The music room in Baihua Building.
Min Ming plucked the strings of the zither, practicing the lody alone.
Dong, dong, dong.
Heavy and hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Min Ming’s fingers froze as she saw the figure standing still at the doorfra. She softly called out:
"Co in, Ning’er."
The door was pushed open, and Min Ning entered with a dark expression. She stared at her elder sister without a word and walked up to the courtesan.
"Sister, you... why did you do this?"
Min Ning wanted to question sharply, with frost in her voice. Yet as the words tumbled out, her tone involuntarily softened.
She couldn’t bring herself to explode at the sister who had been like her anchor.
It was her sister who raised her during the family’s darkest hours, enabling her to keep training with the sword and wear n’s clothing to inherit the hereditary military role. It was her sister who supported her again and again, shielding her pain. She was the softest spot within her vulnerabilities.
"Why? What other ’why’ could there be?"
Min Ming rely gave a faint smile and replied softly:
"Isn’t it enough that he covets the two of us sisters?"
Min Ning clenched her fists silently and uttered through gritted teeth:
"He promised , for one year, he wouldn’t touch you..."
"Since when can a man’s sweet promises be trusted?"
Min Ming sneered mockingly, throwing the question back at her.
"Even if his word could be trusted, what about after that one year?"
For a mont, Min Ning was at a loss for words.
Min Ming propped up her chin, leaning lazily on the ancient zither that countless people regarded as a priceless treasure. She looked at Min Ning:
"You clearly told that his promise was nothing but a stalling tactic."
Min Ning’s face stiffened instantly. Avoiding the topic, she said instead:
"With around, he’ll let you go. I will persuade him—he’s not soone unreachable."
These words, once spoken, made Min Ming chuckle slightly:
"How certain are you? You don’t have any guarantees. You don’t understand him. The man you see is different from the one I see. You think he still has his conscience intact, but I see him as dominated by lust, unscrupulous.
n are transparent in their true nature—you can tell at a glance. Once you submit to him, you’ll be completely under his control. How will you resist his smooth-talking? You’ve already been enchanted by him, but the biggest fear for won is being enchanted, because once bewitched in soul, they lose their heart and can no longer see clearly."
As she spoke, her tone accelerated, each word tumbling fiercely onto Min Ning’s face.
"That’s not how it is!"
Min Ning abruptly straightened up, protesting:
"You use , and even Grandpa! You’ve never considered that Grandpa can’t... deal with him..."
"I’ve considered it!"
Min Ming unexpectedly growled harshly.
"He ca back from the underground palace unscathed—how could Grandpa deal with him? I’ve known, just from the few hints you gave , I’ve known. That’s why I had to act this way. Ideally, Grandpa would kill him—but that’s impossible. So alternatively, if Grandpa doesn’t destroy him, nor does he destroy Grandpa, then he’ll know it was my doing. He’s such a vengeful person; he’ll co for to settle the score. That’s precisely what I want—to draw him away so the rest of you can never be as you were before. At worst, if he utterly destroys Grandpa, then you all would be finished!
You run to throw yourself at him, yet you don’t understand that I’ve considered everything—you’re the one who doesn’t realize you’re jumping into the fire pit!"
Min Ning froze where she stood, as if seeing this side of her sister for the first ti.
"How can you... be this crazy?!"
She struggled to spit out the sentence.
Min Ming’s head spun, and she wavered slightly before speaking in a weak voice:
"You don’t understand. In the Baihua Building, what hasn’t been seen? A man in a padded coat pats a young girl’s shoulder and asks: ’Miss, care to join at my place?’ The girl’s shoulder is pulled, suddenly trapped in a layering of obligation, her womb ruined—and only months later does she realize. Then there’s no choice but to endure the physical pain to abort it, blood pouring like rivers. Stories like these, and worse, your sister has heard countless tis.
You say he’ll let go, but that’s too naïve. Stepping back, even if he lets go, would Wuyong Building spare ? I have no escape, but you do, Ning’er—you still have a way..."
She spoke slowly this ti, each word dripping like water falling from a piece of bamboo. Gradually, her gaze grew dazed, her voice wavered into nothing, and she stopped speaking altogether, rely letting her lips quiver.
Min Ning rarely saw this side of her sister. Unless absolutely necessary, she never revealed this vulnerability to her younger sibling. But now, it seed necessary.
"Clarify the situation, offer your apologies, he will forgive. I will beg him if needed. At worst, I’ll find others to help plead with him..."
Min Ning’s words grew quieter as she spoke.
The courtesan listened with detached interest, plucking the zither strings. Her fingertips had been sliced raw into red marks, and yet she embraced the pain, raising the strings high and plucking them until they nearly snapped. She stared absentmindedly at the ancient zither. The world often said that an elder brother is like a father, an elder sister like a mother. She sold herself to Wuyong Building to raise Min Ning—a fallen daughter of a wealthy family doing so with such resolve, because no matter what happened to herself, Min Ning had to be alright...
"No matter what, I must go find him."
Min Ning had already risen with determination, about to leave.
As she watched her sister’s retreating back,
that courtesan suddenly snapped back to herself, shouting manically:
"He won’t marry you!"
.........
Although it only happened once, the intensity was maddening. Yin Tingxue was completely exhausted, physically and ntally worn out.
Her lower abdon burned fiercely, and her trembling touch revealed her panic. Tears threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes but she held them back.
At that mont, Chen Yi kissed her forehead and said:
"Consider yourself lucky—I should’ve imprisoned you for life. But if you behave, I’ll take you to Yintai Temple in a few days. Understand?"
Yin Tingxue raised her gaze to him, finally tugging up the corners of her lips into a faint smile.
"Alright..."
Chen Yi gently pulled her into his embrace. Yin Tingxue hesitated for a long ti but didn’t dare ntion the child; instead, she leaned against him.
Feeling her fragile softness, Chen Yi couldn’t help but feel tenderness. This ti, he had restrained himself—many crazier acts remained undone. Rembering the mont she disappeared again, his mind went blank for a second, furious at her half-hearted attempt to escape and conceal it from him. It only strengthened his resolve not to let her go.
Yet, recalling the fleeting mont she ran to throw herself into his arms, his heart trembled inexplicably.
And after that, she neither insisted on lying nor stubbornly clutched her bundle, refusing to let go. None of this made him want to release her slightly.
"What do you want to eat in a while?"
Chen Yi asked.
"No, no strength... not hungry."
Yin Tingxue shook her head.
"Then eat well tonight."
Chen Yi didn’t press her, thought for a while, then inhaled the fragrance of her hair, saying:
"When you ran into my arms back then, I was very happy."
Yin Tingxue blinked at him in surprise, staring as if incredulous.
"Happy?"
"Mhm, happier than bullying you."
Chen Yi smiled.
Yin Tingxue pursed her lips in grievance, her earlobes burning, her cheeks still tinged with lingering redness.
She nestled in Chen Yi’s embrace, thought for a mont, then cautiously threw her arms around him in a hug.
"Like this—is it happier than bullying ?"
Pressing against his waist, the girl shyly whispered, her voice trembling.
Chen Yi chuckled, kissing her forehead again:
"Not now—bullying you is still a bit more fun. Better keep bullying."
The girl’s lashes fluttered as she stared at him. Then her brows fell, her little face lting into teary distress.
For so reason, the sight stirred warmth within him.
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