The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder.
Xie Lanzhou slowly loosened his grip on her wrist. He pushed himself up, leaning lazily against the headboard. The murderous aura from a moment ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a teasing, crooked smile.
"What a pity..." He sighed dramatically, glancing at the dagger on the floor. "This Prince thought he was marrying a gentle, obedient rabbit. Who knew I would end up with a tigress hiding her claws?"
Ji Wanyin sat up, calmly arranging her messy robes. Her face remained expressionless, showing no sign of panic.
"And I thought I was marrying a short-lived invalid," she retorted smoothly. "Who knew I would end up with a thick-skinned fox instead?"
Xie Lanzhou chuckled low in his throat. The sound was deep and strangely magnetic.
"My dear wife, you tried to poison me, and I tried to crush your bones. Let's call it even." He spread his hands in a gesture of peace. "Now, shall we talk business?"
Ji Wanyin raised an eyebrow. "Business?"
"You married me because you wanted to escape the Ji family and borrow the power of my Princely title. And I..." His eyes darkened slightly. "I need a wife who is 'easy to manage' to fool the Emperor and my ambitious brothers who want me dead."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Since you are not a manageable sheep, but a little monster with fangs... my plan must change."
"Are you going to silence me?" Ji Wanyin asked coldly, her hand inching toward the golden hairpin on her head, ready to use it as a weapon.
"Killing you is too troublesome. Funerals are expensive," Xie Lanzhou waved his hand dismissively. "I have a proposal... Let's form an alliance."
"An alliance?"
"In front of others, I will be the sickly, doting husband, and you will be the virtuous, caring wife. Behind closed doors, we stay out of each other's way," he proposed, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "We use each other. I give you protection; you give me a cover. Do we have a deal?"
Ji Wanyin stared into his eyes, weighing the pros and cons.
In her past life, she fought alone until she died. In this life, having a powerful 'puppet' to hide behind was a much better strategy.
"Deal," she agreed. "But I have conditions. You must not interfere with my revenge, and... you must not touch me without my consent."
Xie Lanzhou grinned, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"I don't care about your revenge. As for touching you..." He scanned her body briefly before shrugging. "Don't worry. I am quite picky with my food."
Ji Wanyin scoffed. She reached down to pick up her dagger. "Then, tonight ends here. Your Highness can sleep on the floor. I will take the bed."
"Wait."
Xie Lanzhou stopped her. He pointed a slender finger at the pristine white silk cloth spread across the bed.
According to tradition, the morning after the wedding, the palace maids would inspect this cloth for the 'blood of virginity' to report to the Empress Dowager. If the cloth remained white, Ji Wanyin's life as a Princess Consort would be over before it began.
"Did you forget something?" he asked.
Ji Wanyin frowned. She had almost forgotten this troublesome custom. "I didn't bring any fake blood."
"No need for fakes."
Xie Lanzhou extended his pale hand toward her. "Give me your dagger."
"What are you doing?"
"Creating evidence. Unless you want to cut your own finger?"
Ji Wanyin hesitated for a split second before handing him the weapon. Xie Lanzhou took it without blinking. With a swift motion, he pressed the sharp blade against his own index finger.
Slice.
Bright red blood welled up. He flicked his finger, sending droplets of blood falling onto the white silk sheet. The crimson liquid bloomed like winter plum blossoms on snow.
"My blood is very expensive, remember that," he said, handing the dagger back to her. He casually sucked on his injured finger to stop the bleeding, a gesture that looked strangely wild and untamed.
Ji Wanyin looked at the bloodstain with complex feelings.
In her past life, her husband betrayed her. But in this life... this stranger was willing to bleed to protect her fake honor.
"I will remember," she whispered.
"Remembering is not enough." Xie Lanzhou lay down on the bed, shamelessly taking up more than half the space. "You have to 'act' to repay me. Tomorrow morning... make sure you look like a woman who has been thoroughly loved all night."
"You!" Ji Wanyin glared at him. "You said you would sleep on the floor!"
"I am a sick patient. How can I sleep on the cold floor?" He closed his eyes and pulled the quilt over himself. "Goodnight, my beloved wife."
Ji Wanyin clenched her fists, staring at the back of her sham husband. She really wanted to stick a poisoned needle into him.
But in the end, she simply blew out the candle and lay down on the very edge of the bed, turning her back to him.
In the darkness... both of their lips curled up simultaneously.
It was the smile of a predator who had just found the most interesting toy in the world.