Xiao Lan lay weak in the dark cell, her body trembling as she kept murmuring, "Big brother… big brother…" Her voice was barely more than a breath.
When Lang Huan discovered the truth, Wu Ming was ordered by the Eldest Princess to kill Xiao Lan. But now she hesitated, unsure whether she should do it. In the end, she lowered her blade and left Xiao Lan alive, waiting for the Eldest Princess and Lang Huan to decide her fate.
Suddenly, a soft laugh echoed through the darkness. Xiao Lan flinched. The golden bangle on her wrist was glowing faintly.
"This is all because of you!" Xiao Lan hissed in panic. "Quick... help me find a way out!" Her face twisted with fear and anger.
But the bangle only chuckled again. "Whatever you do, it's useless. Lang Huan doesn't care about you at all."
"Now," the bangle whispered, "it's time for you to repay my kindness."
Xiao Lan spat back, furious. "Kindness? You're just a useless piece of rusty jewelry!"
The bangle laughed louder. "The day you agreed to my request and fed me with blood, your soul was already bound to me... forever."
The golden bangle suddenly tightened sharply around Xiao Lan's wrist, sinking into her skin as if it had come alive. Xiao Lan screamed, begging for someone to help her as pain burned through her bones.
Only now did she truly realize... she belonged to the bangle. Regret came too late. Blood burst from her wrist as if her very lifeline had been severed.
A shadow guard nearby heard her voice but assumed she was pretending to seek sympathy, so she ignored the cries and stepped back into the darkness. Xiao Lan's voice slowly weakened, fading into broken whimpers… then silence.
The bangle loosened and slipped from Xiao Lan's wrist, rolling across the floor until it came to rest in the corner.
---
Feng Yao stirred in her sleep, realizing she was still sitting in Lang Huan's lap, wrapped securely in her embrace. A faint smile curved her lips.
Her fingers traced the delicate line of Lang Huan's brow, the smooth bridge of her nose—admiring that wild, untamed beauty. There was no one else in this world who could handle her temper with such patience.
"Awake already?" Lang Huan murmured, eyes still closed, her voice husky with sleep. Slowly, she blinked them open.
Feng Yao gave a soft hum, feigning indifference. "Mm."
Her belly band had loosened in her sleep, revealing soft curves beneath. Caught under that calm yet burning gaze, Feng Yao crossed her arms over her chest.
"What are you looking at?" she asked sharply.
Lang Huan chuckled, watching her hastily fix her clothes. Then, without a word, Lang Huan slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her, carrying her to the table.
She set Feng Yao down and poured a cup of tea, steam curling softly in the air. Before handing it to her, Lang Huan blew on it. "Drink it slowly," she said with a faint smile. "Crying that much must've drained you, hmm?"
"Are you still angry?" She poured herself another cup.
Feng Yao turned her face away, pretending to sulk. She wasn't about to give in that easily.
Lang Huan leaned closer, her breath brushing against Feng Yao's ear as she whispered, "I want to have some morning exercise." The Eldest Princess frowned, tugging at her collar possessively. "You're not allowed to go out today. You'll stay here with me—I'm still angry."
"Who said anything about going out?" Lang Huan chuckled, her grin wicked and knowing. "My morning exercise… is right here—with you."
It took Feng Yao a moment to realize what she meant. Her cheeks flushed, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "What kind of… morning exercise?"
Lang Huan silenced her with a sudden kiss, her tongue teasingly tangling with hers. The kiss was so intimate, that Feng Yao forgot what she was about to say.
Her hand swept across the table, sending the teapot and teacups crashing to the floor. But neither of them cared.
Wu Ming, who came running to report that Xiao Lan was dead, froze when she heard the sound of something crashing inside. She exchanged a quick glance with A Li.
"Are they… still arguing?"
Both Wu Ming and A Li sighed at the same time. Neither of them knew that what was happening inside. After a moment, faint moans and soft gasps drifted through the door, making the hearts of those who heard them race wildly.
"Lang Huan… not here… the table is too hard… my back hurts," Feng Yao protested with a soft pout, her voice barely a whisper.
But Lang Huan merely offered a knowing smile in response, her lips continuing to explore Feng Yao's jaw before drifting lower. They left a path of faint red marks against the delicate, pale skin of her neck.
Feng Yao's hands moved up her back, pulling her closer until their bodies were pressed tightly together.
"Hmm… Lang Huan…" Feng Yao gasped between kisses, "can we go to the bed?"
"… okay…" Lang Huan agreed, but her hand continued to slip beneath the hem of Feng Yao's skirt. Her fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties and tugged them down. As she began to tenderly rub the princess's flower, Feng Yao shuddered.
However, when Lang Huan pulled her finger back, her breath caught—a slight trace of blood glistened on her fingertip.
"What's wrong?" Feng Yao whispered, her fingers caressing Lang Huan's cheek as she noticed the sudden stillness in her eyes.
"You… have your period…" Lang Huan's face fell...
The eldest princess chuckled. "Well… I guess someone has to learn patience." She winked, clearly savoring her reaction.
---
Biting her lip, Lang Huan worried that Feng Yao might feel uncomfortable. She called A Li to bring some warm water.
The moment the door creaked open, Lang Huan froze.
A Li and Wu Ming stood there, their faces stiff, clearly caught eavesdropping. Both lowered their heads, like children caught doing something wrong.
"I… I want to report to Her Highness…" Wu Ming hurried in and bowed. "Your Highness, Xiao Lan… was found dead. Her wrist… it was deeply cut."
Silence enveloped the room.
Lang Huan narrowed her eyes, glancing at Feng Yao lounging lazily on the long couch, wrapped in fur.
Feng Yao raised a single eyebrow. "Why are you staring at me?"
"I was with you all night. What could I possibly have done?"
A flicker of worry crossed Feng Yao's eyes as she noticed Lang Huan's stillness. Afraid that her little brat might be angry, she softened her tone.
"Lang Huan… my stomach hurts… my hands and feet feel cold…" She shifted beneath the fur blanket. "Hold me."
Wu Ming, who had only ever seen The eldest princess as cold and vicious, was completely stunned. She glanced at Lang Huan in disbelief, as if trying to understand how this man could make Feng Yao change.
Lang Huan's expression softened. She walked closer to the couch and sat beside her.
Her hand brushed aside the loose strands of Feng Yao's hair before resting lightly on her abdomen. "What are you worried about? I'm not angry… she deserved to die."
"Good… you know it," she murmured, slipping into Lang Huan's embrace, her head nuzzling against her shoulder like a spoiled child.
Lang Huan leaned closer, her voice a whisper only Feng Yao could hear. "Your Highness… Wu Ming is still here. Aren't you even a little ashamed to act like this?" She knew the eldest princess always maintained her pride and dignity in front of her subordinates.
"Hmm? What's there to be ashamed of? I only behave this way with my husband…"
"Ahh... I haven't forgiven you for scolding me so harshly last night," she added with a soft huff, then mischievously pinched her stomach.
Lang Huan flinched, her face contorting in surprise. "Mercy… mercy…" she muttered under her breath, trying not to laugh.
Wu Ming blushed as she watched the scene. She wished she could dig a hole right there and disappear.