Chapter 56: What Are You Trying to Do?

“You said it! Isn’t this all just to make me see him? Isn’t he just forcing me to meet him? Do I even have a choice?” Si Nuo Sang glared at them in anger. The guards dared not utter a word more; evidently, they too were afraid of her. After all, she was the princess consort. The prince cared for her so deeply—how could they dare provoke her?

“Princess Consort, please follow me.” The lead guard escorted her to the place where Xuan Yuan Jue Si resided.

“What is your name?” she asked, recognizing him. He had often been at Xuan Yuan Jue Si’s side in the palace.

“I am Yuan Qian Lü.”

“A fine name.” She mused whether ancient people all chose such learned names, so different from those common in modern times. Perhaps it was just that modern names had grown too familiar.

“Thank you for your praise, Princess Consort,” Yuan Qian Lü replied, a bit embarrassed.

“Let’s go, Yuan Qian Lü.”

But what truly troubled Si Nuo Sang was not his name, but what she should say when facing Xuan Yuan Jue Si.

“Yes,” Yuan Qian Lü replied, not daring to speak further.

Yuan Qian Lü led Si Nuo Sang to Xuan Yuan Jue Si’s quarters. He walked ahead, she followed behind. Soon, they arrived at his residence, passing layer upon layer of guards as they entered the cool city mansion.

“Your Highness, the Princess Consort has arrived!” Yuan Qian Lü announced.

Xuan Yuan Jue Si turned to look at Si Nuo Sang.

“What are you here for?”

He asked her outright.

“You said it yourself, so stop pretending. Release Ye Xuan,” she said bluntly. There was no need to treat this man with courtesy.

“Ye Xuan is a wanted criminal. I cannot let him go!”

“You’re being unreasonable! Aren’t you just targeting me? Well, I’m here now. Let him go.”

Si Nuo Sang spoke with no trace of politeness, as if issuing a command.

“Hmph, are you ordering me?”

As expected, Xuan Yuan Jue Si struck back at her, but Si Nuo Sang was unfazed. She never accepted threats.

“Xuan Yuan Jue Si, how could I dare command you? You are the prince. Why trouble yourself with an ordinary person?”

“In that case, there’s nothing left for us to discuss. You may leave now.”

Xuan Yuan Jue Si reined in his anger. This woman, it seemed, cared deeply for that man. She would do anything for him. Damn her—why does she never do anything for herself? Why never for him?

Such insolence—he would never accept her commands.

“What do you want from me, then?”

Si Nuo Sang knew her tone wasn’t one of supplication. Yet seeing him made her angry. Everything had changed, but it all returned to the beginning.

Trying to rekindle their feelings—why was it so difficult?

“I want nothing,” Xuan Yuan Jue Si said, stepping closer. He seized her hand, raised it above her head, pressed her back against the wall.

“I think you do want something. Are you waiting for me to beg you on my knees before you release him?”

“You would kneel for him? Si Nuo Sang, what is your relationship with this man, that you would go so far?”

He had never imagined Si Nuo Sang would do so much for Ye Xuan. No wonder Ye Xuan’s smile was so obvious; the two of them were so in tune. And he, Xuan Yuan Jue Si, was nothing but an outsider.

“He’s just a friend, don’t get the wrong idea.”

Her words only deepened Xuan Yuan Jue Si’s doubts.

“Yuan Qian Lü, leave us.” He ordered the attendant, who promptly exited and closed the door.

Now only Xuan Yuan Jue Si and Si Nuo Sang remained; he looked furious.

“What are you trying to do?”

“What am I trying to do? Si Nuo Sang, you are my princess consort. How can you care for a stranger? What spell has he cast on you, to make you so enthralled?”

He pinned her against the wall, so close she could feel his heartbeat.

“I’m not infatuated with him. He saved my life; he is my benefactor. I cannot let anything happen to him. So I beg you—please, spare him, won’t you?”

Looking at Xuan Yuan Jue Si, her breath quickened. This closeness reminded her of that day in the carriage. Her face grew hot, nearly flushed. But in the midst of their quarrel, Xuan Yuan Jue Si was oblivious to such thoughts. This woman, at this moment, was full of appeal.

“Xuan Yuan Jue Si, will you say something?”

“I don’t like you calling me Xuan Yuan Jue Si.”

“Then ‘Prince,’ is that acceptable? Prince!” Fine, she could change.

“I don’t like that either.”

“Then how should I address you?”

Was he truly a Virgo? He was driving her mad.

“Xuan Yuan or Jue Si.”

He looked at her, giving two choices.

Si Nuo Sang was on the verge of collapse. To call him by two syllables, so intimately?

“What? Are you joking?”

Under his dominance, she could not move; her gaze wandered, meeting his eyes only to quickly look away.

“Do I look like I’m joking? If you won’t change, we have nothing to discuss. You may leave.”

He did not give her time to choose.

“Fine, Xuan Yuan? Jue Si? Which do you prefer?”

“I like both.”

Xuan Yuan Jue Si gently traced her cheek with his fingers, making her heart flutter.

“It feels awkward—Xuan Yuan?”

Calling him Xuan Yuan felt like addressing the emperor. No, that wouldn’t do.

“Jue Si, then!”

“As you wish. Now, call me once.”

He looked at her.

Si Nuo Sang was truly at her wit’s end.

“Haven’t I already said it so many times?”

“Those don’t count.”

“Hmph, they don’t count? Fine, listen carefully—Jue Si!”

She called out in a particularly gentle, tender voice, enough to melt anyone’s heart. Xuan Yuan Jue Si’s heart skipped a beat. This woman was like a sorceress.

She always left him guessing. He lowered his head and sealed her lips with his own.

“Mm?”

Si Nuo Sang’s eyes widened. No prelude, just a sudden, fierce kiss pressed against the wall.

She was at a loss for how to react. By rights, she had plenty of experience in such matters, yet he swept her along so assertively. Where had her initiative gone? No, she must regain it. But in the end, she surrendered to his lead.

She melted into his arms, hanging onto him completely.

To have someone willing to kiss her like this, and love her deeply—truly, it was a joyful thing.

But if this man was a relic from thousands of years ago, and still practiced polygamy—would she truly feel happy?

She did not know how long the kiss lasted. She rose on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, responding to him with wild abandon.