Chapter 56
Yuli returned from the stables, the pent-up frustration of the past few days finally swept away. There were still two days left. He still had his inner turmoil to deal with.
She would not suffer this grievance. It was not as if she could do nothing without him. From tomorrow on, she would learn to ride a horse from Jingyu. After she had learned, she would break out in the evening of the day after tomorrow.
After leaving the residence, she would go straight north, towards the Imperial Palace. If someone blocked her, she would stop. He would surely know her intentions. If he came out to see her in advance, everything would be fine.
If he didn’t come, she would wait for him for an hour. When the time was up, she would turn her horse around and leave. She didn’t want Huayan Fang anymore. She would take Xiyun, Zhile, and Jingyu to another place, and they would start over.
Right, she had to bring the money with her in advance. He was the regent. He wouldn’t take back the money he had given her. What he had given her was hers. It was only right for her to take it.
Yuli made a detailed plan in her mind, dividing it into one and two, and then extending it. Unconsciously, she fell into a deep sleep.
After not sleeping well for several days, the big stone in her heart had fallen, and she slept very soundly.
When Xie Yao returned to Mingyue Residence, he kicked the threshold of the hanging flower gate and then a pebble on the small path, deliberately making some noise. The lights in the main room’s bedchamber were not on. It was the most alert Jingyu who woke up.
The bed was against the window. Jingyu did not get up but looked out from the window gauze. She only saw a figure and was so scared that her soul almost flew out.
She didn’t dare to move. She heard the door of the main room open and close. Only then did she resume breathing, gasping for air.
After calming down for a moment, she turned over and found that Xiyun’s eyes were open. She almost cried out in alarm and quickly covered her mouth.
Xiyun blinked and patted her back. “Haven’t you seen it before? Hmph, he’s finally back. Just wait, the Mistress will have a fight with him later.”
Xiyun looked as if she were used to it. Jingyu didn’t even know what expression to put on.
The two of them lay down quietly.
Xiyun was waiting to hear a fight, looking as if she were venting her anger on Yuli’s behalf. Jingyu was on tenterhooks, extremely envious of Xiyun’s calmness. She couldn’t guess what would happen at all.
The bedchamber was quiet. The clean white moonlight filtered through the window lattice and landed on the floor. Xie Yao was untying his sash as he walked towards the bed.
When he reached the bed, he gently lifted the bed curtains. Yuli was covered with a thin quilt, curled up on the inner side of the bed. A large space was left on the outer side, as if it were a place reserved for him.
His breathing instantly became rough and heavy.
A sweet scent filled his lungs. It was coming from Yuli. Her wrist was outside, glowing white in the faint moonlight. Her side profile was soft, slightly lowered, like the way she usually leaned on his shoulder.
Xie Yao looked at her for a while, then continued to untie his clothes.
The belt fell to the ground, making a light sound. Yuli moved and opened her eyes. The room was dim, with no light. In her vision, the bed curtains were open. She raised her head and saw a dark figure.
“Husband?” Yuli called him and quickly sat up.
Xie Yao hummed a short “mm,” which sounded very low.
Yuli was surprised that he had come back now. She was about to get up to light a lamp when she was suddenly pushed down by him.
A scorching breath swept over. Xie Yao’s body was scorching hot. Yuli’s hand touched smooth skin.
Yuli’s fingers trembled slightly. She wanted to say something, but the moment she opened her lips, he held them between his.
He held her wrist with one hand and pulled open the thin quilt with the other. He caressed her shoulder through her nightgown, slowly moving to her collarbone, and then downwards.
Yuli trembled repeatedly. It was the same as usual, a very gentle touch.
Yuli thought he had probably come to his senses and had returned to normal. They had not seen each other for so many days, and she had missed him too. Following his movements, her body relaxed even before her heart.
Let’s do it properly first, and then I’ll settle the score with him after.
Yuli raised her hand to hook his neck and caressed the back of his neck.
Xie Yao’s breath deepened, and he almost lost the strength in his hand.
A warm fragrance filled his lungs. He wished he could eat her, from her lips to her tongue, so soft and smooth that it seemed he could really swallow her in one bite.
Yuli’s lips were sucked numb by him, and her tongue seemed to be about to be taken away by him. Her breathing was not smooth. She pulled her hand back, wanting to push his face, but he caught it and pressed it above her head.
He held both her wrists with one hand, like an iron hoop welded shut, making her unable to move.
His free hand continued to do as it pleased on her body.
Yuli soon broke out in a sweat, her breathing was not smooth, and she was suffocating for a moment. Xie Yao finally let go of her lips and tongue.
Yuli gasped for air, her lips and tongue numb, and a coolness around her lips. The mixed saliva was shining in the moonlight.
Xie Yao raised his finger to wipe it for her, then turned to other places.
Yuli gradually got into the mood. Xie Yao let go of her wrists.
Their skin was pressed tightly together. Yuli felt that she had really missed him. She took the initiative to hold his shoulders and back, caressed the strong and lean skin on his back, and lightly kissed his side face.
Xie Yao’s breathing was deafening, as if he had fallen into the clouds, floating and uncertain. Sometimes he was lifted to the sky, and he felt that everything in the world was under his control. Sometimes he fell into a deep abyss, where there was nothing but darkness and chaos, not even the ground.
His heart swelled and shrank, sometimes about to burst, sometimes squeezed until it was sore.
Out of control, completely out of control.
It was not from his inability to control Yuli, but from her wholehearted intimacy.
If she were to distance herself from him, to be afraid of him, he was used to it, at ease, and in control.
But she was close to him, tolerant of him, and doted on him. No one had ever treated him like this in his life, let alone the person he longed for so much. He could not control it.
He could not control her, and he could not control himself even more.
He longed for her, wanted to imprison her by his side, but imprisoning her would mean losing everything. Letting her be a little far from him would make him lose control and go crazy even more.
Ye Weiqing’s words and Song He’s words echoed in his ears.
It was he who was abnormal, he who was not worthy of her.
Xie Yao’s movements slowed, his forehead resting against Yuli’s collarbone.
Suddenly, he lifted it again.
No, he is the strongest man in the world, the most handsome and wealthy gentleman. Only he is worthy of possessing everything of hers.
Xie Yao’s movements were sometimes slow, sometimes rapid. Yuli felt a little in-between. Usually, he had an excellent grasp of the rhythm, making her unable to stop from beginning to end. Today, it was probably because he had something to say in his heart, and he was a little uneasy and had lost his composure.
Yuli didn’t rush him. She found his fingers and gently squeezed them.
His palm suddenly tightened, and he held her wrist in a reverse grip, once again pressing her arm above her head, as if he didn’t want her to touch him and disturb him.
But she would always subconsciously touch him and hold him. He continuously pulled her hand away.
Yuli was a little annoyed, but she could only let him be. She couldn’t have a fight at this time.
At the end.
Although Yuli felt a little strange, her mind was not on this. She was waiting for Xie Yao to carry her to wash, and then she would talk to him.
However, Xie Yao simply got up, sat on the edge of the bed, and slowly dressed. “From tomorrow on, I will not be back for dinner. Don’t make it, and don’t wait.”
His voice was hoarse and indifferent. Yuli’s heart sank. She got up, wanting to pull him, but he stood up, only wearing his middle garment, and left with his outer robe and belt.
Yuli was stunned for a long moment, her chest heaving with anger. She wanted to shout at him but held back. He was sick; she couldn’t provoke him.
Yuli was completely naked. She covered herself with the quilt and lay down, her mind as if it were about to explode. She was so angry, so inexplicably so.
And a little like crying.
Once this thought arose, the tears flowed uncontrollably.
Yuli pressed her eyes. “Don’t cry. He’s the one who’s sick.”
Yuli adjusted her breathing, put on her clothes, and went out to call for Xiyun.
Xiyun quickly appeared at the door. Yuli found it difficult to speak and asked her to help bring water.
Xiyun and Jingyu already knew that Xie Yao had left.
Xiyun saw that Yuli’s eyes were slightly red and was burning with anger, but Yuli didn’t say anything, and it was not the time to stir up emotions in the middle of the night. She forced a smile and went to get water.
After bringing the water, Xiyun withdrew. When she went out, she saw Jingyu waiting outside the door.
Jingyu was worried. “Didn’t you say there would be a fight?”
Xiyun was furious. “It seems he is determined to enjoy the blessings of having it all.”
Jingyu sighed helplessly.
Xiyun wanted to say a few harsh words, but thinking of the maid whose neck had been snapped when she had first arrived, she shivered.
The three of them in Mingyue Residence did not sleep well all night. After dawn, Yuli got up early, her expression as usual. After breakfast, she had Jingyu teach her to ride a horse.
Yuli seemed to be really interested in learning to ride a horse, and Jingyu was also very patient in teaching her.
She had also started learning to ride a horse five years ago after Xie Yao had returned to the Xie family. It was Song He who had taught her. After learning, she had only ridden properly twice and was not very skilled.
But Song He had been very patient when he taught her, and he was also very skilled in this. Jingyu passed on the essentials he had taught her to Yuli.
Yuli learned with full concentration and progressed very quickly. After more than half a day, she could already walk with the reins by herself.
After half a day, Yuli’s waist was sore and her legs ached. Under the sun, her forehead was constantly beaded with fine sweat, and her cheeks were flushed.
She rested for an hour in the afternoon and then continued in the afternoon. Seeing Yuli like this, Xiyun also volunteered to learn.
Jingyu was already covered in sweat from taking care of Yuli. She only told her some of the essentials and let her explore on her own.
Unexpectedly, Xiyun was quite talented. She had started half a day later but had caught up with Yuli’s progress by evening.
“Mistress, Jingyu, look at me!” Xiyun said, riding her horse and turning around, looking cheerful. Both Jingyu and Yuli laughed.
Yuli no longer cooked or waited for Xie Yao. She had a simple dinner and continued to practice riding.
Being able to ride a horse freely, turn around, and no longer sway or be afraid, Yuli’s face broke into a smile.
In any case, learning a new skill still gave her a full sense of accomplishment. Moreover, it was the fastest means of transportation in this time and place. After learning it well, it was as if she could roam the world, and her personal freedom was in her grasp.
It wasn’t until late at night that Yuli stopped.
The excitement of learning a new skill faded. Seeing the empty Mingyue Residence, she moved her eyebrows, took a few deep breaths, took a comfortable bath, and was overwhelmed by fatigue the moment she lay down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.
In a deep sleep, waves of heat stirred her heart. Yuli slowly woke up, her heart and breathing frighteningly fast.
The feeling in her body rushed up to her brain from below and then exploded all over her body in an instant.
A dark shadow was lying below her. The room was not lit. Yuli couldn’t see his face, but from his breathing and the force of his palm on her ankle, she knew who it was.
She wanted to kick him away. Just as she was about to move with all her might, the force on her ankle suddenly tightened, and she only moved half a foot.
He knew she was awake and was resisting. Not only did he not stop, but he pressed even harder against the place she could least bear to be touched.
Yuli’s breathing stopped, and she whimpered.
Her body was so soft that she had no strength left, but her mouth could still move. She didn’t care about what was appropriate or not. The only trace of reason left in her mind prevented her from cursing him. She first called him “Husband.”
“Husband,” these two words came out, and Yuli herself was startled. It didn’t sound like she was about to talk business – it sounded more like a flirtatious plea, urging him on.
Yuli quickly shut her mouth and bit her lower lip.
Xie Yao, on the other hand, paused for a moment.
Yuli was able to catch her breath. She wanted to get up and push him. She propped up her upper body, and before she could touch him, he continued.
Yuli wanted to cry, in every sense of the word.
She didn’t care if she cried beautifully or ugly.
Waves of heat gradually submerged her. Her tears were scalding. In the end, she couldn’t even cry anymore. She grabbed the quilt in vain, like a fish in a dry rut, on the verge of dying.
Xie Yao knelt up, then took off his clothes and held her tightly.
Yuli’s mind and body were blank. She let him hold her and unconsciously called out his name, “Mingyan.”
He suddenly stiffened for a moment and abruptly let her go.
Yuli sobbed, and he held her tightly again.
Yuli was in a daze, her mouth tightly closed, not saying another word.
After she had recovered, her mind was extremely clear. He was having an episode again. She couldn’t provoke him. She should have let him come first, release some of his emotions, and then be warm and affectionate, not mentioning other things, and first mend their relationship.
Yuli, as usual, broke free from his embrace, moved her hand from his chest and abdomen up to his cheek, kissed the side of his neck, and called him “Husband.”
It was a sign that she had recovered, that it was his turn, that he could continue.
But today, he was stiff and did not move immediately. Yuli sighed in her heart. It seemed that she had to coax him properly. She moved her hand away and caressed the lines of his body downwards.
When she touched the slightly hard hair, Xie Yao seemed to have been electrocuted. He suddenly let her go and retreated far away.
Yuli was stunned.
Such a scene, it was as if he were a chaste man from a good family, and she were a hooligan and a wicked woman.
Yuli didn’t know what to do. Xie Yao had already gotten out of bed, wrapped his clothes around him, and opened the door and left.
Yuli doubted her life. She couldn’t cry, but her laughter was tinged with tears.
Was he trying to drive her crazy too?
Yuli was exhausted both physically and mentally. She forced herself to call for Xiyun to bring water. After her bath, she fell into a dead sleep.
She slept until the sun was high in the sky before waking up. The events of last night flooded into her mind. Yuli closed her eyes. She wanted to get up, but her body could barely move.
Yesterday, she had learned to ride a horse and had been tormented by Xie Yao. Her waist and legs felt as if they were not her own.
Today was the deadline she had set. If he didn’t come back and live a good life with her, she would really break out.
Yuli got up with a burst of energy, got out of bed and dressed. It wasn’t so painful when she moved.
After another day of practice, Yuli and Xiyun were already skilled at riding.
In the evening, Yuli packed the silver notes she could carry and nothing else. She waited for the sky to darken, and the morning clouds to turn a deep purple.
Xie Yao still had not returned.
Yuli, Xiyun, and Jingyu had their meal, went to the stables to get the horses. Yuli mounted the black horse named Yexiao, her back straight, and went towards the side gate for carriages and horses.
Jingyu and Xiyun followed.
According to the route in her memory, after leaving the residence, she would turn right, walk out of the city gate, and then go straight north to the Imperial City, and then further north to the Imperial Palace.
Yuli had calculated the time. It was not yet curfew, so she could walk for a distance. And once she left the residence, Xie Yao would know very quickly. After all, she had sent him a message through the air.
And she believed that his shadow guards were not to be trifled with. They should be able to send him a message very quickly.
There was no trace of shadow guards in the residence. When she reached the outer gate, a guard came to stop her.
Yuli was afraid that Xie Yao would think she was trying to escape. She said to the guard, “I have an urgent matter and need to find the Young Master. Let me out.”
The guard did not stop her.
After leaving the door, Yuli reminded Jingyu and Xiyun again, “If the Young Master comes to see me, you come out and stand behind me. If he doesn’t come to see me, we will find an inn to stay in.”
Xiyun knew that this was Yuli’s ultimatum to the Young Master. Today, he had to make a choice, whether he wanted her or someone else. If he wanted her, he had to apologize properly and admit his mistake. Depending on his attitude and whether he was sincere, she would then decide whether to forgive him.
If he chose someone else, she would not want him anymore, would leave the Xie Residence, and live her own life.
Yuli’s thoughts were complicated. She vaguely felt that doing this might escalate the conflict, but she couldn’t stand it anymore.
She was both lucky and unlucky to have met a lover like him. He could give her unlimited support, but he had a mental illness. And she was not as strong as him. Fortunately, she was a normal person, so she could only manage their intimate relationship well.
If he cared about her enough and was willing to entrust himself to her completely, she would also be wholehearted and never leave him.
If he still refused to face it and did not come to see her, then he would have given up the promise he had once made to her, of being of one heart and mind and growing old together.
She could not support it alone and could not hold on any longer. Leaving was the best choice for both her and him.
After leaving the Xie Residence, the three of them turned right, passed through a small alley, and reached a wide road.
Yuli walked at the front. There were faint lights by the roadside. She had not been out at night before and was a little uneasy.
The road was quiet and deserted. After walking for a distance, Yuli mustered up her courage and began to trot her horse.
The sound of the horse’s hooves echoed in the empty streets, making one’s heart beat faster for no reason.
After walking for less than half a li, a row of dark shadows suddenly appeared in front of them.
It was the first time Yuli had seen Xie Yao’s shadow guards. Unlike the fierce appearance of the guards, they showed no expression, just stood there indifferently, their faces so featureless that one would forget them after a single glance.
They stood in a row, blocking the center of the street, shoulder to shoulder, with no gap for her and Yexiao to pass through.
They were very close, but Yuli did not rein in her horse. She did not believe that these people had no emotions and would not dodge when her horse’s hooves got close.
She rode the horse according to the essentials of the movements. Yexiao held its head high, its eyes shining.
They were very close, but the shadow guards really had no intention of making way. When the horse’s head was about to touch the forehead of the person in front, Yuli also wanted to rein in her horse, but for some reason, Yexiao did not stop.
Yexiao continued to step forward. Seeing that it was about to step on the shadow guard, Yuli was flustered and completely forgot the essentials of the movements. After a flurry of pulling and tugging, Yexiao turned its head, and its four hooves trampled randomly. Yuli was only focused on controlling it in the opposite direction of the shadow guard and did not care that her own figure was unsteady.
Just as the chaos was about to get out of control, a short whistle sounded from the front of the long street.
Yexiao instantly calmed down, stood still on its four hooves, and its legs bent, and it lay on the ground, not moving no matter how Yuli urged it.
Yuli was at a loss. She saw someone riding a horse from behind the shadow guards.
The same pure black treasured horse, a deep purple coiled dragon robe. The shadow guards automatically made way, cupped their fists and bowed one after another, and knelt on the ground.
When he got closer, Xie Yao looked even more high and mighty. He looked at her, who was in a sorry and flustered state, as if he were looking down on the world, and everything he saw was his.
At this moment, Yuli suddenly felt that she had been extremely naive before.
She finally understood why the original heroine could not escape from his grasp.
Her all-out struggle was no different from an ant trying to shake a tree, or a mantis trying to stop a chariot.