Taking her into his tent, he incurred the wrath of a powerful and mad minister, from which he could

Upon hearing Su Qingyao's question, Chu Lianyue suddenly recalled the scene she had just witnessed.

Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head to take a sip of tea before shyly recounting what had just happened to Su Qingyao.

Su Qingyao was also somewhat surprised upon hearing this, but her reaction was not as strong as Chu Lianyue's.

She said, "No matter how high a man's position or how powerful he is, he's still just a man at heart, and no man is lustful. But I bet that wasn't some maidservant."

Chu Lianyue was bewildered: "If she's not a maid, then who is she?" Zong Xian didn't even have a single concubine.

"You really don't know?"

Chu Lianyue frowned: "Explain yourself clearly."

Su Qingyao shook her head, thinking to herself that heaven was indeed fair; Chu Lianyue had all the skills, but her brain wasn't up to par.

Having been here for so long, we still haven't managed to gather such crucial information.

"There is a cousin in the manor named Ji Mingyi. She was originally engaged to his cousin, but he took a fancy to her and forcibly took her away. He keeps her as a mistress. She is currently living in the West Garden."

It's no wonder Chu Lianyue didn't know; the Zong Mansion was so large, and given her status, she dared not move around freely, so she had never even seen Ji Mingyi's face once.

Su Qingyao's words resonated with Chu Lianyue.

What kind of woman could make a man as dignified and self-controlled as Zong Xian lose his composure?

Lying in bed at night, Chu Lianyue had a dream in which she returned to Zong Xian's bedroom.

Steam rose from the bathroom, and the man's heavy breathing made one blush. However, the woman sharing this bath with him was now herself...

-

Mingyi was left at Songhe Garden that night.

She wanted to leave, but she was soaked to the bone in the bathhouse and couldn't wear any clothes. Zong Xian wouldn't let the maid get her any other clothes.

After drying her off, he carried her naked to the bed; he couldn't very well leave her wrapped in a blanket.

She felt a little annoyed and turned her back to him, ignoring him.

Who told him to force her to do that when other people were around? What a perverse sense of humor!

The man's hot body pressed against her, encircling her slender waist from behind and pulling her into his arms. He then began to tell her about the two beauties in the other courtyard.

He didn't remember their names, only that they were bestowed upon him by the emperor, and as his subject, he couldn't refuse.

Accepting them was also to put the emperor at ease.

Mingyi responded with a sleepy "Mmm".

Zong Xian turned her shoulders back and looked at her, "Jiaojiao, are you jealous?"

"no."

Why is she jealous? This man is overthinking things.

Mingyi was held too tightly by him, and when she moved slightly to keep a little distance from him, she felt her waist was incredibly sore.

She said sincerely, "Since it was bestowed by His Majesty, you shouldn't be too perfunctory."

Zong Xian's eyes deepened. "What would be considered not perfunctory?"

Mingyi was so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping, and she didn't notice the subtle difference in his tone. She continued, "They are beauties bestowed by His Majesty, and they are different from ordinary maids. If you really don't like them, for His Majesty's sake, at least give them a title, and that will fulfill His Majesty's good intentions."

Zong Xian smiled enigmatically: "You don't even have a title yourself, yet you're already asking for one for other women. Aren't you afraid that my praise will only make them smug and try to outdo you in everything?"

"Would the adults allow them to bully me?" Mingyi asked rhetorically.

Zong Xianmu's gaze deepened. "With me here, no one can bully you."

Yes, isn't he the only one who can bully her at will?

Mingyi sneered inwardly, but said perfunctorily, "That's fine then, so you may take them in as you see fit, and don't need to worry about me."

"You're quite magnanimous."

Mingyi finally noticed the man's displeasure and muttered to herself, "Isn't it good that I'm being magnanimous?"

Don't all men like to have multiple wives and concubines?

Besides, she's just a toy to him. Do you think he'd listen to her if she told him not to touch other women?

Knowing she didn't have that much influence, and sensing his displeasure, Mingyi wisely shut her mouth and remained silent.

Zong Xian pinched her chin, lifted it up, and said meaningfully, "Listen, you are different from those women."

These words sounded incredibly ironic to Mingyi, but she didn't want to delve into them further and simply gave a muffled "hmm."

She quickly fell asleep from exhaustion.

Zong Xian held her in his arms and unknowingly fell into a deep sleep.

...

As the first rays of morning light shone in, Zong Xian opened his eyes.

He turned his head and glanced at the girl who was still fast asleep beside him.

The woman had her back to him, her long, dark hair spread out like clouds across the pillow.

Beneath the half-covered quilt, the exposed skin was covered with ambiguous and alluring marks.

Zong Xian stared at it for a moment, then looked away, seemingly lost in thought.

He propped himself up on the edge of the couch, a strand of soft, dark hair wrapped around his forearm, sliding down his skin and onto the back of his hand as he sat up.

Zong Xian lowered his eyes and glanced down, a subtle and strange feeling passing through his heart, just like the feeling that had arisen for no reason last night.

Strangely, he didn't object.

Before he could think further, a servant's respectful voice came from outside the door.

Zong Xian did not disturb the woman sleeping soundly in the bed. He got up and let A-Qing come in to serve him. After she was dressed, he whispered to A-Qing that she should not be woken up and should be allowed to sleep until she woke up naturally.

Ah Qing held her breath and bowed her head to respectfully see her master out.

Zong Xian had a habit of practicing boxing every morning, and Chang Yu stood under the corridor, ready to serve him at any time.

As soon as he finished his set of boxing techniques smoothly and neatly, Chang Yu immediately stepped forward and handed him a clean cloth.

He didn't forget to flatter him: "Second Master looks radiant and full of vigor today. If I could have even a fraction of your magnanimity, I would be content for the rest of my life."

Zong Xian took the cloth and wiped the sweat from his neck, glancing down at him indifferently: "Glib talker."

"I'm telling the truth."

At this moment, the young boy Chang Sui jumped down from the roof, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Second Master."

Zong Xian casually tossed a towel to Chang Yu beside him, moved to the basin to wash his hands, and asked nonchalantly, "Are those two behaving strangely?"