Chapter 37: Do Not Make Me Angry Again

The Marquis's estate is Heng'er’s rightful inheritance; it must be preserved until he can successfully succeed to the title. No one shall take what belongs to Shen Yuheng.

Xiao Ze gave a disdainful, shallow laugh. "If you want it, then stop making me angry."

Dou Hongyan lowered her eyes, her lashes fluttering like butterfly wings—a picture of fragility that invited pity. On the surface, she appeared disheartened, showing a hint of reluctant displeasure, yet she said nothing more, seemingly accepting the reality of her situation. Beneath the surface, however, her palms were tightly clenched, and her resolve to escape Xiao Ze as soon as possible only grew firmer. She could not allow Heng'er’s fate to remain subject to the whims of such an unpredictable man.

Seeing Dou Hongyan grow submissive, Xiao Ze leaned in, pressing close. His palm was warm as he traced the teeth marks he had left on her shoulder previously. The mottled red and blue bruises were dense, layer upon layer. As they were exposed to the air, Dou Hongyan instinctively flinched. Xiao Ze’s expression darkened instantly, and he forced her closer with displeasure. The more aggressive he became, the more evident her subconscious rejection grew.

Her performative compliance could not mask the resistance of her body. Xiao Ze gripped her chin, his gaze deep and fierce, and leaned down to bite at her red lips. When Dou Hongyan frowned and dodged in pain, it only triggered further, more aggressive encroachment from him.

He was furious. By the end, tears welled in Dou Hongyan’s eyes as she pushed back against his intensifying pursuit.

"Fine, you are very good indeed..."

His voice was hoarse. He rose abruptly, leaving her feeling a sudden chill. She clutched her collar, backing away and watching him with guarded eyes. Then, with a moment of hesitation, she reached out a hand, attempting to pull at his wrist. Seeing her clearly resisting yet forcing herself to feign affection, Xiao Ze’s irritation boiled over. At the very moment it threatened to erupt, he stormed out of the room.

Before leaving, he issued a warning: "Think carefully about what it is you are trying to do."

With nowhere to vent his rage, his mind was filled with the image of Dou Hongyan’s resistance. His eyes, rimmed with red, burned with murderous intent as he looked toward the direction of Tingyu Garden.

Shen Yishu... This man must not be allowed to live.

Long after Xiao Ze had departed, Liuyun carefully knocked on the door. "Mistress, the Master came by earlier." She kept her head lowered, appearing like a docile maid, but her words were remarkably bold: "The Master insisted on coming in. We couldn't stop him, so Xiyue had no choice but to knock him unconscious. He is still lying outside."

Dou Hongyan was already in a foul mood; hearing the name Shen Yishu only added to her annoyance. She gritted her teeth and glared viciously in the direction Xiao Ze had left. "Leave him be. Let him continue to lie there. If he doesn't wake up by tomorrow, just say he fainted and no one noticed."

As for whether the night was cold, whether it was inappropriate to leave him outside, or why the maids on duty hadn't discovered him—Dou Hongyan scoffed, caring nothing for such things. If not for the title of "father" he held, she would not care whether Shen Yishu lived or died.

Ever since the situation at the Marquis's estate had begun to stabilize over the years, Dou Hongyan had rarely shown such a loss of composure. Sensing her foul mood, Liuyun pursed her lips and asked in a low voice, "Mistress, did we fail this time? Would you like to give me any instructions for the next step?"

"Ha."

"Who said I failed? Is there not still Gu Zhaozhao?"

Dou Hongyan took a deep breath and looked up at the dark night sky. The clouds were like ink, swirling in ominous, treacherous patterns, pressing down upon the capital as if gathering strength for a strike. She closed her eyes. "Miss Gu is a clever woman. Clever people do not like to be taken advantage of. It is time for her to play her part. Let us wait and see."