He hugged me tightly from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder, repeatedly saying, “It’s so cold here, so cold! As soon as I close my eyes, I can smell the blood in the air, and as soon as I close my eyes, I can see your resentful eyes!” He sobbed on my shoulder, and I could clearly feel wet liquid flowing on his back.
I faced away from him, not turning around, not looking at him. This day had given me too much shock. I never knew that this cold and ruthless monarch could have such a fragile side, could have something he could not face.
I let him hold me, and my heart began to soften because of his vulnerability.
But before I could speak, I looked up to meet Water Zi Wei’s profound and unfathomable eyes at the door. His pitch-black, deep eyes revealed no emotion, yet I could not ignore how unnaturally calm they were.
“Your Majesty, the wine you requested!” His cold voice was like an arrow ruthlessly piercing my heart. He didn’t even look at me, simply raising his hand respectfully to hand the wine to Cang Lian.
“Hui’er, shall we have the Grand Master pour the wine!” Cang Lian’s dejected face suddenly wore a cruel playful expression, his drunkenness instantly clearing when Water Zi Wei appeared.
I coldly watched them, not understanding what game they were playing. Water Zi Wei clearly wanted me to leave, yet before Cang Lian he acted as if he didn’t know me.
And Cang Lian, who was just moments ago as fragile as a child, was now back to his usual cold and ruthless self.
“My name is Ran Yan’er!” My icy voice echoed in the air, without emotional fluctuation or any tone.
Cang Lian returned to his initial unfeeling and difficult manner, not even wanting to give me a chance to breathe.
“I disdain the sister of Yin Can, the adopted daughter of Yu Taifei, the daughter of Ran Chengxiang. I only want my freedom. I only want someone honest to take me away from here. You all say you’ll protect me, but aren’t you all just using me? Shui Zixi, I once trusted you so much, but you suddenly disappeared from my world, causing the only world I believed in to collapse completely. Yin Can? I just happened to save him once, and he controlled me like a puppet. Wu Han personally sent me into this hell. Wei Luo? I thought he could take me away, I thought he was the only one who wouldn’t hurt me, but he stabbed me deeply when I was full of hope. I don’t care about any of this, I want nothing, I just want to return to Xiao Xin’s side, live a peaceful life, and arrange my busy diplomatic schedule every day. I don’t care about what you care about, I don’t want your sudden pity.” I said to them, trying to suppress my excitement and keep my voice steady. But when I finished speaking, I wiped my hand.
Tears had already wet my face.
I turned my back to them, not wanting them to see my hatred and resentment. Even though all my resentment was directed at them.
They looked at me silently, not speaking for a long time.
In an instant, there was no sound in the air, only the sound of our heartbeats.
“Done talking? Finished venting?” Cang Lian’s voice seemed to drift from a distant place into my ear.
I had already returned to my initial calmness, having adjusted from my previous outburst.
“What exactly do you want to do to let me go!” My voice had recovered, my tone now calm.
“Accompany me for half a year, and I’ll let you leave! And I can guarantee that no one will harass you again!” He said in a low voice, his tone seemingly mixed with other emotions.
I listened to his words, standing there for a long time without immediately answering. I looked up at Shui Zixi. In that moment, I clearly saw his body tremble heavily, but he immediately returned to his usual calm.
“Fine! I agree! Half a year!” I said word by word, without warmth, without any other emotion.
His face, covered in cold intent, was so profound that he seemed like a cunning fox.
I didn’t even have the heart to look up at him.
Edited Content:
Actually, I really wanted to ask him if all monarchs were as boring as he was.
“Your Majesty, if you have no further orders, this servant will take her leave!” I no longer wanted to stay here; it was incredibly uninteresting to me.
Just as I was about to turn and leave, my waist was seized by Cang Lian’s hand, like an octopus grabbing its prey.
“Does my Yan’er have a habit of being forgetful? Didn’t we just discuss that you’ll accompany me for half a year, and then I’ll give you the freedom you want? How could you forget so quickly?” His lazy voice rang out from behind me, causing me to tremble.
“Cang Lian, aren’t you being too hasty? Even if you want me to sleep with you, you should let me prepare!” Despite my inner reluctance and resistance, this was a deal I had agreed to, and I had no room for regret.
His hand around my waist pulled me into Cang Lian’s embrace. His almost demonic smile was slyly directed at me. When I thought his lips were about to touch my face, he turned his head and moved to my ear, laughing softly after a long pause: “No need. This Yan’er is already beautiful enough, no preparation necessary!”
“Half a year of serving in bed for a lifetime of freedom, worth it!” I said loudly, my previous timidity gone. Held in Cang Lian’s arms, I wore an almost fawning smile, pressing my face close to his.
In truth, I was gambling on Cang Lian’s pride – as the monarch of Cang Country, he wouldn’t want a woman who came too easily, nor would he want a woman staying by his side merely as a bargaining chip.
“Good that it’s worth it. I was afraid you might regret it!” The moment these words left his mouth, I knew I had lost my bet. I had underestimated this man.
I steeled myself and pushed him away, slowly reaching to remove my clothing.
I unbuttoned my clothes one by one, hoping for someone to stop me. But Cang Lian watched like an audience enjoying a show, with no intention of stopping me.
Until I shed my final piece of clothing, he still stood there with an ambiguous smile.
“I prefer active women. I’m already accustomed to women pleasing me!” He looked at me with interest, seemingly delighted to see me embarrass myself.
I hardened my heart, my face now wearing a fawning expression. When Silver Ran trained me, he had taught me the art of pleasing men. If he knew I was finally putting these skills to use, he would probably be clapping with joy.
“Your Majesty, this servant will serve you!” I slowly exhaled the words in a coquettish voice, repeatedly telling myself I was a modern person with progressive thoughts, and that here, no one would make me remain pure.
I smiled as the guards escorted me away. As I was leaving, I turned to Cang Lian and said: “Cang Lian, I remember our six-month agreement, and I hope you remember it too. Everyone heard today’s words, so we don’t need to meet for the next six months!” I spoke calmly, with a triumphant look in my eyes.
I won this bet because from beginning to end, I was only a substitute in her heart, just a shadow of someone else. He would not allow the goddess in his heart to be as lowly as me, to seduce men like I did, so I successfully made him despise me.
At the moment I left, I heard his voice: “You did this on purpose. Since that’s the case, our game is not over!”
Whatever he said no longer mattered. I had achieved my goal and successfully made myself disappear forever from his sight.
Slave (1)
At the slave camp, aside from hard labor day and night, my life was almost the same as in the palace. Time passed quickly, and six months went by faster than I imagined. I had no hope in the palace, but here, each day brought me hope.
I looked up at the azure sky, recently wearing a faint smile: “Today is the last day of the six-month period. In a few days, I’ll be free. The pain of being whipped for over a hundred ages is worth my freedom!
