System:……
This round, it truly caught me off guard—I’m utterly defeated.
Wu Linxuan was bumped several times in a row, his heart full of vigilance and a whirlwind of chaotic emotions shattered into pieces.
Both his thighs had gone numb. From his lofty vantage point, the woman’s posture was simply… unbearable to look at.
It reminded Wu Linxuan of the night they consummated their relationship.
A sudden rush of blood surged down in his mind, roaring as it flooded below. Wu Linxuan quickly raised his hand, pressing his well-defined palm against his dream lady’s head,
stopping her from crashing into him again.
He took a slow breath, his dark, intense eyes settling on Lu Meng, lingering for a moment on her face, which was full of playful defiance.
Then he slowly exhaled.
He spoke, “So after all these days of not coming back, the moment you return, you expect me to cover up the colossal mess you’ve made?”
Lu Meng felt a little guilty, but when she heard Wu Linxuan’s words—hey! He didn’t call himself ‘My Lord’ this time—
so she guessed he wasn’t that mad.
Her eyes darted around as she said, “I came to seek help from Your Lordship… I’m your woman; if I’m bullied, naturally, I can only turn to you.”
“Your word is law, Lord. If you say you’ll protect me, then you can’t just stand by and do nothing.” Lu Meng shook Wu Linxuan’s leg affectionately, unable to resist squeezing the taut muscle beneath her palm.
After so many days apart, their close contact naturally stirred more than just Wu Linxuan’s inexplicable sense of intimacy toward Lu Meng.
She felt it too.
Couples who have shared intimacy inevitably develop a unique closeness that’s hard to explain—the body remembers.
Especially if the experience was particularly pleasurable, even a brief touch later feels like tiny electric currents buzzing beneath the skin.
As Lu Meng squeezed Wu Linxuan’s tense thigh, she recalled that night—how he had tightened his waist and legs, the smooth muscular lines of his side resembling those of a professional athlete.
So, while pinching under his robe, she feigned a delicate tone: “My lord wouldn’t just stand by and ignore the Fourth Prince’s advances on me out of fear, would he?”
That was a deliberate provocation. Which man could stand to hear something like that?
“Fear him?!” Wu Linxuan fell right into the trap, letting out a cold snort.
But there was still some blood left in his brain for thinking. Though his leg was being squeezed to the point of overwhelming sensation, his faint rationality screamed, “Don’t fall for it!”
He realized once again that he was being led around by his dream lady’s nose.
Seeing Wu Linxuan take the bait, Lu Meng quickly climbed further up the ladder, adding, “Of course my lord isn’t afraid of him. After all, my lord is the only prince who’s been granted a royal title and established a residence. How could the Fourth Prince compare?”
“Hmph.” Wu Linxuan sneered coldly. After loosening his grip on Lu Meng’s head, he shifted to grasp her neck.
Supporting her chin with this hold, Lu Meng initially felt fear—after all, the neck is the life’s gate.
But soon she sensed that Wu Linxuan wasn’t squeezing hard at all; his thumb gently caressed her chin. This gesture felt less like a threat and more like a subtle, intimate signal.
Lu Meng occasionally liked to play a little game, matching his strength, slowly tilting her head back like a swan with its neck caught, locking eyes with Wu Linxuan’s slightly narrowed gaze.
“This will be your last chance,” he said. “Tell me the truth… and I might spare your life.”
“My every word is the truth,” Lu Meng blinked her “innocent and naive” big eyes, sending sparkling waves toward Wu, the big dog.
But this time, Wu Linxuan didn’t show any sign of being teased. Instead, he asked deliberately, word by word: “Whose person are you, really?”
Wu Linxuan had already considered every possible outcome.
The prime suspect was the Fourth Prince, even though Madam Meng had brought him here tonight and handed over all the authority to Wu Linxuan.
Wu Linxuan’s suspicion of collusion between them hadn’t been dispelled.
He even suspected that this very Madam Meng today was a traitor.
If only she would tell the truth, Wu Linxuan might not hesitate to accept her “defection.”
He wanted this woman—there was no doubt about that now.
Whether it was desire or simply the intrigue of not fully understanding her, it didn’t matter.
Wu Linxuan had never wanted much in his life, but now he felt he could forge a chain made just for himself, locking this “little beast” by his side, raising her until the day he no longer wished to.
Lu Meng’s neck ached from tilting, and she gave up resisting, resting her head on Wu Linxuan’s hand, her hands folded as she leaned on his thigh.
Like a gentle, obedient kitten.
Lu Meng didn’t quite understand what Wu, the big dog, was thinking at this moment, but she had a vague understanding of the twisted thoughts typical of the old-fashioned male lead.
That kind of possessiveness so severe even psychiatric hospitals wouldn’t take him, combined with occasional bouts of rabies-like fury—commonly known as the “yandere” archetype.
This type of character had one exploitable weakness, as summarized in the novel forums: just stroke the fur the right way.
Lu Meng vaguely remembered that Wu had asked her this question once before.
So she looked at him earnestly, dropping the false pretense, and said, “I belong to you. In life, I am yours; in death, I am your ghost.”
You said you’d keep me, promise me glory and comfort—so don’t even think about shaking me off this lifetime!
As she spoke, Lu Meng hugged Wu’s thigh tighter. As the saying goes, if you want to succeed, cling to the protagonist’s leg—this must be how it’s done.
Wu Linxuan’s pupils contracted slightly, then suddenly he smiled. She still refused to reveal who was behind her.
But Wu Linxuan no longer cared.
She had “defected.”
She said she was his in life and his ghost in death.
Wu Linxuan admitted, those words delighted him deeply.
Even if the person behind her was Emperor Yan’an, so what? Could he not handle one woman?
Everything would be his sooner or later.
Wu Linxuan stroked Lu Meng’s neck and said, “Remember your own words well.”
If you dare forget, if you dare betray me…
Wu Linxuan could, with just a flick of his finger like now, shatter her to pieces.
Lu Meng responded without hesitation, "I will never forget." Rest assured, in this lifetime, I’ll cling to the hero’s thigh like a piece of tree bark, sticking tight and never letting go.
Lu Meng grabbed Wu Linxuan’s hand that was resting on her neck, her eyes fixed on him as she said, “But you can’t forget your promise to me!”
Wu Linxuan smiled at Lu Meng, raising an eyebrow with a teasing glint. “What promise did I make to you?”
“You promised to grant me a life of endless honor and comfort, with the mansion’s gold and silver at my disposal! So, about the Fourth Prince’s matter… you handle it as you see fit.”
Wu Linxuan chuckled deeply, his chest vibrating with the sound, clearly in a good mood.
His voice was low and melodious, just like the music he played on the qin that day—wild and untamed.
“When you begged me, you called yourself ‘your servant,’ humble and submissive, and addressed me as ‘Your Highness.’ Now that your goal is achieved, you’re disrespectful and calling me ‘I’?”
Wu Linxuan released his grip from Lu Meng’s neck and brushed her nose lightly, saying, “You are the most audacious woman I’ve ever met.”
Lu Meng pondered his words for a moment, then flopped onto Wu Linxuan’s leg, throwing up her hands in mock surrender. “There are so many people who call you ‘Your Highness’ in this world. Losing one won’t make a difference.”
“Doesn’t Your Highness like my audacity?”
Lu Meng traced her fingers up along the edge of Wu Linxuan’s robe, starting from his calf.
Soon, Wu Linxuan’s expression shifted. He grabbed her wrist through the fabric of his robe.
“Audacity!”
“Can’t I be audacious?” Lu Meng looked at him, trying to fake an innocent expression, but in reality, she looked mischievous.
Wu Linxuan’s face flushed, his ears reddening. His body was far more honest than his words.
But then, he glanced toward the curtain where his loyal fourth brother was quietly waiting—not far away.
This matter would need careful handling.
Suppressing the rush of emotions, Wu Linxuan took a deep breath and said, “You’ve been lingering at the General’s residence for so many days, only coming back after causing trouble. If it weren’t for tonight’s incident, were you planning not to return at all?”
That was the classic start of a nagging complaint.
Lu Meng thought to herself, of course not. Why would I come back without stirring up some trouble? The General’s residence is so comfortable.
No one nags, no one bothers me, and there are even a few fat fish to catch.
Most importantly, the bed is cozy and the room is bright. After sleeping there, who’d want to go back to that old, shabby Lishu Courtyard?
But since Lu Meng needed a favor, she had to soothe Wu Linxuan’s grumbling first.
She grabbed his hands, pressing them gently against her face, rubbing them softly. “How could it be that I didn’t want to come back? It’s just been so many years since I saw my sister, and the time spent with her was too short.”
“Isn’t it true you just sent your sister off and immediately came back to find Your Highness?”
That was pure nonsense. After sending her sister away, she turned around and took a group of guards to Wenhua Tower to eat, drink, and have fun.
They ordered sixty dishes in total. Not a single leftover was packed for him.
Wu Linxuan couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
But he allowed this kind of “deception” from her.
Like a pet beast he keeps, who occasionally bares its sharp teeth or turns away to ignore him.
If she were like other women, always scheming to stick to him and win his favor, maybe he wouldn’t have been interested at all.
Wu Linxuan reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind his Dream Lady’s ear, saying, “Don’t sit on the floor anymore. Get up.”
Lu Meng was momentarily stunned. Was her act of kneeling really that unconvincing?
She quickly stood up. If it didn’t look right, there was no point pretending.
But once she was up, she didn’t just stand—she wrapped her arms around Wu Linxuan’s neck and settled herself on his lap.
After finding a comfortable spot, she murmured, “My Prince…”
Hearing that title, Wu Linxuan’s heart immediately sensed trouble.
Sure enough, Lu Meng continued, “It’s already late tonight. I still have some things back at the General’s Mansion. How about I go back and sort them out first?”
She was stirring up trouble, then tossing the hot potato to him before trying to run away?
Wu Linxuan hooked his arm around Lu Meng’s waist, his gaze sharp as he looked up at her. “Go back to your Lishu Courtyard! Have you been out playing wild?”
“Is the General’s Mansion really that great? What’s so special about it that you can’t stop thinking about it, even in the dead of night?” Wu Linxuan was naturally suspicious, and now his mind was spinning with conspiracy theories.
Lu Meng was a little annoyed. She really didn’t want to go back to Lishu Courtyard.
But since the Fourth Prince’s matter hadn’t been resolved yet, she had no choice but to play along obediently.
“Fine… I’ll go sort things out tomorrow then.”
Sort things out for two or three, maybe six days before coming back.
“What do you even need to sort out? Let Xin Ya go tomorrow.”
Wu Linxuan seemed to see right through all of Lu Meng’s schemes. Though he didn’t loosen his grip on her waist—in fact, he tightened it—his tone turned colder: “Why don’t you just tell me, what exactly is in the General’s Mansion?!”
Lu Meng hadn’t wanted to say anything at this moment; asking for favors and making demands at the same time felt a bit much.
But since Wu Linxuan was already pressing and squeezing her waist until it hurt a little, she decided to come clean: “The bed in the General’s Mansion is especially big and very soft. I live in the side wing of the main courtyard, and the sunlight there is wonderful—every morning, the sun shines right on my behind.”
Lowering her eyes, Lu Meng said, “Last time, I wanted a set of bedding from the Prince, but he was stingy. He said he wanted to guarantee me a lifetime of glory and comfort, yet he sleeps on such a big bed with such soft bedding himself. The bed in my room is so hard I can’t get comfortable… Every morning I wake up aching all over.”
That was a bit of an exaggeration, but Lu Meng was doing her best to paint a better picture of life at Prince Jian'an’s Mansion.
“Besides, my Lishu Courtyard is just too secluded. It faces the wall at the back of the Prince’s residence, and that tall courtyard wall blocks all the sunlight.”
She twisted her waist a little, pouting so adorably it could melt hearts.
“Not getting enough sunshine makes me feel down, and when I’m down, of course I don’t want to come back.”
After saying this, Lu Meng glanced at Wu Linxuan’s expression. Seeing it was hard to read, she tightened her arms around his neck a bit more and added an obvious lie: “Mainly because the Lishu Courtyard is so far away, I hardly ever see the Prince… It’s so hard for me.”
But for someone as cunning and scheming as Wu Linxuan, none of what Lu Meng said convinced him.
How could anyone possibly refuse to go home just because the bed wasn’t big enough, not soft enough, or because the morning sun didn’t warm their backside?
His thoughts had even spiraled into the idea that his dream wife might have someone else outside, or maybe she had been with someone else all along—after all, she certainly wasn’t a virgin.
Could there be some unspeakable secret hidden within the General’s Mansion?
But when Lu Meng spoke that last sentence, Wu Linxuan’s mind, which had been playing out a spy thriller full of intrigue and mysteries within the General’s Mansion, immediately came to a halt.
She didn’t like the Lishu Courtyard because it was too remote; she wanted to live in the main residence.
With that, Wu Linxuan could easily understand her meaning—she wanted to be officially recognized.
She wanted to become his legitimate wife.
His legitimate wife would one day embody the ideal motherly figure, revered and incomparable. By all logic, Lu Meng’s background was simply not enough, and she lacked the support of a powerful maternal family. Even if he were blinded by desire, the ministers would never agree.
However, Wu Linxuan thought about it for a moment. There was no harm in letting her be the legitimate wife for now.
How things would unfold later could be dealt with in due time. At least in the short term, he didn’t need to rely on marriage alliances to consolidate his power.
On the contrary, elevating a woman of insufficient status to legitimate wife might ease some of his overly suspicious father’s anxieties.
After weighing the pros and cons, Wu Linxuan decided to tease his “little beast” a bit.
He smiled at Lu Meng and said, “Then tell me, within Prince Jian’an’s Mansion, where do you want to live?”
There was no strict hierarchy like the emperor’s harem here, but if she wanted to move out of the Lishu Courtyard, she’d need to have the proper status to live in any other part of the estate.
Wu Linxuan was curious to see just how bold his dream wife really was.
Lu Meng’s thoughts were simple. Seeing an opening, she considered her request carefully: “I want a big courtyard, with a lotus pond where I can raise fish. If there’s no lotus pond, a few big water jars will do. It should have good lighting, and preferably a big tree next to the lotus pond for shade and a cool place to rest.”
“The bed must be especially wide—big enough for four people to sleep comfortably. The mattress should be incredibly soft. And there should be several servant rooms close to mine because my sister left me her bodyguards, and I want to bring them into the mansion…”
“Also, a small kitchen is a must. It would be perfect if there’s a rocking chair in the courtyard! And a little pavilion would be even better—so in winter, we can hang curtains all around it and light a charcoal fire inside to watch the snow!”
As Lu Meng spoke, Wu Linxuan glanced toward his own backyard.
The screen blocked the view, but the corner of his brow lifted high—he was genuinely impressed once again by his dream wife’s audacity.
She not only wanted to be made legitimate wife; she actually wanted to live right in his main courtyard.
What she described was exactly his main courtyard’s cross-courtyard.
Big tree, lotus pond, fish jars, pavilion, small kitchen, servant rooms… every detail matched perfectly.
Lu Meng’s words grew more enchanting as she wrapped her arms around Wu Linxuan’s neck and swayed gently, sweetly asking, “My prince, are my demands too much?”
These were all small things. Adding them up wouldn’t cost much at all!
If Chen Yuan heard Lu Meng’s requests right now, his jaw would probably have dropped to the floor.
Wu Linxuan fell silent for a moment. He simply did not like having anyone on his territory besides the guards sworn to protect him.
He didn’t want to agree to Lu Meng’s request.
He could never agree to such an absurd demand.
It was simply too much—just like a fierce tiger would never share its den with other beasts, and a king would never allow strangers to sleep on his bed.
Lu Meng saw that he only regarded her with a scrutinizing gaze, remaining silent.
She couldn’t decipher what the fan-shaped patterns in Wu Linxuan’s eyes meant.
Could he really be so stingy? She was only asking for a courtyard.
So she said, “It doesn’t matter if there isn’t such a courtyard in the prince’s mansion. I can stay at the general’s residence for a while.” Although it was already late autumn, the freezing weather was still far off.
If they started work now, they could even lay a warm earth dragon beneath the floor! By winter, she could be living warmly and comfortably in her own little courtyard!
Lu Meng’s hopes were high, but Wu Linxuan’s expression grew cold.
His arm tightened around Lu Meng’s waist, and he looked up at her, asking, “Are you threatening me?”
If he didn’t let her move into the main courtyard, did she really intend to live permanently at the general’s residence?
Did she dare?
“Hmm…” Was he angry?
Why?
Why, oh why?
Lu Meng didn’t understand what sudden madness had overtaken him, but it was far too common for ancient literary male leads to lose their minds like this.
If they didn’t go a little crazy several times a day, how could one show that their madness had already taken root deep in their bones?
So Lu Meng didn’t bother asking why he was suddenly acting insane. Her fingers traced down his chest and then grabbed him firmly.
Wu Linxuan sat up sharply, staring at Lu Meng with wide eyes, the emotion in his gaze easy to read—You dare?
Lu Meng dared!
“This is what I call a threat.” She controlled his breath, pressing close to Wu Linxuan’s nose and said, “Get me a courtyard. Let me live comfortably, alright? The words ‘wealth and ease’ should include this.”
“The prince’s words can’t be broken, right?”
Wu Linxuan’s breathing grew rapid as he glared at Lu Meng. “You’ve got some nerve. If I don’t agree—hmm!”
“Don’t be so petty.” Lu Meng said, “Otherwise, I’ll just go back to the general’s residence.”
“You dare?!” Wu Linxuan grabbed her wrist, holding her firmly in place.
“You’re a married woman. Living at your sister’s husband’s home was already improper. Now that your sister and brother-in-law are gone, what do you think living alone at the general’s residence means?”
Wu Linxuan said angrily, “Are you trying to make me lose all face before I relent?”
“Then just get me a courtyard.” Lu Meng leaned in and bit his lips lightly.
Wu Linxuan’s breath hitched.
Lu Meng said, “If I’m comfortable living here, I definitely won’t run away…”
Her voice was filled with a coquettish charm that, at least to Wu Linxuan—who now held her very life in his hands—sounded like a dangerous enchantress.
Wu Linxuan’s lips twitched as he tried to push her away with a fierce front but weak inside.
Before he could speak, the fourth prince, Wu Lincheng, who had been lying quietly in the corner on the floor, suddenly hummed softly and slowly began to stir.
Wu Linxuan grabbed Lu Meng’s waist in one swift motion and pushed her to the ground, the passion on his face vanishing in an instant.
Pointing towards the inner room, he whispered urgently, “You go in first. Don’t come out until I say so!”
Lu Meng knew better than to cause a scene now—the Fourth Prince was awake!
She absolutely could not be caught at the “crime scene”!
Without hesitation, Lu Meng turned and dashed into the inner room. Once she slipped inside, Wu Linxuan felt a pang of regret.
He could have easily thrown her out, but inside his room, hidden in the secret compartments of the bed, were letters freshly delivered from all over—documents no outsider was allowed to see...
He got up and took a few steps toward the inner room, intending to chase Madam Meng out. But just as he reached the door, Wu Lincheng on the floor opened his eyes.
Wu Lincheng met Wu Linxuan’s cold, piercing gaze from below and suddenly shuddered violently.
His eye sockets were bruised dark purple, swollen to the point of bulging, resembling some half-evolved frog creature.
His vision was doubled, and when his eyes locked with Wu Linxuan’s, fear overtook him and he instinctively shrank back.
A wave of terror surged through Wu Lincheng’s heart as he immediately pinned all the pain he had suffered onto Wu Linxuan.
Lu Meng’s guess was right—in the dark of Wenhua Tower that night, Du Long struck with lightning speed. Wu Lincheng never even saw who landed the blow before he tumbled down the stairs, unconscious.
Zhangsun Lumeng was Prince Jian'an’s favored concubine, and the guards who attacked her were undoubtedly loyal to the prince!
His third royal brother was ruthless. He had maintained a facade of polite civility, never uttering a harsh word even when provoked.
But this time, not only was he nearly blinded, they even tried to bury him alive!
No, perhaps not bury him alive—those men said they wanted to snap his neck.
Wu Lincheng was born a prince, but in his entire life, he had never faced such horror. He instinctively shrank back, hands reaching for his neck to check if it was still intact.
At this moment, his usual refined and graceful demeanor shattered completely, replaced by the image of a cringing coward.
His lips trembled as he kept shrinking behind the curtain, his eyes darting around, guessing this must be Prince Jian'an’s mansion...
“Third Prince, elder brother,” Wu Lincheng stammered, “W-why am I here?”
Wu Linxuan halted his steps toward the room and glanced inside. By a folding screen, he caught sight of Lu Meng secretly peeking out.
Lu Meng smiled at “Big Dog” Wu Linxuan and puckered her lips, blowing him a kiss from a distance.
“Big Dog, do your best and take the blame for this mess!” Lu Meng had originally wanted to make a heart shape with her hands, but thinking that Wu Linxuan probably wouldn’t understand, she refrained from such a gesture.
Wu Linxuan’s scalp tingled. He had only ever seen this kind of blowing-a-kiss gesture performed by the most promiscuous courtesans at the brothel after their shows, directed at the men in the audience.
Wu Linxuan coldly averted his gaze, his hand behind his back quietly squeezing the palm of his other hand.
Steadying his nerves, he looked down from his high position and said to Wu Lincheng, “Fourth Brother, why do you think you’re here in my mansion?”
Wu Linxuan glanced sideways toward Lu Meng and gestured for her to hide quickly and come inside.
But Lu Meng still didn’t move. From this angle, the Fourth Prince lying on the ground couldn’t see her, but she could clearly see how Wu Linxuan was about to turn the tables.
Sure enough, as she expected, Wu Linxuan snapped back sharply: “Zhangsun Lumeng is now my secondary wife. I don’t need to remind Fourth Brother about that, do I?”
Wu Linxuan took a step toward Wu Lincheng. Wu Lincheng shrank back toward the curtains, genuinely terrified.
“I-I know, of course I know. I just happened to run into Lady Meng today and exchanged a few words…” Normally, Wu Lincheng would have retorted with provocation.
He would have said something like how he was worthy of Lady Meng, or how he and Lady Meng were perfectly matched.
The original character had suffered greatly because this Fourth Prince always let words slip out recklessly. Even though Wu Linxuan didn’t truly believe such foolish provocations, hearing another man speak of his woman was, to him, a betrayal in itself.
Wu Linxuan was exactly that kind of twisted, possessive man.
Though he hadn’t quite reached the extremes of madness yet.
“Just happened to run into her, and Fourth Brother even had the nerve to grab and pull at her. Fourth Brother, do you think that’s appropriate?”
Seeing Wu Lincheng like this, Wu Linxuan couldn’t help but rub his fingertips together. It seemed that tonight, his Fourth Brother was thoroughly frightened by his Lady Meng.
Wu Linxuan really hadn’t intended to harm him. After all, Wu Lincheng was always useless—good for nothing but causing trouble, a weakling who only cared about romance and frivolity.
For someone like that, Wu Linxuan was too lazy to bother attacking him, except to use him as a shield when needed.
And precisely because of this, whenever Wu Linxuan thought about the woman he wanted being involved with this Fourth Brother, he felt an indescribable fury.
But it didn’t matter now. Since just a moment ago, that woman had already “surrendered” to him, belonging to him completely.
In life, she was his. In death, she would be his ghost.
“I only helped her up when she fell,” Wu Lincheng said, though he realized this was Prince Jian'an’s Mansion. Because of his previous experience being dragged to the mass grave, he was terrified Wu Linxuan might snap and twist his neck before burying him right here in the mansion.
So, he showed an unprecedented respect toward Wu Linxuan and said, “Third Brother, it really was just a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding… It’s already late, and if I don’t return to the Princes’ Courtyard soon, the palace will surely come looking for me…”
His words were both a warning and a plea for mercy.
Wu Linxuan had originally planned to continue threatening him, to make sure this foolish Fourth Brother would stay far away from him in the future and, most importantly, never touch his woman again.
Instead, Wu Linxuan said, “Since Fourth Brother understands, that’s good. But you don’t have to worry about returning to the palace. After all, no one knows you came to Prince Jian'an’s Mansion tonight.”
The implication was clear: even if you die here, no one will ever find out.
After hearing this, Wu Lincheng truly trembled into a trembling mess. The curtain draped over him—intended to "destroy the body and erase the traces"—had now become his shield. He wished he could bury his head inside it, pretending he had never woken up.
But just as Wu Linxuan was about to say something more, she subtly glanced toward the inner room, not seeing Madam Meng’s head stuck by the folding screen, watching the scene unfold.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She hoped she wouldn’t dig too deep, wouldn’t expose any weaknesses, and wouldn’t give him a reason to kill her.
Although Wu Linxuan had accepted Madam Meng’s “surrender,” he still didn’t fully trust her.
He only intended to keep her as a little pet for amusement under his protection, to satisfy certain private desires.
If she dared...
Wu Linxuan turned to Wu Lincheng and said, “Since Fourth Brother says today’s incident was a misunderstanding, then I will trust him this once.”
“I suppose Fourth Brother won’t blame my men for accidentally hurting you because of this misunderstanding, right?”
“Of course not!” Wu Lincheng hurriedly waved his hand. Hearing Wu Linxuan’s words, he understood that there would be no further pursuit of today’s matter.
So he quickly said, “It’s all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding...”
Wu Linxuan stared at Wu Lincheng, his eyes dark and ominous. After a moment, Wu Lincheng nearly wet his pants.
Only then did Wu Linxuan speak again: “Since that’s the case, I’ll have someone escort Fourth Brother back to your villa outside the palace. It’s quite late now.”
“At this hour, the palace gates have already been locked. I suppose Fourth Brother can’t return inside,” Wu Lincheng replied.
Wu Linxuan said, “It’s been a long time since Fourth Brother visited your concubine kept outside. Beauty fades with time. You have so many women; don’t keep staring at other men’s courtyards and neglect those who love you wholeheartedly.”
Wu Lincheng’s face turned very pale. The concubine he kept outside was a well-kept secret, yet Wu Linxuan knew about her in such detail!
He dared not say anything further and nodded repeatedly, “Alright, alright! It really is late...”
“Chen Yuan,” Wu Linxuan called outside the door, “prepare the carriage to escort Fourth Prince.”
Chen Yuan immediately responded, “Yes, my lord. The carriage has been waiting.”
Then the door opened, and behind Chen Yuan stood two deadly guards, each tall and burly, their faces rough and fierce.
Chen Yuan said to them, “Aren’t you going to help Fourth Prince up?”
The two towering guards, exuding murderous intent, advanced toward Wu Lincheng like butchers. Wu Lincheng mustered all his courage just to avoid fainting.
Then, weak and trembling, he was lifted up by the two strong men and carried out of the room.
Chen Yuan and Wu Linxuan exchanged a glance before carefully closing the door.
Wu Linxuan quickly strode inside, his heart uneasy and complicated.
Those secret letters by the bedside must not be discovered. If she really made a move, no matter how much Wu Linxuan liked her, he would personally strangle her to death.
His footsteps quickened as he entered the inner room, his gaze sharp as lightning.
He looked toward the bed—but no one was there. Clearly, no one had tampered with his secret compartments.
Wu Linxuan let out a deep breath of relief before turning his gaze to search for Madam Meng’s figure.
He soon spotted her standing not far away in front of a display case, tiptoeing as she reached out to touch a piece of coral.
Hearing Wu Linxuan’s footsteps, she didn’t even bother to look back, let alone show any sign of nervousness.
Instead, she spoke with her back turned, “Prince…”
Lu Meng said, “I’ve never seen such a large piece of coral before.” It must be worth a fortune!
“This coral is truly beautiful. I really like it…”
Lu Meng turned her head, one hand still resting on the coral, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Wu Linxuan.
She twisted her waist playfully and said, “Prince, when you promised me a life of luxury and ease, does that include this coral?”
This coral was indeed a rare treasure, undeniably valuable, and practically priceless on the market.
However, it was meant to be presented at the Empress Dowager’s grand birthday banquet.
Wu Linxuan hadn’t even realized that his standards for Madam Meng had already dropped to the point where he only hoped she wouldn’t peek at his secret letters.
He casually replied, “If you like it, just take it to play with…”
Lu Meng jumped happily on the spot, then suddenly reached to her waist sash, yanked it open, and threw it to the ground.
Wu Linxuan’s eyelids twitched, but his eyes remained fixed on Lu Meng.
She stared right back at him, shedding her cumbersome outer robe and tossing it aside as well.
Then, stepping back two paces, she cheerfully leapt straight into Wu Linxuan’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and winding her legs around his waist.
His body reacted instinctively, and Wu Linxuan caught her legs firmly.
Their breaths mingled and quickened. Lu Meng smiled brightly and planted a kiss on Wu Linxuan’s cheek, saying, “I also like the two vases next to the coral!”
They looked valuable too!
Wu Linxuan held Lu Meng’s legs, then shifted to support her hips, his gaze locked on the lively expression dancing across the little woman’s face. A surge of joy unlike any he had ever known welled up within him.
Wu Linxuan had possessed many things in his life. Born noble, even though his mother had passed early, he had learned how to fight for what he wanted.
But it had been years since anything had made him this happy.
His nose brushed against the woman’s, and without hesitation, he kissed her lips.
Their kiss was like two opposing electric poles sparking wildly upon contact.
In mere moments, their breathing became ragged and uneven.
Wu Linxuan had no desire to hold back—nor did he need to. This woman was his now!
In life, she was his; in death, she would be his ghost.
Wu Linxuan thought this phrase suited him perfectly.
With Lu Meng still in his arms, he walked toward the grand bed, pressing her down onto it. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “You want to be my official consort, don’t you? Make me happy, and I’ll agree…”
Lu Meng was equally excited. After all, Wu Linxuan was quite the competent lover.
She fondly remembered their last time together, and now that he had done her such a great favor, it only felt natural to take things further.
She grew eager, using her foot to pull down the bed’s canopy, then grabbed Wu Linxuan’s waist sash and swung him onto the bed with a flourish—
Wu Linxuan flopped onto his own bed, suddenly transported back to that night.
He didn’t even understand why he liked this kind of vibe so much...
All he knew was that he felt like he was floating on air, as if the bed beneath him had turned into clouds, gently rising and falling, swaying with the breeze.
He had gotten exactly what he wanted—he’d been ridden.
But when Lu Meng was at his most passionate, he actually said something that, since coming into the room that evening, was the first genuine truth, punctuation and all.
“I don’t want to be some official wife. I just want to lie beside you forever...”
It sounded like a line from a romance novel, and it only made Wu Linxuan try even harder—so hard that the veins at his temple throbbed like thunderclaps.
But there was a second half to that sentence: to lie there as a pampered, carefree ‘salted fish’ employee for life.
Lu Meng fell asleep—this time truly exhausted. Scoring twice in one night as a newbie wasn’t easy.
Wu Linxuan dozed off too, but the time for the morning court session was approaching, so he woke up out of habit.
Still half-dreaming, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he reached out to grab Lu Meng beside him—but his hand grasped nothing but empty air.
Wu Linxuan shot upright in bed, his eyes scanning the room but finding no one. Instantly, he was wide awake, his expression darkening sharply.
