Chapter 65: Giving In

“Just try then.” Xiao Qingrong half-closed his eyes, lifting her chin and running his hand along her cheek, stopping at the corner of her eye.

Feeling his slightly rough palm, Su Xiangwan frowned uncomfortably.

She placed her hand gently over his hand and softly said, “Husband, your hands are so rough!”

“Don’t like it?” He spoke casually.

The woman’s soft, boneless hand rested against his, and for the first time, Xiao Qingrong realized someone’s hands could be so soft.

Su Xiangwan pursed her lips and smiled: “Not really, because husband hurt me.”

For some reason, though it was just an ordinary conversation, Xiao Qingrong felt a bit restless.

He withdrew his hand. “If you don’t want to, then go back.”

Su Xiangwan naturally couldn’t refuse. “Yes.”

She put away the divorce letter, feeling a little happy—she had gotten the divorce letter without much effort, and Xiao Qingrong had even agreed to her request. Not bad.

Unexpectedly, just as she was happily walking out, a voice came from behind: “Wait.”

“What is it, husband?”

“Give me the divorce letter.” Xiao Qingrong’s gaze landed on the letter she was putting away.

Su Xiangwan’s smile stiffened. “Didn’t you already give it to me?”

She hadn’t even been happy for three seconds before he wanted it back.

“What, aren’t you going to give it?” Xiao Qingrong’s expression was indifferent, his tone cold.

Noticing his probing look, Su Xiangwan shook her head. “No, husband, you’re overthinking.”

Reluctantly, she handed the divorce letter over and secretly sighed in her heart—this man was too stingy, so cautious even here.

Xiao Qingrong took the letter from her hand. “Go back.”

Su Xiangwan bowed and stepped away.

The bright sun shone, colorful glazed tiles sparkling under the sunlight.

In the Changqing Palace, Jiang Huaiyue looked at Yuan Zhi, who was serving her food. “Yuan Zhi, tell me about what’s happening outside.”

She was locked in by Pei Ji, her movement restricted, going nowhere, knowing nothing.

One thing she was clear about: she was now in the palace.

So her guess that day was right—Pei Ji really had rebelled, and had succeeded. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be here but in the dungeon.

Yuan Zhi lowered her head. “Please forgive me, I dare not speak recklessly.”

His Majesty had long instructed not to gossip in front of the lady.

Seeing this, Jiang Huaiyue knew she wouldn’t get any information from her and lost interest in eating.

She put down her chopsticks and said calmly, “Clear it away.”

“Does the lady not want more?” Yuan Zhi asked.

Looking at the exquisite meal on the table, Jiang Huaiyue shook her head. “I’m full.”

Seeing she really didn’t want more, Yuan Zhi gestured to the maids attending her. They quickly and quietly cleared the table.

“Lady, I will take my leave now.” Yuan Zhi bowed.

Jiang Huaiyue responded faintly with a hum.

With her departure, the hall returned to silence. Looking down at the golden chains on her feet, Jiang Huaiyue bitterly smiled.

Who would have thought she would one day be kept in a gilded cage? All this time, she had been holding back her anger, unwilling to admit defeat or bow her head.

But she was unwilling—unwilling to be trapped by Pei Ji like this, unwilling to shrink in this small world, and be humiliated and toyed with by him.

“To survive, there’s nothing shameful no matter what.” Twisting the cold golden chain around her ankle with her fingers, she murmured softly.

In the exquisitely cold palace, the woman dressed in white gauze showed a slight movement of her worried brows. Her snow-white skin and delicate bones bore ambiguous red marks that lingered for a long time.

“Someone!” she called out loudly toward the door.

Yuan Zhi, who was guarding the door, entered the hall: “Princess.”

“Send a message, I want to see him.”

The woman’s light, clear voice came through. Yuan Zhi realized whom she was referring to and replied, “Yes, mistress, I will send the message immediately.”

Not long after Yuan Zhi left, Jiang Huaiyue heard footsteps at the door and looked up.

The man wore black robes, his handsome face appearing even colder and more distant due to the indifference on it, giving off a forbidding aura.

After he entered, he glanced at the woman sitting on the floor: “What is it?”

Pei Ji sat down on the low couch by the window. Jiang Huaiyue stood up from the ground and walked step by step toward him.

The chains on her feet clinked continuously with her movements, filling the entire palace with sound.

When she reached him, Jiang Huaiyue crouched down and raised her eyes, speaking softly: “I was wrong.”

Looking at the hand resting on his knee, Pei Ji bent down and gently pinched her chin, caressing it.

He studied her face and said calmly, “Wrong about what?”

“I shouldn’t have spoken recklessly to insult you, my husband. I shouldn’t have thought about running away.” Jiang Huaiyue felt his cool knuckles as she spoke clearly.

Pei Ji stared into her eyes, knowing she was submitting to him. Though her words sounded sweet now, who knew what she was truly thinking inside?

But he didn’t care much. Leaning close to her ear, he said, “If there’s a next time, I’ll break your legs.”

Jiang Huaiyue blinked and obediently let him hold her in his arms. When he wasn’t looking, she cast a cold glance from the corner of her eye.

“Don’t worry, husband, I won’t run away again.” She wrapped her arms around his back and said softly.

Pei Ji reached out and lifted her to sit in his lap. Watching her lower her head submissively, he toyed with her hand.

“You better mean it.”

Meeting his deep gaze, Jiang Huaiyue nodded obediently and leaned close to his lips: “Husband, these chains have rubbed my feet raw. When will you help me take them off?”

Sitting in his lap, she slowly pulled her feet in. The thin white gauze slipped aside, revealing those jade-like feet resting on his arm.

Pei Ji lowered his eyes and pinched her ankle, noticing the deep red marks.

His thumb gently rubbed them while the scent of the woman in his arms kept filling his nostrils.

Jiang Huaiyue sat on his legs and felt every reaction he had immediately.

She smirked in her heart — hypocrite.

Her hand reached up to his shoulder. Tilting her head, she kissed him softly and whispered in his ear, “Husband~”

Feeling the pressure on his feet, Jiang Huaiyue knew his breath had become erratic and his reason was about to fail.

Sure enough, the next moment, he clasped her waist and pressed her into his arms.

The small soft couch barely fit one person, yet Jiang Huaiyue leaned over him as he kissed her.

After a long time, ambiguous sounds echoed back and forth.

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The next day, at dawn, Jiang Huaiyue opened her sleepy eyes. She threw off the quilt and got up. Just as her feet touched the ground, she sensed something and looked down.

The chains that once bound her were gone. Her feet felt cool, probably treated with medicine.

Lowering her gaze, she recalled last night’s closeness with Pei Ji and bit her lip.

Pei Ji, I want to see if you really are as cold and heartless as the heavens.

After regaining her freedom, Jiang Huaiyue behaved well for the rest of the time.

Thanks to her efforts, Qiuchan was released by Pei Ji and returned.