The Palace of Hua was quiet, but Lian Yue did not sleep that night. Her stubborn mind refused to accept the silence, as if admitting it meant admitting she had been left alone once again. The stillness felt like an insult, and that irritated her so much. No one dared to insult the Princess of Hua.
Shen Han had not come to her room as he should. Again.
Her jaw tightened. Even after she had threatened him with his father's betrayal, even after reminding him what she could still take from him, she still felt denied.
And the Crown Princess of Hua did not tolerate denial.
Time stretched, but she still waited. Her pride would not allow her to admit she had failed again. Failed to bend the one man she wanted under her control. She was meant to have the world at her feet, and Shen Han was supposed to be one of them.
The door finally opened. And she let out a satisfying smile. She still had the control, after all.
Shen Han stepped inside and bowed, as he always did. His manner was respectful but distant, more like a general reporting for duty than a husband entering his wife's chamber.
"You summoned me, Your Highness?"
She rose slowly, careful to keep her posture calm and composed. "Must you always speak as if we are strangers, my dear husband?"
He did not step forward to meet her, and that alone irritated her more than she cared to admit.
"Sit." She gestured toward the table.
He obeyed without argument. Like a puppy that had been tamed.
She circled him once, as if examining something that already belonged to her. "The court has begun to whisper," she said lightly. "They wonder why my husband does not remain by my side. Why does the prince consort so often sleep elsewhere."
"That is not their concern." He knew there was a lie in her words. As far as he knew, no one could care less about his marital life.
"They will make it their concern," she replied calmly. "And soon, it will become Father's."
His shoulders stiffened at that. He knew where this was going.
She smiled at the reaction. "You see? We understand each other after all."
He looked up at her with his cold eyes. "What do you want, Lian Yue?" he said, dropping the title as he no longer felt the need to pretend.
She stopped in front of him and lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. "What I am owed."
Silence settled heavily between them.
He turned his face away, breaking free of her fingers.
"I have already given you what you asked for," he said.
"What I want," she snapped, her control slipping for a moment, "is you. Completely."
"I have given you everything that I could give you." Once. And that was enough.
"I am still far from being satisfied, Shen Han."
Lian Yue took a piece of paper from her sleeve and placed it down on the table between them.
She straightened. "Or have you forgotten what happens if I'm not satisfied?"
Shen Han clenched his hands.
She watched him carefully, savoring the conflict flickering across his face. She had always enjoyed this part. The pause before resistance collapsed. His pride, his principles, his stubborn loyalty had never stood a chance against her power. Her control was absolute, and they both knew it.
"Lian Yue, I have told you before. You can have my body, my title, even my soul, but you will never have my heart."
"You still think of her," She said softly, anger creeping into her voice.
He did not answer. The silence told her everything she needed to know.
"Your loyalty to her will cost you your family." Lian Yue's voice was sharper now, no longer bothering to hide her temper. "Do you truly believe you can afford to lose everything?"
The resistance drained from his face. He hated this part the most. This slow, humiliating surrender. He hated being helpless. No amount of training or battle-hardened skill could save him from her calculated manipulations.
And she saw it clearly. The way his shoulders lowered, the way his gaze dulled, the way his clenched fists finally loosened. It was the same expression he had worn the day he agreed to the marriage.
Defeat.
"What more do you want?" He fixed his eyes on hers, as if he was challenging her. The resolve he had clung to was gone. He knew there was nothing left he could say against her.
The smile on Lian Yue's face returned. "Stay."
He swallowed. "Lian Yue—"
"Stay," she repeated firmly. She would not take anymore defiance.
She walked closer, her hand brushing on his chest, "And play the role of a loving husband."
His body tensed. He knew exactly what she meant. His hands curled into fists once more, knuckles turning white.
"Every night," she added dangerously.
Then she pushed him onto the bed. He turned his head away and avoided her gaze.
What followed was not spoken of.
Shen Han kept his eyes fixed on the shadows above, his body rigid, his mind far away. He told himself this was duty. As a soldier. As a son.
And as his father promised, everything would turn to his favor. When everything was over, he would have Lian Zhi back in his arms.
Still, resentment weighed heavily in his chest.
When it was over, he rose immediately, reaching for his robe.
"Are you happy now?" he asked. The blatant bitterness in his voice was not enough to stop her smile.
Lian Yue sat back against the cushions, watching him dress. "Of course I am," she replied lightly, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
He left without another word. The door closed behind him quietly.
Lian Yue remained where she was, staring at the empty space he had left behind. He didn't stay as she had commanded.
But she had won. She had always known she would.
She had him.
And that, she decided, would have to be enough.
For now.