"Born with it."
Suddenly, he spoke.
Ye Luan was surprised, something she had from the womb.
Xiao Chizhan let out a cold laugh, "Are you scared?"
Everyone said he was a monster, born with a fierce beast on his back, with white hair and heterochromia, a harbinger of great misfortune, who caused his birth mother's death. His father disliked him and let him fend for himself.
For those years, he lived worse than a dog.
Ye Luan sensed the change in his aura, the hidden bloodthirsty killing intent.
She guessed he might have been reminded of his childhood.
In the original book, his childhood as a mad, powerful minister was only briefly mentioned with a few words, such as being targeted for assassination and being used for poison refinement, but the specifics were unknown.
However, judging by his demeanor, his childhood must have been very difficult.
Ye Luan, almost without thinking, blurted out, "I'm not afraid."
The wind blew gently around them, and the bloodthirsty aura gradually dissipated.
Ye Luan lowered her eyes, desperately suppressing the inexplicable feeling in her heart, and cursed herself fiercely.
She wasn't insane!
To pity a man who had insulted her and stolen her purity.
He was a devil.
Imprisonment, torture, and slaughter, leaving her with no escape, no way to avoid him.
His nature was inherently bloodthirsty.
You cannot be soft-hearted; letting others go is like killing yourself.
That's right.
Ye Luan, you haven't truly seen the world yet. You absolutely cannot be imprisoned here by him, becoming a useless husk. wΑp.kanshu伍.net
They didn't speak again on the way.
The pain in Ye Luan's ankle made her gasp uncontrollably.
"We're almost there, bear with it for a moment."
His calm words of comfort made Ye Luan feel a little uncomfortable, and she simply grunted in response.
Below the cliff was a vast lake. As the setting sun cast its rays upon the water, the lake was clear and translucent, stretching endlessly, as vast and majestic as the sea.
The waves rolled in, turbulent and surging.
At the bottom of the ten-thousand-zhang cliff lay a vast expanse of water, like a lake.
When Ye Luan descended the mountain path, she was stunned.
"It's so beautiful."
Hearing her soft murmur, Xiao Chizhan grabbed her waist with his large hand, spun, and swept her into his arms.
This scene was exactly what Li Qiongyu saw as he emerged from the pleasure boat.
Dressed in a red robe, he leaned over the side of the boat and let out a loud laugh, "Xiao Chizhan, you've finally come to this."
He was the kind of person who could be angry one moment and playfully grinning the next, lacking any seriousness.
Xiao Chizhan's face darkened.
Ye Luan, however, didn't notice what they were saying.
This was because the terrain here was too difficult to navigate.
Stones and tree branches covered the ground, and the lake water lapped against the shore, merging with the rushing currents and splashing everyone with water.
The pleasure boat was far away, and they couldn't get to it.
Indeed, it was good to have qinggong.
Xiao Chizhan leaped into the air, carrying her onto the pleasure boat.
The people inside the cabin had all come out.
Tantai Ye saw the two of them descend and said with a smile, "What were you doing? So slow?"
"Go fetch the琉璃膏 (liúlí gāo) and ice."
Xiao Chizhan gave the order and carried Ye Luan into the pleasure boat.
The pleasure boat had three floors, adorned with carved buildings and painted beams, resplendent and magnificent, like a palace.
There were many rooms within the boat.
Xiao Chizhan carried her to a room on the second floor, kicked open the door with his foot, and placed her on the bed inside.
"Take it off yourself, don't expect me to serve you."
Ye Luan said, "I'll take it off after they bring the medicine."
"What nonsense. This is my room, and they won't come in."
Hearing this, Ye Luan took off her shoes and socks, and gasped as she looked at her swollen ankle.
Xiao Chizhan quickly returned with the ointment, holding a tray with everything.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I'll do it myself."
She wasn't accustomed to his kindness.
Xiao Chizhan said nothing, sat by the window with a jar of wine, and lazily watched the scenery on the river.
The 琉璃膏 (liúlí gāo) was very effective. After applying it with ice, it felt cool and soothing, and the pain lessened.
"Xiao Chizhan, come out for a drink."
Li Qiongyu's boisterous voice drifted in.
Ye Luan glanced at Xiao Chizhan, who had already finished a jar of wine, and frowned slightly. He could drink too much; even an iron body couldn't withstand it.
She wanted to say something, but then she thought, why should she care about him.
"Are you done?"
He looked over, his demonic, handsome face holding an expression she couldn't decipher.
For some reason, Ye Luan felt very uncomfortable.
She suppressed the inexplicable discomfort in her heart, put on her shoes and socks, and said, "Much better."
"Hurry up, everyone is waiting for you."
There were a few knocks on the door, and then footsteps receded.
Xiao Chizhan leaped down from the windowsill and glanced at her, "Let's go."
She followed him out of the pleasure boat.
On the deck, Liu Rongruo was playing chess alone by the side of the boat.
Tantai Ye and Li Qiongyu were drinking, with dice on the table, gambling on something unknown.
Xiao Chizhan also walked over.
"A'Luan, are you alright now?"
Lan Murou, who was enjoying the breeze at the bow, looked over as soon as she saw her.
Ye Luan walked over and stood with her at the bow, looking at the vast landscape, beautiful as a painting, and said with a smile, "I'm fine now."
They chatted aimlessly.
"The weather is so cold, why aren't you wearing a cloak?"
Lan Murou was wrapped in a fox fur coat, her loosely styled hair falling onto the white fox fur, outlining her gentle and delicate face.
Ye Luan glanced, then withdrew her gaze.
"I forgot."
"Your ankle is injured, it's inconvenient for you. I'll go get it for you."
Ye Luan smiled faintly, "Thank you, Murou."
Now in autumn, the cold wind raged, and crows swept across the sky, their lonely cries echoing.
Ye Luan listened attentively for movement from the platform.
"Chizhan, how do you plan to deal with the matter of the Zhennan Prince?"
Tantai Ye took a large gulp of wine and continued, "His Majesty has long been displeased with you. You boldly embarrassed the Zhennan Prince this time, and he is using this opportunity to strip you of your powers in the Six Ministries. What do you plan to do?"
Ye Luan clutched her handkerchief, listening intently.
"A mere upstart, just kill them all."
His cold, bloodthirsty tone sent a chill through the entire cabin.
Ye Luan couldn't help but look in Xiao Chizhan's direction.
His dark eyes were half-closed, chillingly profound, and his entire body exuded a dangerous aura like a wild beast.
His long, clean hand held a wine cup, as if he were discussing a simple matter. He appeared detached and indifferent. As if sensing her gaze, he looked directly at her.
Ye Luan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her gaze.
She didn't know why she was acting so strangely. She clearly hated his humiliation and coercion from before, but seeing him so calmly speak of blood and killing, her heart felt a complex mix of emotions.
What kind of past had he endured to become this way?
Could he have been born like this?!
"The old emperor is muddled. He should abdicate."
Li Qiongyu cast a subtle glance at Ye Luan by the bow and laughed heartily, "The Yu and Bai families are pillars of the state. If they heard your words, they would impeach you again."
"Oh, right. Those things you asked me to prepare have been found. When do you want to use them?"