Qian Ran moved swiftly, his composure unwavering.
Behind him, Zhu Ying let out soft exclamations, her breaths uneven.
No one knew how much time had passed, but eventually, Zhu Ying, exhausted, removed her torn black stockings and replaced them with a fresh pair.
Lifting her skirt, Zhu Ying boldly changed her stockings right in front of Qian Ran. Her shapely legs and curvaceous hips, wrapped in the black fabric, were completely exposed to him. She carried herself with ease, utterly indifferent to his gaze.
Years of separation from Dai Hao, who had been stationed with the army, had all but eroded any emotional connection between them. Dai Hao's long-term absence had even left him unaware of Huo Yun'er's death.
Military commanders stationed outside the capital could not return without the emperor's approval. It was only the combined circumstances of Spirit Sect's growing influence and Dai Yueheng's critical injuries that had prompted Emperor Xu Jiawei to grant Dai Hao special permission to return.
Given the prolonged separation, Zhu Ying held no affection for Dai Hao. Their marriage, after all, had been primarily political—a union between the Dai and Zhu families. With years of estrangement, the absence of emotional attachment was hardly surprising.
The balance of power between the Dai and Zhu families had remained relatively even since the Dai family lost the throne three thousand years ago. The Zhu family was by no means inferior.
Thus, when Qian Ran began his flirtation, Zhu Ying only hesitated briefly before succumbing to his advances.
Qian Ran's recent "performance" had left Zhu Ying thoroughly satisfied. Her gaze lingered on him, her eyes sparkling with emotion.
"Looks like you enjoyed yourself," Qian Ran teased with a smirk.
"Of course not! Stop talking nonsense," Zhu Ying replied, rolling her eyes at him with a coquettish pout. Despite her retort, she felt an overwhelming mix of affection and frustration toward him.
"The women of the Zhu family truly are remarkable. Even your family head keeps sending them out as gifts," Qian Ran quipped, the thought of Dai Hao, Dai Huabin, and Dai Yueheng filling him with amusement.
Zhu Ying, an exquisite beauty at his beck and call, was a true delight.
Her black-stocking-clad legs slid into matching black high heels, and her over-the-knee pencil skirt perfectly accentuated her shapely hips. Her fitted dress strained over her ample chest, completing the image of a woman who was nothing short of stunning.
As the evening deepened, Zhu Ying threw on a coat to ward off the chill.
"When will you heal Yueheng? If you've deceived me, I won't let you off easily," she said abruptly, her tone turning serious after she had finished dressing.
"I'll keep my word. I'm not the kind of man to make false promises. If you'd like, I can show you the results shortly," Qian Ran replied, his hand giving her a playful squeeze on her rounded hips.
"Let's go then. We've been here for hours. The Duke must be getting impatient," Qian Ran added with a mischievous grin, the thought of Dai Hao bringing a smirk to his lips.
Zhu Ying realized with a start that she and Qian Ran had indeed been alone for far too long, and a wave of unease washed over her.
"From now on, you should sleep separately from Dai Hao," Qian Ran whispered.
The words made Zhu Ying glare at him, biting her red lips in frustration. How dare he meddle in her personal affairs? Was he implying he intended to…
The thought of what had transpired during the past two hours made her heart race. The overwhelming sensation of being cared for and cherished was almost intoxicating.
"No…" Zhu Ying suddenly caught herself, appalled at how she seemed to be losing herself in those fleeting moments of ecstasy. Her emotions were in turmoil.
"Qian Ran, we…"
"I don't care about money, nor do I have any interest in the so-called treasures your family holds dear. To me, they're utterly worthless," Qian Ran interrupted, pulling Zhu Ying's curvaceous figure into his arms.
"Mm…" When Qian Ran, exuding masculine confidence, held her, Zhu Ying's resistance grew weaker, until it took on a half-hearted, reluctant air.
"How did it go? What took so long?" Dai Hao asked anxiously as Zhu Ying returned. She had been with Qian Ran for so long that he had nearly gone looking for her himself.
"Hmph. That brat is insufferable. It took a lot of effort to meet his demands," Zhu Ying replied, her eyes glancing at Qian Ran with a hint of lingering softness.
Her words, however, were lost on Dai Hao, who had spent so much time on the battlefield that he failed to catch her tone.
"And?"
"Qian Ran said he can heal Yueheng and is willing to reconcile with the Duke's Mansion. I agreed not to pursue the matter with Zhu Lu," Zhu Ying said, casting Dai Hao a sidelong glance.
"That's fine. It's just a woman. Huabin can always find another fiancée—there are plenty of suitable girls in the Zhu family," Dai Hao replied dismissively.
With Yueheng's talents, he was poised to easily achieve Title Douluo status. Such a prodigy was a rarity in the Dai family, and losing him would be a devastating blow. Compared to that, Zhu Lu was just one woman.
"Just a woman?" Zhu Ying's mind buzzed with indignation. Did that sentiment extend to her as well?
Since her encounter with Qian Ran, everything about Dai Hao irritated her.
When Xu Jiawei heard that Qian Ran was willing to reconcile with the Dai family, he was overjoyed.
After the banquet, Qian Renxue left the palace in high spirits, clearly pleased with the agreement she had reached with Xu Jiawei. Spirit Sect was even granted its own exclusive office within the palace.
Following Zhu Ying's lead, Qian Ran headed directly to Dai Yueheng's sickroom. Dai Hao walked in silence, his expression dark. He clenched his jaw whenever he glanced at Qian Ran, but he held his tongue, knowing he couldn't afford to antagonize the man who might hold the key to saving Yueheng.
Upon entering the room, Qian Ran was greeted by the sight of an elderly woman. Her silver hair and deeply lined face made her appear ancient, her age difficult to discern.
Qian Ran's spiritual sense swept over her, immediately detecting the immense depth of her power.
"Junior greets Healing Immortal Douluo," Qian Ran said respectfully, recognizing her as Wang Xian'er, the vice-chief of the Star Luo Empire's Hall of Consecration.
A Super Douluo-level healing master, Wang Xian'er was renowned for saving lives even when the victim was on the brink of death. Her martial soul, the Healing Angel, was a pinnacle among healing abilities.
Wang Xian'er was a relic of a bygone era, contemporaneous with legends like Dragon God Douluo Mu En and Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao. Now nearly two hundred years old, her vitality was rapidly diminishing, with only about a decade left to live.
Her interest in Qian Ran stemmed from their shared angelic lineage. Her Healing Angel martial soul was a specialized offshoot of the angelic archetype, capable of infusing life force for supreme healing.
All angel martial souls shared a common origin, and the moment Qian Ran arrived, Wang Xian'er opened her eyes. She had sensed his spiritual probe and was instantly taken aback.
Qian Ran's spiritual power was so dense it seemed almost tangible—comparable to a Title Douluo or even a Super Douluo.
If he wasn't facing a Super Douluo specializing in spiritual power, few could match his level of mastery.
(Chapter End)