Chapter 497

Chapter 503: Entanglement (Part 1)

Under such circumstances, asking if she missed him...

Eleventh Miss's face flushed crimson.

Yet she couldn't help but ponder the question.

She had never really thought about it before.

But now—she did.

She missed his warm embrace, the intimacy of being so entwined, the way he cherished her with such tender reluctance...

She slung her arms around Lord Xu's neck and nuzzled her cheek against his.

Eleventh Miss was so easily flustered, and his question had been so teasing—how could she possibly answer? She’d probably be too mortified to face him...

A pang of unease struck Lord Xu. Without thinking, he tightened his hold on Eleventh Miss and pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder.

With her bright eyes hidden, he could only rely on touch to savor her delicate beauty—a different sweetness—soft, yielding... No wonder Eleventh Miss often buried her blushing face in his chest.

He closed his eyes, capturing her plump earlobe between his lips, mumbling, "My Mo Yan..." His touch grew more intimate, igniting a quiet urgency in Eleventh Miss’s heart.

Her face burned, her heart pounding wildly.

She leaned close to his ear and whispered a single word: "I do."

Lord Xu stilled, lifting his head in surprise, his gaze burning intensely.

"Mo Yan..."

His tone wavered with doubt, hesitation, uncertainty—even a trace of nervousness. Gone was the man whose laughter shone as bright as the sun, whose stride carried the confidence of a tiger.

Had her words truly changed him so?

For some reason, a small, secret thrill blossomed within her.

Eleventh Miss clung to his shoulders, her breath warm against his ear as she repeated, "I do."

Her voice was sweet and alluring, yet clear and firm.

His throat tightened as if bound by an invisible rope, his breath coming short—yet his arms only tightened further, pulling her impossibly closer, as if he could press her into his very bones. Then, with thunderous intensity, he surged forward, as if desperate to merge with her completely... as if only this could convey just how soft, how sweet, how utterly intoxicating she felt in his arms—

Eleventh Miss let out a breathless moan.

"Someone from home came?" Lady Wen shrugged on a padded jacket, watching Yang Shi, who sat beside her with eyes brimming with tears.

Yang Shi dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice thick with tears. "They said... some opportunistic ruffians saw the Yang family in trouble and saw their chance. A three-tael debt was inflated to thirty thousand. If payment isn’t made, they’ll report my father to the authorities. He had no choice but to send someone, pleading for me to seek His Lordship’s intervention..."

Lady Wen listened, her brows slightly furrowed.

Once the person leaves, the tea grows cold. But the Emperor's decree has yet to come down, and these people are already so eager.

She thought of her mother, who was still without word... She wondered if Qiuhong’s father could persuade her mother to leave the Wen family.

At this thought, Lady Wen sighed inwardly.

And Yang, seeing this, felt a sense of relief in her heart.

Lady Wen loved silver more than anything; she feared most that Lady Wen would remain indifferent.

Thinking this, she dabbed at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief and sobbed softly, speaking in a low voice: “Others may not know, but you do, Sister. Since I entered the mansion... I have hardly spoken a few words with the Marquis. His treatment of me is exceedingly cold. Unlike Madam and you, who treat me kindly and take care of me when things happen. Moreover, as the Marquis’s concubine in name, such a significant matter should be discussed with Madam first.” As she spoke, her face showed a look of sorrow, “But the Yang family is now under suspicion, our fate uncertain. Even if Madam wishes to help, she must also consider the Xu family’s reputation and future. How can we lose sight of the bigger picture for a small matter... I dare not seek Madam’s assistance…”

Lady Wen thought of herself then.

Back then, she had tossed and turned for several nights, thinking through every possible scenario over and over, before finally mustering the courage to approach Madam… But she never expected that Young Lady Shiyi would agree so readily and even come up with a good plan.

“After much deliberation, I walked to the courtyard gate and turned back, returned to my room and couldn’t sit still, and ended up spraining my foot.” Yang Shi extended her foot, wrapped in white cotton cloth like a dumpling, to show Lady Wen, “Considering it was too late and Madam wasn’t feeling well, I was afraid to disturb her by calling for a doctor. It was Mother who reminded me to ask Sister for some medicinal oil.”

Wiping away the tears.

Lady Wen hurriedly inquired about her foot injury and then comforted her, "This medicinal oil is very effective. Rest for the night, and wait for the doctor to come tomorrow to prescribe some medicine. You will recover soon."

Lady Yang nodded but said, "I am not worried about my foot. With time, it will heal." As she spoke, she pressed her lips together and said in a low voice, "What I am concerned about is the family... The creditors have been pressuring Father to repay the debt for ten days now. I wonder how things are? My father has a straightforward nature; if he stands his ground against those people..." Tears welled up again, "I fear something might happen to him... I would be tormented with worry for the rest of my life..."

"It won’t come to that," Lady Wen reassured her, "Those people just want to extort some silver. If they push too hard, everyone will part ways. It’s no good for them either. Don’t overthink it. Go back and get a good night’s sleep. Early tomorrow, we can go together to seek Lady’s advice and see what she suggests before making any plans." She added, "Lady is kind and generous. People from all walks of life in the manor often seek her counsel. If she can help, she certainly will. You can rest assured on this point."

She treated her more like a guest than a sister.

"Really?" Lady Yang’s eyes lit up, and she reached out to grab Lady Wen’s sleeve, "Then, could we go and see Lady right away?"

Lady Wen was taken aback.

"Sister, you don’t understand," Lady Yang’s tears flowed again, "I had already lain down, but as soon as I closed my eyes, I dreamt of Father being beaten, our house being seized, Mother and my brother barely clothed and starving, crying for me to save their lives..." She sobbed into Lady Wen’s lap, "How could I possibly stay still... Thinking of Sister’s gentle nature and your usual kindness towards me, I couldn’t bear to disturb you, but I came here with a heavy heart..." She lifted her tear-streaked face, "Sister, please consider the effort I’ve put into learning etiquette since I entered this household..."

"Please, for the sake of our bond, come with me to see Lady... Whether she agrees to meet or not, I’ll feel somewhat at ease... Otherwise, I’d feel as though I hadn’t done my utmost to seek help for my own safety..."

With the Wen family’s affairs still unresolved, Lady Wen could sympathize. But to seek an audience with Lady Eleven at this hour...

"Just to check," Yang Shi implored. "If Lady has already retired, we naturally won’t disturb her."

Yang Shi’s father was a distant relative. Though the Yang family had been convicted, her father hadn’t been arrested after all these days, meaning the trouble likely didn’t involve her household. Besides, whether to help or not was entirely up to Lady.

Lady Wen recalled her own gratitude when Lady Eleven had extended a helping hand despite the Yang family’s involvement with the Wen family...

"Alright," she called for Dongqiu to help her dress. "Let’s go see—if Lady has already retired, we won’t disturb her."

Yang Shi’s face brightened, nodding repeatedly. "Sister, I knew your heart was kind. No one else would understand my feelings like you do..."

Lord Xu gently wiped the sweat from Lady Eleven’s temples and asked softly, "Tired?"

Lady Eleven closed her eyes, letting him hold her, and murmured a faint "Mm."

Lord Xu’s eyes warmed with a smile.

Holding her had left him conflicted—afraid she couldn’t endure... Yet, it was he who had surrendered first...

At this thought, he quickly looked Lady Eleven over.

Her face was flushed, her eyes and brows still flushed with passion.

Lord Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

Lady Eleven stirred. "I’m covered in sweat..."

He knew she was fastidious about cleanliness, and he adored that about her. But this time, he pulled her closer. "Wait a moment... I’ll wipe you down later."

He wanted to linger in this intimate closeness a little longer.

Lady Eleven could barely move. Seeing his insistence, she curled against him with closed eyes.

Perhaps too exhausted, she fell asleep as soon as her eyes shut.

Half-asleep, she felt someone wiping her body.

With eyes still closed, she whispered, "Lord Xu."

A familiar, deep voice chuckled softly in her ear in response.

Lady Eleven let him tend to her.

She felt weight press down as someone covered her, murmuring "Mo Yan" affectionately while parting her legs...

Startled, Lady Eleven struggled to open her heavy eyes. "Tomorrow... wait till tomorrow..." Before she could finish, she felt him press forward.

Lord Xu chuckled lowly, saying nothing as he planted kisses down her neck.

Despite her exhaustion, her breathing became uneven.

Her hands, once gripping his shoulders, now clung to him in embrace...

To knowingly do the impossible—could this be considered indulgence?

Eleven Miss thought hazily, only to hear Zhuxiang's anxious voice: "My lord, my lady, an envoy from the palace has arrived under the emperor's orders to summon the marquis for an audience."

Lord Xu's body tensed, his skin suddenly like iron beneath velvet—smooth to the touch yet unyieldingly firm.

"My lord," Eleven Miss came fully awake and clung tightly to Lord Xu.

Unlike the tender affection of moments ago, now there was only tension and unease.

Why would the emperor summon Lord Xu so abruptly at this hour?

Marquis Jianning, the Earl of Shouchang, and two grand councilors were all imprisoned in the Emperor's prison. And hadn't Han Xin been assassinated by Empress Lü within the palace walls?¹

Sensing her rigid posture, Lord Xu quickly embraced her gently. "It's nothing, nothing. His Majesty has been preoccupied with reforming the bureaucracy these days."

Eleven Miss pondered and found his words reasonable.

The emperor couldn’t possibly add to the chaos at such a time. Besides, Lord Xu had many contacts in the palace. If the emperor harbored any ill intentions, given the current complexity, Lord Xu would surely have heard rumors.

She let out a long sigh of relief.

Lord Xu watched her, his heart softening. Yet he teased her, "What? Can’t bear to see me go?"

Eleven Miss flushed.

Thankfully, they hadn’t gotten to the crucial moment—otherwise, it would have been truly awkward.

"I don't want you to go," she admitted, meeting his playful gaze head-on. "What of it?"

Lord Xu was taken aback.

He pressed his forehead against hers and whispered roughly, "Then I’ll stay home with you."

--- ¹ *Han Xin (d. 196 BCE) was a military general who greatly contributed to the founding of the Han Dynasty. He was later lured into the palace and assassinated on the orders of Empress Lü, the wife of Emperor Gaozu.*