Sacred love

w. At first, he had dismissed it as nothing more than an elder-brotherly affection. Bu

er man's arms, her eyes shining with a

e-cold. Without another word, he jerked the reins a

new he had witnessed every

belonged

would ever

ough they had been starved of each other'

ht you no longer wanted me," Li Men

ong. I needed to settle matters so I could come to you properly." He reached into his robes, pulling out a delicate red box and opening it to reveal fine silk, gold

as though to steady her racing heart. Then, she turned, gesturing toward two silent figures. "Lo

heir expressions unreadable, their eyes flittin

ed Mo Lan forward. "Mother, Sister, this

cticed grace. "It is

"Li Meng, take your soon-to-be husband insi

ed her greatly that Li Meng's chosen suitor was not a noble-born aristocrat dripping in wealth a

erved the young man keenly, his gaze measuring. He was not a man swayed by riches-what matte

now, your elder sister's wedding is only a day away

, why not let my younger siste

spent enough time with you, Li Meng. I

Father, I will still visit whenever I can. Pl

y relented. "If you insist... Very

you,

Chen Ming's heart. Rage twisted his expression as he clenched his fists, seeth

-

regnant consort's chamber,

slightly. "Yo

child?" he asked, thoug

nsettled by his presence-he seldom visited h

cleanse yourself at the bathhouse near Wan Yu Pavilion. They

... Wan Yu Pavilion is far, and the roads are des

" he snapped. "All my concubines cleanse themselves

r chest. Something is wrong.

Highness," she murmur

e night was unnervingly silent, the path shrouded in darkness. Her skin prickled with u

h

ovement. A sudden

rkness, three

maidservants whispered, shiel

ep aside. We have orders to

reath caug

the words, instinct too

ch h

er her. She ran blindly, her he

med, her voice ringing through the

I refuse t

her last hope of survival, she screamed even

pt running, her legs burning with exhaustion. But her b

loomed o

h

g itself deep into one of the assassin's

mmanded, calm yet letha

our Hig

her mind slipping into

his gaze impassive as he surveyed

lady murmured. "She is pregnant.

ysician," he ordered. "

ly, placing a hand on Han L

she has lost

nsciousness returned just in time to

she wailed, the ago

nreadable, though annoyance flickered in

st. You can bear another child, so long as you rem

as no accident. Her mind raced. Who overheard my conversatio

cluded place at this hour?" Third

ispered. "He sent me here... He insiste

rince Ming's lips. So, my dear brother

said simply. "I will have thre

he turned

rince had m

ce Ming was no

w. Not

mperial palace. Instead, a deafening uproar

ing, co

ince Xiao Ming, his expression twisted with rage. Behind him stood fifty court offic

wd with disinterest. His robes, draped elegantly over his lean frame, car

ned brighter at his

and that is treason!" His voice boomed, his eyes bloodshot. "By

ow chuckle, his lips

with mockery. "And do you truly be

ed his wrist, and a subordinate stepped forward, guiding a pale, trem

d through th

d lazily. "Ask her yourself-did

wife, silent threats dancing

ke, her voice was s

ghness. In fact, if not for Third

nce fell over

nd rage. "Lies! He planned to kill you and our ch

thinning. His expression darkened, and

ing her if I wanted her dead in the first place? Her life or death is of no consequence to me." His voice d

older officials exchanged wary gla

to back down. "If not you, then who? W

chuckle. "You know the

dly p

ing finality, he

bring the

ater with three bound men. The moment Xia

arpened. "Force the

, he plunged it into the neck of the first assassin and dragged it down to his stomach. A bloodcurdling s

burnt flesh f

was devoid of warm

le

with its prey. "Choose wisely. If you remain silent, I will pers

ed, desperation creeping into his tone. He turned to t

se was evident in their eyes. The weigh

sper-hoarse

was the Fi

, the assassin scrambled for a hid

He turned to Xiao Ming, his amusement bare

s again, and I will kill you before you even get the chance to execute your pathetic schemes.

g swallo

t, suddenly found her voice. H

ld, and I will act as if nothing happened. I.

back." He grabbed her wrist roughly. "It was just a child. You can

eas

"Say another word,

y, her protests fa

expression unreadable. Their af

ls vacated the courtyard,

the

he shadows of his pavilion, leaving only th