At these words, Zhiyan Li’s expression changed. “Who said that? Where did you hear it?”
This matter was known only to Gui Qinshao, Gui Xingfu, Tu Lingsi, and Zhiyan Li’s two trusted eunuchs. No one else knew of it. How could Tu Lingduo have heard?
How did Tu Lingduo know? Naturally, she had heard it from her father Tu Lingtuo when she returned home.
For others, this was top secret. But in this world, no walls were completely soundproof. Sauron had hinted to Gui Xingfu to quietly spread the word to Tu Lingtuo, attempting to prevent further alliance between the two families. Thus, Tu Lingtuo learned of it.
And the reason Tu Lingtuo told his daughter Tu Lingduo was mainly because he wanted her to probe the truth. If Zhiyan Li truly had been castrated, then the Tu Ling clan’s future path would require serious consideration.
Seeing Zhiyan Li fly into a rage, Tu Lingduo said, “It is merely hearsay.”
“Hahaha…” Zhiyan Li suddenly rose, letting her see his formidable assets, fierce and mighty. He sneered, “Look at me. Do I look like someone who has been castrated?”
Tu Lingduo’s beautiful eyes trembled, her breath catching.
Zhiyan Li’s appearance, fierce as a dragon, surpassed most men in this world. It even made one’s scalp tingle to look at him. Where was there any sign of castration?
“Come here.” Zhiyan Li beckoned.
Tu Lingduo’s legs were somewhat stiff, but she still walked over, stopping two feet before Zhiyan Li.
At this moment, she could clearly see that Zhiyan Li’s bloodshot eyes appeared somewhat demonic, like a beast about to devour a person.
She had fantasised about this moment of intimacy with Zhiyan Li for a long time. But when it truly happened, she could not help feeling afraid.
She could not help but glance towards Tu Liyang, drunk into unconsciousness. Previously, she had felt disgust, hatred, and nausea towards this man.
But after half a year of meticulous care, her feelings towards him had transformed into sympathy, pity, and guilt.
Of course, there were still times she felt disgust. When she had pretended to be paralysed, it had been better. Sitting in her wheelchair with Tu Liyang pushing from behind, others’ gazes had been filled with tolerance and moved sympathy.
But now she stood up. Her legs could already walk. When the two of them stood together, it was truly like beauty and the beast.
When they walked arm in arm, she was a full head taller than Tu Liyang, like taking a child for a walk. The gazes of others were filled with mockery, strangeness, and a certain schadenfreude.
In short, these gazes made her extremely uncomfortable. That pointing and whispering had appeared once more.
Whenever this happened, Tu Lingduo deeply felt the reality and coldness of the world.
People were not without sympathy. But sympathy was often given to the weak. When Tu Lingduo was paralysed and sat in her wheelchair, she received everyone’s sympathy. People looked at her and Zhiyan Li with blessings.
But when she stood up, because of her beauty and nobility, all sympathy turned to jealousy.
Thus, Tu Liyang beside her became the object of ridicule and mockery, becoming Tu Lingduo’s burden.
She heard that Gui Qinshao had officially married Sauron. Tu Lingduo could imagine how triumphant and flamboyant this cousin would be. Though she was not a principal wife but a concubine, her husband had elevated her to the position of a kingdom vassal, City Lord of Linhai City. This offset all deficiencies of status.
Gui Qinshao had already found happiness, chosen the most outstanding man. Then what of her, Tu Lingduo?
Would becoming Zhiyan Li’s lover bring happiness?
“What are you thinking?” Zhiyan Li said coldly.
Tu Lingduo trembled. “Nothing. Only, at this critical moment, I feel somewhat strange.”
“When are you most fertile?” Zhiyan Li asked.
“Approximately three days from now.” Tu Lingduo said.
“That would be the night of my wedding?” Zhiyan Li said.
Zhiyan Li was the young lord of the kingdom. The wedding would be extremely grand, lasting a full three days starting from tomorrow.
Tu Lingduo nodded.
Zhiyan Li said, “You are still a maiden?”
Tu Lingduo’s face flushed red. She nodded.
Zhiyan Li said, “Since you are a maiden, I am so fierce. You definitely could not endure it the first time, and it would not be easy to conceive. Today, I shall first help you become accustomed. In three days, I shall plant my seed.”
Then, Zhiyan Li clapped his hands.
Instantly, three women entered. All were of robust, fiery figures, solid and powerful. One even had black skin.
After receiving the demon blood, Zhiyan Li had become extremely fierce in that regard, like a wild beast. Though his wife was also somewhat plump, she simply could not endure his demands. Each bout of pleasure cost her half her life, finally leaving her gasping for breath and bedridden.
Helplessly, Zhiyan Li could only seek out women of extremely robust physique to vent his desires upon, and he needed two or three at a time. Appearance was secondary. What mattered was sturdiness and a good figure.
Now, he planned to help Tu Lingduo become accustomed. Naturally, he needed these three robust women to warm up first. Otherwise, with Tu Lingduo’s maiden body, how could she possibly endure?
After the three women arrived, they naturally removed all their clothing.
In an instant, the three and Zhiyan Li entangled together.
Zhiyan Li completely transformed into a fierce beast, madly ravaging the three robust women. Tu Lingduo watched with her heart racing.
“What are you still waiting for? Remove your clothes.” Zhiyan Li said angrily.
Tu Lingduo trembled. Her hands trembling, she began to remove her garments.
At this moment, her mind could hardly think at all. The scene before her filled her entire brain.
The thought that Zhiyan Li would soon possess her body like a wild beast made Tu Lingduo’s scalp tingle, her heart beating rapidly.
As she undressed, Zhiyan Li beside her stared hotly at her body.
Though he had played with countless women, and Tu Lingduo was not even the most beautiful, novelty was what he sought. A fresh body was always alluring. Moreover, this was another man’s wife.
Tu Lingduo removed her long dress, then reached behind her back to unfasten the ties of her undergarment.
Just at this moment, a knock sounded from outside.
…
“Brother, are you in there?” Outside, Zhi Ning’s voice rang out.
Instantly, Zhiyan Li inside trembled violently, stopping all movement. “Little Ning, what is it?”
Zhi Ning said, “Why does it sound so strange inside?”
Zhiyan Li said, “Young Master Tu Liyang and I are drinking. We are drunk. We called women to dance. Things got a bit out of hand.”
Zhi Ning said, “Oh. Your wife has matters to discuss with you. She asks you to come quickly.”
Zhiyan Li gestured frantically. The three women hurriedly put on their clothes. Tu Lingduo also quickly dressed herself.
Zhiyan Li pulled up his trousers, then still baring his upper body, sat back behind the table, using the wine table to conceal his rampant arousal.
After all, he still pretended to be castrated before Zhi Ning. Though there was little need for this now, because the so called negotiations between Zhi Ning and Sauron had already failed.
“Very well. Young Master Tu Liyang is drunk. I shall have someone help him back to his room. I will go see your sister in law now.” Zhiyan Li said.
Then, he closed his eyes and began using the Concentration Technique to gradually calm his desire, to make his lower body subside. Then, pretending to be bleary eyed with drink, he walked out.
After opening the door, he immediately saw Zhi Ning’s icy face and gaze filled with suspicion.
Zhiyan Li discovered that in less than a month since his sister returned from Flame Capital, she had already lost a small circle of weight. Perhaps, she truly should not have returned. Only in Flame Capital could she be carefree and in good health.
But Zhiyan Li would absolutely not let Zhi Ning go. Her son was the best hostage. At a critical moment, using him to threaten Sauron was more useful than anything.
“I shall go see your sister in law now.” Zhiyan Li said, then swiftly departed.
Zhi Ning remained where she was, her gaze coldly fixed on Tu Lingduo.
“Alright, we are returning to our room.” Tu Lingduo pretended to help her husband Tu Liyang up, half carrying, half supporting him back to their room.
Passing through the doorway, for some reason she hardly dared to look at Zhi Ning.
Suddenly, Zhi Ning called out, “Tu Lingduo?”
Tu Lingduo immediately stopped. “What instruction does the Princess have?”
Zhi Ning said, “Easily obtained are priceless treasures, hard to find is a man of true feeling! Your husband is very clever, very outstanding. What he lacks is confidence, so he easily goes to extremes. And this confidence, you can give him. As long as you are willing, he can become the kingdom’s most outstanding vassal. What we women fear most is choosing the wrong man with blind eyes. I have already been blind once. Do not you also be blind.”
Tu Lingduo’s face flushed red. Though she and Zhiyan Li had concealed themselves in time, how could they hide from Zhi Ning’s eyes?
As for Zhiyan Li pretending to be castrated and impotent, the first thing Zhi Ning did upon returning home was ask her sister in law Fang Qingzhuo.
Fang Qingzhuo had intended to conceal it, but she was too gentle and kind. Before she could finish a single lie, her face flushed red. Making her deceive others was harder than killing her.
“I have said all I can say. Take care of yourself.” Zhi Ning said, “If you truly do something utterly conscienceless, it will be too late for regret.”
As she finished speaking, Zhi Ning directly departed.
To stop Zhiyan Li and Tu Lingduo’s adultery, she had already delayed two hours. Her baby’s stomach had long been hungry. By now, he was surely crying up a storm.
Sabotaging Zhiyan Li and Tu Lingduo’s affair, Zhi Ning would only do once. If her warning was useless, then she would have done all that was humanly possible. She would not interfere further.
She was going to nurse her child.
By now, she already understood clearly in her heart that both she and her baby had become hostages, hostages for her brother to threaten Sauron with.
However, she would not actively tear off all pretence. The struggle between her brother Zhiyan Li and Sauron, she would also try her best not to involve herself in further.
Because both of these men were bastards!
…
These past few days, Zhiyan Li had not again ravaged his wife Fang Qingzhuo. Her martial arts were high, so her body had gradually recovered. A rosy flush appeared on her beautiful face.
Seeing Zhiyan Li enter reeking of wine, Fang Qingzhuo hurriedly stepped forward to support him, helped her husband sit down, then said, “I shall go fetch the sobering soup.”
“It was you who sent Zhi Ning to find me?” Zhiyan Li said coldly.
Fang Qingzhuo hesitated slightly, then nodded. “Yes.”
Actually, Fang Qingzhuo had not sent Zhi Ning. She had always dared not interfere too much in her husband Zhiyan Li’s affairs.
It was merely that Zhi Ning had once told her about the affair between Tu Lingduo and Zhiyan Li, and asked Fang Qingzhuo to persuade Zhiyan Li to abandon this notion. The couple Tu Lingduo and Tu Liyang had it hard. If Zhiyan Li truly committed adultery with Tu Lingduo, then Tu Liyang would certainly die.
Moreover, Tu Liyang was currently the vassal who supported Zhiyan Li most resolutely. If he truly committed adultery with Tu Lingduo and killed Tu Liyang, it would chill the hearts of all under heaven.
Hearing his wife’s answer, Zhiyan Li said coldly, “What do you mean by this?”
Fang Qingzhuo said, “I feel Tu Liyang’s devotion is pitiful. He and Tu Lingduo as a couple have had it too hard. We cannot destroy this marriage. If something truly tragic were to happen, what would the people of the world think of us?”
“Smack…” Before Fang Qingzhuo could finish speaking, she was directly sent flying by a slap from Zhiyan Li.
Zhiyan Li’s slap was heavy, directly causing Fang Qingzhuo’s mouth to bleed, sending her crashing heavily to the ground.
For some reason, after receiving the demon blood, Zhiyan Li had become especially prone to violent rage. Previously, he had been very gentle towards his wife. And Fang Qingzhuo was also very docile, never contradicting him in the slightest. Now, speaking such heavy words made Zhiyan Li unable to suppress the fire in his heart. For the first time, he had struck his wife.
Fang Qingzhuo crawled up from the ground, tears streaming down uncontrollably. She carefully gathered the shattered porcelain bowl and spoon, saying nothing more.
Her martial arts were actually very high, not inferior to Zhiyan Li’s.
But she had almost never used them. The only time she had acted was the night Sauron rescued Gui Qinshao, when she had exchanged blows with Zhuang Zhixuan to protect her daughter.
“Qingzhuo, I am sorry.” Zhiyan Li said, “But you do not understand. Even if something happens between me and Tu Lingduo, it is not for lust, but for benefit, for Luanyang City.”
Fang Qingzhuo said with a sob, “I do not understand. But I know that Tu Liyang is so devoted and pitiful. What you are doing is equivalent to killing him. How can you do something so contrary to conscience?”
At these words, Zhiyan Li could no longer contain the rage in his heart. He lunged forward, pressed his wife to the ground, tore her clothes to shreds, and once again possessed her like a wild beast, fiercely.
Soon, Fang Qingzhuo’s screams of pain rang out once more.
…
The next day, Zhiyan Li and Tu Lingmo’s wedding officially began!
All nobles and vassals under heaven gathered at the Young Lord’s Residence.
Next, the Young Lord’s Residence and the Tu Ling Duke’s Residence would both hold three days of banquets.
Of course, the first two days of the wedding were basically uneventful, merely eating and drinking.
The main event was on the third day. The Young Lord’s Residence would send several thousand people to the Tu Ling Duke’s Residence to fetch the bride. Adding the Tu Ling Duke’s Residence’s accompanying servants, maids, warriors, and dowry, the entire procession totalled over ten thousand people.
These ten thousand people would circle the entire city before finally entering the Young Lord’s Residence for the wedding ceremony, continuing until nightfall for the wedding night.
Of course, compared to the wedding of a crown prince in ancient China, this was already greatly simplified.
As the bride’s elder sister, Tu Lingduo naturally had to bring her husband back to her parents’ home.
She was still intimately arm in arm with Tu Liyang. At this moment, the Duke’s Residence was filled with guests like clouds. Tu Lingduo clearly felt countless people pointing at her. She could hear others’ mockery from over a dozen metres away.
Everyone was ridiculing her for finding such an ugly, short husband.
From the moment she entered the Tu Ling Duke’s Residence, she felt every step was torture.
Suddenly, Tu Liyang beside her said gently, “A Duo, why don’t I go pay respects to Father in law first, and you go pay respects to Mother in law?”
Hearing these words, Tu Lingduo’s heart softened. Her husband had seen her embarrassment, so he proposed separating first to prevent others from pointing at her.
At this moment, the one who should be most distressed was Tu Liyang himself. Yet he still considerately cared for her feelings, constantly thinking of her.
Tu Lingduo’s heart ached even more. Was she truly going to commit adultery with Zhiyan Li? Was she truly going to put her husband to death?
…
In the study, Duke Tu Lingtuo sat. Tu Lingduo knelt on the ground. Only father and daughter were present.
“Father, I truly do not know what decision to make.” Tu Lingduo wept. “One path, I commit adultery with Zhiyan Li, become pregnant and bear a child, murder Tu Liyang, and completely control Luanyang City. The other path, I live peacefully with Tu Liyang, bearing children for him.”
Duke Tu Lingtuo’s gaze fixed on his daughter for quite a while. “Choose the second path. Live peacefully with Tu Liyang. As long as you do not care about others’ gazes, you will be happy.”
Hearing her father’s words, Tu Lingduo was startled. She had not expected her father’s opinion to be so direct. Moreover, this clearly did not conform to the family’s interests.
After a long while, Tu Lingduo asked, “Father, in the struggle between Zhiyan Li and Sauron, who will ultimately win?”
Tu Lingtuo said, “Originally, Sauron’s chances of winning were greater. But Yan Mo suddenly intervened, forcing Sauron into a desperate situation at sea. Once Sauron’s navy is destroyed, his maritime trade will be cut off, his magic mirror industry seized, his overseas Heaven Shaking Thunder secret base besieged, his overseas fire oil base seized. At that time, Sauron will be like having all four limbs severed, unable to produce anything to fight Zhiyan Li with.”
Tu Lingduo closed her eyes and began to imagine living peacefully with Tu Liyang from now on.
Thinking of his ugly face kissing her, lying atop her doing that sort of thing. Especially if the children born later were to resemble Tu Liyang, what then?
Then, in her mind once more surfaced the mockery and pointing of others when she and Tu Liyang walked together.
She would truly be unable to lift her head for a lifetime, ridiculed by others for a lifetime.
And once she bore a son with Zhiyan Li and murdered Tu Liyang, she, Tu Lingduo, would become the mistress of Luanyang City. How majestic, how powerful! At that time, even the Tu Ling clan would have to look to her for favour.
One must be ruthless to accomplish great things! Though she was a woman, to achieve great things, she must be merciless!
Tu Lingduo suddenly gritted her teeth. “Father, I have made my decision. I choose the first path.”
The first path, committing adultery with Zhiyan Li, becoming pregnant and bearing a child, murdering Tu Liyang, and seizing Luanyang City.
Duke Tu Lingtuo closed his eyes. “Very well. Then next, I shall make arrangements. Two days from now is your fertile period, correct?”
“Yes.” Tu Lingduo said.
Duke Tu Lingtuo said, “Then the woman who appears in Zhiyan Li’s bridal chamber will be you!”
“Yes.” Tu Lingduo said.
Tu Lingtuo said, “Have you already thought of how to kill Tu Liyang?”
“I have.” Tu Lingduo said, “I will probably have Fen Mo kill him, then frame Sauron. Arrangements have already begun.”