Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Further Complications

That day, in Taiji Palace, Gao Qian had leaned down, about to commit an indecent act. She had feigned compliance and was just about to make her move when he suddenly pulled her up. His ice-cold hand caressed her face.

"If you were to change your mind, run away with him, or incite him to raise an army and rebel, wouldn’t I be suffering a disastrous double loss, just like in the old proverb?"

His eyes were as deep and dark as the night, without a single trace of lust. He just stared at her eerily, like a cat.

Liang Wan felt a pang of guilt under his stare. Beneath her sleeves, she clenched her fists and met his gaze. "Does Your Majesty not trust me?"

He remained silent, scrutinizing her inch by inch, from head to toe.

After a long moment, a slow smile bloomed on his face.

His chilling laughter echoed through the chaotic room, littered with corpses, sinister and terrifying.

Liang Wan’s expression showed no reaction, but her bare shoulders shivered in the air as if swept by a cold wind.

For some reason, the Gao Qian of this life was even more moody and unpredictable than the one from her past.

A strange light emanated from his pitch-black pupils. "I’ve thought of an excellent solution."

Liang Wan’s heart skipped a beat, but she smiled and waited for him to continue.

Gao Qian tilted his head. "I’ve decided to grant you your title now."

"Your Majesty, I have not yet completed my mission."

No matter how calm Liang Wan forced her expression to be, her voice still betrayed a hint of her shock.

Gao Qian looked at her, shaking his head gently. "For the past two years, I have seen all the good you’ve done. This time, you even braved the difficult journey to Pingzhou just to eliminate a threat on my behalf. How could you not be rewarded?"

’A reward?’

A chill went through Liang Wan’s heart.

Gao Qian said slowly, "Since you are to be the mistress of Hanguang Hall, you shall be named Left Consort."

Liang Wan narrowed her eyes, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Your Majesty is so considerate."

Gao Qian smiled and nodded. "This way, I need not worry about my new Consort refusing to return to the palace. And, of course, if he dares to hold my Consort hostage to start a rebellion, he will be condemned by the entire world! Hahaha..."

"How amusing! Truly amusing!"

As if he had discovered a delightful new game, Gao Qian pulled her by the hand toward the table. "Since you are now my Consort, it is only right and proper for me to... favor you again shortly."

Perhaps because she was being led by his icy hand, her own hand was cold, too.

...

"He promised you the title of Left Consort?"

The man behind her asked again, his voice laced with a smile.

It was a simple matter to turn around, yet Liang Wan felt as if she were under a spell, completely unable to move. The sound of his casual laughter was a sharp pain in her heart.

When she didn’t turn, Lu Xiu lowered his gaze, stepping forward with a faint smile. His eyes came to rest on her hair.

"Quite a high position. Worth taking a risk for."

The golden hairpin glittered under the sun, so dazzlingly bright that it made him squint.

Liang Wan kept her head lowered, remaining silent.

Seeing Lu Xiu dressed in clean clothes and moving freely, Lou Shixun’s expression soured, and he became frantic with rage.

"The audacity! How dare you release this criminal without my permission! Wang Tingyue, is this how you guard a prisoner for me? Hurry up and tie him up!"

Wang Tingyue glanced at the two standing face to face. "Great General," he said, "before his crimes are confirmed and he is officially dismissed from his post for investigation, he is still the Grand Commandant. It would be inappropriate to tie him up."

"You— Are you trying to kill me with anger!"

Lou Shixun was so furious he could spit fire. Forgetting all about his image, he wanted to march over and teach them a lesson himself. But after taking just one step, he stopped with a strange look on his face, turning to curse at his attendants instead.

"You idiots! Are you all deaf? Can’t you hear me? I told you to tie him up! What are you just standing there gawking for? Go on, get him!"

First, Liang Wan had inexplicably gotten the better of him. Then, Wang Tingyue had disobeyed his orders. And now, not a single one of the men he’d brought was saving him any face. They were all cowering, just looking at each other uncertainly.

Lou Shixun was so livid his face powder couldn’t conceal his complexion.

He looked around; all these men were clearly soldiers under his command, yet not one of them was listening to him. Lou Shixun gritted his teeth, a sharp pain of rage twisting in his gut.

"Lu Xiu, what do you think you’re doing? I’m warning you, don’t get too arrogant!"

Lu Xiu didn’t even look at him, much less waste time responding.

His gaze remained fixed on the woman before him. "I’m talking to you."

Liang Wan didn’t dare look up. Staring at the tips of his boots, she felt a stinging bitterness well up in her eyes, but she could only swallow it down.

’In front of all these people, I can’t make a single misstep. Besides the soldiers, Lou Shixun’s men are here too. I have to be careful.’

Liang Wan took a deep breath. ’Everything I’m doing today... I’ll just consider it repayment for all the times he protected me in the past.’

With that thought, she slowly raised her head, only to be met with a pair of red-rimmed, moist eyes.

The moment their eyes met, something inside her snapped. Her nose stung, and the tears she had been holding back for so long finally broke free.

Lu Xiu gazed at her tear-streaked face. He raised his hand, but let it fall again before it reached her.

"Was it out of guilt that you helped me clean up?"

Liang Wan turned her head and tried to walk away, but a firm hand caught her wrist and pulled her back.

Lu Xiu pulled her closer. "I drank the tea."

In the heavy silence, his low chuckle was filled with endless sorrow.

’So he knew all along the tea was poisoned. And yet, for every cup I brewed, he drank it.’

The onlookers were confused.

Liang Wan felt as if her heart were splitting apart. She bowed her head, and her tears flowed uncontrollably.

’Then again, when have I ever truly managed to deceive him?’

’I never thought I actually could.’

’In the end, neither of us ever truly trusted the other.’

’It was just a gamble for both of us. One was betting, *Would he really dare to drink it?* The other, *Would she really dare to do it?*’

Liang Wan closed her eyes. "Aren’t you afraid to die?"

Lu Xiu squeezed her hand. "It doesn’t matter. I lost the bet, and I’ll accept the outcome. At worst, I’ll just be following in his footsteps."

A pain seized Liang Wan’s chest, so sharp she could hardly breathe.

The surrounding soldiers finally realized something was amiss.

"Great General! What has this demoness done now?"

"I told you we should have killed her, but you all stopped me! I’ve never seen anyone so vicious!"

"Quick, get a medic! Hurry and get a medic to check on him—"

The soldiers yelled and tried to surge forward, only to be blocked by Lou Shixun’s men. Shoving and grappling broke out, and the crowd descended into chaos once more.

Even someone as dense as Lou Shixun finally realized what was happening. "Liang Wan, you dare poison him without authorization?"

At his wits’ end, he roared at the top of his lungs, but Wang Tingyue held his arm in a death grip, and he couldn’t break free.

’Poison?’

That one simple word stirred up a massive storm.

While holding Lou Shixun back, Wang Tingyue frowned. "There must be some misunderstanding. This is impossible!"

The scene descended into noisy chaos.

Lu Xiu was too weary to deal with the commotion. He focused only on the woman before him, his voice hoarse.

"Wanwan," he said, "I just want to ask you... have I ever held a place in your heart?"

Liang Wan fell silent. According to her plan, this was the moment she was supposed to say something heartless.

The words reached her lips, but she choked them back and nodded. "You have," she sobbed. "You always have."

In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to lie to him, nor to herself.

Lu Xiu gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the crown of her head.

"Then I don’t blame you anymore."

Liang Wan pressed her head against his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

’We’ll be separated from now on. I truly can’t bear it.’

’But as long as he lives.’

"My Lord! Take her and go! Now!"

The sudden clang of swords startled the two in their embrace.

Liang Wan frowned and looked over to see Yuan, Guan Song, Gu Yu, and their party.

’Them... Why are they back so soon?’

The soldiers already had superior numbers. Now, with the arrival of expert fighters like Yuan and the others, Wang Tingyue struggled to protect Lou Shixun. Nearly all the men he had brought were subdued.

People were shouting, "Kill Lou Shixun! Kill the demoness!"

Wang Tingyue, Lou Shixun, and their men were all forced to the ground, longswords pressed to their necks. At any moment, a single stroke could sever their heads.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.