Xuan Ying removed his black coat and passed it to the maid, standing tall in the living room before he gave Shi Xiaoxiao a glance. “Do you have any problem comprehending things? Or are you just… pretending to be oblivious about things?”
Shi Xiaoxiao froze. “What do you mean?”
Xuan Ying’s inky eyes landed on Shi Xiaoxiao’s face and with a spurious smile, he said, “My father hasn’t told you about the many concubines at my Snow Mountain Residence?”
Shi Xiaoxiao’s face went totally pale. He was so straightforward with his words, he clearly didn’t care about her and was very distant. He should already know that she was South Duke’s designated daughter-in-law.
Taking a deep breath, Shi Xiaoxiao collected herself before she replied, “Silver Mask King, if you’re not interested in me, I can leave right now. My father is a great general who holds authority over a huge number of troops. He guards the most important borders. I know the reason why South Duke picked me, he’s trying to garner my father’s support.
“There are countless men who would come to my residence and ask my father for my hand in marriage. Though Silver Mask King does have as much power as the West Duke now, you’re still lacking something–a strong force having your back. I’ve laid my eyes on you out of so many men. If you marry me, my father’s power and influence will all belong to you and not belong to the South Duke. The Shi family will do everything… to make you King.”
Hearing those words, Xuan Ying’s face was filled with interest. He raised his brows, walking over in front of Shi Xiaoxiao.
Hm, she was an intelligent woman. Indeed, if he were to choose to enter a profit-motivated marriage, Shi Xiaoxiao was the best candidate.
Xuan Ying picked up her jaw. “If I do decide to marry you, what are you going to do with my concubines?”
The corners of Shi Xiaoxiao’s lips kicked up. “Those concubines are still going to stay even after you marry me…”
Xuan Ying was pretty satisfied with her answer.
“But… Feng Lingxue can’t stay,” Shi Xiaoxiao added on.
Xuan Ying narrowed his eyes, asking, “Oh?”
“I can accept my husband having other women, but I can never accept my husband loving another woman!”
…
Upstairs, in the master bedroom.
Feng Lingxue entered the bathroom, preparing the bath when the room door was pushed open and Mo Mo stepped inside.
“Miss Feng, this is your outfit for tonight.”
Feng Lingxue lifted her eyes and looked. It was a black negligee with thin straps, it was really sexy.
But she was on her period and couldn’t serve him.
“Miss Feng, Young Master should be getting married soon. West Duke has also taken the daughter of East Duke, Ye Ruge as his Duchess. A profit-motivated marriage is going to change the game, Young Master is bound to marry Miss Shi.
“I hope that you will know your place and will not expect anything more. As long as you serve Young Master well, even if he marries Miss Shi, he will continue to dote on you. It wasn’t easy for the Young Master to achieve his current status. If you really love him, you should give your blessings to him and Miss Shi, do you understand?”
As Feng Lingxue listened to her words, her soul seemed to dim a little.
Yes, she understood, she understood it all.
Mo Mo placed the negligee down and left the room.
As Feng Lingxue stood beside the bathtub, her gaze was on the water slowly filling the tub and she seemed to be in a daze. The sachet her father passed her was still inside her pocket. If she wasn’t going to poison him, Mu Mu would not be able to come back.
She had such a tragic childhood but now, Mu Mu was even more miserable than her. She really yearned to reunite with Mu Mu, to be a good mother and shower Mu Mu with all her love, but…
Brother Ying had done nothing wrong.
How could she harm him just because of her daughter?
One was Brother Ying and the other was Mu Mu, how could she even choose between the two?
What should she do?
She suddenly felt a broad, muscular chest in front of her. Someone hugged her and a familiar voice rang in her ears. “What are you thinking about?”
Feng Lingxue quickly got herself together. “I-I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
“Ha.” Xuan Ying held her in his arms, kissing her hair while murmuring beside her ear, “Are you thinking about… how to harm me?”
Feng Lingxue’s pupils contracted. She wasn’t good at lying and now that he had exposed her plans, her heart raced and she panicked. “I wasn’t!”
“Good that you weren’t.” Xuan Ying turned her around. “Even though you lied to me in the past, I’ve decided to give you one more chance. So long as you stay by my side and be good, there’s the chance that we can return to those olden days. I’ll still take you to those childish cable car rides in the future.”
What did he just say?
They could… return to those olden days?
He would take her to cable car rides in the future?
She hadn’t gone outside to have fun before, this was her first.
Feng Lingxue’s nose reddened, she asked, “Don’t you mind that… my virginity is gone?”
Xuan Ying pursed his lips. “Who did you lose your virginity to?”
Should she tell him?
She should just tell him.
Feng Lingxue, just tell him everything, tell him the truth. You don’t need to choose, you can just be greedy and have both Brother Ying and Mu Mu.
Brother Ying is capable of protecting you. He can help find Mu Mu for you, you don’t need to be so hard on yourself.
This voice resounded in Feng Lingxue’s ears over and over again. Her blood started turning warm, yes, go for it!
“I…”
“That’s enough!” Xuan Ying suddenly shouted, pursing his lips into a firm line. “I don’t want to hear anything more!”
Feeling as though there was a fishbone stuck in her throat, Feng Lingxue couldn’t say those words that she really wanted to tell him so badly.
She wanted to tell him that she had been raped three years ago…
She wanted to tell him that there wasn’t any auction on the day of her coming of age ceremony at all. The man in her room was… his father, the South Duke…
She wanted to tell him that his father had threatened her that night, that if she stepped out of the room, he would have someone kill Xuan Ying.
She also wanted to tell him, she had no other man in her life, other than that man who had raped her.
She wanted to tell him that she missed him. All of this time, she had missed him so much.
For these past three years, every day and night, there wasn’t a moment she would stop thinking about him.
But he said that he didn’t want to hear anything more.
Feng Lingxue looked at him, his face was somber and it was terrifying.
She didn’t dare say anything more. Her blood was all warm just a minute ago, but now it turned all cold and she didn’t dare mention Mu Mu’s existence. He would never tolerate her daughter’s existence.
But she had given birth to Mu Mu, she was her blood and flesh.
“Since I’ve decided to give you another chance, don’t mention anything of the past,” he said.
“Will you… marry Miss Shi?” she asked.
Xuan Ying remained expressionless, merely answering, “I haven’t decided yet.”
He then leaned over, wanting to kiss her red lips.
But Feng Lingxue turned her head, dodging him. He hadn’t managed to kiss her.
The bathtub was filled with warm water and the bathroom was filled with steam, but the atmosphere was icy cold.
Xuan Ying pursed his lips into a firm line. “Turn your head back!”
Feng Lingxue didn’t move.
“You need me to repeat myself?” He grabbed her jaw.
