Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Better a Shattered Jade

Heavy curtains blocked the already faint light.

In the dim bedroom, Liang Wan was like a fish caught in a fisherman’s net. She let the fisherman carry her step by step toward the gutting block, yet she, the fish, couldn’t even struggle or thrash her tail.

"I might as well tell you, it has been a long time since I’ve felt any excitement. But seeing your trembling form, like a piece of uncarved jade, at Renshou Palace that day... it reminded me of a certain distant restlessness. It also reminded me that you were once my—"

He looked down at her, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "You should know, you were originally mine."

A bottomless, dark undercurrent swirled in his eyes.

Liang Wan slowly lowered her gaze, not daring to reveal the slightest hint of emotion.

They were the only two people in the entire hall.

’Does this mean he believes me now?’

’How wonderful.’

The moment her back touched the soft imperial bed, her stomach churned violently. Before this, she had almost believed she had recovered.

Apparently, she hadn’t.

That revulsion and disgust were carved into her very bones.

Gao Qian laid her on the bed and sat on its edge. He raised a hand to her head, studying her closely. "You seem quite fond of this jade hairpin. No matter what other ornaments you wear, you always keep this one."

Liang Wan’s heart trembled. A lie was on the tip of her tongue.

She held it back; it was possible he already knew the truth.

Liang Wan looked up at him, her expression earnest and innocent, as if terrified he would misunderstand.

"The Grand Commandant gave it to me. I heard it was an heirloom of the Imperial Tutor’s wife. I wear it every day because it makes things more convenient for me in his residence."

Gao Qian’s lips curled. His dark eyes sharpened, his gaze like a sword piercing through her body and into a distant memory.

"Do you think the Grand Commandant is loyal?"

His voice was cold and heavy, like a bottomless pit that could make one misstep and fall.

But in an instant, Liang Wan let out a soft laugh. "He is loyal, of course. For now."

Gao Qian found this intriguing. "For now?"

Liang Wan did not ignore the storm clouds gathering in his eyes.

"The Grand Commandant has a prestigious title but no real power. He was like a bird circling a tree with no branch to perch on. He must have been deeply discontented. But now, Your Majesty has granted him military authority, giving him the chance to lead troops into battle and display his talents. How could he not cherish such an opportunity? How could he not be loyal?"

"As for the future... a person’s heart is difficult to predict. It would be wise for Your Majesty to remain vigilant."

When Liang Wan finished, she gazed at him with a beaming smile.

Gao Qian’s dark eyes locked onto her. "And how should I be vigilant? By letting you stay by his side, watching his every move?"

Liang Wan froze, looking at him with a wronged expression. "Your Majesty promised me Hanguang Hall. You can’t go back on your word."

Gao Qian stared at her face, seemingly in a daze. "I never realized he was so fond of you. Then why, back then—"

A glint appeared in his eyes, and he swallowed the rest of his words. His dark, roving eyes fixed on her again, sizing her up, scrutinizing her.

"I am also very curious. How exactly do you treat him to make him so infatuated?"

’In the past, she always gritted her teeth and resisted. Even when drugged, she never gave him any satisfaction.’

’He had used countless methods to ’teach’ her, but she was like a stubborn, unyielding rock, holding on for dear life. It left him utterly frustrated and made him grind his teeth in hatred.’

’But in this life, how had she been refined into something so utterly bewitching?’

’Enough to make that man disregard his status and tangle with her intimately among the rocks.’

He traced the outline of a grid-like pattern with his finger, a cryptic smile slowly spreading across his face.

"You may not know, but this net was woven thread by thread from silkworm silk."

His eyes were locked firmly on her, an unreadable smile within them.

Liang Wan’s cheeks were flushed like ripe peaches. Her lowered eyelashes concealed the misty waves in her eyes, and only her chest rose and fell.

But no matter how much she restrained herself, she could not hide the waves of hatred rising in her heart. She knew all too well what methods Gao Qian would use to torment her.

Liang Wan gritted her teeth, struggling to suppress the endless hatred in her heart.

Seeing her looking down, silent and obedient, Gao Qian’s lips curled into a faint smile. "No one will be disturbing us today. You should know, you are the first person who ever dared make me climb through a window. We’ll see how I punish you in a moment."

Though his words were flirtatious, his gaze was dark. His eyes held none of the lust one would expect at such a moment. It was less about desire and more about a deliberate test.

With that, the smile on his lips deepened, and he reached out to strip off her clothes.

Liang Wan clutched her dress, feeling as if a frantic, furious lion was caged inside her, roaring and bellowing, about to burst forth and bite his neck off.

’Even if she were to be drawn and quartered, she wanted to kill him.’

’She couldn’t wait another moment!’

Liang Wan blinked and forced a sweet, delicate laugh from between her teeth. "Your Majesty must hurry. I can’t wait any longer."

Gao Qian raised an eyebrow. "It seems his absence has left you quite thirsty."

Liang Wan softened her voice and replied quietly, "Your Majesty is right. I am parched to my very core."

His sharp eyes narrowed, hiding unfathomable emotions. "Then you’ll have to beg me..."

’Me?’

Liang Wan’s smile vanished instantly.

Seeing the color drain from her smiling face, Gao Qian felt a sense of déja vu. ’This expression... it’s so familiar!’

’She must not understand.’

’The desire to make her yield, to make her worship him, was long-standing.’

’But she would only ever feign submission, her heart defiant. No, she wouldn’t even feign it...’

’In their past life, that arrogant fool who didn’t know his place had spouted nonsense about saving her, sword in hand. And hadn’t he been dismembered all the same?’

’But even then, she refused to beg him for that man’s sake. Even when she was humiliated next to the man’s corpse, she refused to truly bow her head to him.’

’Even in the end, when she faced death, she just gritted her teeth and said nothing. She wouldn’t beg him. She wouldn’t bow her head.’

’No one else could know. Beneath that gentle, tender exterior, what a stubborn, unyielding soul blossomed!’

’He truly hated that indomitable spirit that would rather die than yield. Why wouldn’t she yield?’

’He himself could yield, so what right did she have to resist?’

’She valued her chastity, so he had to make her available to any man.’

’She refused to lose her composure, so he would drug her unconscious and watch her lose all reason.’

’She would rather break than bend, so he would take a hammer himself and shatter her pride, inch by inch.’

...

’He just wanted her to submit to him willingly.’

’But she wouldn’t even grant him this one small request.’

’He was the master of the world, the ruler of a nation. How could he be defeated by a delicate Lady?’

Gao Qian’s smile vanished. His eyes were utterly cold and desolate as he stared fixedly at the jade-like, radiant woman before him.

"Liang Wan."

Stared at by those suddenly cold, dark eyes, Liang Wan was lost in a daze for a moment.

She remembered the first time Qing Yue had brought her to see Gao Qian. It had been right here, in Taiji Palace.

Gao Qian pulled her up from the bed. Her clothes were in disarray as they sat facing each other.

He pulled the hairpin from her hair and tossed it aside, a hint of regret in his voice. "If you had submitted to me sooner, you wouldn’t have had to suffer so much..."

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