freenovelworld Chapter 408 He used to think this wasn't difficult
Chapter 408 He used to think this wasn't difficult
Sheng Junyi emerged from the water, grabbed Cheng Ruoxue's waist, and pressed her down onto his lap, resting his chin on her shoulder.
His stubble, sprouting new leaves, clung to her shoulder through the thin red gauze dress; his voice was hoarse.
"I am very tired."
He closed his eyes, his nostrils filled with her scent, and only then did he finally feel at ease, murmuring softly.
“I didn’t close my eyes for five days and five nights, running all the way from Jiangnan back to the capital. Several horses died from exhaustion. I didn’t even have time to change my clothes or wash my face before you went to get married to someone else.”
"Don't marry him, I'll marry you."
He hugged her tighter, his fingertips threading through hers, their fingers intertwined. "We can't have a wedding in the capital. Let's go to Jiangnan. I'll bring you a grand wedding with eight bearers. My dear sister, is that alright?"
Cheng Ruoxue burst out laughing when she heard the term "good sister".
She used to only call him that when she was flirting with him. Now, even though his voice was slurred from exhaustion, every word was sweet and soothing, like honey that nourished her heart, making her eyes well up with tears.
She grasped his fingers, gently playing with them in her palm. "Ayi, let's say goodbye."
Sheng Junyi opened his eyes, and the hand holding her waist unconsciously tightened its grip.
“Anything else I say won’t fool you, and will only cause misunderstandings and annoy you. That’s not what I meant by being with you. I can deceive anyone in this world, but I can’t bear to deceive you.” Cheng Ruoxue smiled slightly, her voice soft yet firm. “I have another name, Rong Xueyin.”
“Ayi, our time together was short, but for me, it has been a lifetime.”
Cheng Ruoxue slowly pried his fingers apart. "I know you understand. This is my business. I don't need anyone's help or approval. This is my choice."
Rong Xueyin. Rong.
There is only one possibility that could make Rong make such a choice and marry into the Duke of Xiao's mansion.
Rong Che, the Duke of Rong, died in Chenzhou during the Northern Expedition. After the Battle of Chenzhou, the Duke of Rong was accused of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, and his entire family was slaughtered without a single survivor.
Sheng Junyi clenched her fingers and asked, word by word, "Including abandoning me, not wanting me?"
Cheng Ruoxue replied softly, "Yes."
“Cheng Ruoxue,” Sheng Junyi grabbed her wrist, “Come with me now, I’ll elope with you, and I’ll slaughter the entire Xiao family for you, leave no one alive, okay?”
Cheng Ruoxue did not answer.
Sheng Junyi already knew her answer.
If she could, she would have told him long ago.
If she wanted to do this, she could have done it a long time ago.
This is not the outcome she wanted.
She never needed him to do anything for her; all she needed was for him to have loved her.
That's it.
From the moment they met, no one in the world understood each other's inner desires better than they did. They each harbored a beast within them, trapped in a cage, struggling desperately.
He jumped out.
Now, she's going to jump out too.
As she left the capital, she offered her blessings for his choice.
Now, she also needs his blessing for her choice.
He used to think it was easy.
But when the moment actually arrived, he realized how difficult it was.
It's hard.
Sheng Junyi lowered his head and bit Cheng Ruoxue's shoulder until blood seeped from the tips of his teeth, and his mouth was filled with the taste of blood.
His eyelashes trembled slightly, his whole body tensed, and he wanted to knock her unconscious and take her away, but in the end he gently pushed her away. "Don't turn around. I haven't had time to wash up. I don't want to disappoint you."
Sheng Junyi got up and stepped out of the bathtub, watching her retreat step by step until she disappeared into the darkness, leaving only a long trail of water on the ground.
The red candles flickered, casting a dim light in the bathroom. Cheng Ruoxue stared intently at the candlestick in front of her, tears streaming down her face.
A moment later, the maid knocked on the door.
"Young lady, are you done? Do you need any help?"
Cheng Ruoxue raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and stood up calmly.
The maid pushed open the door and came in. Cheng Ruoxue said in a calm voice, "The water is a bit cold. Change it."
The maidservant hurriedly had the hot water changed, helped her bathe, and then she changed into her nightgown and returned to the bridal chamber.
Cheng Ruoxue sat in front of the magnificent canopy bed, toying with the nuptial wine placed to the side. After a while, a person reeking of alcohol pushed open the door and walked in.
However, the person who came was not Prince Xiao, but the Third Prince.
The maid stared in disbelief at the person at the door, and blurted out, "Your Highness..."
The Third Prince swept his gaze over coldly: "Get out."
The maidservant subconsciously looked at Cheng Ruoxue, but Cheng Ruoxue lowered her head slightly, as if she didn't react. The maidservant was very anxious, but she didn't dare to continue the stalemate, so she quickly went out to guard the door.
The Third Prince strode towards Cheng Ruoxue.
Cheng Ruoxue, her eyes welling up with tears, turned her face away as the Third Prince approached: "What is Your Highness doing here now? This is my new room with Prince Xiao. In the future, Your Highness should follow the rules and call me cousin-in-law, or Cheng Shi."
"Ruoxue," the Third Prince looked at the beautiful and delicate woman in front of him, feeling an inescapable sense of annoyance. He was always clear-headed, and love had never touched his heart. Whether it was Sheng Yunzhu or any other woman, in his eyes they were nothing more than political tools for him to climb the social ladder. In the imperial family, what true feelings existed?
He treated Cheng Ruoxue differently because she was extremely pleasing to the eye. He had never met a woman more pleasing and comforting than Cheng Ruoxue, who was considerate and agreeable in every way. If he had to choose a principal wife, unless it was a necessary marriage alliance or a matter of pursuing interests, he would prefer Cheng Ruoxue.
From the moment he met her, he never imagined that this beautiful and understanding flower would one day fall into another's hands.
He believed that whether she was his principal wife or a concubine, Cheng Ruoxue would eventually be his, and would be the woman he loved most in his life, without exception.
If one day he were to ascend the throne and rule the world, he would most desire a woman like this to accompany him.
But now, she has actually married someone else, and he was partly the one who facilitated it.
He knew he should stay calm and not do anything so outrageous. So, from the time his uncle proposed the marriage until the marriage was finalized, he didn't go to see Cheng Ruoxue. For him, it was over between him and Cheng Ruoxue. They had never made any promises to each other. He just had a youthful heart and had liked a beautiful girl.
But at the banquet just now, all he could hear were the heartbroken voices of those men. The most beautiful flower in the capital had actually married someone else. Even if they themselves had no hope, it was still heartbreaking to see their beloved go to another branch.
Heartbroken, he looked at those people and felt inexplicably annoyed. His desire to see her became uncontrollable.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at her new house.