Chapter 45: Let You Marry to Your Heart's Content

Xuan Ye believed that she had attached herself to Old Xuan, thinking that as long as she married him peacefully, she would also have a chance to become the granddaughter-in-law of Old Xuan. Furthermore, Xuan Ye promised that after their marriage, he would do his best to treat her well.

Even though Xuan Ye’s words were carefully chosen, revealing not a hint of condescension, Ou Xinlai felt increasingly uneasy as she read the letter. So, because of Old Xuan’s appearance, her value had risen and, for this reason, Xuan Ye was unwilling to break the engagement, even declaring his intention to treat her kindly? How absurd!

In the depths of Ou Xinlai’s calm, pitch-black eyes, a faint flame of crimson flickered. She crushed Xuan Ye’s letter into pieces and let out a heavy sigh. Soon, her gaze returned to its former lazy indifference, as if nothing in the world mattered to her.

Watching Ou Xinlai’s transformation, Ou Jinju shivered. Was she playing at changing faces? “What are you planning to do about this?” The letter had not been read by Ou Xinlai herself, but by Ou Jinju, who had read it aloud to her. Ou Jinju could only feel speechless; a letter from one’s fiancé, and she could so casually let someone else read it? Even laziness should have its limits.

Yet after reading Xuan Ye’s letter, Ou Jinju’s expression soured as well. The daughters of the Ou family were not toys for Xuan Ye to pick up or cast aside at will. Previously, Xuan Ye had treated Ou Xinlai with such cruelty that she almost lost her life because of him. Now, he writes a letter saying he will treat her well in the future—it was nothing but self-serving rhetoric.

“What do you mean, what should I do?” Ou Xinlai, like a languid worm, collapsed onto the lounge chair. “Before, I thought too highly of Xuan Ye, believed that despite his hypocrisy, he at least understood propriety. Now I see I overestimated him. He’s just a boy barely into his teens, clueless about the ways of the world, utterly lacking in social grace.”

Ou Jinju was incensed; he was even younger than Xuan Ye by a year or two. By Ou Xinlai’s account, it was as if she were Xuan Ye’s elder. Ou Jinju forgot to be angry at Xuan Ye’s arrogance, only wanting to ask Ou Xinlai, “Big sister, how old are you?”

“That’s not the point right now, is it?” Ou Jinju felt like the eunuch more anxious than the emperor. “As it stands, Xuan Ye refuses to break the engagement, and Old Xuan doesn’t seem inclined to help. If this drags on, you really will become Xuan Ye’s wife!” That was the heart of the matter!

“Does it matter whether I know the point? What matters is making Xuan Ye understand what the point truly is.” Ou Xinlai yawned lazily, her eyes blinking as a tear formed on her long, delicate lashes.

After hearing Ou Xinlai’s words, Ou Jinju felt a chill run down his back. It seemed Xuan Ye’s actions today had angered Ou Xinlai, and she was preparing to deal with him.

With this realization, Ou Jinju felt a bit excited, a bit gloating—he was eager to see how Ou Xinlai would handle Xuan Ye.

As the sun set, a flock of evening crows returned home. The fiery clouds blazed on, painting the horizon with a seductive glow.

Xuan Ye walked home alone, having dismissed his usual attendants. Yesterday, he had written that letter to Ou Xinlai. Given her past obsession with him, he imagined she must be overjoyed. Even though Ou Xinlai had recently asked to break the engagement, Xuan Ye thought it was only because he had been too cold to her before, prompting her to retreat.

On the contrary, as long as he showed a hint of kindness, he believed the old, persistent Ou Xinlai would return.

Xuan Ye was waiting for her reply, but since she hadn’t come to Fengyun Academy that day, he wondered if she was embarrassed by her poor handwriting. Xuan Ye smiled, thinking this explanation was the most plausible.

As his icy features blossomed into a snow lotus smile, a sudden fragrance of peach blossoms in April drifted to his nose. Instantly, darkness claimed his vision and he fainted.

Ou Xinlai leapt out, flicking her fingers. “Didn’t you want to get married? After all these years of acquaintance, how could I not help you achieve your wish? Carry him!” She glanced at Ou Jinju, her reliable porter.

Because Xuan Ye’s allure was so great, Ou Jinju had seen countless daughters of the Ou family infatuated with him. Each time, he felt frustrated by his own kin’s lack of resolve—he was just a man, what was there to fight for? He also resented Xuan Ye for attracting so much attention. So today, he was quite willing to help teach Xuan Ye a lesson.

Ou Jinju hoisted Xuan Ye, carried him along a side path, leapt through a window, and tossed him onto the bed. The red brocade quilt was raised slightly, as if someone were already lying beneath.

Ou Jinju smiled, “The wedding night—be sure to treasure it.” With that, he exited through the window again, leaving the room to Xuan Ye and the lady on the bed.

“Done!” Ou Jinju grinned at Ou Xinlai, “But are you sure this is enough?” Simply locking the two together, with Xuan Ye’s wit, he would surely find an excuse to escape. In his opinion, they should have stripped both parties of their clothes for guaranteed results.

“You fool!” Ou Xinlai poked Ou Jinju’s head. “If the woman wakes up and sees the delectable Prince Xuan lying beside her, do you think she’ll be able to resist? She’ll devour him whole!”

Ou Xinlai spoke to the point. When Ou Jinju saw the bold woman tearing off the First Young Master’s clothes, he sighed, realizing that truly, the lazy are the most formidable.

When everyone “accidentally” interrupted the intimate scene between Xuan Ye and the woman, the room was suffused with the decadent scent of passion—a single whiff revealed how fierce the battle had been the night before. And at dawn, the two, still aroused, were about to indulge again.

By chance, everyone burst in at just that moment. Indeed, it was a soul-stirring scene beyond words.