My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 67: Is There Any Affection?

　　The next moment, Yun Ling tried to pull her hand away, “I've made it clear to Your Highness, I'm not going to the Palace. Let go.”

　　Xie Jue, however, grasped her wrist and lifted her up in his arms, walking forward. “If not the Palace, then to your boudoir!”

　　The two maidservants, Lǜshuǐ and Lǜyī, were restrained by the Jinyiwei, and the door was shut tight.

　　Yun Ling was thrown onto the bed, her hair slightly disheveled. She struggled to get up, but the next moment, he grabbed her wrist and pushed her down.

　　“Let me go,” Yun Ling struggled to pull her hand back, but she was unable to move.

　　Xie Jue's eyes were filled with anger, his fury bordering on madness.

　　“Did you dare agree to your grandfather's proposal for marriage?”

　　Yun Ling didn't understand why he had come to her at this late hour and suddenly said such a thing. But no matter what, he couldn't enter her boudoir and treat her this way.

　　“What are you talking about? Your Highness clearly isn't forcing me anymore. What are you doing now?”

　　“Force you?” Xie Jue sneered, “I don't even dare appear by your side now.”

　　He reached out and pinched her face, “And you, you actually agreed to marry into the Wang family?”

　　His anger was so intense that the savagery in his eyes was completely exposed, as if he were on the verge of losing control.

　　Yun Ling stared blankly at his dark phoenix eyes, then closed her eyes helplessly after a moment.

　　“No.”

　　She pulled his hand down and softly said, “I'm not going to marry into the Wang family.”

　　She didn't even know about this matter; it was probably the intention of her grandparents and hadn't been conveyed to her yet.

　　She was already overwhelmed by his affairs and had no energy to think about anything else.

　　Let alone marriage to another, something she had never considered.

　　She slowly opened her eyes, “Xie Jue, you claim to love me, but all you've done is force me.”

　　Her beautiful apricot eyes were glistening with tears, as if they were about to spill over, conveying a helpless and pitiful emotion, as if she were about to break.

　　Xie Jue trembled.

　　His heart ached, a sharp, piercing pain.

　　He couldn't bear to see her like this.

　　When she softened, he was completely powerless against her.

　　His thumb gently caressed her soft cheek, with a soothing touch.

　　After a moment, Xie Jue hugged her slender shoulders, his voice softening. “It's my fault.”

　　“You're so cold to me, and then I heard the news that your grandfather agreed to dealings with the Wang family, and I went mad, almost losing my mind.”

　　Yun Ling's eyelashes trembled, and her heart felt as if it had been heavily struck.

　　The feeling was strange, a suffocating, breathless sensation she had never experienced before.

　　Outside, the night was inky black, thick and almost impenetrable. Inside the room, there was a profound silence.

　　Yun Ling was held in his arms, and Xie Jue's wildly turbulent emotions finally calmed down.

　　He said again, “I wasn't calm, I scared you.”

　　Yun Ling didn't speak, simply letting him hold her.

　　After a long while, he finally raised his head.

　　“I came tonight to tell you something else. There's been trouble at the Dongpan military camp, a serious matter, and I must go there myself. It will take at least a month, maybe two.”

　　So there was trouble at the Dongpan military camp. That explained why he was at General Shen's residence that day. But what kind of major trouble required his personal intervention?

　　Trouble at a military camp wasn't a small matter; it concerned the safety of the Capital. Was there no one else who could handle it, that he had to go himself?

　　Her face involuntarily paled.

　　Xie Jue could see her worry; her feelings for him were always genuine, something he knew better than anyone.

　　But in the silent silence, Yun Ling finally only said, “I understand. Your Highness, please be careful.”

　　Nothing more.

　　The barely suppressed anger threatened to surge again. Xie Jue closed his eyes before he could let it out.

　　He released her, walked to the door, and opened it. The slightly cool night air rushed in, lifting a corner of his dark robe and causing the lamplight to flicker.

　　Xie Jue stood in the dim light, his expression ambiguous. “I promise you, I will never force you again.”

　　His eyes were darker than the deep night outside.

　　“In my life, I'm used to being strong and in control. Nothing is unattainable, yet I keep stumbling over you. I thought I was heartless, that I would never be touched by love, but meeting you, I learned…”

　　He spoke slowly, word by word,

　　“...what it means to be in unbearable pain.”

　　He was already gone; even the wind had stilled.

　　The door closed again, as if he had never been there.

　　The room returned to its quietude. In this oppressive silence, Yun Ling slowly lowered her eyes.

　　——

　　The next morning, when she went to greet her grandmother, she unexpectedly found her brother there. Her sister in-law, due to her pregnancy, was unable to move around easily, so her grandmother had already excused her from daily greetings.

　　Old Madam Xiao had a table set for them. Looking at Xiao Qibai's thinner face, she said, “You've been so busy these days, you've lost quite a bit of weight. Why do you have some free time today?”

　　Xiao Qibai replied, “Today is a day off. His Highness left the Capital early this morning, and I'll have some free time as well.”

　　Old Madam Xiao nodded.

　　Yun Ling, taking the handkerchief from a maid, paused. He had left for the military camp so quickly.

　　Pausing for a moment, she picked up her spoon and took a sip of soup.

　　“It's a good thing you're here today,” Old Madam Xiao said with a smile, “Help your sister take a look.”

　　Yun Ling lowered her eyes, knowing that her grandmother was going to talk about the Wang family.

　　“Your grandfather came back last night and told me that the Wáng ¹Yùshǐ stopped him yesterday, saying that his eldest grandson, who has just been transferred back to the capital, is not yet married and has taken a liking to our Ah Ling.”

　　“Your grandfather has also checked him out. This Wang Xingyun has neither wife nor concubine, nor any other woman, and his character and learning are both quite acceptable,” Old Madam Xiao smiled at Yun Ling. “Your grandfather asked me to ask your opinion.”

　　“Your grandfather and I both think it's a good match. Would you like to meet him?”

　　“So it's about this.”

　　Yun Ling put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and said, “Thank you, Grandfather and Grandmother, for your concern, but I don't have any thoughts of marriage at the moment. I hope Grandmother will decline for me.”

　　Not only did she not have any thoughts of marriage right now, but even if she did, he would never allow it.

　　The outcome would only be the same as Zhang Ren's.

　　Old Madam Xiao didn't expect Yun Ling to refuse so decisively. She said curiously, “What's wrong? Don't you think Wang Xingyun is a good person?”

　　Yun Ling shook her head. “Whether he's a good person or not is irrelevant to me. I simply don't have the intention to marry.”

　　Old Madam Xiao was about to say something else when Xiao Qibai said, “Wang Xingyun isn't a good match. Grandmother and Grandfather should refuse.”

　　Old Madam Xiao said, “Oh? Why is that?”

　　“Wang Xingyun is twenty-two this year. Although he doesn't have a wife or concubine, Wang Yushi has been worrying about his marriage at such an old age, yet it's been delayed until now,” Xiao Qi said calmly. “It's all because he has a sweetheart in his heart who he can't get, and his sweetheart has already married someone else. He only agreed to marry because he couldn't delay any longer. A person like that, Ah Ling would only suffer if she married him.”

　　“Not just Ah Ling, I won't agree either.”

　　“What a despicable person, coveting someone already married!” Old Madam Xiao was instantly furious. “That old man's surnamed Wang, he dared to hide such an important thing from me! I'll have your grandfather spit on him! How dare he do such a terrible thing!”

　　Old Madam Xiao looked truly furious, as if she wanted to go and scold that Wang Yushi right now.

　　Not just Old Madam Xiao, even Yun Ling hadn't expected such a hidden reason.

　　In a way, Wang Xingyun could be considered a devoted man.

　　But this was good; it saved her the trouble of refusing.

　　Leaving her grandmother's place, Yun Ling asked Xiao Qibai, “Brother, how did you know about Wang Xingyun's secret?”

　　He wasn't that kind of gossipy person.

　　Xiao Qibai stopped, looking at Yun Ling. I just happened to know.”

　　“Ah Ling,” he suddenly said, “Brother won't interfere with your relationship with His Highness. I know you're not someone without your own ideas. You just need to think carefully about your heart, whether you have feelings for His Highness. Whatever decision you make is up to you.”

　　Whether she has feelings for His Highness.

　　Yun Ling was stunned. After resisting for so long, she still hadn't figured it out.

　　What were her feelings for him? There was the unwilling fear of being forced by him, the moving feeling of being protected by him, and the worry she felt when he was injured.

　　Originally, she had allowed herself to compromise, to get used to it.

　　But she was unwilling to accept it.

　　Unwilling to accept that he would always treat her like this, as if she were only a plaything in his hands, forever unable to escape his grasp. Unwilling to accept that the freedom she so desired was gone.

　　Yun Ling sat by the window, quietly looking at the pomegranate tree in the courtyard that hadn't yet bloomed.

　　After sitting for a while, she got up to check the accounts.

　　She managed the large Xiao manor and her mother's shops, busy every day.

　　She didn't have much free time.

　　Just as she was looking at the ledger, Lǜshuǐ quickly walked in. “Miss, a servant just reported that the Head of the Lin family is here.”

　　Yun Ling put down the ledger and stood up. “Let's go, greet him inside.”

　　Just as she walked out of the courtyard, she suddenly saw her father, Xiao Jujian, walking quickly towards her. When he saw Yun Ling, his expression was unusually serious. “Did you summon someone from the Lin family?”

　　Yun Ling nodded. “Yes, the Head of the Lin family said he has some of Mother's belongings and properties to hand over to my brother and me.”

　　“You should have less contact with such lowly merchants. What is your status?” Xiao Jujian disapproved. “Moreover, don't you know what kind of family the Lin family is?”

　　Yun Ling frowned. “What kind of family? Although merchants have a low social status, making money with their own hands isn't lowly.”

　　Xiao Jujian said, “Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. The lowest are the merchants!”

　　“They are not only merchants, but also my mother's maternal relatives,” Yun Ling said. “Father, how can you disregard the ties of kinship?”

　　Even her grandmother had told her to treat the Lin family well. If she could help protect them, it would be a way to honor her mother.

　　But Father seemed to look down on the Lin family, and this disdain wasn't just because of the past incident where someone from the Lin family hunted her mother. It was a condescending attitude.  

　　A disdain for merchants.

　　But if that's the case, why did Father agree to marry her mother? Her mother was also a merchant's daughter, wasn't she?

　　What secrets is her father hiding?

　　Yun Ling's words caused Xiao Jujian to falter slightly, his attitude softening. “Father is only doing this for your own good. You are the legitimate daughter of the Xiao family, of such a noble status. You can't always associate with merchants.”

　　He took a step closer. “Father knows. The Crown Prince has his eyes on you. That's a great honor! Our Xiao family will produce an Empress!”

　　“You've really brought honor to your father. In the future, you should help your brother more. Your father has also lectured Mingrong. Don't take it to heart. She's still your sister, and she'll need your help in the future.”

　　God knows how excited he was when Mingrong went back and told him about this. That's the Crown Prince!

　　The current heir apparent, the future Emperor! The Crown Prince actually liked Xiao Yun Ling, and their Xiao family was going to produce an Empress! If his daughter became the Empress, he would be the father-in-law to the Emperor—what an honor!

　　Therefore, even though Xiao Jujian didn't particularly like this daughter, he still treated her well.

　　Xiao Jujian's tone was as if she were about to enter the East Palace the very next moment.

　　He was eager for her to enter the East Palace immediately.

　　Since returning to the Xiao family, she had felt the warmth and care from her grandparents and brother, but she had never received any love from this father. Even on the day she returned, he only pretended to shed a few tears. He didn't show much concern afterward. If he hadn't known about the Crown Prince's feelings for her, whether she returned or not might have been completely unimportant to him.

　　And she didn't have much feeling for this father either.

　　Yun Ling remained silent for a moment. Arguing with him was pointless. She simply bowed slightly. “Daughter has something to attend to, I'll take my leave.”

　　Only after she left did Xiao Jujian angrily flick his sleeves.

　　The Head of the Lin family had already been ushered in and was waiting in the Qingxi Hall.

　　Seeing Yun Ling come out, he quickly bowed in greeting.

　　In terms of status, Yun Ling was the granddaughter of the old Head of the family, uniquely honored in the Lin family.

　　The current Head of the Lin family was a relative from a branch family, named Lin Jiandong.

　　Yun Ling also quickly returned the greeting. “Master Lin, please sit.”

　　Lin Jiandong sat down and pointed to the boxes that had been packed. “These are the things your grandfather left for your mother. They've been kept in the ancestral hall and were not taken by Lin Yihai.”

　　“There's nothing particularly rare inside. Mostly silver and deeds. The only remaining personal belongings of your mother are some jewelry she used.”

　　Yun Ling said, “Thank you, Master Lin, for making this trip. Yun Ling invited you here to ask something.”

　　Lin Jiandong replied, “I will tell you everything I know.”

　　Yun Ling then went straight to the point. “Do you know about the Lin family's precognitive dreams?”

　　Lin Jiandong's body stiffened. He pondered for a long time before whispering, “This is a secret of our Lin family, but Miss is also a member of our Lin family, so I can tell you.”

　　“Thank you,” Yun Ling said. “I want to ask about the content of these dreams, their signs, and their reasons.”

　　For example, since it was her own dream, why did she dream of Xie Jue?

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Glossary:

¹Yùshǐ is a title. It translates to “Censor” in English. It was a high-ranking official in ancient China responsible for overseeing government officials and reporting any wrongdoing.

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