Prince Hei An's gaze bore into Lian Yan, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt. He was not a tall man, his stature no more imposing than her own. Yet, he carried himself with an air of entitlement, his presence overwhelming. His eyes raked over her, taking in every inch of her form. His face contorted into a mask of disgust, his lips curling in revulsion as if she were some foul creature that had dared to cross his path.
"How can an ugly commoner like yourself work here?" he sneered, his voice a venomous hiss. "You must be just a servant." He dusted himself off, his movements displaying disdain, as if her mere presence had sullied his regal person. His words, cruel and arrogant, hung heavy in the air, reminding everyone of the power he held.
Lian Yan, her heart pounding in her chest, felt a wave of anger wash over her. Her attitude, a fiery defiance that had always been a part of her, threatened to boil over. She had hated Prince Hei An from the moment she had first met him, his actions leaving a dark stain on her memory. He was a man who knew no bounds, his entitlement contrasting sharply with the respect and honor that should have been part of his royal bloodline.
He was aware of her marriage to the crown prince, his nephew, yet he had still tried to take advantage of her. He had stooped so low as to have one of his servants drug her, his actions betraying the trust and respect that should have been part of their familial ties. Yet, since he was part of the royal family, no one bothered to punish him. Her father, the crown prince, and the emperor; no one thought to punish him for trying to ruin her. It made her blood boil with rage to remember that day.
Prince Hei An and the current emperor were cousins, their bloodline showing their royal heritage. Unlike the emperor, Prince Hei An had never fought for the emperor's seal. He had never sought to prove his worth or earn his place in the royal hierarchy. Instead, he had been content to bask in the shadow of the emperor's power, his support showing his loyalty, yet his actions contrasting sharply with the honor and respect expected of his royal bloodline.
"I apologize," Lian Yan said, her voice a soft murmur of contrition that hid the anger threatening to consume her. "I did not mean to walk right in front of you. This commoner will get out of your way and sight." Her words, showing her desperation to get out of this situation, contrasted with the fiery defiance burning within her.
Yet, Prince Hei An was not satisfied. His eyes, filled with indignation and entitlement, bore into her. He reached out, his fingers wrapping cruelly around her wrist. His touch sent a ripple of revulsion through her. "Hmm..." he murmured, a low rumble of contemplation. "You can repay this royal with your body. If you do well, then I will see that you are never punished for your insolence."
His words, cruel and entitled, hung heavy in the air. Lian Yan, her anger threatening to consume her, felt a wave of desperation wash over her. She was trapped, her path to escape blocked by the prince's imposing form. She had forgotten that Jian Wei was still there behind her.
Jian Wei, ever perceptive, sensed her anger. He stepped forward, his presence a calm authority that cut through the tension in the air. He gently extricated Lian Yan's wrist from the prince's grasp, his touch a soothing balm that eased the sting of the prince's cruel words. He knew that Lian Yan was on the verge of slapping the prince, her anger a fiery defiance that threatened to reveal her true identity.
"I apologize for this," Jian Wei said, his voice a calm murmur of contrition that belied the tension in the air. "This is her first day, and she is not accustomed to our ways. I can offer you no charge for the next seven days here. Feel free to have as many women, food, and drinks as you desire." His words were meant to placate the prince and get them out of this situation, contrasting with the fiery defiance burning within Lian Yan.
He gently pushed Lian Yan behind him, his presence a protective shield that shielded her from the prince's cruel gaze. He had saved the prince from her deserved slap across the face, his actions showing his quick thinking and desperation to protect her.
In the dimly lit chamber, Prince Hei A let out a hearty chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You present a tempting proposition, Foot Stool," he declared, his tone laced with mirth. As if Jian Wei did not bother and went ahead with that name. With a subtle nod from Jian Wei, a procession of courtesans gracefully approached, their presence intended to captivate the prince's wandering attention. "Mark my words, I shall grace this place with my presence for the coming week!" the prince proclaimed, his voice echoing through the hall before he was gently led away by two exceptionally beautiful courtesans.
As the prince's laughter faded into the distance, Jian Wei exhaled deeply, a wave of relief washing over him. Yet, before he could fully savor the moment, he felt a tentative tug at the back of his hanfu. Lian Yan's voice quivered as she urged, "Let's make haste and retire to our chambers soon." Her disguise had served its purpose, shielding her identity from the prince's gaze, but the ruse had stirred within her a torrent of unpleasant memories.
Sensing her distress, Jian Wei tenderly draped an arm around her shoulders, guiding her swiftly towards the sanctuary of their prepared quarters. The room, adorned with a pair of doors that invited the night's gentle breeze and the soft glow of moonlight, offered a sense of tranquility. Within, a grand table stood laden with an array of sumptuous dishes, a feast meticulously arranged for their enjoyment.
Despite the array of dishes spread before her and the gentle night breeze wafting through the open double doors, Lian Yan's expression remained devoid of joy. It seemed as though happiness had become an elusive emotion for her, and the thought of eating was the last thing on her mind. She had managed a meal that morning, but as night fell, her appetite had vanished.
Jian Wei observed her closely, guiding her to a seat and patiently waiting for her to break the silence. Just as he was about to speak, Lian Yan began, her voice barely above a whisper. "That prince... he once attempted to ruin me. You are aware that I was betrothed to the crown prince. Despite our arrangement, no one, not the emperor, the crown prince, the empress, nor my father, saw fit to punish him for his transgression. No one was willing to hold a royal accountable for trying to sleep with the crown prince's intended wife. Life of hell if I had not manage to avoid it and hear all the talk."
Lian Yan had never spoken of this since she learned that Prince Hei An faced no consequences for his actions. Jian Wei remained seated, offering his silent support as she poured out her pain and anger.
"What is the purpose of laws, magistrates, or even royals if they fail to treat those beneath them as humans? Do they not see us as human at all?" Lian Yan's eyes threatened to swell, but she held back her tears, her gaze reflecting a storm of emotions.
Lian Yan had not touched a morsel of food; instead, she reached for the decanter, pouring herself a generous measure of the most potent wine available. She tilted her head back, allowing the fiery liquid to traverse the length of her throat, a sharp contrast to the cool night air. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she set the cup down with a slight clink against the table.
Her gaze drifted towards the heavens, where the moon hung like a luminous orb, casting its silvery glow across the room and bathing everything in an ethereal light. The night seemed to hold its breath, the world outside quiet and still.
Jian Wei watched her, his expression a blend of concern and curiosity. "Do you find yourself wishing for his demise?" he inquired softly, his voice barely disturbing the tranquility of the night.