Xiao Yuan had indeed changed, Pei Qing thought. He had always been carefree and unruly, but never vulgar.
Now, he leaned close, his hot breath enveloping her as his hand gripped her face, shamelessly caressing her delicate skin.
"For that little bastard and the sickly emperor, you would truly do anything."
She had already made her intentions clear in her letter, but he deliberately used such harsh words to question her.
"Ji'an is my son, not a bastard. His Majesty is the sovereign of this nation and your own cousin. I ask you to watch your words."
"Hah, your son," Xiao Yuan sneered, looking at her slightly displeased face. "You're quite impressive, giving birth to a nearly five-year-old son within a year of entering the palace."
He glanced at her slender waist and asked mockingly, "Why don't you give me a five-year-old son as well? I dislike the crying and fussing of babies; having a five-year-old would save me the trouble."
Pei Qing looked at him, thinking perhaps he hadn't changed but had gone mad.
"As for your sickly husband," his fingers brushed her lips, "I'm quite curious. In his condition, how often does he sleep with you? Or do you take care of him?"
Pei Qing couldn't stand hearing others insult Xiao Jing.
But he kept asking, posing questions that were difficult for her to answer.
"Is he big?"
Pei Qing lowered her eyes and remained silent, prompting Xiao Yuan to say, "If you don't answer, I'll go and cut it off to measure. Without that, is he still an emperor?"
She believed he was capable of such an act, so she reluctantly replied, "Quite big."
"How big? Show me with your hand."
Pei Qing glanced at him again and made a vague gesture with her hand. She hadn't seen one in real life but mimicked what she had seen in illustrations.
Xiao Yuan sneered at her attempt, "Tsk."
Pei Qing didn't understand his reaction, but then he asked an even more difficult question, "Does he last long?"
Pei Qing hesitated. Is longer better or worse? How long is considered long?
Taking a chance, she said, "Quite long."
Predictably, he pressed further, "How long?"
Pei Qing couldn't answer this and tried to deflect, "I don't remember."
Xiao Yuan stared at her for a moment before laughing, "The Empress can lie without batting an eye now. Can you really forget something like that? Do you take me for a fool?"
"Your Highness, this is a private matter between my husband and me. It's understandable if I don't want to talk about it," she said softly, trying to reason with him.
"Oh, private matters between a couple," Xiao Yuan straightened up, looking down at her, "Do you think he would still want to be your husband if he knew you were here to serve another man?"
Pei Qing understood what he meant by "serve." Compared to life and death, her own chastity and reputation seemed insignificant. But she was still the Empress, Xiao Jing's wife in name, and she couldn't do anything to tarnish his dignity.
So she softly pleaded with the man before her, "Can we… wait?"
Xiao Yuan did not respond.
Pei Qing hesitated, gently tugging at the corner of his robe, kneeling and looking up at him, "I can't do it now…"
"Is the Empress negotiating with me?"
Pei Qing shook her head but couldn't say anything more. In her moment of desperation, she had promised too much in her letter, saying she would pay any price if he came.
But upon careful thought, what did she really have to offer?
Merely the gold and trinkets bestowed by her brother-in-law, things that wouldn't interest him in the slightest. But she still had her life. She understood his loathing and hatred; if killing her would appease his anger, he might just be willing to come.
As for serving him… Pei Qing thought he wouldn't have that kind of interest. Such a proud and lofty figure like him would disdain touching a woman who was already married.
Xiao Yuan looked down at the woman at his feet, pitiful yet alluring, truly capable of stirring a man’s desires. No wonder that sickly man had married the elder sister and then wanted the younger one, taking both sisters for himself.
But now, Xiao Jing’s empress was here, trying to please Xiao Yuan.
With this thought, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her up, throwing her onto the bed. Pei Qing’s surprised expression was both lively and breathtaking.
As a man, Xiao Yuan naturally felt a surge of dark desire.
Her neatly arranged hair fell loose, some strands sticking to her face, as if they too were at a loss.
She looked at Xiao Yuan with a hint of fear in her eyes.
And he uttered just one word.
"Undress."
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