Xiao Chi Zhan ignored them and turned to leave when he heard.
"That bastard Xie Beihan, he wants to use your assassination to get rid of Xie Nanchen. Are you going to make a move?"
Li Qiongyu bit on his fried dough ring, taking a bite that was crispy and fragrant.
He continued, "Currently in Bei Qi, the Emperor of Da Qi is seriously ill, and he has almost complete control. The majority in court are his people, and the imperial harem is also deeply involved with him."
"Xie Nanchen, besides the favor of the Emperor of Da Qi, is nothing but a good-for-nothing. Last time he colluded with the Lu family, he was outmaneuvered by Xie Beihan, and there is no support for him in the court."
"Now, Xie Beihan has used the banquet incident to send him into the宗正院 (Zongzheng Yuan). Once royalty enters that place, few ever come out; they are all secretly killed."
"If we don't make a move, once the Emperor of Da Qi dies, Bei Qi will be Xie Beihan's domain."
The sunlight shone on the vast expanse of lotus flowers in full bloom in the Weiyang Pond. A cool breeze brushed past, creating ripples.
Xiao Chi Zhan pondered for a long time and then said indifferently, "No need to bother."
He had saved her life; it was what he owed her!
"Are you serious? Xie Beihan has a great enmity with us. Once he ascends to power, he will inevitably fight Da Liang to the death."
"That's not necessarily true; he's not stupid," Tan Taiye raised an eyebrow. "Moreover, even if Xie Nanchen were to come out, that good-for-nothing wouldn't be able to contend with Xie Beihan. This Bei Qi will, sooner or later, belong to Xie Beihan."
Xiao Chi Zhan didn't listen to their talk. He touched the nascent stubble on his chin and went back inside to wash up.
He took a simple bath, put on a light robe, and sat on the soft couch, closing his eyes slightly. Recalling her every expression and every movement from last night, he couldn't help but rub his forehead.
Little fox.
Tricking him again!
It's fine; he was willing to play this tug-of-war with her. Whatever she wanted to play, she could play.
But her ending had long been decided; she could only be his, only return to Da Liang with him.
Dreaming of marrying Xie Beihan!
Did he think he was dead?!
---
Meanwhile, Tan Taiye returned to his room with injuries.
Lan Murou was a deep sleeper and had not yet woken up. As she slept soundly, she felt a heavy weight press down on her, and his hand sneakily reached into the quilt to grope her.
She immediately woke up.
"General!"
The woman beneath him was delicate, like a flower, and soft as water. Startled awake by him, her clear, bright eyes still held a drowsy, misty haze.
She clutched the quilt, her small, tranquil chin hidden beneath it. The half of her face exposed was as tender and succulent as a peach blossom, captivatingly beautiful.
Seeing her like that, Tan Taiye couldn't help but grin and pull her quilt down.
Her lips were pink and moist.
His eyes darkened, and he directly lowered his head to kiss her, skillfully prying open her teeth for a passionate embrace.
Lan Murou dared not resist, her mouth open, passively accepting his kiss.
She remembered the rumors she had heard outside last night. She wanted to ask him, but seeing that he had no intention of stopping, she could only gently push him.
"General."
"Mmm?"
His narrow eyes narrowed slightly. He lifted her chin, his voice hoarse and extremely dangerous.
"What did you call me?"
She couldn't help but tremble slightly and quickly changed her address, "Husband."
Every time she called him husband, she felt embarrassed and ashamed.
An unspeakable sadness welled up inside her.
He was always like this, but he had no idea how disgusted she was by that title.
She wasn't even his wife, not even an outsider companion; she was like a pet kept by his side. Such a relationship, calling him by that title, was sickening.
But she had no right to resist; her family's lives were in his hands.
She could only hope that he would grow tired of her and let her go.
"Mmm, I like hearing you say it. Don't call me wrong again in the future, or I'll spank you."
Saying that, he slapped her backside heavily.
Lan Murou's face instantly flushed, turning as red as fire all the way to her earlobes.
Tan Taiye loved seeing her delicate and shy demeanor the most. He chuckled and pinched her face.
"Why are you so easily shy?"
"It hurts~"
He wanted to crush her to death.
Tan Taiye stopped his hand, gently moved lower, stroking her, his breath exhaling by her ear, deep and seductive.
"Besides this, there's no flesh anywhere else. Am I shortchanging you on food or drink? Why don't you ever gain weight?"
Lan Murou lowered her eyelashes slightly, her voice as quiet as a mosquito's hum.
"I'm already fat."
"Not enough." He reached out and locked her in his arms, his cool lips falling inch by inch onto her body. "It hurts to hold you."
Lan Murou's lips twitched. She really wanted to retort, "Then go hold someone else."
But she only dared to think it in her heart; she absolutely dared not say it out loud. If she dared to resist, she would be tormented again.
Seeing his eyes redden slightly and him losing a bit of control, she remembered what she hadn't asked yet and quickly reached out to push him, asking, "Did they really find Ah Luan?"
When she heard the news last night, Tan Taiye was no longer in the room.
She had been anxious all night, with no one to ask. Later, she had drifted off to sleep in a daze.
"Mmm," he murmured perfunctorily.
"Then where is she now? Who rescued her?"
Tan Taiye's slender hand cupped her chin, his voice laced with a touch of impatience. "Why do you care so much? Just serve me well."
Lan Murou's face darkened. He was truly annoying.
"Genera-- Uh, Husband, I'm worried about Ah Luan, just tell me."
She rarely acted so coquettish, and her shaking him made him feel a bit stirred.
Tan Taiye's dark eyes smiled as he looked at her. "You're begging me?"
"----"
What was this habit of his? He just loved making her beg him!
Lan Murou grumbled silently in her heart, but on the surface, she said softly, "I beg you."
Her voice was soft and sweet, incredibly pleasant to hear.
Tan Taiye affectionately kissed her lips and gave a perfunctory, brief explanation.
"Ah, she became Miss Shen, and also the Crown Prince of Bei Qi's fiancée. Won't that Prince be furious?"
"So Ah Luan really doesn't remember us?"
Seeing her wide eyes filled with curiosity, he retorted, "Why do you have so many questions?"
He couldn't be bothered to care about so much.
Lan Murou muttered to herself again.
Tan Taiye, too lazy to listen to her worrying about others, directly lowered his head and sealed her lips. They were soft, so sweet.
He was covered in injuries; why didn't she care about them? She was so concerned about others.
He let out a cold snort and fiercely kneaded her soft flesh.
Lan Murou gasped in pain, instantly regaining her senses. He was rough, not at all considerate, and completely disregarding her.
But she was truly worried about Ah Luan's situation. She wanted to ask a few more questions, but he deliberately provoked her.
"You--"
"What about me?" Tan Taiye smirked proudly, with an infuriating smile.
Lan Murou bit her lip, her face flushing.
She hugged his shoulders, burying her head in his embrace, and asked again.
"Will Ah Luan be deceived by that Crown Prince? What if he intends to bully her?"
Tan Taiye was truly tired of listening. He pinched her chin and directly covered her incessantly chattering lips.
Lan Murou wanted to dodge; he always liked to pester her with endless kisses, which she disliked.