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

"I have no intention of leaving."

Mingyi stood before him, and Zongxian looked at her across the desk, his tone interrogative: "If you didn't intend to leave, then where did you go just now?"

Mingyi's eyelashes trembled, and she lowered her eyes: "I talked with Zongying outside for a while."

"Is that all?"

Zong Xian clearly knew everything, and was asking a question he already knew the answer to.

Mingyi had no choice but to bite the bullet and explain, "Zongying is doing it all for my own good..."

"come over."

Before she could finish speaking, Zong Xian's voice, neither too loud nor too soft, boomed out.

Mingyi looked up and met his deep, narrow eyes, which were like an ancient well, as if there were whirlpools inside that could suck in one's soul.

She pursed her lips, stepped around the desk, and stopped in front of the man, her whole body tense.

Zong Xian took her hand; in the dead of winter, her palms were damp with sweat.

He then took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her ten fingers, slowly and deliberately, as intimately as a lover.

But the next moment, he said coldly, "Mingyi, you're being very naughty!"

He suddenly exerted force and pulled her towards him. Caught off guard, Mingyi fell straight into his arms, her chin immediately gripped by long, slender fingers, forcing her to tilt her head back.

Mingyi saw the anger in his eyes and instinctively felt fear, her pupils trembling slightly.

Zong Ying's plea for mercy had angered him, but he wouldn't do anything to his beloved younger sister; instead, he could vent his anger on her.

This is Shuangxu Garden, Mingyi's boudoir.

Ning Shuang, Ning Xue, and their maids knelt in the snow-covered ground outside the courtyard.

They did not stop their master from leaving.

She was only forced to kneel as punishment, without being flogged. This was only to prepare for the concubine-taking ceremony a few days later, which required someone to stay by her side to serve her.

Otherwise, it would never have been so easily forgotten.

The doors and windows were wide open, letting in the cold wind.

Mingyi was pressed down onto the sandalwood desk, and a large hand from behind went straight into her dress. Her expression changed drastically, and she tried to struggle.

However, he was held down firmly by the man behind him and could not move.

There were a bunch of servants guarding outside!

"You bastard, let me go!" Driven to desperation, Mingyi lost her temper and started cursing.

This rebuke only elicited a low chuckle from Zong Xian, a chuckle that was chilling and piercing.

"Let you go?"

His fingertips pressed hard against the softness of her waist, and he leaned down to whisper in her ear, each word dripping with humiliation:

"Ji Mingyi, know your place! You're nothing but a toy for my amusement. Where I take you is entirely up to my whim. Do you think you can refuse?"

"What have I done wrong to you? You've been treated with luxury, surrounded by servants, and given a life of respect and privilege comparable to that of a principal wife. Why are you so determined to leave?"

The man's tone grew increasingly cold and harsh, "Who are you trying to find after you escaped? Xie Huaiyu, to become his concubine? But he abandoned you long ago!"

tear-

A crisp tearing sound rang out as a large hand ripped off the last piece of cloth covering her body.

Her delicate, fair skin and slender back were fully exposed to his eyes.

Zong Xian's breath hitched, and beneath the surging rage in his eyes, a strong and obsessive lust gradually rose.

The humiliation swept over his limbs and bones, and Mingyi felt cold all over, biting his lip tightly.

Even though she was in excruciating pain from the tearing in her lower body, she refused to utter a sound. Humiliating tears streamed down her face, soaking the paper pad beneath her and leaving large wet patches.

The inkstone was overturned, the brush rolled away, and ink mixed with scattered books, creating a mess on the floor, just like her shattered dignity at this moment.

Zong Xian tormented her repeatedly, forcing her to beg for mercy and to admit that she was his woman, that her body and soul belonged to him.

But Ji Mingyi didn't want to bow her head anymore, and the taut string finally snapped.

Soft, desperate sobs escaped her lips, her voice hoarse and pleading: "Kill me, just kill me!"

"How could I bear to kill you?"

Zong Xian's breath was heavy, carrying a dangerous yet tender chill as he turned her face and sealed her lips with his.

...

Half an hour later, they still hadn't let her go.

He carried her to the armchair, kissed away her tears, and softened his movements, yet still held her tightly, their bodies intertwined.

Mingyi hated him to death, but her porcelain-white face flushed red, and her eyes gradually became hazy.

During this time, they did all sorts of intimate things, and Zong Xian knew her body better than she did.

Know where she is sensitive and where she can find pleasure and indulgence.

The body's reaction is the most honest.

It seemed that only at this moment could he feel that she truly belonged to him.

Zong Xian sighed deeply, "Why can't you like me a little more?"

...

Half an hour later, Zong Xian finally let her go and draped one of his own robes over her shoulders.

Mingyi leaned weakly against him, her body pressed against his hot, sweaty chest, tears streaming down her face.

Zong Xian was in a much better mood. He gently stroked her hair and coaxed her, "Don't cry, Jiao Jiao."

He should have kept quiet, because once he started to express his feelings, his tears flowed even more fiercely, and he cried so hard he couldn't catch his breath.

Zong Xian frowned, his heart aching inexplicably. He simply got up and carried her to the bed.

The servants outside the door lowered their heads and held their breath, none of them daring to look into the room.

Only after Zong Xian solemnly ordered someone to come in and serve her did Yuegui cautiously enter, fetch a clean and soft nightgown, and step forward to help Mingyi change.

She had heard the commotion inside the house and was secretly worried. She thought that after all the commotion, the girl's skin must be covered in wounds and look terrible, just like before.

But nothing happened. Everything seemed fine, and Yuegui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After changing his clothes, he left.

Zong Xian had deliberately avoided touching the injury on Ming Yi's knee.

Mingyi was still sobbing, but she wasn't crying as hard anymore. However, she had her whole face buried in the soft pillow and didn't want to see anyone.

I don't want to see him at all.

Zong Xian didn't hold a grudge against her; usually, he was happy to tolerate her little quirks.

A short while later, Aqing brought out the acacia ointment and silently withdrew.

Mingyi was caught off guard when she felt a pair of hands reaching out to pull down her nightgown. She looked up abruptly and saw that Zong Xian had somehow gotten onto her bed.

Mingyi hurriedly raised her hand to stop her, annoyed, "You clearly just..."

The rest of the words stuck in my throat, filled with shame and grievance.

Zong Xian didn't say much, but just raised his eyes and stared at her intently.

For some unknown reason, Mingyi finally let go of his hand.

Anyway, she was just a toy for his amusement, and he never had a say in what she wanted to do.

Her legs were easily and gently pushed apart.

Mingyi abruptly turned her face away, tightly closed her eyes, and tensed her entire body.

However, the expected pain did not occur; instead, a gentle, cool sensation slowly spread.

The man lowered his head and applied medicine to her swollen area, his expression extremely serious.

The warm, long fingers melted the ointment and gently massaged it in circles.

Upon realizing what he was doing, Mingyi blushed instantly and felt extremely uncomfortable, wanting to shrink back.

Zong Xian seemed to sense something, grabbed her foot and pulled her back. Mingyi had no choice but to endure her shame and indignation and let him do as he pleased.

He was the one who had just been extremely harsh and abusive towards her, and now he was the one pretending to be gentle and considerate.

He slaps you and then gives you a sweet treat; this despicable man has really figured you out.

Mingyi looked silent and didn't want to say a word.

Zong Xian had never done anything like this before, but now he felt a strange interest in it, and his movements became even more gentle and leisurely.

Finally, Mingyi couldn't take it anymore and spoke up: "Are you done yet?"

Zong Xian lifted his head from between her legs, his deep eyes suddenly filled with lust, like a hunter locking onto his prey.

Mingyi bit her lower lip, her whole body trembling slightly.

Zong Xian looked at her red and swollen eyes, and finally couldn't bear to be rough with her. He suppressed his desire and said gently, "Don't worry, I won't touch you for the next few days."

Mingyi had just breathed a sigh of relief when she heard him say the next sentence: "We'll wait until you've fully recovered, and save it for the night of the ninth, for a romantic getaway."

Mingyi remained silent.

Zong Xian straightened up, slowly got off the bed, and calmly picked up his clothes and put them on.

Seeing that he was about to leave after packing, Mingyi seized the opportunity and spoke softly, "The seventh day is the anniversary of my parents' death. Could you arrange for someone to escort my younger brother and maid back to Jiangzhou to pay respects to our ancestors?"

Finally, she looked up at him, her expression earnest: "I won't go back. I'll stay in the manor and not go anywhere else. Okay?"