sbdcsierra Chapter 409 Begging Your Highness for Death
Chapter 409 Begging Your Highness for Death
The Third Prince stood before Cheng Ruoxue, the delicate fragrance of her post-bath scent filling the air.
In the light and shadow of the dragon and phoenix red candles, she was so beautiful, so delicate.
However, she had already become someone else's bride.
She should have been his.
The moment this thought arose, a near-mad plundering intent appeared in the Third Prince's eyes.
As if possessed, he reached out and grasped her soft hand, holding the delicate wine glass in his hand as well, and slowly raised it.
Only a small portion of sake remained in the cup, and a faint trace of lip rouge lingered on the rim.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he suddenly felt an extreme thirst in his throat.
He couldn't help but lift her hand slightly, bringing the wine glass she was holding to his lips.
He looked down at her, but she turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
For the first time, the Third Prince felt a pang of regret for his scheming.
Why did he agree?
How could he agree to his uncle's request for his cousin to marry her?
Wait a little longer, wait a little longer. Even if he can't marry her as his principal wife, he can still take her as a concubine. Tonight, the person who has her on this bed covered with wedding quilts will be him.
Not someone else.
But it's too late.
The Third Prince punished himself by putting the cup of wine into his mouth, but the half-cup of sake made him feel quite uncomfortable due to its spiciness.
He wanted to speak to her, but felt that anything he said would be superfluous.
He dragged her into this mess, so how can he offer words of comfort?
The Third Prince felt a lump in his throat.
Cheng Ruoxue slowly withdrew her hand from his and reminded him in a calm voice, "Your Highness, it is getting late. My husband will be back soon. Your Highness's presence here is already against the rules. I hope Your Highness will show some self-respect."
The Third Prince was always clear-headed. He knew he shouldn't have come, and he knew there was nothing he could do at this moment. But while he understood this in his heart, her mentioning it was like throwing a stone into the calm lake of his heart, like stabbing him hard with a knife, making him feel both itchy and painful, and giving rise to a crazy sense of resentment.
He looked at her turned away, then suddenly reached out and pinched her chin, turning her face towards him, and lowered his head to kiss her forcefully.
Outside the door, Xiao Tianshi, the heir of the Duke of Xiao, walked to the door with a smile. When he saw the maid with a nervous expression, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. The maid instinctively wanted to speak, but was silenced by his cold glare.
Xiao Tianshi stepped across the threshold and walked behind the screen, looking towards the bed.
I happened to witness the scene where the Third Prince forcibly kissed Cheng Ruoxue.
His eyes immediately darkened.
Cheng Ruoxue shoved the Third Prince away, her eyes red as she glared at him: "Third Prince, are you trying to ruin me? Ever since I met Your Highness, I have always treated you with sincerity. I know that Your Highness is very careful in choosing your consorts. Although I admire Your Highness's talent, I have always been careful to abide by the rules and have never overstepped them or deceived Your Highness in the slightest. Now, Ruoxue and Your Highness's fate has run its course. If Your Highness has even a shred of pity for Ruoxue, you should not be playing such a cruel joke on me! Your Highness, Ruoxue is already married to another man. In the future, I only wish to be a good wife and mother, and to grow old with my husband in mutual respect. I beg Your Highness to grant my wish."
The Third Prince suddenly sobered up, realizing what he had done in his drunken stupor, and couldn't help but feel a little remorseful.
If it were any other important matter, he would not have hesitated or struggled. But Cheng Ruoxue's words were like daggers to his heart. It wasn't that he was deeply in love with her and couldn't let go; he was just simply unwilling to accept it, which is why he broke into her bridal chamber.
Under such circumstances, he appears particularly despicable and shameless.
He has always cherished his reputation, yet he has impulsively done such a thing.
It was extremely embarrassing.
But the more this was the case, the more his resentment intensified. He didn't need her, he just wanted her, what was wrong with that? As a prince, he had been planning for the throne since birth and never dared to make a mistake. He worked so hard, couldn't he have a woman he liked?
What did he do wrong?
The Third Prince's brow furrowed involuntarily, and as he stared intently at Cheng Ruoxue, he uttered a sentence he would never have said before: "What if I insist on having you?"
Cheng Ruoxue decisively pulled a gold hairpin from her hair and handed it to him: "I beg Your Highness to grant me death."
The Third Prince angrily grabbed her hand holding the gold hairpin and squeezed it tightly. After a moment, reason finally prevailed. He forcefully pulled the gold hairpin from her hand, turned around, and strode outside.
As he turned around, Xiao Tianshi, who was hiding behind the screen, quietly slipped behind the antique shelf, avoiding the Third Prince's gaze.
Cheng Ruoxue lowered her head, listening to the two footsteps, one heavy and one light, and curled up the corners of her lips.
Her fingertips lightly glide across the fabric of her nightgown above her knees, touching it gently, again and again.
When he had tapped the tenth time, Xiao Tianshi pretended to have returned from outside, walking in with slightly unsteady steps.
As he approached, Cheng Ruoxue instinctively trembled slightly, looked up in alarm, and upon seeing Xiao Tianshi, was first taken aback, then her eyes filled with joy, and she cautiously called out, "Husband?"
Xiao Tianshi, who had been feigning drunkenness, suddenly sobered up a bit and looked at her probingly: "Who does Madam think it is?"
Cheng Ruoxue's eyes immediately reddened: "My husband, please forgive me. Just now... just now the Third Prince came by. I don't want to deceive you, but I did have some dealings with him. However, I never overstepped any boundaries. I really don't know why he made things difficult for me. Please protect me, my husband. I have no way to repay you. I only wish that we can be of one mind and trust each other in the future."
Xiao Tianshi's originally suspicious and cold heart softened instantly.
He was a few years older than Cheng Ruoxue and her family, and had been engaged and married long ago. Therefore, although he had seen Cheng Ruoxue a few times at banquets, he didn't pay much attention to her. He was somewhat surprised when he learned that his father wanted Cheng Ruoxue to become his second wife. He clearly remembered that the Third Prince was fond of Cheng Ruoxue. He had known since childhood that the Xiao family was bound to the Third Prince. Only if the Third Prince prospered could the Xiao family continue to flourish. Therefore, like his father, he always put the Third Prince first.
He never imagined that one day he would be involved with the same woman as the Third Prince.
When he saw that scene that was so jarring to his eyes, he felt anger, disgust, and a faint sense of reluctant compromise. If, if the Third Prince had spoken up, it was just a woman, and he would have given in. Even if he had asked his father, he probably would have the same idea.
Therefore, he deliberately avoided the Third Prince.
But now, listening to Cheng Ruoxue's voice and seeing her delicate and beautiful appearance, he had long heard that Cheng Ruoxue had a face that was so lovely and irresistible. He had always felt that it was unreal when he saw her from afar. But now that the beauty was in front of him, he felt a ripple of emotion for no reason. He instantly understood that what was so captivating was not her appearance, but her pleasing nature. How could he not be moved?
Xiao Tianshi couldn't help but grasp Cheng Ruoxue's hand and assure her, "Don't worry, Madam, I will protect you from now on."
Cheng Ruoxue nodded, her face slightly flushed.
Xiao Tianshi's heart stirred slightly, and he raised his hand to pull Cheng Ruoxue into his arms. Suddenly, a piercing shout came from outside.
"The fire's breaking out! The fire's breaking out!"