Chapter 15: You Belong to This Heir

Chapter 15: You Belong to This Heir

"Yu'er." Shang Rongyu chased all the way to the Sinking Fish Pavilion.

Ran Qinggu turned around, looking at Shang Rongyu in confusion. "Does the Heir have something else?"

Shang Rongyu: "Actually, I and Cang Jiaojiao..."

Ran Qinggu smiled. "A beauty matches a hero; you two truly make a perfect pair. The Heir can rest assured that Bai Yu will not tell the King or the Queen."

Shang Rongyu's eyes dimmed. "You're not angry?"

Ran Qinggu maintained his calm and collected smile. "Why should I be angry?"

A hint of danger flashed in Shang Rongyu's eyes as he tightened his grip on Ran Qinggu's hand. "I am your husband. Your husband is seeking other women outside. As his wife, shouldn't you be angry?"

Ran Qinggu politely replied, "On our wedding night, the Heir already made it clear to me. Bai Yu knows that the Heir has feelings for Miss Jiaojiao and never dared to hope for more, so I dare not and will not be angry. Heir, if you like her, go for it. Social status is merely a constraint for the world; someone like the Heir would never be confined within such bounds... Mmm..."

Before Ran Qinggu could finish, Shang Rongyu forcefully pressed his head and kissed him.

The kiss was exceptionally domineering, sweeping over every inch of his mouth like an invading force.

Shang Rongyu had incredible arm strength. Ran Qinggu, restrained by him, couldn't escape.

He was forced to endure.

And he could only endure.

Suddenly, a sharp pain hit his lips, as they were bitten through by Shang Rongyu.

Shang Rongyu bit through the flesh, tasting a hint of blood.

He suddenly wanted more, so he gently and slowly bit at Ran Qinggu's lips, as if trying to devour him whole but unwilling to do so, grinding against them softly.

After a long while, Shang Rongyu finally released Ran Qinggu.

Ran Qinggu's eyes were red, whether from the prolonged kiss causing a lack of breath and tears, or from the pain of being bitten.

Shang Rongyu's bloody lips were abnormally red, luscious and dripping with allure.

Seeing the tears in Ran Qinggu's eyes and the blood from his bitten lips, which were strangely seductive, Shang Rongyu was about to feel heartache for him when he remembered his words earlier. He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips with a dark expression and sneered, "The Heir Consort is truly magnanimous, actually willing to give her husband to another."

Ran Qinggu: "Both you and I were forced into this marriage. I understand the Heir's predicament, so I won't blame the Heir. Rest assured, since I promised on our wedding night to separate, I shall honor my word."

"Precarious situation? Honor my word?" Shang Rongyu scoffed, raising his phoenix-like eyes. "Bai Yu, so you've harbored these thoughts from the very beginning. Marrying this Heir has been such a burden for you? Are you eagerly awaiting separation from this Heir?"

Ran Qinggu raised his head in surprise, feeling that the Heir was different from before.

"I'm sorry, but you're going to be disappointed." Shang Rongyu turned and walked out of the Sinking Fish Pavilion, the moonlight stretching his shadow long.

"You probably forgot what you said. You belong to this Heir alive, and even in death, you'll be buried in the same tomb as this Heir. In this life, you won't be able to leave the King's Mansion."

Ran Qinggu frowned, watching the slender figure.

How could this person be so fickle?

He was increasingly unable to understand Shang Rongyu.

In a foul mood, Shang Rongyu sat alone on the eaves of the King's Mansion, gazing at the flickering lights of the entire capital city.

He couldn't understand Bai Yu. With his high status and power, marrying him had wronged her? Why did she always think of returning to that remote place in Beicheng where even birds wouldn't defecate?

The King returned from the military camp, and Concubine Liu hurriedly approached, leaning weakly against King Cheng with affectionate eyes, exuding charm.

King Cheng embraced the beauty. "Don't be like this, this King still has official business to handle. When this King finishes the business, I'll come to accompany you, alright?"

Concubine Liu smiled coyly. "Let this concubine light the lamp for the King."

After drinking a pot of wine, Shang Rongyu casually threw it away, the wine pot falling off the eaves.

Hearing a thud, King Cheng roared in anger, "Little brat, get down here and let your old man beat you to death."

Sitting on the rooftop, Shang Rongyu looked down. His father had a piece of the wine pot stuck on his forehead, his face filled with rage.

Concubine Liu was frightened white-faced, clearing the King's forehead while muttering, "Heir, the King is your biological father, how could you do this? Quickly, quickly call the imperial physician..."

Shang Rongque pushed his father out, saying, "Father, don't be angry. Leave this to me. You should quickly clean your wound. Tomorrow, you still have to practice new battle formations; you can't fight injured."

King Cheng pointed at Shang Rongyu on the eaves and cursed, "Little brat, go kneel in the study."

Shang Rongque repeatedly agreed, "Yes, I'll take him to the study right away."

King Cheng, his face full of anger, was led away. Shang Rongyu walked aimlessly toward the study, pursing his lips as he went. "Father is getting more and more confused, unable to avoid even a wine pot. Lust clouds judgment."

Shang Rongque chuckled. "Actually, you could also let lust cloud your judgment. Who made you say you fancy Cang Jiaojiao back then?"

Shang Rongyu glared at Shang Rongque. "What do you know?"

Shang Rongque: "I may not understand, but I see that you care quite a bit about the Heir Consort. Why don't you explain to her about your relationship with Cang Jiaojiao?"

Shang Rongyu: "Older Brother, how do you know?"

Shang Rongque smiled. "All the guards inside and outside the mansion were trained by me. What can be hidden from me?"

Shang Rongyu felt dejected. "It's not that I don't want to explain, it's that she doesn't care at all."

If this marriage was a farce, then his fondness for Cang Jiaojiao was another farce.

He was always arrogant and unrestrained, though his reputation in the capital wasn't good, he still captivated countless maidens in their dreams.

Who would have thought that Li Xiang's daughter, Li Feiluan, declared she would only marry him?

Not only that, Li Feiluan openly confessed her love on the streets. When her advances were rejected, she threatened to die for him, claiming she was stricken with lovesickness for his sake.

Li Xiang, deeply caring for his daughter, had once petitioned the Emperor for an arranged marriage, but the matter was suppressed by the Emperor.

Shang Rongyu knew well that Emperor Xianyuan would never allow him to marry Li Feiluan.

King Cheng wielded a formidable army and held immense power in the court, while Li Xiang was highly respected and controlled half of the imperial council.

Should he marry Li Feiluan, the entire realm would be within his grasp.

The Emperor would never permit such an event to transpire.

Nor would he allow Shang Rongyu to become a threat to the Crown Prince.

Fortunately, he harbored no interest in Li Feiluan.

Rather than incite the Emperor's suspicion, he chose to act even more recklessly.

Thus, he proclaimed his affection for Cang Jiaojiao.

Would the daughter of a renowned chancellor ever accept being second to a courtesan?

His intention was to extinguish any hope Li Feiluan had, and alleviate Emperor Xianyuan's concerns, avoiding any suspicions.

However, the Emperor remained uneasy, as long as Shang Rongyu remained unmarried, Emperor Xianyuan could not rest easy.

Coincidentally, it was during this time that Duke Bai submitted a memorial.

The entire court was likely unaware of the existence of Duke Bai.

After conducting investigations, Emperor Xianyuan discovered that there was a hereditary Duke Bai in the northern city, who possessed nothing but a title, so insignificant that even a county official dared not offend him.

This suited Emperor Xianyuan perfectly.

Rather than allowing Shang Rongyu to marry the daughter of a prominent family, he preferred to bestow upon him the hand of a daughter from a powerless, fallen aristocratic household.

This could serve as a subtle check against the expansion of the House of King Cheng.

Never did Shang Rongyu anticipate that his marriage would become a pawn in the political machinations of the court.

He was unusually resistant to this unseen Heir Consort, which led him to proclaim his love for a courtesan on their wedding night.

Shang Rongque sneered, "Already upset? You probably don't know about the Heir Consort's cousin, do you? They share no blood ties; he is the son of her adoptive grandfather's daughter. When I went to the northern city to fetch the bride, I inquired about him. His name is Ran Qinggu, and he has been frail since childhood. They have a deep bond."

Shang Rongyu was taken aback. "She has a cousin?"

Shang Rongque nodded. "Yes."

Shang Rongyu: "Have you met him?"

Shang Rongque: "Due to his frail health, he avoids people; I've never seen him. But it's rumored that since the Heir Consort married into the capital, he has been traveling far and wide in search of renowned physicians to treat his illness. The exact reasons remain unknown."

Shang Rongyu felt a hollow emptiness in his heart.

That explained why the Heir Consort treated him with such propriety, never crossing any boundaries...

Why she always contemplated divorce...

It turned out she had a cousin she spent all her days with!