Qin Yiqing returned to her residence like a wandering spirit, utterly dejected.
She had not joined Yun Shu and the others at the General's mansion, finding it too restrictive. She planned to stay with them for a while once she had enjoyed her fill of freedom in the capital.
Just as she pushed open the door.
The door swung open.
She looked at the person standing before her, and her pupils suddenly constricted.
"You..."
Ji Rong gazed at Qin Yiqing's panic and helplessness upon seeing him, even her desire to flee. He sighed softly, "Come in first."
Qin Yiqing bit her lip and glanced to either side.
There was no one on the road, and the sky had truly darkened completely.
Had it gotten this dark without her realizing?
Could it be midnight?
Seeing Qin Yiqing's obvious distraction, or perhaps her thoughts wandering, Ji Rong grabbed her hand.
At the same time, he lowered his head.
Qin Yiqing belatedly widened her eyes.
He, he, he!
However, a reaction from the depths of her soul made her unable to push him away.
The two moved from the doorway into the room.
Subsequently, the room was in disarray.
Clothes were torn to shreds.
Another night of unrestrained passion.
Someone closed the courtyard gate for them.
Ruan Xi involuntarily gave a thumbs-up, "Ji Rong is more formidable than me!"
With this accomplished, he wondered how Qin Yiqing could possibly escape now.
Yun Shu leaned against a nearby wall, her foot coincidentally stepping on a pebble. She kicked it away, saying, "Let's go."
She suspected Ji Rong had planned this entire affair on their way.
"We worried for them for nothing. Ji Rong is truly Ji Rong," Ruan Xi tutted a few times.
If it had been someone else inside, he might have even been tempted to jump onto the roof and offer a spectacle. After all, a show was a show.
But with Ji Rong and Qin Yiqing inside, and Yun Shu accompanying them, he didn't dare.
Yet, his heart felt a stir of curiosity.
"Shall I escort you back to the General's mansion?" Ruan Xi asked.
Yun Shu glanced at Ruan Xi, seemingly discerning his restless state and knowing where he would head after parting. She waved her hand, "Scram."
"Alright! I've had too much going on these past couple of days. I need to seek some pleasure and relax!" Ruan Xi left quickly.
He seemed utterly eager.
Yun Shu's lips twitched. Old habits die hard. Ruan Xi would never escape his hedonistic ways. Fortunately, Gu Zhiruo harbored no feelings for him, otherwise, Ruan Xi would have made Gu Zhiruo toss and turn in a hot oil pan daily.
She started walking in the direction of the General's mansion.
There were few pedestrians on the road. She wore a veil, so there was no need to worry about being recognized.
She was not very familiar with the capital of Xixia.
As she walked, she found herself in a district of vibrant nightlife.
She crossed her arms and watched the lively scene before her with great interest.
This was the most bustling area in the entire capital.
Just as she was about to take another path,
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared before her.
Yun Shu stopped in her tracks, narrowing her eyes slightly as she watched the man, flanked by two seductive women, enter a pleasure house.
The reason this man made her stop so abruptly was that he was an acquaintance.
It was Zhen Lin.
Yun Shu raised an eyebrow slightly.
She glanced up at the plaque of the pleasure house, then took a step back, melting into the night, her figure vanishing without a trace.
Zhen Lin, who had just stepped into the pleasure house, felt a gaze fall upon him at that very moment.
He stopped.
He turned and looked into the seemingly endless alley.
It was empty.
Was he mistaken?
He let out a cold laugh. He had thought the person secretly watching him was Yun Shu. How could that be possible?
He gave a self-mocking laugh.
Had he not yet accepted the reality even now?
In this lifetime, there was no possibility between them.
Turning around, he buried himself in the surrounding merriment.
Meanwhile, Princess Ningde, who had been suffering from severe headaches, had just drunk a bowl of medicine.
After taking the medicine, her headache subsided, and she even felt a bit drowsy.
Just as she was drifting off, she heard some noise from outside the door.
She opened her eyes.
"Your Highness, the Heir Apparent has gone to a pleasure house again."
Upon hearing this, Princess Ningde's nascent drowsiness vanished entirely.
She sat up. "Good, I understand. You may withdraw."
"Yes."
In the room, the candlelight had been extinguished, and the outside was quiet.
But Princess Ningde could no longer sleep.
She had never expected that her brother, whom she thought had finally come to his senses and knew what he needed to do, would be so unrestrained these past two days!
He had completely changed.
In the span of just two or three days,
The place he once scorned had now become his haunt for two consecutive days.
He lavished affection upon the women in the pleasure house.
She took a deep breath and bit her lip tightly.
Perhaps indulgence was not a bad thing. At the very least, it could help let go of obsessions. And the day after tomorrow...
The day after tomorrow, she would see Yun Shu again.
And Yun Shu would openly meet Zhan Tianye under everyone's gaze.
Princess Ningde suddenly clutched her quilt.
A tremor of unease rippled through her heart.
What would the scene be like the day after tomorrow?
...
The next day.
Early morning.
Qin Yiqing rubbed her eyes groggily, just about to get out of bed as she lifted the quilt.
Suddenly, a chill wind swept over her body.
She looked down sharply.
Seeing the marks that made her eyes widen in disbelief, the events of the previous night flooded back to her.
She abruptly looked to the side of the bed.
The man who had tormented her so much last night was nowhere to be seen.
She never would have imagined it!
The elegant Ji Rong had... had... become the most savage wolf last night.
Instantly, Qin Yiqing's face turned crimson. She fumbled to get out of bed and hastily put on the clothes that had been neatly folded and placed aside.
As she fumbled, she couldn't figure out why, even though they were her own clothes, she couldn't put them on properly.
Her legs trembled, and she couldn't stand steady.
Her entire body felt as if it had been dismantled and reassembled, unresponsive to her will.
When had she ever been so disheveled!
Just as she was about to fall, a figure entered.
And quickly came to her side.
"I'll help you dress."
The man's slender hand fell upon her sash and tied it gently and carefully.
Qin Yiqing's entire face flushed red. She dared not look at him, "You... you... I can do it myself!"
What had happened last night?
Why hadn't they said a word, and then they were in the room?
And then...
And then the fire had started?
She looked up and happened to see the mark on Ji Rong's Adam's apple.
She took a step back abruptly.
Had she done that?
Ji Rong watched Qin Yiqing's flustered state, her pretty face flushed red, and his heart softened. "Yiqing, are you shy?"