The next afternoon, after a simple lunch, Yelu Long Hao brought Duanmu Xiji and a few guards out to tour Suzhou.
Suzhou wasn't very big, and it would take a day to get there. Even so, the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains still made Duanmu Xiji, who grew up in the border town, dumbfounded. She couldn't even turn her eyes around!
Just like now, standing in this garden that was like a paradise on earth, Duanmu Xiji could only open her mouth and stare, unable to say a word.
Beautiful, too beautiful! The mountain, the water, the grass, and the trees were all so beautiful that they didn't seem real. Especially when looking from the Faraway Fragrance Pavilion, it was even more beautiful.
The northern side of the lake was filled with water, and there were two small islands in the middle. The flowers and plants on the island were lush, the trees were sparse, and the scenery was picturesque. It made people feel relaxed and happy, instantly forgetting the worries of the mortal world.
"Do you like it?" Yelu Long Hao stood behind Duanmu Xiji and asked softly. He had been looking at her like this for a long time. She looked at her big eyes that lit up when she was happy, the beautiful appearance of her frowning in surprise when she was surprised, and the sweet and cute little pear nests that appeared by her mouth when she smiled. He realized that she was more beautiful than ever when she was smiling.
"Yes!" She smiled at him without any wariness.
That smile made Yelu Long Hao's heart skip a beat.
"No wonder Father always said that Jiangnan is a land of water and a paradise on earth. If I can come to Jiangnan when I'm alive, then even if I die, it's worth it!”
"Oh! You like this place that much? Then I'll get someone to move this place to the capital so that you can see it every day.”He said it indifferently, as if he was talking about moving a tree.
Duanmu Xiji was shocked and stared at Yelu Long Hao in disbelief," Emperor, what did you say?”
Yelu Long Hao smiled and pointed at the beautiful scenery in front of him,""I want to move every blade of grass, every tree, and this lake into the palace so that you can look at them as much as you want every day, okay?”
"W-why?"
He lifted her small face and covered her small mouth in front of everyone." Because you like it. As long as it's something you like, I'll get it for you at all costs.”
She shook her head and hid her face in Ye Lui Long Hao's arms in embarrassment. However, she felt a strange itch in her heart. She was not used to his sudden favor." No, I don't want the Emperor to waste his resources and manpower for me."”
"You don't want it? Don't you like it here?" He furrowed his brows slightly and asked, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.
"You don't have to take it for yourself if you like it. Moreover, if they moved this place to the palace, wouldn't others not be able to see this paradise on earth?”
He was expressionless, but there was a flash of admiration in his eyes." If that's the case, shall I build another garden in the palace that looks exactly like yours?”
Duanmu Xiji still shook her head." No, I said it before. I don't want the Emperor to waste his resources on me.”
He pursed his lips slightly." I like to spoil you, can't I?"”
Duanmu Xiji was obviously stunned, and a blush slowly crept up her face." You…Why…Why are you so good to me? You weren't originally…originally weren't…"
"I wasn't going to chain you, punish you, threaten you, or force you, was I?”
These words made Duanmu Xiji's face turn even redder. She twisted the corner of her clothes uneasily, not knowing what this unfathomable Donghuang was thinking.
He pulled her into his arms without any hesitation." I told you that as long as you obediently become my woman and work for me, it would be best if you had a few more princes. I won't treat you unfairly, remember?”
" But…but I don't want the Emperor to mobilize the troops for me…" She repeated the same sentence stubbornly, as if she didn't listen to Yelu Long Hao's warning at all.
Yelu Long Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud. He hugged Duanmu Xiji and kissed her," Silly girl, my silly Xi 'er, do you really think I'm that kind of immoral ruler who would spoil a woman and destroy the peace of the people for personal pleasure? If that's the case, then I don't deserve to be called the Four Thearchs, much less the Eastern Emperor.”
Hearing this, Duanmu Xiji's worried heart finally relaxed. However, she was smart enough to immediately realize that Ye Lui Long Hao's words were just a joke.
Instantly, she was so angry that her eyebrows stood up. She pointed at his nose and scolded,"You…you don't trust me at all, don't you? If you really don't believe me, you can send me back to Dolan City or kill me with a knife. There's no need to test people like this!”
Yelu Long Hao raised his eyebrows in surprise. Was this little thing rebelling? She actually dared to speak to him like this? But strangely, he didn't care. Not only did he not care, he was even a little…happy? It was so strange. Why did she have such a feeling?
He shook his head to shake off the confusion in his mind. He grabbed Duanmu Xiji, who was as angry as a small cannon, and asked,""What's wrong with me asking this? You are my woman, my personal servant girl, and you have also helped me read through the memorials. Of course, I have to make sure that you will not be arrogant and domineering because of my favor.”
" I don't want your love and I don't want anything you give me. I just want you to treat me well..." Duanmu Xiji covered her mouth. God, what was she saying? She was actually begging him to love her? No, how could this be? How could this be?
However, Ye Lui Long Hao had already heard it. He held her waist firmly and held her in his arms." Of course I will treat you well. I like to spoil you. I like to spoil you in bed. Do you know how beautiful and alluring it is to see you blush and your heart beat fast and moan softly? I…"
Ye Lui Long Hao's words were stuck in his throat because he saw a man wielding a long sword towards Duanmu Xiji's back. He instinctively carried Duanmu Xiji and dodged to the side," Danger!”
Duanmu Xiji didn't know what was going on. When she came back to her senses, she realized that she was standing on a chair in the pavilion with Ye Lui Long Hao, and in front of her was a face she was very familiar with.
" Zhong Ying, you... how did you..." Duanmu Xiji was so surprised that she stuttered.
The man smiled coldly, his deep eyes full of disdain." I should be in Dolan City. Why am I here, right?”
"No, I mean you…"
The man pointed his sword at Duanmu Xiji, not wanting to listen to her. "What about me? I originally wanted to save you. I thought you were suffering, but now it seems that there's no need.”
Duanmu Xiji wanted to break free from Yelu Longhao's grasp and explain, but he held her so tightly that she couldn't move," Zhongying, listen to me..."
"You don't have to explain. I don't want to hear it either, because I believe what I see.”
"You saw it? What did you see?"
"See what?" The man's eyes moved from Duanmu Xiji's beautiful face to Yelu Long Hao, who remained silent but had an imposing appearance." I saw how lascivious and shameless you were when you became the Eastern Emperor's prostitute! Hmph, I, Luo Zhongying, have mistaken you. I thought you were a pure and innocent woman. I didn't expect you to be like other women, greedy for wealth and honor, and abandon the poor people of Dolan City!”
Duanmu Xiji was stunned." What did you say? When did I covet glory and wealth and abandon the people of Dolan City?”
"Isn't it? Today, I'm here to help the people of Dolan City get rid of evil!”The man stabbed with his sword, intending to kill Duanmu Xiji, but was stopped by the guards beside Ye Lui Long Hao.
Ye Lui Long Hao ordered coldly, his large hands tightly holding Duanmu Xiji's waist," Men, gather the troops and bring this daring assassin to me…"
Suddenly, a small hand grabbed him." No, Your Majesty, please don't…"
Yelu Long Hao looked down and saw her begging him with tears all over her face. He couldn't help but be furious." Xi Ji, do you know what you're doing?”
"I beg you, let him go, let Zhong Ying go, okay?”
"You…"
When Luo Zhongying, who was fighting, heard this, he immediately cursed,""Duanmu Xiji, I don't need you to plead for me. I'd rather die than live like you!”
Yelu Long Hao's face darkened," Capture him alive, I want to interrogate him personally!"”
A few guards shouted and joined forces to surround Luo Zhongying in the middle. Although Luo Zhongying was skilled in martial arts, he was outnumbered. In a short while, he showed signs of defeat and was captured.
Yelu Long Hao ordered with a livid face," Take him back and watch him carefully. Don't let anyone know. As for you…"
He looked at Duanmu Xiji, who was sobbing." Come with me. I have something to ask you."”
He pushed Duanmu Xiji heavily onto the bed and glared at her with an ugly expression," What's going on? Tell me honestly!"
However, Duanmu Xiji only cried and refused to say a word.
In fact, on the way back from the Distant Fragrance Pavilion, Yelu Long Hao had been constantly interrogating her, but no matter how much he asked, she just cried and didn't speak. She cried until he was flustered and annoyed, crying until he was burning with jealousy!
He nodded fiercely. You won't tell me? It's alright!"
Ye Lui Long Hao turned around abruptly," Men! Drag Luo Zhongying out and kill him!”
"No! Please, please don't!" Duanmu Xiji was kneeling on the ground, clinging onto the corner of his clothes as she begged. Her face was wet with tears.
Yelu Long Hao was furious. She begged him? She was actually begging him for another man? Damn it, when he figured everything out, he would not let her off!
"Get up and explain everything clearly!”He sat down in a chair angrily and glared at her." Speak! Who is he?"
" He…" Duanmu Xiji choked with tears." He…He's me…He's me…"
"What about you? Tell me!"
"He's my childhood friend."
"A childhood friend? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child who can be fooled by your casual words? If they were childhood sweethearts, why would they be so excited? Would she want to kill someone just because she saw you with me?”
"He is a general that my father personally groomed. We were once engaged.”
"You were engaged before?" Yelu Long Hao's voice unconsciously raised," Then what happened after?”
"Later, because of the war, he didn't want to implicate me, so he took the initiative to break off the engagement.”
"Oh? Since he broke off the engagement, why did he come looking for you?”
" I…I don't know…" She grabbed Yelu Long Hao's hand anxiously," Emperor, you…how do you want to deal with him?"”
Yelu Long Hao snorted coldly," How? What do you think? You are familiar with the laws of the past dynasties and should be very clear about the laws. Do you still need to ask me?”
Duanmu Xiji's face turned pale. She staggered and knelt on the ground." No, you can't kill him. I beg you, don't kill him…"
"Can't kill him? Why can't I kill him? He wanted to assassinate the emperor, so shouldn't he be killed?”
"Emperor, he became like this because of me. If you want to punish him, then punish me.”
Yelu Long Hao was even more furious. He slowly stood up and walked to Duanmu Xiji," Punish you? Of course I will punish you, but I won't let him off either!”
"Emperor, let him go. I'm willing to do anything for you, even if I have to do anything for you!”
Yelu Long Hao couldn't help but feel angry," You…"
He picked her up and threw her roughly on the bed, pressing her down hard." I'm asking you, did he touch you?”
Duanmu Xiji cried and shook her head." No, Zhong Ying has never touched me.”
Yelu Long Hao was about to go crazy, she was actually still covering for him and pleading for mercy at this time? He pulled her hair angrily and asked,"No? Without him, would he hate you to this extent? And you would plead for him to this extent?”
"No means no. You're a man. You should know this best!”
"I do know. I also know that I'm your first man. But don't forget, there are a lot of foreplay to play before you get into the real show. Has he never kissed you, hugged you, or even caressed you?”
"No, I really didn't…"
"No? Since you didn't, why did you keep your chastity for him and even want to use death to prove your will?”
"I didn't use my death to prove my will. I told you that I wanted to kill myself because you scared me…Ah…"
Duanmu Xiji's words were stopped halfway by Yelu Long Hao's angry lips. He sucked and bit her fragile and soft lips without any gentleness.
"I don't believe it! Speak! Did he kiss you like this? Or like this?"
Duanmu Xiji cried out in pain from his rough treatment,""It hurts!"
"Speak! Did he touch you here or here?”
He attacked every inch of her skin and every sensitive spot. He asked her every question and punished her every time he asked.
Duanmu Xiji panted heavily as he manipulated her. She was sweating and crying. Her mind was in a mess. She could not help but think of the time when she was with Luo Zhongying in Duolan City. However, Luo Zhongying's face slowly turned into Yelu Longhao's. Duanmu Xiji suddenly understood.
Heavens! She fell in love with this man. She actually fell in love with this violent and cold man! What should she do? What should she do?
She shook her head in pain, enduring Yelu Long Hao's punishment while muttering,""Zhongying, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
Yelu Long Hao was stunned when he heard this, his uncontrollable anger burned away his last bit of rationality.
Duanmu Xiji held the food and anxiously waited for the guard to open the door for her.
This was the place where Yelu Longhao imprisoned Luo Zhongying. Today, Yelu Longhao had gone to discuss some matters with the Suzhou governor and was not in the garden, so she took some time to prepare some food for Luo Zhongying.
"Niangniang, you have to be quick, don't delay for too long. If the emperor doesn't see you when he comes back, he will be furious.”
Since Duanmu Xiji was conferred the title of Zhaorong, all the guards respectfully addressed her as " Empress ". However, she was always frowning and depressed.
"I understand. I will get it done before the emperor returns.”
Ever since the incident at Fragrance Pavilion, Duanmu Xiji and the guards had suffered from Ye Lui Long Hao's anger almost every day, especially Duanmu Xiji. She had to endure his punishment and demands again and again every night, making her panic, embarrassed, and embarrassed, but she could not reject him at all.
Sometimes, she really wanted to kill herself, but when she thought of her father who was being escorted back to the capital, the people of Duolan City, and Yelu Long Hao's majesty and coldness, she held back.
Duanmu Xiji stepped into the small room with food and saw Luo Zhongying who was handcuffed.
"Zhongying, I've brought you food. Hurry up and eat!”She said in a small voice, but her eyes were fixed on Luo Zhongying. He had lost weight and looked much more haggard.
Luo Zhongying, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes when he heard Duanmu Xiji's voice." I was wondering who it was. So it's Empress Zhaorong. Please forgive me for not welcoming you."”
Duanmu Xiji teared up when she heard his sarcastic words." Zhong Ying, don't be like this. You know I don't want to be a queen."”
"Not rare? Was that so? Why do I feel like you say one thing and do another? On the surface, she acted like a chaste woman, but deep down, she was a lewd and shameless slut!”
Duanmu Xiji couldn't help but sway." What did you say? Are you calling me a lowly prostitute?"
"Isn't it?" Luo Zhongying stood up excitedly and pointed at the square-sized room.""Do you know where Yelu Long Hao originally locked me up?”
She shook her head. From that day until now, Yelu Long Hao had never let her out of the room. How would she know where he was locked up?
"The third room from the east side, which is the room next to yours and Ye Lui Long Hao's.”
Duanmu Xiji froze on the spot and was so surprised that she couldn't say a word.
"I was in that room, listening to you and Ye Lui Long Hao having fun every day, watching you pander to him, fawning over him, even listening to you whine like those prostitutes. Xi Ji, you deserve to die. You actually turned yourself into this for glory and wealth, becoming a prostitute that he could do whatever he wanted? What did he give you to make you forget about the suffering citizens of Dolan City and the fact that Mayor Duanmu is imprisoned in the imperial prison awaiting execution?”
Duanmu Xiji's legs went soft and she fell to the ground. She shook her head repeatedly." I didn't. I'm not like what you said. I'm not…"
"No? You clearly are! And I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. I can't be wrong! Xi Ji, you disappoint me. I even came all the way from Dolan City to save you, afraid that you would be bullied by this immoral and fatuous ruler. I didn't expect you to be so lowly as to sacrifice yourself.”
Duanmu Xiji couldn't say anything to refute. She was indeed willing to sacrifice herself, but the heavens pitied her. She was not doing it for herself, but to atone for her father and the people of Duolan! Moreover…Moreover, Yelu Long Hao wasn't as cruel and cruel as they thought!
"Do you know what Yelu Longhao did to Duolan City?" Luo Zhongying continued angrily. He gathered all the generals in the city and imprisoned them in the dungeon. He even sent the men in the city to the border to do hard labor and make bows and arrows for him. Do you know what happened to the women in the city? The younger ones were sent to the military camp to be prostitutes, and the older ones were ordered around like washerwomen. And you actually gave yourself to this kind of man? You deserve to die, Xi Ji, you really deserve to die!”
Tears of disbelief and helplessness fell to the ground." You're talking nonsense. He's not that kind of person. He promised me that he would treat the people of Dolan City well. He's not that kind of person. He wouldn't do such a thing!”
"He isn't? Xi Ji, do you still believe him at this point? What do you think this is?" Luo Zhongying lifted his shirt, revealing a deep and long scar on his foot." I was injured by the Liao army when I tried to save a girl who was almost humiliated on the street. Xiji, now you know what kind of person Yelu Longhao is, right?”
Duanmu Xiji couldn't help but cry. How could this be? She trusted him so much and gave herself to him completely. Why did things turn out like this? Why did he lie to her like this?
Luo Zhongying squatted down and patted Duanmu Xiji's trembling shoulders." Xiji, come with me. Let's go find the Jade Kylin and return to Dolan City together, okay?"”
"Jade Kylin?"
"Yes! As long as we have the Jade Qilin, we don't need to fear Yelu Long Hao anymore, we can hold our heads high and look down on the Central Plains! Xi Ji, let me take you away from here and free you from Ye Lui Long Hao's clutches. I really can't bear to see him bully and humiliate you every day. Xi Ji, come with me.”
Duanmu Xiji shook her head." No, Zhong Ying, I can't go with you.”
"Why? He humiliated you day and night, and you still want to follow him?”
" I…It's not that I want to follow him, but…but…"
"But what? Is it because you can't bear to part with the glory and wealth he gave you, or do you simply can't bear to part with him?”
"No, why would I miss him? If it weren't for the people of Dolan City, why would I agree to follow him?”
"In that case, follow me. I'll take you away from here.”
"No, Zhong Ying, I can't go with you. I'm afraid that if I leave, he will…"
"What will he do? Eat you? Or start another war? Xi Ji, why don't you think about how much better the situation in Dolan City is compared to the war?”
" But he…" Duanmu Xiji shook her head desperately, but she couldn't think of a reason to convince herself to leave Ye Lui Long Hao.
Luo Zhongying finally understood." You…you're in love with him, aren't you?”
Duanmu Xiji denied it, but she did not dare to look at Luo Zhongying." No, how could I fall in love with him? It's too late for me to hate him. How can I love him?”
Luo Zhongying grabbed her and pulled her into his arms." If that's the case, come with me. Xiji, you know I've always loved you and I've never forgotten you. If it weren't for that damned war, you would already be my wife. How could you be humiliated and bullied by that beast here? Xi Ji, come with me. I love you, I love you!”
He suddenly lowered his head to block Duanmu Xiji's mouth, which was so surprised that she couldn't close it in time. His warm and moist lips poured out the deep love in his heart.
Duanmu Xiji did not resist. She allowed Luo Zhongying to kiss her and tear her clothes, but her heart was calm.
She thought that she was a shameless woman, because under Ye Lui Long Hao's teasing, she was unable to control herself, unable to control the impulse to want him, to desire him. It was only now that she realized that her passion came from him and was born for him. Without him, she was nothing.
However, Luo Zhongying did not know the change in Duanmu Xiji's state of mind. He kissed her passionately and caressed her delicate skin with his big hands that were shackled with chains. He looked at the beautiful body that should have belonged to him." Xiji, come with me. I'll give you happiness. I..."
Duanmu Xiji shook her head." No, Zhong Ying, I won't go with you."”
Luo Zhongying looked at her in disbelief." Why? Why are you still unwilling to leave with me?”
" Because I've already…"
Suddenly, a voice as cold as ice sounded from outside the window."Because she's my woman. She swore that she would stay by my side forever!”
Duanmu Xiji and Luo Zhongying froze on the spot as if they had been struck by lightning. They even forgot how to breathe. They just stared blankly as the door was slowly pushed open and Ye Lui Longhao walked in step by step with a smile.#
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