Tan Taiye laughed and pulled her into his embrace, his eyebrows rising as he saw her barely concealed anger. "What? Do you feel sorry for that Ye Luan?"
Lan Murou lowered her eyes and remained silent.
"Don't you hate the noble ladies of Shangjing the most? And yet you speak up for Ye Luan?"
"No."
Xiao Chizhan had been staring below. When he saw Ye Luan stab the python in both eyes with a single knife, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Oh, impressive. To court death and then find life."
Ye Luan straddled the python, her knife desperately stabbing at its eyes. She could feel several gazes from the pavilion above.
She had lost all reason. If she couldn't kill this python, and since Xiao Chizhan wouldn't let her go, she would destroy his Yunmengze.
While the python was still slumped against the giant umbrella-like leaves, she grabbed a branch of red flower鸾 and leaped towards the Thousand Buddha Cave. She kicked open the cages and released all the beasts.
One by one, beast after beast was set free.
Watching the brazen figure, Xiao Chizhan's red pupils narrowed, and his smile deepened.
"Damn it, if all those beasts from Myriad Beast Valley are released, it'll be ruined."
"This Ye Luan really has guts."
Lan Murou watched the figure with admiration, her gaze gradually turning envious.
Tan Taiye roared in anger, "Guards, seize her!"
Xiao Chizhan said in a cold voice, "Don't go. Let her cause trouble."
"Are you crazy? With so many beasts devouring everything, the entire Yunmengze will be drenched in blood."
"Stop talking nonsense. If it's destroyed, we'll rebuild."
The surrounding guards dared not act without their master's command.
Seeing Xiao Chizhan's demeanor, Tan Taiye said irritably, "As expected, it's not your money, so you don't care?"
"If I willed it, what if she turned the entire Yunmengze upside down?"
Li Qiongyu rolled her eyes. "So you're here to squander my money?"
Ye Luan's strength was gradually fading. Seeing the various beasts emerging from all directions, her previous unhealed wounds began to split open again.
She was wrapped around a branch, looking down at the sharp ground.
So high.
Would she die too miserably if she plummeted down?
She glanced towards the pavilion again. That white figure was so dazzling.
Ye Luan.
Just jump.
If she died, it would be all over.
She would be free.
Perhaps she would transmigrate back.
No.
Ye Luan.
Why should you admit defeat? You haven't repaid the humiliation he gave you. Why should you die?
Yes, she couldn't die.
She wanted to live, to live happily.
Ye Luan's gaze slowly became firm. She looked at the giant high platform, a scene of utter chaos.
She began to leap towards the pavilion. When she was not far from Xiao Chizhan, she closed her eyes, appearing to seek death, like a graceful butterfly, leaping down.
"This is bad! She's going to kill herself," Lan Murou cried out.
Xiao Chizhan's eyes instantly turned cold. He leaped into the air, soaring out with incredible speed, and steadily caught Ye Luan, who was about to hit the ground.
Seeing the unconscious woman, he directly flung her away, his voice chilling.
"Ye Luan, this is all you're capable of. Wanting to die? It's not that easy."
Ye Luan was not unconscious. With his throw, her bones almost shattered, and she truly fainted.
When she woke up again, she was in a palace.
Her clothes had all been removed, and she was completely naked. She lifted the curtain and was almost startled.
By the round table, the white-haired, red-eyed man was sipping tea, dressed in a snow-white robe, exuding a suffocating aura of terror. Seeing her wake up, he sneered.
"Wanting to die so soon?"
Ye Luan watched him walk closer, and a knife materialized in his hand.
The cold blade at his waist made Xiao Chizhan sneer.
"What? Want to kill me?"
The moonlight streamed through the window into the palace. Her pure white, jade-like body was bathed in the moonlight, appearing cool and beautiful.
Xiao Chizhan ignored the knife at his waist and leaned down to kiss her.
Ye Luan wanted to vomit.
She held it back.
The knife pierced his clothes, and blood flowed out.
Xiao Chizhan's actions finally stopped. He grabbed Ye Luan by the neck and said with a bloodthirsty smile, "If you have the guts, really kill me."
The knife went in a bit deeper.
Her stubborn eyes were clear and cold, igniting Xiao Chizhan's rage, yet he didn't want to kill her.
He snatched the knife from her hand and threw it out the window, then gripped her hands and pinched her chin.
But Ye Luan detested his touch immensely. Coupled with the day's fighting, a dizzy spell washed over her. Feeling unwell, she quickly pushed Xiao Chizhan away.
The urge to vomit surged. She couldn't hold it back and vomited all over Xiao Chizhan.
"You----"
This damned woman!
Xiao Chizhan was famously germaphobic. Seeing the filth on his body, he was so angry he was almost driven mad. He immediately got up and tore off all his clothes.
Ye Luan dared not look and pretended to be unconscious.
"Get up."
Ye Luan also felt extremely unwell. She woke up and quickly got out of bed, rushing to the round table. She picked up the cold tea and gargled vigorously, spitting it all out. Only then did she feel a little better.
"I've never seen such a stubborn woman. If you hate me this much, how could you possibly live if I took you?"
This damned woman, daring to vomit on him.
Ye Luan knew he was furious and remained silent.
Xiao Chizhan became even more enraged. He grabbed her hand and pulled her outside. "As you wish. Today, let's see if you'll go looking for death."
"Your Highness, are you going to make me go out naked?"
A cold voice came from behind. Xiao Chizhan stopped in his tracks.
He turned back, fetched a cloak from the room, and wrapped her from head to toe. He then picked her up horizontally and carried her towards the bathhouse behind.
As they walked, the palace maids and guards saw the usually unapproachable Prince Dingbei carrying a woman out of the palace and heading straight for the natural imperial hot springs behind.
Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look too closely.
Drop by drop, blood stained the corridor, a terrifying red.
"I want to see Fu Dai."
"You haven't won. You have no right to see her."
Ye Luan looked at him coldly. "Is she even alive?"
"I can only say, she is not dead."
His voice was perverse and teasing.
Ye Luan looked at him coldly, saying nothing.
She knew what was about to happen.
A dull ache spread through her heart, but she was powerless to stop it. This was the limit of his patience. Her actions were useless.
Xiao Chizhan grew annoyed by her gaze and quickened his pace.
Just a maidservant, was she worth this much concern?
"Your Highness, your injury?" Xue Ren was startled to see Xiao Chizhan arrive, and even more surprised to see his injuries.
Who could injure His Highness?
"Go get the blood-coagulating pill."
"Yes."
Xiao Chizhan, carrying Ye Luan, passed through the garden and reached the hot spring behind the rockery. He threw the woman in his arms into it.
With a splash, water scattered.
Ye Luan steadied herself on the edge of the pool and coughed as she stood up, looking like a lotus emerging from water, more vibrant than any flower.
Xiao Chizhan pulled off his clothes and entered the water himself.