Chapter 60
The words above, Yuli only dared to say in a letter, and that was when she sensed that he was a little lacking in confidence. Right now, his condescending gaze at her had returned to the high and mighty identity of the regent. Yuli’s heart skipped a beat.
But he quickly took the letter away, sat down beside her, and pulled her onto his lap. “It’s a good thing to be bold. In the future, you can say such things to my face.”
He was wearing nothing. He held her shoulders and back with one hand, pressing her forcefully against his chest, and held her face with the other. Yuli didn’t even know where to put her hands. Her whole body was tense, and her eyes kept darting upwards, not daring to look at him.
She just hummed a vague agreement. “Alright.”
But she heard him say, “Come, ask me again now.”
“No, let’s not.”
Yuli wanted to lower her head, but he held her face and brought it back up.
“Ask.”
Yuli’s whole body went numb. She stammered, “Do you, have any…”
The last word was said very softly, as if it were hummed from her nose, sounding like the word “balls” but not quite.
“Yuli,” he suddenly called her seriously. Yuli turned her eyes back to look at him.
“Do I look like I’m going to eat you?” Xie Yao smiled.
Yuli saw a beautiful curve on his lips, but the smile in his eyes didn’t seem very deep.
“You can’t even ask this. How can you have a heart-to-heart with me?” he coaxed.
Yuli took a deep breath, encouraging herself, and said quickly, “Then tell me, do you have any balls?”
This time, the smile reached his eyes, but the corners of his mouth sank.
Yuli couldn’t figure out his emotions. He let go of her face, took her hand, and moved it downwards.
He opened her fingers and let her hold it. She was so shocked she wanted to pull her hand back, but he held it firmly.
He wrapped it for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, it became harder and harder, and more and more difficult to grasp.
Yuli’s face was about to cook.
Xie Yao held her face, his forehead pressed against hers, his scorching breath thundering in her ears.
“You tell me?”
Yuli said in a hoarse voice, “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then it’s something else,” Xie Yao chuckled.
He untied her nightgown, lifted her up, changed her from sitting on the side to sitting properly, and slowly pressed her down by her waist.
The movements were smooth and without any obstruction.
Yuli let out a soft cry, her whole body trembling. She held his shoulders, her fingertips curling up.
“Try it,” Xie Yao panted.
Yuli finally came to her senses. He was doing it on purpose. He had put on a majestic and imposing appearance, and she had subconsciously submitted. Even though she knew in her heart that he wouldn’t do anything to her, how could she still fall for it every time?
Xie Yao turned her face over and bit her lip. “Concentrate.”
Yuli snorted. He was so hateful.
Try it then!
Yuli bit his lip back, moved a little, and Xie Yao’s breath stopped. When it resumed, it was as heavy as a scorching summer wind.
Yuli was on top, biting him. At this moment, Xie Yao didn’t want to eat her, but wanted her to eat him.
He offered himself to her, his lips and tongue to her, his body to her, and his life could also be hers.
“It’s all yours,” Xie Yao held her tightly, intertwined, inseparable.
Yuli only moved a few times. The rest was all led by Xie Yao, and she was dizzy and disoriented.
He seemed to have had another episode, but it didn’t make her uncomfortable.
Afterwards.
Lying in his arms, Yuli calmed down and held him. “Alright. You can tell me now.”
Xie Yao’s hand caressing her stopped.
He asked softly, “What did you imagine?”
Yuli thought carefully, afraid that what she said would not match his experience, and he would think of other things and not dare to tell her. She chose her words carefully and guessed in a better direction that she could think of.
“I think you were abandoned by your father when you were young, and your mother didn’t love you very much. You lived from hand to mouth and were looked down upon by your neighbors.”
After Yuli finished speaking, he did not react. Yuli looked up at him and found that his eyes were half-closed, showing no emotion.
“And then?”
“But you worked hard, first studying to improve yourself, and then leaving home to join the army.” Yuli couldn’t imagine how he could go from an unknown to a great general in the army, but she had heard of his feat of directly attacking the royal court. He must have been a military genius, like Huo Qubing.
Yuli said, “You are highly skilled in martial arts and use troops like a god. You accumulated military merit step by step and finally achieved an unparalleled feat.”
Xie Yao hummed in agreement. “Continue.”
“You returned to the capital in glory. Because of your own strength, you regained your father’s recognition and were brought home. Your grandfather also appreciated you very much.” Yuli smiled a little. At that time, he must have been the most outstanding junior in the family. “After that, with the help of your family, you went even higher and reached the ceiling of a military general.”
Yuli’s voice became more and more cheerful, with a soft smile. Xie Yao felt it carefully, and there was no lack of admiration and worship.
If only it were so.
The hand on her shoulder unconsciously tightened. He quickly adjusted his breathing, calmed down, and moved his palm away without a trace.
Yuli was unaware. She mentioned a change in the future. “But your grandfather passed away. You were still too young, and you were not in charge of the family. The person in charge did not like you and sent you to the border.”
Yuli’s voice sank. “In the middle of this, you were poisoned by an enemy and met me in Xihe County.”
Yuli propped herself up and looked at him. “Did your family abandon you again? Would you rather be on the streets than go home for help? You were poisoned in the capital. How did you end up in Xihe County? Did you have these shadow guards to protect you at that time?”
“You’re off-topic,” Xie Yao said, pressing her back down.
Yuli was relentless. She looked up at him. “I really, really want to know this.”
“I will tell you the answer,” Xie Yao said.
“Tell me now.”
“No,” Xie Yao said, pinching her cheek. “Continue.”
Why not? Yuli couldn’t see through his emotions and could barely find her train of thought. She looked at his face, her gaze tracing it inch by inch. His features were almost perfect, his skin tone even, a light honey color in the candlelight, smooth and lustrous. There was indeed no flaw to be seen.
She suddenly thought of the scar on the side of his back. Yuli reached for it and touched it at once.
“How did you get this?” Yuli asked, staring at him.
Since the two of them had died, Xie Yao had never carefully recalled the past. Even when he had told Xie Chunlan last night, he had only remembered that it had happened. But now, being touched by Yuli, his body couldn’t help but stiffen.
He wanted to lie but couldn’t open his mouth. He wanted to tell the truth even less.
Sensing his stiff body and somewhat chaotic breathing, Yuli’s heart sank. Under his deep emotions, there was probably already a storm raging. He must be very uncomfortable, yet he was still maintaining a normal demeanor.
A dull pain shot through Yuli’s heart. She wanted to pull her hand away, but Xie Yao held her wrist and pressed it back.
“You can touch it,” Xie Yao said with his eyes closed.
Yuli touched it again, lay on his chest, and listened to his heartbeat.
The scar was not big, with a slight protrusion. The touch was different from the rest of the places. She didn’t know how to comfort him, but this was surely closely related to his trauma, and it was something she had to face.
“I want to see it,” Yuli said.
Xie Yao was very cooperative and turned around, lying on his side, his back to her.
Yuli extended her finger to caress it and bent down to approach slowly.
She was looking closely, very close, so close that her breath landed there. Xie Yao’s whole body seemed to be numb and unable to move.
Her soft, warm lips pressed against it, her breath very hot. She kissed it, and her tongue gently swept over it.
Xie Yao trembled slightly.
Yuli lay back on her side and held him from behind. “It’s all better now. It’s in the past. Actually, I think it’s better if you forget. It doesn’t matter if you don’t say it.”
Xie Yao’s heart melted into a pool of water, wanting to envelop Yuli completely.
“I want more,” he said.
“What?”
“More kisses.”
Yuli smiled and satisfied him.
From his lower back upwards, she kissed his face, his eyes, his forehead.
The conversation ultimately could not continue. Xie Yao turned over and pressed her down, holding her tightly, possessing her, as if he were a little abnormal again.
He was extremely fierce. Yuli only felt that her body was out of her control, her breathing intermittent, as if she were about to stop breathing.
She lay on the pillow and said with difficulty, “Xie Mingyan, be a little more clear-headed…”
Xie Yao caressed her back, held her wrists in a reverse grip, and replied in a low voice, “I’m not crazy yet.”
Yuli was about to cry and whimpered, “Enough.”
Xie Yao laughed deeply. “Not enough. Cry, it’s okay to cry at this time.”
Yuli wanted to curse him but could no longer make a sound.
*
In the morning, the sky, which had been clear for several days, finally turned cloudy.
When Yuli woke up, she saw that it was cloudy outside and couldn’t tell the time. She got out of bed and dressed.
Not long after, Xiyun and Jingyu both came in.
Both of them were tense and very different from usual. Yuli also became nervous for no reason. “What’s wrong?”
Xiyun glanced outside. Jingyu, on the other hand, maintained a normal demeanor and even gave Xiyun a look.
Yuli didn’t understand. She dressed and went out, and saw Xie Yao sitting in the hall.
At least he hadn’t left. Yuli smiled at Xiyun and walked to his side.
“Is Husband free today?”
Xie Yao stood up, held her wrist, and looked at her without blinking. “Today I will take you back to the Duke’s Residence.”
Yuli’s expression froze for a moment. “Are we going to your home?”
Xie Yao nodded. “Sort of.”
“But I haven’t prepared anything. Who else is in your family? Who do I need to see? I need to prepare some gifts in advance,” Yuli said. She guessed that he was going to tell her about his past. But even if his family was unbearable, as his wife, she should still be polite.
Xie Yao wanted to say they were not worthy, but he just smiled and said, “I have had Jingyu prepare them.”
Jingyu timely agreed. “The Mistress doesn’t have to worry. Jingyu will prepare everything properly and will not be rude.”
“Then tell me, who else is in your family, so I have an idea,” Yuli said.
Xie Yao: “Let’s have breakfast first.”
Yuli temporarily put aside her questions, had breakfast, and looked at the time. It should be almost noon. She wanted to change into an outfit that was suitable for the occasion and asked Jingyu for a recommendation.
Jingyu thought for a while and smiled. “The Mistress should just wear what you feel most comfortable in. With the master here, you are the most noble female dependent. No one will dare to comment on your clothes or behavior. Not even behind your back.”
Yuli thought that was probably true. Xie Yao was already so domineering with her, and in his not-so-good-natured original family, he would surely be even more majestic and imposing. Perhaps no one in his family was close to him. When he went back, they would not welcome him very much, but would just treat him as the superior in the family, and would probably not even dare to look at him.
But this was her first time appearing in front of everyone as his wife. She still wanted to be perfect.
Yuli chose an outfit that she liked, which was also a little more dignified and suited her temperament.
She had wanted to put on some light makeup, but seeing that it was getting late, she gave up, just pinning a velvet flower she had made herself on her skirt.
Xie Yao was dressed even more casually, just an ordinary set of clothes, a black scholar’s robe that was not transparent, showing no sign of importance.
Yuli also relaxed even more.
This trip should just be to see the place where he had grown up in his youth, and to tell her about his past experiences. The people she saw were not important.
Xie Yao held her, and they went out. The carriage was a spacious and heavy ebony carriage.
Along the way, Xie Yao held her wrist and caressed it gently, looking very calm.
Yuli, on the other hand, was more nervous.
The people she was about to see were related to his past experiences. From them, she could get a glimpse of his growth trajectory. She couldn’t help but be curious.
And the past he was going to tell her about must not be pleasant. Even if she had some guesses, she was also worried that she would not be able to comfort him well.
When they reached the Duke’s Residence, the carriage stopped. Xie Yao got out first, then turned to help her down.
Going around the carriage, she saw a towering gate, but it was deserted. There was not even anyone waiting to welcome them.