Chapter 59

Wei Li Lian

Li Lian was beyond surprised when the Guard-In-Charge called her out of the dungeon. According to His Majesty's instructions, she was to be released. She did not know what it meant, but she was beyond ecstatic. Surely, it implied that Yuwen Hong was on the path of forgiving her and fixing things; just as he promised he would do for them in the past.

It took a long time to freshen up for she had gone for days without proper washing. Her entourage was reinstated, although most of them were not in a good enough condition to serve. Ai was in worse shape, with bruising on her knees that she could barely stand for a long time. Li Lian discharged her from duties so she could rest.

Servants are like the branches on a tree. When the tree falls, so do they perish. They all relied on their mistress. Her success was their prosperity, and the same was her demise their downfall.

Li Lian watched Yuwen Hong lazily lounge on the bed as she put on fresh sleeping clothes. After their lovemaking, she lit the sleeping chambers to find her way around as she cleaned up.

Yuwen Hong had poured his seed on her stomach, something that Li Lian had never seen him do. From the beginning, they agreed they wanted children and left it in the hands of timing and nature.

Now, she was no longer on the highest cloud of happiness because if Yuwen Hong had no intentions of letting her bear his child, it meant her future with him was not in the plans.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on." He ogled her from the bed as she tied her garments.

"Is that the only reason you love me?" she teased.

If I started to list it all, I would take till dawn." Yuwen Hong's husky voice that resonated with his inner calmness and peace was beautiful to her senses. It was hoarse, caressing, and his serenade for her.

She chuckled and went to the bed to kiss him all over his face. She multiplied her kisses until he stopped her by biting on her lower lip.

He released the most tantalising groan before he rolled her onto the bed so he could be on top, then took the kiss he had waited to have since they were pronounced husband and wife. Oh, heavens, could he kiss.

Li Lian's body heated―every muscle, from one nerve ending to the next, all over her skin―as their lips branded, tongues tasting and teeth nipping. Hearts broken and an unfortunate separation, yet their bodies were like twin flames that were never apart.

It must have been a while―though it felt like a few seconds―when he lifted from her to breathe and rest. She circled her arms around his neck and lightly massaged his shoulders.

"I love you, Yuwen Hong," she declared sweetly. "More than life itself."

He smiled, though for some reason it did not reach his eyes like it usually did around her. But he went on to say it back. "I love you a lot, Li Lian. You are my only wife and partner in this life."

She chuckled and pushed him off her, so she could sit up.

He scowled. "I thought we were going for seconds. Once is not enough." He absent-mindedly ran his hand on her thigh.

"We could, but we have not talked yet."

"Talk about what?"

His hand tried to untie her garment, but she pushed it off.

"Feelings and the future," she said simply.

"Tomorrow has its problems, and so does today." He was saying there was no reason to talk about the future. They had to live in the moment.

"All right. Then let us start with discussing today's problems."

He grumbled and tried to reach for her ties again, but she backed away.

"You know I do not like to talk, Li Lian." His hand went between her legs and cupped her where he had left her a little sore. "I like to do."

"We did do, and it is now my turn for us to do what I want."

He shrugged in defeat and sat away from her. "What do you want to talk about then?"

"How you feel, why you released me, and what we will do in the future."

"How do I feel? I do not know how I feel. Why did I release you? Well, your mother has been negotiating with us."

His last sentence was like a bucket of cold water to wake her up from her false assumptions. He did not release her because he cared for her and was sorry to see her suffer?

"My mother? The queen of Furia?"

"Yes, Queen Elora, she is here."

"Doing what?"

"As I said, negotiating for your return to Furia."

"No!" she vehemently refused. "She is not my mother and I want nothing to do with her."

An expressionless Yuwen Hong looked back at her.

"She abandoned me. Left me in the hands of that hateful man, where I was treated like an orphan. She is not my mother, even a lioness does not desert its cub."

He took her hand in his, a sign that he was listening and empathising with her.

"Furia has no future queen, currently. She is desperate at this point," he explained reasonably.

Li Lian flat-out rejected the notion. "I do not want to be their queen. They did not raise me, so I do not owe them. She is foolish for what she did in the past." Li Lian really disliked her. "I have a life here. The Nevorians are my people. I have a family that I do not want to part from. You are my husband, Noble Consort Shu is my mother, and Cai Wenjin is a daughter to me. For what reason should I leave my people?"

Yuwen Hong exhaled and pushed his beautiful long hair to the back.

"Don't you think she is selfish? She wants to use me whenever it suits her."

He shrugged.

"What does that mean?" she frowned.

Li Lian was starting to realise something. Yuwen Hong had not said anything to take her side so far. He was listening and showing attentiveness, but support was non-existent.

He shrugged again, which was getting annoying. "I don't know, Li Lian."

"I don't know" was becoming his go-to answer, too. It was unlike Yuwen Hong to respond with that. He had immense wisdom and numerous solutions for every situation.

She looked into his eyes and saw something unfamiliar. It scared her, so she went on to change the matter.

"I will not leave you. Tell her to go back for us to continue with what we originally planned for the future. For instance, I was thinking of becoming the adoptive mother of Cai Wenjin."

"Hao(good)," he nodded, then contemplated before adding. "However, Cai Wenjin has changed hands over the past year, and it may be taxing for her. I think we should wait for a while and allow her to grieve."

Li Lian was not sure if she was imagining it, or if there was definitely something. It was as if the tables had turned in their relationship. She had become the energetic individual who planned about what was to come and worried for their relationship. She never did that before. It was the role Yuwen Hong always took, while she was passive and willing to take each day as it came.

"I understand," she finally agreed. "After all, I cannot imagine what she is feeling. I will be more considerate of her needs."

After the truth came out, Yuwen Hong was passive and unwilling to take the next steps to move forward. Which was not surprising as he was probably confused and still healing from everything he had just found out. She was all right with it. However, there was something new in his eyes that scared her.

She could not explain it or put it in words. All she could do was liken it to resignation. It was as if a shell of himself was operating, doing what was expected of him, subjecting himself to routine, and saying what was needed. Yet, his soul was long gone.

Terrifying.

"You look tired," she noted his sullen eyes.

"I am," he yawned, "but there is something that could wake me up." He winked.

She giggled as she shifted and went to straddle him.

He growled in approval when she playfully ground on him. "You are my dream woman."

She chuckled as her cheeks heated.

They started kissing and before they knew it, clothes were once again strewn on the floor. This time, Yuwen Hong did not pull out when he orgasmed. That had Li Lian in the throes of glee, but it was short-lived when he cursed at himself about it.

"You are so amazing that I failed to control myself," he muttered.

"I thought we agreed we want a child," she commented lightly.

His response was a negligible dismissing "hmm" before he dozed off to sleep.

Author's Note

Do you guys know of relationships that are about to end and the guy has checked out? The man will be just there to get as much poom-poom (s3x) as he can get, but in his mind, he is long gone and done. Yet, the woman will be still in it and giving her all.

I felt that as I wrote this. Sheesh!

S.V