Youzhou is located in the central plains of the northern territory. The King of Dingbei, a rebellious minister and traitor, raises private troops and manufactures weapons here. It is adjacent to the central capital and borders Northern Qi to the north.
This is a border town.
The people here only recognize the King of the North.
Within the Duke of Dingbei's mansion, a prosperous and magnificent garden.
A maid carrying a tray gently bypassed the corridor, ascended the stone steps, and pushed open the door.
Inside the inner chamber.
On a soft four-poster bed lay a woman of incomparable beauty, her black hair spread across the bed, her small face pale but still lovely.
She was wearing only a thin red gauze. Her long, dense eyelashes quivered slightly, as if she were trapped in a nightmare.
The sound of the door opening made the woman tremble and wake up.
The first thing she saw were red bed curtains and a bed covered with a complex and luxurious brocade quilt.
Ye Luan shifted uncomfortably.
She was not dead!
Falling from such a height, and yet not dead.
Her body felt no pain, nor any injuries.
She looked around in shock, only to discover suddenly that her right hand was tightly locked by a copper clasp.
Imprisoned?!
Damn it.
"The young lady is awake."
A maid approached with a bowl of medicine.
Ye Luan sat up, looked around. This was clearly a man's room. A sword hung on the wall not far away, exuding a chilling aura.
She extended her leg and placed her foot on the carved footstool beside the bed, watching the medicine bowl in the maid's hand with vigilance.
"What do you want to do?"
Her hand was chained, making movement extremely inconvenient.
The maid knelt respectfully on the ground and handed her the medicine bowl, "The King ordered it. Please drink it, young lady."
The King?
Xiao Chizhan!
"Where is this? Where is he?"
"Youzhou, Duke of Dingbei's Mansion."
Ye Luan gritted her teeth, "Where is Xiao Chizhan?"
This madman had brought her to Youzhou.
And imprisoned her.
She was furious.
You damn bastard.
The maid was startled by her tone and knelt on the ground, "This servant does not know."
Ye Luan's chest heaved with anger, the skin on her wrist chafed into red marks, causing her to gasp in pain.
"Please drink the medicine, young lady."
The dark medicine, mixed with a strange fragrance.
Aphrodisiac!
She kicked the medicine bowl away, shouting, "Damn it, why doesn't he drink it himself."
The maid trembled in fear, prostrating herself on the ground.
Seeing this, Ye Luan gritted her teeth secretly.
She calmed her anger, closed her eyes wearily, "I'm sorry, you can get up now."
'The medicine is spilled. This servant will go and re-boil a bowl.'
"No need. Go find the King. I want to see him."
The Hall of Political Affairs.
Xiao Chizhan changed his dressing and walked out, wearing a cloak.
Li Qiongyu, who was drinking tea in the hall, saw him emerge and clicked his tongue with annoyance.
"If it weren't for me, you would have gone to see King Yama."
When he found the person at the bottom of the cliff, they were in a terrible state.
But Ye Luan, who was held in Xiao Chizhan's arms, was not injured at all. The hidden stakes and wooden piles had all hit him.
"You are truly reckless, jumping down like a madman with her."
Fortunately, this fellow had deep internal energy, so it wasn't fatal. He was still able to carry Ye Luan ashore.
Thinking of this, Li Qiongyu added, "The medicine you gave her is probably wearing off. She should be awake by now."
Ye Luan was unharmed. Once she woke up, she would surely try to escape again. To bring her back to Youzhou safely, he had given her a pill that suppressed her vitality.
Xiao Chizhan ignored his words and asked calmly, "How is the matter progressing?"
"All withdrawn. Tantai Ye has also returned to the capital. When are we going back?"
"I'm not returning for now. It's a good opportunity to deal with Xie Beihan's hidden operatives in Youzhou."
Li Qiongyu raised an eyebrow, "Fine, then I'll stay in Youzhou for a while too."
The capital is guarded by Liu Rongruo, so nothing major can happen.
"Many memorials have been rushed here by fast horses every day. Since you're awake, go and look at them quickly, don't delay business." He paused and couldn't help but remind him, "Since you like Ye Luan, treat her well."
Xiao Chizhan touched the prayer beads on his wrist, his gaze somber.
"Like her? Is this liking?"
Li Qiongyu rolled his eyes, "If you didn't like her, why would you have gone mad and wanted to die with her?"
Hearing this, Xiao Chizhan licked his lips. A hint of a smile appeared in his eyes, as red as pigeon's blood.
Then, does she like him?
He suddenly walked back into the inner chamber and took out a delicate sandalwood box from a drawer.
Li Qiongyu, following him in, put his hands on his hips and said angrily, "The Twin Rings? Give them to me! I could make a fortune selling them."
Xiao Chizhan brushed his hand away, his red eyes deep, "The Northern Di people say these things cannot be taken off once worn, is that true?"
"Of course. The Twin Rings, there is only one pair in Jiuzhou."
After speaking, Li Qiongyu sized him up, seeming to have thought of something, and chuckled, stroking his chin, "A latent romantic."
Xiao Chizhan ignored him and strode out.
When he returned to the courtyard, he heard a sound of begging for mercy from inside the room.
Ye Luan sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the spilled medicine on the floor, and pressed her forehead wearily.
Must she force her to drink it?
"I won't drink it. No matter what you say, I won't drink it."
The maid was terrified. If the young lady didn't drink it, the King would kill her when he found out.
Just as Ye Luan was about to say something more, she sensed a familiar and terrifying aura.
She raised her eyes and saw the man standing tall and elegant at the doorway, looking at her quietly.
An uncontrollable hatred surged within her.
She suppressed her indignation with all her might and looked at the man who entered with a cold expression.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
The maid knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.
Since the old King's death, the entire Youzhou had been controlled by the King. His methods were cruel and terrifying, and those serving in the mansion were all afraid of him.
If she failed in her duty, would she be killed?
"You don't want to drink?!"
He walked over slowly.
Ye Luan ignored his words, shook the shackles on her right hand, "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
Xiao Chizhan smiled faintly. He reached out and stroked her cheek. A cold and chilling aura spread through her body.
The scent of sandalwood from the man filled her nostrils.
Ye Luan wanted to push him away, but he embraced her around the waist, lifting her into the air, and then sat her down on his lap.
Her right hand was unable to move, and the red marks caused her to twitch in pain.
She lowered her gaze and saw him take out two jade rings, similar to rings, and put one on her finger and the other on his own.
A golden dragon-patterned bead amber jade ring, red like pigeon's blood.
She sneered, wanting to pull it off, but it wouldn't budge at all.
Seeing her annoyance, Xiao Chizhan smiled deeply. His pale, cold hand forcefully lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
"Tell me, how should this King punish you?"
Ye Luan showed no fear on her face, "If Your Highness wanted to kill me, you would have done so long ago. There's no need to scare me."
He stared at her, a low, terrifying chuckle rumbling in his throat.
"Yes, you should be fortunate that this King cannot bear to harm you. Otherwise, this King would personally chop off your feet, so you would never run again in this lifetime."
As he spoke, Ye Luan's back turned cold.
Crazy fool.
Xiao Chizhan did not want to look at her cold eyes. He buried his head in her fair neck, licking and kissing her. The moist, soft touch made Ye Luan tremble all over.
His kisses carried a hint of suction, leaving red marks and shivers.
"Luan Luan, I want to lock you in Youzhou City, a place from which you can never escape."
Neurotic!
"Don't run anymore, stay by this King's side obediently."