The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

"You don't deserve it." Lin Zuoqing shook her off: "Xu Qianhui, I will not let you into the Duke's mansion."

Xu Qianhui held onto the edge of the bed, her bangs damp with rain, but she still had a smile on her face.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Lord Lin."

"My aunt asked me to visit the old lady at her residence tomorrow to pay my respects. I presume Lord Lin is already aware of this."

"I just don't know whether Lord Lin or the old lady is in charge of the Duke's mansion now."

These words were spoken respectfully, yet every single one seemed to be aimed at his face.

If we're really talking about rules, even if Lin Zuoqing were only the heir apparent now, or even if he were already a duke, he still couldn't surpass the old lady.

Moreover, the old lady was preceded by Madam Fu.

Lin Zuoqing raised an eyebrow: "Are you deliberately trying to disgust me?"

Xu Qianhui shook her head, the thin blanket wrapped around her body, her exposed shoulders and neck dazzlingly white.

"You've driven me from the east side of the city to the west side, what more do you want?"

"I avoid you, I circumvent you, I don't even dare to walk on the same street as you."

"If Lord Lin is still not satisfied, why don't you go to the Emperor and ask for an imperial decree to state that Xu Qianhui is not allowed to set foot in the capital?"

"That way you won't have to bother me every day."

"Ha, didn't you already break your promise?" Lin Zuoqing sneered. "Xu Qianhui, do you love Lin Zuo'an that much that you're willing to defy me for him?"

"Yes."

She answered so quickly that even the sound of the rain seemed to pause for a moment.

If she didn't love him, why would she give up a peaceful life in Jiangnan to return to the capital, this den of wolves?

If she didn't love him, why should she suffer like that? I just hope there won't be any more interrogations in the future.

"Lord Lin, I know you despise me, and I've been trying my best to avoid you." Xu Qianhui pulled the blanket tighter around her, her voice steady: "But if what you want is for me to give up Zuo An, I'm sorry, I can't do that."

Lin Zuoqing stared at her for a long time.

The lamps were not lit, and the rainlight from outside the corridor shone through, illuminating only the taut lines of his jaw.

"In the end, you just can't let go of the wealth and status of the Duke's mansion, otherwise you wouldn't have gotten involved with my brother."

Three years ago, he told her that even if she had to beg for food, she was not allowed to do so in front of the Duke's mansion.

She had thought that time would smooth out some things, such as aversion.

In retrospect, he was indeed a man of deep affection.

It's just that deep affection was given to hatred.

"If I could, I really wish he wasn't your brother." Xu Qianhui turned to look at the fallen flowers outside the window. "Don't worry, I will keep my promise and leave the capital, just not now."

Lin Zuoqing laughed out loud.

The laughter was very low, making one's neck stiff.

"My men reported that the brothel in the alley in the south of the city has been operating in the capital for over thirty years. Officials and noblewomen frequent it, as do girls from ordinary families. Can you guess why?"

Xu Qianhui's fingertips stopped, her throat tightened, and after a long while, she finally asked, "Why?"

"There's an old woman there who's extremely skilled at repairing women's private parts." Lin Zuoqing leaned down, lowering his voice even further: "She just treated a woman yesterday, oh, the same woman I met."

The color drained from Xu Qianhui's face.

When the old woman was collecting the money, she patted her chest and said that their place was the most secretive, and even if the King of Heaven himself sent someone to investigate, he wouldn't find a single word.

Now it seems that even the Heavenly King himself might not be able to do it.

The Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture is acceptable.

Indeed, even daughters of officials and nobles have been investigated, let alone someone like her.

Lin Zuoqing sneered: "Xu Qianhui, you really dare to think of such things, you even resorted to such methods."

"What else do you want me to do?" Xu Qianhui glared at him. "Although the Great Xia Dynasty is considered enlightened, it still values ​​a woman's reputation. If on our wedding day he asks me who I've been with before, am I supposed to say I've spent a year with you?"

"Minister Lin, I have received favors from the Duke's mansion before. Do you expect me to tarnish its reputation?"

"The current situation is better for both of us, so why do you still want to investigate?"

Back then, when Madam Fu held a banquet to exclude her from the marriage proposals of the Duke's mansion, wasn't it because she was afraid that the past would affect the dignity of the mansion?

Now that she has covered it up, it has become a sin.

The rules of aristocratic families are truly ingenious.

When they care about their reputation, everyone else has to peel off their own skin to plaster the walls for them.

Xu Qianhui spoke frankly, completely unaware of the growing coldness in Lin Zuoqing's eyes.

Before she could realize something was wrong and tried to get up and back away, her wrist had already been grabbed.

"Lin Zuoqing, let go."

"Xu Qianhui, you think you can move on from the past? Do you even deserve it?" He pressed her back onto the soft couch, grabbing her hand: "No wonder your fingers are so long..."

Xu Qianhui had considered the possibility that Lin Zuoqing might suddenly go mad and force himself on her.

I also thought that he was afraid of getting himself dirty and would use those fun toys to make his restoration a laughing stock.

Feeling the sudden dampness on her fingertips, Xu Qianhui still couldn't believe that Lin Zuoqing would go to such lengths!

The sound of rain intensified.

The lights in the room were off, and only her rapid breathing could be heard.

Xu Qianhui bit her lip, and soon tasted the fishy smell on her lips.

She refused to beg him.

Not a single word.

After a long while, Lin Zuoqing released his grip.

Xu Qianhui leaned against the couch, her shoulders trembling, her fingers stained with blood.

The white dress was crumpled beyond recognition, like the osmanthus blossoms that had been crushed into the mud by the rain outside.

Lin Zuoqing picked up her white skirt and gently wiped the bloodstains from her hands.

The movements were slow and steady.

"Xu Qianhui, this is who you really are."

Xu Qianhui trembled all over: "Minister Lin, now we're even."

"From the moment you lied to me, we've never been even." Lin Zuoqing chuckled. "Xu Qianhui, as long as you're in the capital, I won't let you get back up."

Xu Qianhui gritted her teeth and looked at him: "Since you don't want me to be with Zuo An, then marry me?"

"Even if I die, I will never marry a woman like you who's a liar." Lin Zuoqing pushed her away, his eyes devoid of any warmth. "And don't even think about jumping into the river again—"

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Qianhui suddenly stood up and ran barefoot out of the room.

Rain splashed up under the eaves, and the hem of her skirt trailed on the ground.

Lin Zuoqing's expression changed, and he chased after her to the door, pulling her back in one swift motion.

"Xu Qianhui! What are you planning to do now?"

Xu Qianhui's wrist ached from being gripped so tightly, but she didn't struggle.

She stood under the eaves, her hair plastered to her cheeks, looking utterly disheveled.

"I'm just going to pick up the fallen flowers outside."

Lin Zuoqing followed her gaze.

Osmanthus blossoms fell all over the ground.

The rain pressed the petals into the mud.

Xu Qianhui looked up at him, her voice barely audible.

"Minister Lin, I never intended to marry you, much less stay in the capital for long. It's just a matter of possessions; it's not like it's going to kill me."

She paused, her eyes reddening, but a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"You once told me that my aunt's half-sister jumped off the city wall to force the newly appointed top scholar into marriage, which is why the scholar remains unmarried to this day and goes to her grave to repent every year."

"I can no longer be that kind of person."