Chapter 36: Who Cares About Shen Yishu

Xiao Ze’s departure to the Northern Territory was for the purpose of suppressing a sudden uprising of refugees. Dou Hongyan was fully aware of the ins and outs of his mission. Furthermore, his return was far swifter than the imperial court had anticipated; he had resolved the crisis in the north with clinical efficiency. Even though Dou Hongyan was not physically present in the court, she could easily discern the Emperor’s intentions.

Given that Xiao Ze had resolved the matter decisively and rendered such meritorious service, he had bolstered his prestige both in the capital and the north, while simultaneously asserting the authority of the throne. With such achievements to his name, the Emperor, true to his nature, would undoubtedly make a grand gesture. The Crown Prince’s upcoming wedding served as a perfect pretext. His marriage to Gu Zhaozhao was a foregone conclusion, set in stone and beyond questioning; now that they were of age, preparations would inevitably begin sooner or later.

Dou Hongyan’s sudden inquiry into the date of their wedding was not a impulsive act. She surmised that the Emperor would take this opportunity to settle the timing of Xiao Ze’s marriage, utilizing Gu Zhaozhao—and by extension, the influence of the former Grand Tutor—as a trophy to celebrate his victory. Given the depth of Xiao Ze’s schemes, he must have been perfectly aware of this as well. It was no surprise that this letter had fallen into his hands; she had written it specifically for him to see. Now that Xiao Ze had come to confront her, Dou Hongyan had steeled herself. She hoped to seize this chance to sever their ties, so that henceforth, they might go their separate ways, never to cross paths again.

Alas...

Xiao Ze’s shadow, like a spider’s web, enveloped Dou Hongyan. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet with his arrival. Half his face was shrouded in darkness, his tone somber and unpredictable. "Your schemes are destined to fail."

He stepped slowly from the shadows. As he passed the mahogany table, a light breeze caught the thin sheet of stationery, sending it fluttering to the floor with a faint rustle. Along with it, Dou Hongyan’s subtle hopes sank to the ground.

A hand clamped onto her chin, forcing her to look up and meet his fierce, bloodshot eyes. The intensity of his possessiveness was chilling. He held her lifeline in his grip, his thumb rubbing against her delicate skin. The words he spoke were equally heavy, leaving her entire body rigid. "What makes you think you can end this relationship whenever you please? Thinking of running away after you’ve used me?"

"Spare me your little schemes; they are useless and only serve to provoke me. When this ends has always been for me to decide."

The marriage contract, Gu Zhaozhao, or Dou Hongyan’s supposed principle of not dallying with a man already spoken for... none of it mattered. Dou Hongyan’s skin trembled, shuddering under the cold, serpentine cadence of his voice. She swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on him with a steady, quiet gaze.

Xiao Ze seemed to recall something, and a sinister, pleased smirk tugged at his lips. "Do not attempt to test my bottom line. In your position, you have no right to negotiate with me. On the contrary..."

He said it with chilling ease: "If I were to lose my temper, a single misstep could see me reduce the entire Marquis’s estate to ruins."

"You care deeply about the Marquis’s estate, don't you?"

Though phrased as a question, his tone was one of absolute certainty. Dou Hongyan felt her heart turn cold. She had indeed miscalculated. She had intended to remind Xiao Ze that it was time to end their relationship, yet she had overlooked his inherent nature as a tyrant. He was cruel and heartless; his threats to destroy the estate were no jest. He did not even care for his own flesh and blood.

The hope of parting on amicable terms had been dashed. A flicker of disappointment passed through Dou Hongyan’s heart. In the end, she had expected too much of him; he remained as overbearing and impossible to deal with as ever. Even now, she could not fully fathom his true nature.

Dou Hongyan met his gaze, her voice cold. "That is impossible. You cannot lay a hand on the Marquis’s estate."