"I've known since I was young that the Tujue and Beidi were the sworn enemies of my Great Jing. That was until a Divine Martial General emerged, winning battle after battle. Every time Qing He went out to gather news and returned to tell me of your might, I wanted to see what kind of man was so formidable."
"Two years ago, during the imperial banquet, I secretly ran off to see you, but before I could see your face, Brother Wen Tang discovered me..."
"Brother Wen Tang?" Xiao Shan frowned. "Who is he?"
"He is... the Commander of the Imperial Guard."
He was also the Great Yao Divine Lord, identified by the Grand Shaman, the man she was to marry.
"Song Beiting, the Commander of the Imperial Guard!" Xiao Shan's eyes blazed as he stared intently at Xue Niang, pressing further, "That day, did you happen to be picking peach blossoms in the peach grove?"
"Probably... I think so, but Brother Wen Tang—"
"Hahahahaha—" Xiao Shan burst into laughter. "I knew it, it was you, it was you! I've seen you, Xue Niang, you're finally mine!"
Song Beiting! That scoundrel dared to deceive him, making him search so hard. But he probably never imagined it! After all the twists and turns, Xue Niang still ended up in his arms.
This was fate!
Xue Niang was confused by his behavior, but he was celebrating too soon. She was a Goddess, and a Goddess could not be with any man other than the Great Yao Divine Lord.
"Xiao Shan, I am not just Princess Ling Yao, I am also a Goddess. My man can only be the Great Yao Divine Lord. If you are with me, you will die."
"What Great Yao Divine Lord? What nonsense are you spouting? You actually believe a legend? You say you're a Goddess, then show me some divinity!"
Xiao Shan became angry again at her words. "You want to leave, why weave such excuses to fool me? The Great Yao Divine Lord, are you perhaps saying your Brother Wen Tang is the Great Yao Divine Lord?"
"Yes, he is the Great Yao Divine Lord. Do you think I want to leave? You will truly die if you are with me. I'm not making up a story, it's true. Xiao Shan, you must believe me."
"What, are you poisonous? Xue Niang, stop talking. I don't believe a single word! You are my woman, don't forget, we are already husband and wife! That day, you initiated it!"
"Xiao Shan!"
Xue Niang roared in anger. Faced with his stubborn refusal to listen, she had no other recourse. Trembling, she took off her outer garment.
Only a肚兜 (dùdōu - a traditional Chinese bodice) remained on her upper body. She gathered her dark hair and, under Xiao Shan's astonished gaze, turned her back to him.
"See for yourself!"
Her fair and smooth back displayed a vibrant and striking red lotus, lifelike and full of vitality. It wasn't tattooed, but seemed to have grown from her body, like a living thing.
It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Xiao Shan's eyes widened, and he reached out to touch it.
"So beautiful..."
"Before a Goddess marries, the red lotus appears. Qing He concealed it for me. That day, when you and I... it appeared again."
"Now you believe, don't you!"
Xue Niang turned around, only to see the infatuation in Xiao Shan's eyes. He murmured, "Such a marvel exists in this world."
"Xiao Shan, you come from the countryside, you probably don't know. Goddesses are not legends. In the imperial family's secret traditions, this matter has been passed down through generations. When I was born, auspicious clouds filled the sky, and phoenixes sang. The Grand Shaman predicted a great calamity for me before I turned eighteen, so my father suppressed the news and built the Phoenix Palace for me. I stayed obediently in the palace, waiting to avoid the calamity at eighteen and marry Brother Wen Tang before ascending to the divine throne and being known to the world. Who knew, who knew that this calamity would be brought by him, he pushed me to marry for political alliance... Xiao Shan, you, what are you doing?" Her voice, filled with overwhelming sorrow, suddenly changed.
Xiao Shan embraced Xue Niang from behind, inhaling her fragrance, and licked the red lotus with his mouth.
Xue Niang's body went limp, a mix of shock and anger. She had been talking for so long, didn't he understand yet?
"In the end, you just want to leave me to go find your Brother Wen Tang. Let me tell you, don't dream about it. We are already husband and wife. Why haven't I died? Could it be that day, I didn't go deep enough?" He bit her delicate earlobe as a punishment.
Scoundrel!
Xue Niang's face flushed red. "Xiao Shan, I'm telling the truth. Believe me."
"I believe you. Will you stay?"
Xue Niang: "..."
Xiao Shan grabbed her hands, and Xue Niang gasped in trembling fear.
"Then what are you waiting for? I don't believe it! Do you know why my name is Xiao Qi Shan? Actually, before I was ten, my name was Xiao Shan. Later, a passing fortune teller said I was destined for misfortune and was extremely stubborn, needing to be tempered by gentleness. Gentleness is most akin to water, hence the change to Shan! After leaving the battlefield, I returned to my original name. I truly felt I was as cold as a stone. But after meeting you, I changed. Nothing is gentler than you..."
"Xiao Shan, you, let me go..."
Xue Niang struggled, but Xiao Shan's iron arms held her tightly. His wicked hands even slipped inside her 肚兜.
"No, you'll die, you'll die..."
"I'll die in your arms, a philandering ghost." Xiao Shan's breathing grew heavy, his tongue circling her ear. "Are you really afraid I'll die? Or are you trying to go back to Song Beiting? Calling him Brother Wen Tang so intimately, why don't you call me, call me Brother Xiao Shan..."
"Xiao Shan, Xiao Shan, if you continue like this, I won't be able to save you anymore. I've already lost half my lifespan!"
"What do you mean?" Xiao Shan stopped his actions.
"I, I exchanged half my lifespan with the gods for your safety. If you continue to be intimate with me, I can only give you my entire life!"
Xue Niang held out her wrist. The scar had already scabbed over, glaringly stimulating Xiao Shan's eyes.
This scar was to save him?
No, it wasn't self-inflicted out of shame and anger?
Xiao Shan's heart pounded. His voice hoarse, he asked cautiously, "Xue Niang, are you leaving because you're afraid I'll die, not to find Song Beiting?"
Xue Niang shook her head frantically. "No, no. I was going to Xiangshan Water Pavilion, not back to the capital. I hate the capital and never want to return. Even if I'm not with you, I won't marry anyone else."
Is that true?
Is she not lying to him?
Overwhelming joy washed over Xiao Shan's soul. The despondency, bitterness, and jealousy of these past days all vanished, and the gloom in his chest was swept away.
He gripped Xue Niang's waist with his large hands, lifted her, spun her around, and kissed her face heavily.
His tongue wildly ravaged, biting Xue Niang's tender lips until they were bruised and battered. He molted over her entire face.
"Xue Niang, don't leave. I'll stop here. We'll be husband and wife like this, okay?"
Xue Niang's lips trembled, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Really?"
Will this be alright? Will her existence bring him misfortune? What about the fallen red paper...
She still felt a bit uneasy.
But, she truly couldn't bear to leave.
"Really!" Xiao Shan nodded emphatically.
As if!
Whether it's her person or her heart, I want it all!
Who would be foolish enough to enter a door and not go inside!