Chapter 105: The Kiss

Just as Su Liluo was about to cross the garden to return to her room, she noticed Su Baizhi approaching and stopped in her tracks. Su Baizhi stepped forward with an enthusiastic air. "Elder sister, what the fourth sister said earlier was indeed the truth. You are truly quite wicked; how could you make Grandmother faint? Both Father and Grandmother are quite furious with you."

Su Liluo watched her with a cold eye, observing her feigned innocence, and snapped, "Su Baizhi, is our relationship really that close? Do you even have the standing to lecture me? You haven't even managed your own affairs, yet you presume to interfere with mine?"

"I don't understand what you mean, sister. I am only being kind," Su Baizhi replied, unwilling to be cowed by Su Liluo’s attempts to pull rank.

"Is that so? Believe what you wish, but for now, just step aside and stay out of my business." Su Liluo was in no mood for idle chatter and started to walk past, but Su Baizhi stood in her way, frail and soft-spoken. "Sister, what qualifications do you have to discuss these things with me? You cannot even bear children, and with your disfigured face, you will struggle to marry at all. How do you have the nerve to contend with me?"

When Su Baizhi mentioned her disfigured face, she glanced at Su Liluo’s current complexion and felt a flicker of insecurity, though she forced herself to stand tall. Su Liluo realized that her previous indifference had only emboldened them. She rolled her eyes and retorted, "Su Baizhi, to put it kindly, you are the Crown Prince’s betrothed side consort; to put it bluntly, you are merely a concubine. If the Crown Prince doted on you, perhaps I would have nothing to say, but given your past behavior, I doubt that is the case. How dare you talk down to me, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Prime Minister?"

"Su Liluo, you...!" Su Baizhi turned pale, every word striking at her deepest insecurities.

"What? Did I hit a nerve? I have plenty more biting things to say. As long as you don't provoke me, we can live in peace. But do be careful—don't rely too heavily on your title as a future side consort to act recklessly, or you might incur the Crown Prince's displeasure." Su Liluo circled her, looking her up and down with a faint, mocking smile, before walking away briskly with her maid.

Su Baizhi gripped a nearby peony, tearing it to shreds with a savage, frightening expression. She kept her head down, letting others assume she was simply upset by someone.

After a long while, Su Baizhi smoothed her face into a smile and left with her maid. She wondered why her father and grandmother had let the matter drop, suspecting the influence of Prince Yi, and cursed under her breath, "Why didn't that wretch kill Su Liluo instead of letting her get involved with Prince Yi?"

When the day for her monthly instruction arrived, Su Liluo walked openly out of the main gate. No one dared to stop her; the servants kept their eyes lowered, pretending not to see.

Upon arriving at the brothel, the madam had already gathered the women. Just as Su Liluo was about to begin, a figure rushed in and pulled her away before she could react. The hushed whispers from behind made her blush.

Once they reached a familiar room, Su Liluo tried to shake off Yun Yanyi’s hand, but he gripped her tightly. "It hurts, it hurts! Let me go!" she cried out.

Seeing the genuine pain on her face, Yun Yanyi slowly released her wrist. A faint, red mark stood out alarmingly against her fair skin.

Su Liluo rubbed her wrist, wincing until it felt better, and muttered, "You absolute lunatic! Can't you just use your words?"

"Su Liluo, you have the nerve to talk about reason? Explain yourself! Who is this Jiang Nan, and why are you trading with him behind my back?" Yun Yanyi sneered, his eyes narrowing as he caught her gaze darting away, confirming his suspicion that she was trying to drive him mad.

Su Liluo felt a prick of guilt and avoided his eyes, but then she reasoned that she had done nothing wrong. "Your Highness, our partnership is strictly limited to this 'Snow Show' in the capital. You have no say over my other dealings."

He pinned her shoulders with his large hands and used one finger to tilt her chin upward, forcing her to look at him. His presence enveloped her, leaving her nowhere to hide.

"You are mine," he murmured against her ear. "Everything you do naturally falls under my purview."

The heat of his breath made her ear tingle. "It tickles! Get away from me."

Only when he pulled back slightly could she process his words. "Prince Yi, are you insane? I am my own person—when did I become yours?"

Yun Yanyi coughed awkwardly, quickly concocting a justification. "Well, you are soon to be the Princess of the Prince Yi estate. If you marry me, isn't everything you have mine as well?"

"You certainly have grand plans, Your Highness. I haven't even agreed to marry you, and you're already calculating how to take my possessions." Su Liluo glared at him, regretting her desire for a long-term partnership. Would he eventually swallow her whole?

"Don't call it calculating. As husband and wife, we are one. Now, confess everything, Su Liluo," he said without a hint of shame.

"I have nothing to confess. I don't intend to become a woman of leisure. Our agreement is canceled; I’m done with this." Su Liluo turned to storm out, but Yun Yanyi wouldn't let her go, grabbing her hand firmly.

"Yun Yanyi, you madman! What are you doing? Let me go!"

The darkness in Yun Yanyi's eyes deepened. Sensing the change in him, Su Liluo panicked, but she couldn't break free from his iron grip. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

As he looked at her, he remembered her threat to leave. With a sharp tug, he pulled her into his embrace, rendering her struggles futile.

"Your Highness," she pleaded softly, "please, let me go. I was only joking... haha..."

"It’s too late." He leaned down. Su Liluo felt his shadow loom over her, and then the strange, warm sensation of his lips against hers. Her entire face flushed with heat.

He pressed down firmly, and as she arched back, he deepened the kiss. She let out a muffled sound of protest, but he had no intention of stopping.

She tasted sweet. Seeing her flushed face and dazed eyes, the anger in his chest dissipated significantly.

Meanwhile, the madam had finished her business, and the girls, having waited a long time, grew restless. "What happened to that lady? She was dragged off and never returned."

"Are we still getting our lessons? Sister Yanhong, why don't you go check?" one girl suggested.

The others chimed in, "Yes, Sister Yanhong! You are the star of our house; you have the most standing. It is only fitting that you go."

A flush of heat rose to Yanhong's cheeks. She was intrigued; that gentleman had such a striking presence that it made one's heart flutter.

"Since you all want me to go, I will see what she is doing. Wait here." Yanhong flicked her handkerchief and swayed up the stairs.

As she reached the doorway, she saw the two of them locked in a kiss. Her eyes flared with rage. She had always considered Yun Yanyi her own, and seeing him with another woman ignited a fire of jealousy.

Seeing the intruder, Su Liluo pushed with all her might, finally breaking free from his arms.