Chapter 37: Burning the Marriage Certificate

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Jiang You’an coldly spat out two words: “That’s right.”

Lu Xuanheng gazed at her, his eyes as dark and unfathomable as a frigid abyss. At last, the corners of his lips curled into a cruel, icy smile. “What a pity. For the rest of your life, you can only be with me.”

He picked up the marriage contract from the table and held it to the lamp flame.

Jiang You’an’s eyes widened. She lunged forward to snatch it. “Give me the marriage contract!”

Lu Xuanheng clamped a hand around her shoulder, holding her back and preventing her from coming any closer as she watched helplessly while the marriage contract burned to ashes.

Furious, Jiang You’an shouted, “Lu Xuanheng!”

He locked her tightly against him, his low voice carrying a ruthless edge. “Don’t think that getting engaged means you can be with him. I will never let you marry him.”

Jiang You’an trembled with rage. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Burning it is useless. The Su family has another copy. Our betrothal is already settled—you can’t change that!”

“Then we’ll see.”

Lu Xuanheng gripped her chin and kissed her. He seized her tender, soft lips and bit them mercilessly. It was not a kiss so much as an attempt to tear her apart and devour her whole.

Jiang You’an could not push him away and could only let out muffled whimpers.

She sank her teeth viciously into Lu Xuanheng’s lip. The taste of blood soon spread between them, yet he did not retreat in the slightest. Instead, he forcefully invaded her mouth, taking from her without end.

Tonight, no matter how she pleaded or tried to placate him, he would not let her go. And afterward, it would be the same.

The night grew deep. Cold white moonlight entered through the window, and torn, shredded clothing lay scattered across the floor.

The sounds from the bed had ceased, but the lingering sensual atmosphere refused to disperse.

Jiang You’an had fainted from exhaustion. Her porcelain-pale face glistened, though it was impossible to tell whether the moisture was sweat or tears.

Lu Xuanheng lay beside her, staring at her without moving an inch. He looked like the fiercest wolf watching its beloved prey, as though his gaze alone could devour her completely.

He pulled the quilt over Jiang You’an, concealing the mottled red marks across her chest and neck. Then he tightened both arms around her and held her, quilt and all, firmly against his chest.

“You’an, You’an…”

He murmured her name again and again. Clenching his teeth, he said viciously, “You are mine.”

The night passed, and Lu Xuanheng did not sleep at all. Early the next morning, when he left Jiang You’an’s room, he saw Qiulan standing beneath the corridor, furtively peering inside.

He paid her no attention and walked straight on, heading to Madam Zhao’s room.

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“Things have already been decided. Losing your temper won’t change anything.”

Madam Zhao already knew that he had gone to Jiang You’an’s room the previous night. She felt only exasperation at his stubbornness; he had actually lost his senses over a woman.

Lu Xuanheng’s expression was icy. “Mother, go to the Su family and break off the engagement.”

“Now that the engagement has been made, do you think it can simply be broken off? That is the Marquis of Yong’an’s residence, a family of three generations of nobility. They are not people we can casually offend.”

Lu Xuanheng rose to his feet. “If you won’t go, I will.” He turned to leave.

Madam Zhao slammed her palm against the table. “Stop right there! Your affair with her has already displeased the princely residence. Now you intend to go to the Su family yourself and break off her engagement? Are you afraid the princess doesn’t know that you have feelings for her? If you insist on trampling the princely residence’s dignity, you might as well drag the entire Lu household to its death right now!”

Lu Xuanheng stopped, his face turning livid.

Madam Zhao walked over and spoke earnestly. “Xuanheng, stop making trouble. There is nothing wrong with this arrangement. The betrothal gifts sent by the Su family are extremely generous, which shows how deeply the Fourth Young Master of the Su family cherishes Jiang You’an. He will not willingly give her up, either.”

At this, Lu Xuanheng let out a cold laugh. “Jiang You’an is not yet his woman. What gives him the right to decide whether to give her up? As long as I am alive, I will never allow them to marry.”

Madam Zhao stared at him in stunned disbelief. Lu Xuanheng paid no heed to anything else and strode away beneath her complicated gaze.

When he returned to the Moon-Embracing Residence, he summoned Xiuzhu and gave him an order. “Replace the contraceptive decoction Jiang You’an usually drinks. Make sure no one notices.”

…

When Jiang You’an awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. She called for Qiulan, but the moment she spoke, her throat was terribly hoarse.

She began coughing, and Qiulan hurried in with a cup of clear tea.

After drinking it, Jiang You’an rested for a while. Her body was still weak, and she leaned against the headboard in a daze.

Qiulan said sympathetically, “Miss, you’re already engaged, yet the Eldest Young Master still…”

She did not finish, and Jiang You’an gave a silent little laugh. “He was angry. Naturally, he needed to vent it.”

“Miss, the Eldest Young Master looked so frightening yesterday. Will your marriage to the Fourth Young Master of the Su family still happen?”

“The marquis’s residence is not a family one can casually offend. What is done cannot be undone. It will not be easy for him to destroy this marriage.”

Jiang You’an gripped the quilt tightly in both hands. “Three months. It will pass quickly. Once another three months are over, Lu Xuanheng won’t be able to stop it, no matter how unwilling he is to let go.”

Then she asked, “Qiulan, is the medicine ready?”

Qiulan replied that it was and went to the small kitchen to bring in the contraceptive decoction.

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Jiang You’an lifted the bowl and drank it all in one go, her brows knitting slightly. “This medicine tastes somewhat different.”

“It came from the same dispensary as before, and I personally prepared it.”

Jiang You’an did not think much of it. She set down the bowl and said, “I can think of a way to deal with the bridal night’s bloodstain, but I absolutely cannot become pregnant right now.”

…

For the next several days, Lu Xuanheng went to the military camp west of the city. It was not until the end of the month, when Lu Yunzhu married and he needed to escort his sister to her new home, that he returned.

At first, because Lu Yunzhu and Shen Heping had disgraced themselves at the banquet, the Old Madam Lu had been angry with her for quite some time. But when it came time for her marriage, she still could not bear to see her granddaughter suffer any grievance. She added a generous dowry and arranged a grand wedding.

Dressed in her bridal robes, Lu Yunzhu went with her husband to the main hall to bid farewell to the elders.

Everyone stood to one side to watch the ceremony. As Jiang You’an looked at the newlyweds, she thought of how she would soon be married as well, and her heart filled with conflicting emotions.

At some point, Lu Xuanheng came to stand beside her. His broad palm closed around her wrist. “When you marry, I’ll also prepare a generous gift for you and personally escort you to your husband’s home. How does that sound?”

His voice was low and cold, carrying a strange hint of amusement. Jiang You’an felt a chill creep over her. She frowned at Lu Xuanheng and tried to pull her wrist free.

She could not break free. Looking down, she saw that Lu Xuanheng had merely grasped the red agate bracelet around her wrist—the very one he had given her.

She twisted her wrist, trying to remove it, but perhaps she had gained weight recently. No matter how hard she tried, the bracelet would not come off. It clung to her wrist like a shackle, locking her in place.

Lu Xuanheng released her hand and said indifferently, “Watch the ceremony properly.”

Jiang You’an glared at him but made no further attempt.

With Lu Yunzhu’s departure, the household had lost one of its young women, and Old Madam Lu was rather reluctant to see her go. During the family meal, she sighed, “Usually that girl’s endless noise gives me a headache, but now that she has suddenly left, I find myself unaccustomed to it. In another three months, You’an will be married as well. Then only Yunyao will remain, and the house will be even quieter.”

Hearing this, Jiang You’an said, “I have received endless care from the Lu household, and before long I, too, will be married. By then, I will no longer be able to repay the elders for their affection and kindness. Why don’t I spend these final months before my wedding serving in Old Madam’s chambers, so that I may show my filial devotion?”

The moment Madam Zhao heard this, she understood that Jiang You’an was deliberately trying to avoid Lu Xuanheng. If she moved into the Old Madam’s chambers, it would be inconvenient for him to pester her even if he wanted to.

“Mother, it is rare for the child to be so filial. You should agree to it.”

Old Madam Lu naturally understood the intention behind the request as well, and she nodded.

Lu Xuanheng glanced at Jiang You’an, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

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