher.

Sheng Zhi Wan clawed and kicked at Qi Shu Xian, struggling hard. But Qi Shu Xian was a man, and a military officer besides. Sheng Zhi Wan’s scratching and kicking only stirred his desire further.

“Let go of me!” Sheng Zhi Wan shouted. “Qi Shu Xian, you bastard! Let go!”

“I won’t!”

Qi Shu Xian held Sheng Zhi Wan tighter and said through clenched teeth, “Sheng Zhi Wan, you were the one who told everyone we have never been husband and wife. Didn’t you say you felt pitiful? Wronged? Fine. Today I will make sure you are no longer pitiful, no longer wronged.”

Qi Shu Xian’s voice turned colder. “Aren’t you jealous that Meng Yang is pregnant? I can give you a child too!”

With one hand like an iron clamp, Qi Shu Xian pinned Sheng Zhi Wan down. With the other, Qi Shu Xian tore at Sheng Zhi Wan’s clothes.

In an instant, the rosy inner layer was ripped away, exposing Sheng Zhi Wan’s smooth, snow-white shoulder.

Just as Qi Shu Xian tried to go further, Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly wrenched one hand free. Sheng Zhi Wan gathered all her strength and slapped Qi Shu Xian across the face.

Smack!

Qi Shu Xian did not dodge in time. The slap landed hard on Qi Shu Xian’s left cheek.

Sheng Zhi Wan truly used all her strength. When her palm came down, her own hand throbbed with pain.

Blood foamed at the corner of Qi Shu Xian’s mouth, but Qi Shu Xian did not feel it. The waves of heat rising in Qi Shu Xian’s lower abdomen made him lower himself and press Sheng Zhi Wan down even harder.

Qi Shu Xian’s face hovered right above Sheng Zhi Wan. From that close, Qi Shu Xian could see Sheng Zhi Wan’s beauty in full. Her flawless skin in the quiet room looked like fine porcelain left there for anyone to pluck at.

Qi Shu Xian stared and said, “Wasn’t it you who cried and starved yourself just to marry me? You hated that I did not touch you on our wedding night. You hated that I touched another woman. Now that I’m making it up to you, what are you pretending for?”

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes hardened. “But it doesn’t matter. Since you are my wife, you will be my wife for the rest of this life!”

Qi Shu Xian bent down, about to kiss Sheng Zhi Wan’s red lips.

Before Qi Shu Xian could get close, a cold dagger pressed tight against Qi Shu Xian’s Adam’s apple.

Sheng Zhi Wan clenched her teeth. “Qi Shu Xian, if you keep going, I don’t mind making you the first man to die in bed!”

Qi Shu Xian gave a cold laugh. “Hah. Could you bear it?”

Qi Shu Xian did not believe Sheng Zhi Wan would truly hurt Qi Shu Xian. Everything Sheng Zhi Wan had done, one thing after another, was only because of Meng Yang and anger toward him. If Sheng Zhi Wan did not love him, if Sheng Zhi Wan did not care about him, why would Sheng Zhi Wan have caused all this trouble?