My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 64: Then Who Will Help Me?

　　Yun Ling let him hold her, her heart aching with a bitter sadness.

　　Everything was blurry.

　　But it was like a seemingly calm and perfect scar, healed over years, had finally been ripped open, revealing a festering tumor beneath.

　　The festering truth was exposed to the sunlight. Could they simply go back to how things were before?

　　She whispered, “We can't go back.”

　　The four words, ‘We can't go back,’ were like a sharp blade that finally cut through Xie Jue's composure. The madness and violence he had been suppressing exploded. “What do you mean, we can't go back?”

　　“If today hadn't happened, you would have become my Crown Princess. Let's just pretend today never happened!”

　　Xie Jue's eyes were red. “If I just kill Xiao Mingrong, we can go back to how things were, right?”

　　Incredibly, he was now filled with regret, deceiving himself, wishing he hadn't heard what she had said.

　　His brows furrowed, his voice harsh and cruel like a ghost from hell. “Bring me a sword!”

　　Seeing the murderous rage and near-madness on his face, Yun Ling finally panicked. She quickly grabbed his sleeve and shouted, “It's not her fault! There were already many problems between us. Even without Xiao Mingrong, we would have faced this day sooner or later.”

　　“I don't want to continue, it has nothing to do with anyone else! I never wanted to enter the Palace and become your Crown Princess.”

　　She had compromised so many times for him. This time, she wanted to choose for herself.

　　Xie Jue turned, his phoenix eyes bloodshot, his gloomy face filled with stubbornness.

　　“You coaxed me, so you should keep coaxing me.”

　　Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist forcefully and pulled her into the room.

　　Before Yun Ling could react, he pushed her down onto the soft bed.

　　With an irresistible force.

　　“You're kind to everyone, why are you always so cruel to me?”

　　Yun Ling lay on the bed, looking at him directly without struggling, only shaking her head. Endless sadness filled her eyes. “Xie Jue, don't do this.”

　　“We have too many entanglements, but loving someone shouldn't be about force, deception, or false lies.”

　　Her words made Xie Jue pause.

　　His back stiffened.

　　After a moment, he closed his eyes heavily. “I've gone mad.”

　　He slowly stood up, his emotions receding, leaving only harshness and ruthlessness on his face.

　　“I was too kind to you, that's why you dared to defy me again and again without fear of consequences.”

　　His brow was furrowed, but his voice was incredibly calm. “If you refuse me again, your entire Xiao family will pay the price.”

　　Yun Ling's face turned pale.

　　Xie Jue left those words and didn't linger, directly opening the door and leaving.

　　Two highly skilled guards immediately stood guard outside the door, but they didn't lock it.

　　But Yun Ling knew she was still under his control, unable to go anywhere.

　　She slowly closed her eyes, tears continuously rolling down her cheeks.

　　How did their relationship come to this point?

　　However, she had long understood, given his nature, that all of this was predictable.

　　Xie Jue felt he was about to lose control. He quickly walked out of the courtyard. The courtyard was surrounded by imperial guards, and Xiao Qibai was kneeling straight on the ground, having knelt there for an unknown amount of time.

　　Seeing him come out, Xiao Qibai immediately kowtowed. “Your Highness, Ah Ling is a daughter of my Xiao family, my sister. If there are any mistakes, I am willing to take full responsibility.”

　　“Take full responsibility? How will you take full responsibility?” Xie Jue stopped, his face dark as he looked at his loyal and capable minister, and sneered angrily.

　　“If I were to strip you of your position and all your honors, would you not be afraid?”

　　Xiao Qibai kowtowed. “Your servant is willing to accept any consequences.”

　　“Ah Ling has suffered greatly these years. As her brother, I failed to protect her, allowing her to live a life of hardship. I only wish for her to have choices and a happy life without worries in the future.”

　　“Your Highness, if she is unwilling, I only beg you not to force her.”

　　Xie Jue seemed to have heard something amusing, and suddenly laughed repeatedly, his chest heaving. The redness in his eyes had not yet faded. “Force?”

　　“If I had been ruthless enough to execute Xie Jinjia along with her, would you, Xiao Qibai, still dare to speak so righteously and say ‘don't force her’ today?”

　　His deep phoenix eyes were filled with madness. “I thought you should understand best what it feels like to fear losing someone you love, yet you dare to tell me not to force her?!”

　　Xiao Qibai's head hit the ground heavily, speechless. “Your servant is terrified.”

　　“Let alone just you,” Xie Jue said, “Even the entire Xiao family cannot stop me.”

　　Looking down coldly at the minister kneeling on the ground pleading guilty, Xie Jue's brows were furrowed, settling the score.

　　“This is how your Xiao family treats her after finding her? That Xiao Mingrong dares to provoke and humiliate her repeatedly, not taking her seriously, and failing to give her the proper respect and treatment?!”

　　Xiao Qibai lowered his head. “It is my failure in discipline. Mingrong is young and narrow-minded. I will severely punish her and give Ah Ling an explanation.”

　　Even so, the Crown Prince's greatest concern is still Yun Ling.

　　Xie Jue's eyes were deep. “Don't make me do it myself.”

　　“Yes.”

　　After saying this, Xie Jue turned and left.

　　After he left, Xiao Mingrong, who was so frightened she was about to collapse, was helped over by her father.

　　The Grand Tutor and the Matriarch (Old Madam Xiao) were at a relative's house today and not at the manor; otherwise, they would have rushed over with all this commotion. Now the Xiao manor is under strict guard, and no news can get out.

　　Because the Crown Prince dislikes being disturbed while at the manor, Xiao Jujian didn't dare to leave the courtyard easily. He only rushed over after receiving a report from a servant.

　　Xiao Jujian arrived late and didn't know what had happened. Seeing the Crown Prince's expression, his legs nearly gave way. After hearing Xiao Qibai's words, he was shocked and horrified, his face darkening as he rebuked him, “What nonsense were you spouting? For Yun Ling, you dare to defy the Crown Prince? You don't even care about your future? This is a matter of great importance to the honor of our Xiao family!”

　　Xie Jinjia, who had come to find Yun Ling while pregnant, immediately went to Xiao Qibai's side. “Father in-law, what's going on?”

　　Xiao Jujian angrily said, “Ask him what good deed he's done!”

　　Xiao Qibai pulled Xie Jinjia behind him.

　　“Father, at this point, won't you even ask a single question about Ah Ling? She is also your daughter. What exactly did Lady Liu say to Mingrong that made her dare to be so disrespectful to Ah Ling? You don't care about Ah Ling, you don't consider her, but she still has me, her brother.”

　　Xiao Jujian immediately became furious. “You unfilial son, you—”

　　Xiao Qibai turned to look at Xiao Mingrong, whose face had turned pale, his anger evident.

　　“She is your elder sister! For more than ten years, you have lived a life of luxury and ease, without a worry in the world. Have you ever felt any sympathy for the hardships your sister suffered outside?”

　　“Disrespecting your elder sister, stirring up trouble, being narrow-minded and jealous—go to a temple to atone for your sins and reflect. When you understand how to respect your elder sister, understand the suffering of your family, and are no longer so selfish, then you can come back.”

　　Xiao Mingrong's eyes widened, about to retort, and Xiao Jujian was about to object as well.

　　She was the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, a young lady of a prominent family—how could she go to such a harsh place as a temple!

　　Then Xiao Qibai resolutely said,

　　“Father, I can still discipline my sister in this family. If someone properly guides her, Mingrong can be a good child, not the selfish person she is now. If we let her continue like this, once she causes a great disaster, even the entire Xiao family won't be able to protect her!”

　　“If you object, wait until His Highness personally deals with it. With His Highness's anger, the punishment won't be limited to this. Just now, if Ah Ling hadn't stopped him, Mingrong would already be dead!”

　　Xiao Mingrong's face was white, and tears flowed uncontrollably from her frightened eyes.

　　——

　　Yun Ling's courtyard was heavily guarded, with many soldiers preventing anyone from approaching.

　　Yun Ling had cried so much; it felt like she had cried away all the tears she would ever shed.

　　Her eyes were terribly sore and swollen.

　　Her relationship with Xie Jue was a karmic entanglement, and it all started because of her. What should she do?

　　He always treated her that way—forcing her, imprisoning her. And she, having told so many lies, even she herself was starting to feel confused.

　　But from Meiyang County onwards, she had compromised again and again to reach this point.

　　She really didn't want to enter the Palace, nor did she want to be the Crown Princess.

　　Lǜyī knocked on the door from outside, then pushed it open and came in with a basin of warm water. She soaked a cloth, wrung it out, and respectfully offered it to Yun Ling. “Miss, warm your eyes. Otherwise, they'll be swollen tomorrow.”

　　Yun Ling nodded, taking the cloth and placing it on her eyelids.

　　The warm steam eased the aching in her eyelids.

　　Lǜyī hesitated before speaking again. “His Highness has asked this servant to attend to the Miss's meal.”

　　“His Highness said he wants to watch you finish it all. Otherwise, this servant…”

　　...would be punished.

　　Yun Ling's body stiffened for a moment, then she fell silent before saying, “Bring it over. I never intended to go on a hunger strike.”

　　From the moment he was determined to make her the Crown Princess, she had been swept along step by step from Meiyang County to now. She had hesitated, doubted, and felt moved along the way. She had considered having a good talk with him. But no matter how she thought about it, she knew the final outcome would be the same.

　　He would not let her go.

　　So in the end, she compromised. She couldn't bring herself to be cruel. She had grown accustomed to his embrace, accustomed to his love. He gave her promises that almost no other man in this world could make; he had compromised for her again and again. What was she struggling for?

　　What was wrong with just muddling through? Under his favor, she could still live a happy life.

　　But in her life, there were far too many things she couldn't help, far too many things she couldn't choose, far too many things she had lost. There was always something incomplete, something unfulfilled.

　　Xiao Mingrong's incident was like suddenly opening a box she had placed in a dark corner, hidden from the light, finally giving her an outlet for her emotions.

　　It also gave her the idea to struggle again.

　　……

　　The Imperial Guards had sealed off the entire Xiao residence; not even a fly could get out.

　　A chilling atmosphere of tension and oppression hung over the Xiao household.

　　In his room, Xie Jue received a report from the Yunze Provincial Governor. It detailed his recent investigation into the former Provincial Governor's movements, finally uncovering a trace of evidence.

　　If Qin Yi could be so easily manipulated into embezzling 200,000 taels of disaster relief funds, then that large sum of money must have been used for something significant. Xie Jue simply didn't have time for a thorough investigation before he had to rush back to the Capital.

　　After the new Yunze Provincial Governor took office, he spent day and night reviewing Qin Yi's correspondence and social circles. He meticulously investigated the life and contacts of the strategist who had incited Qin Yi, initially finding nothing. The strategist insisted he had only wanted to gain merit in Qin Yi's eyes.

　　The strategist had also concealed his identity very well, and his social interactions showed no anomalies.

　　His only hobby was frequenting brothels.

　　It was in these brothels that the investigation uncovered a flaw.

　　The Yunze Provincial Governor sent this report in the dead of night, along with another letter. It was a plea for mercy written by Qin Yi.

　　Xie Jue opened the letter. Qin Yi's writing described Lady Lin's ability to predict dreams—a supernatural gift he regarded as ominous, warning the Crown Prince to be cautious of her demonic nature. He hoped this information would spare him.

　　“A demon…” Xie Jue coldly curled his lips. Only the incompetent would label her as such; what did he have to fear?

　　Nothing could stand between him and her!

　　……

　　Yun Ling sat in her chair, removing the warm compress from her eyes. She was relieved that her grandparents weren't at the Xiao residence today; otherwise, they would have worried.

　　Night had fallen, and it was pitch black outside.

　　Feeling tired, with her eyes still slightly sore, she decided that he probably wouldn't be coming and resolved to go to bed early.

　　She changed into clean nightclothes, her long dark hair cascading down. The moonlight, soft and hazy, streamed in, bathing her in a gentle glow and making her appear even more gentle and serene.

　　Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ finished helping Yun Ling change and were about to leave when someone suddenly pushed open the room's door.

　　A gust of cool night air rushed in, causing the candles on the table to flicker and sway.

　　He stood there, clad in a gold-threaded ink-wash robe, his facial features sharp and distinct. His cold eyebrows and eyes conveyed a chilling intensity.

　　Since ascending to the position of Crown Prince, he had purged corrupt officials, quelled rebellions, and implemented new policies, gradually overshadowing his reputation for cruelty and bloodthirstiness.

　　But now, the chilling aura of a ruthless killer, like a demon from hell, emanated from him; one glance was enough to make people tremble with fear, deterring anyone from approaching.

　　Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ quickly bowed, their voices trembling.

　　After the argument, he had the Xiao residence placed under strict guard, finally coming to see her at night.

　　Yun Ling stood by the bed, her long dark hair cascading down, concealing her slender shoulders. Her small face was pale and delicate, her eyebrows gently arched, giving her a soft, fragile, and endearing appearance.

　　On the journey back to the Capital, she had always nestled beside him like this. She belonged in his arms, protected and possessed by him, inseparable.

　　She was about to become his Crown Princess.

　　Xie Jue gazed at her.

　　After a moment, he walked over to her, his brow furrowed slightly. He suddenly raised his arm, intending to embrace her.

　　But Yun Ling shifted to the side, turning her face away, avoiding his embrace with an extreme coldness.

　　Xie Jue's hand hung empty in the air, a sharp pain piercing his chest. His expression immediately turned cold. “Can I not even embrace you now?”

　　Yun Ling's gaze fell upon the flickering candlelight. “I have made it clear to Your Highness that I don't want to be the Crown Princess.”

　　Xie Jue slowly closed in on her, his long fingers gently but firmly cupping her face, tilting her chin to force her to look at him. “But I only want you. Become my Crown Princess, my Empress, share boundless glory with me. The Xiao family will be honored because of you. Isn't that good, Ah Ling?”

　　“Don't say things I don't want to hear, alright?”

　　Yun Ling felt only helplessness. She had known from the beginning that even after making things clear, this would be the outcome.

　　But this time, she refused to compromise.

　　No matter what he said, she only shook her head.

　　Although her actions weren't particularly forceful, to Xie Jue, they felt as if they were tearing at his very marrow.

　　A vein throbbed in his temple. The composure he had so painstakingly maintained finally shattered, his eyes filled with a ferocious rage. “You repeatedly refuse me. Do you really want the entire Xiao family to be your burial companions?”

　　“The family you've worked so hard to regain, your elderly grandparents, your brother who's desperately pleading for you outside, your unborn nephew... I guarantee, I will make the Xiao family suffer a gruesome end, a complete annihilation—”

　　A soft ‘clap’ echoed in the room, yet it sounded deafeningly loud.

　　Xie Jue was slightly staggered by the slap.

　　Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ, the two maidservants, widened their eyes in terror and immediately fell to their knees, trembling.

　　Miss… Miss actually dared to hit His Highness the Crown Prince!

　　Yun Ling's fingers curled tightly, her small face ashen.

　　How could he… how could he… He knew her weakness and used it to push her to the limit.

　　Tears streamed down her face. “Every time I resist, you use your power to threaten me, forcing me to compromise. Is this the Crown Prince's love?”

　　“But your coercion is nothing but torment to me. We've been through so much together, from humble beginnings to where we are now. I truly don't want to deceive you anymore. This time, I'm giving you my complete and honest truth: I don't want to enter the Palace, I don't want to be your Crown Princess. I hope you will grant me this.”

　　In the deep darkness of night, a cold breeze blew in through the slightly ajar window.

　　The night wind was biting, chilling to the bone.

　　Xie Jue's hard brow slowly rose, his head turning. His expression was even colder and more ruthless than the boundless night.

　　“Grant you this…”

　　“Then who will grant me this?”

　　A hurried voice from outside broke the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the room. “Your Highness, Lord Chen has urgent business to see you.”

　　The door slammed shut, his angry departing figure disappearing into the deep night.

　　Only after he left did the two maidservants seem to be able to breathe again, hastily getting to their feet to support Yun Ling. “Miss, are you alright?”

　　His Highness the Crown Prince… was truly terrifying.

　　Yun Ling shook her head. “I'm fine.”

　　“You may leave.”

　　She wanted to be alone for a while.

　　Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ replied in unison, “Yes,” and then withdrew.

　　The wind outside grew stronger. Even though it had rained earlier that morning, it now sounded as if another storm was brewing.

　　She had such a tiring day.

　　Her eyes were so sore they felt like they would burst.

　　Yun Ling raised a hand to wipe away her tears. She couldn't cry anymore.

　　Thinking of his words and his cruel, obsessive expression, she felt weary. Everything that happened today was so sudden and unexpected. From her initial confusion and hesitation, she had finally made up her mind to separate from him.

　　After an unknown amount of time, the candle had burned down to half its length, when the door was suddenly pushed open again.

　　In the dim night, a heavy rain had begun to fall outside, wetting one side of his shoulder.

　　He walked in, the sharp lines of his profile obscured in the dim light. She only heard him say calmly,

　　“There's urgent military business. I must return to the East Palace immediately; I will have no free time after this.”

　　He finished speaking and looked at her quietly.

　　Yun Ling's heart trembled, her eyes still red. “Your Highness, please go. Don't delay important matters.”

　　He moved closer again. “Are you coming back with me?”

　　Yun Ling pressed her lips together in silence—a silent refusal.

　　Xie Jue closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again, his eyes as dark as ink. A self-mocking yet cruel smile curved his lips.

　　“Back in the Cold Palace, I should have ruthlessly killed you. Then I wouldn't be in this situation now.”

　　“My whole life, I thought I was manipulating everything, yet time and again, you deceived me. I am utterly foolish.”

　　He slowly leaned down, reaching out to gently caress her face. His voice was hoarse and heavy. “But even now, I still can't bring myself to say the words, ‘Let you go.’”

________________

T/N: Waiting for a cliffhanger is annoying, right? So, here are two chapters for you today! As a reader myself, I hate waiting too. So enjoy your reading time, my dear readers! 😆 

I'm sorry, but it's only two chapters today. I'm still unwell, and I have a mountain of work to do. The next chapter isn't as explosive. This chapter concludes their fight for now.

Sigh, my heart aches for Yun Ling and Xie Jue. This chapter was intense.

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