Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 104 - 92:

"What do you mean?" Xie Wanqing raised her eyes. "You want to confine me?"

Lu Ziyuan ignored her question and merely said, "Mingjian will stay in the Capital. You must hand-copy a Buddhist Scripture for him every day, and no one else is allowed to do it for you."

As his words fell, the room descended into dead silence.

... Simply absurd.

Not only Xie Wanqing, even Lu Ziyuan observing it all was feeling the absurdity of it.

He understood himself, the more absurd things were, the more likely there was a hidden story behind it.

It seemed like he had truly encountered a formidable opponent in this world?

But Xie Wanqing couldn’t understand, she never did understand him, as his mind was deep and never exposed.

She once believed they were mutually in love, but after marrying, that confidence had long disappeared.

Yet, she couldn’t fathom why he would treat her like this. Even if he disliked her, there was no need to torment her like this, was there?

Even during her unmarried days, if she made any mistake, her parents never confined her.

Her elder brother was strict, at most making her copy the family rules, and when she was lazy and had the maids help write, he would turn a blind eye to it.

But what was she hearing now?

Once he left the Capital, she was to live in the family temple, writing a Buddhist Scripture daily.

He had even left Mingjian to inspect her handwriting.

With a daily Scripture, where would she find time to go out?

The initial plan of visiting her family for a few months after he left the Capital had completely fallen through.

He couldn’t stand seeing her relaxed, couldn’t bear her being happy. Even when absent, he found ways to mistreat her, worried she’d harm his Rou Niang?

So he left Mingjian to watch her, making her focus on Buddhism, having no time to cause harm?

Xie Wanqing dazedly stared at him, countless thoughts swirling in her mind.

What did he truly think of her?

A venomous woman who would harm others for him?

Lu Ziyuan looked at her gaze and his brow furrowed slightly, reaching to grasp her hand, which she instinctively avoided.

But his movements were quicker, his iron-like hand firmly grasped her wrist, pulling her into his embrace.

"You are too impulsive; you should learn to be steady," Lu Ziyuan said, one hand on her shoulder, the other tightening around her waist. "Listen to me, stay honestly at the family temple for these few months, curb your pride and impatience, cultivate yourself, and wait for me to fetch you."

He knew this girl’s temperament and prepared for her rebukes, but he hadn’t expected that after waiting, the person in his arms remained silent.

Unable to resist, he lowered his gaze. From this angle, all he could see were her dense, long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

Lu Ziyuan reached out to touch them, feeling moisture.

Stunned for a moment, he realized.

She was crying.

No refutation, no confrontation, no anger, only calm.

Even when held in his arms, she remained calm, not struggling anymore.

But she was crying.

Lu Ziyuan’s pupils tightened abruptly, his fingertips slowly wiping the dampness from her lashes, sliding down to her chin.

He lifted her face.

"Why are you crying?"

Xie Wanqing did not speak, and no more tears fell from her eyes.

It seemed the moisture on her lashes was just an illusion.

But Lu Ziyuan knew it wasn’t.

He slowly bent down, resting against her forehead, and they were very close, their breaths mingling.

Her lashes fluttered, she did not open her eyes, even her breathing was very light.

"Are you so aggrieved by praying for blessings for a few months?" he seemed somewhat helpless, nudging her nose, afraid she might stifle herself into fainting. Reluctantly, he moved a little away before saying, "If you don’t want to go to the family temple, fine, then come with me to the battlefield."

This time he was heading to the real battlefield, the Northern Border.

"Choose one for yourself, once chosen, no complaints."

In the silence, Xie Wanqing spoke, "I will go to the family temple."

Her voice carried a hint of hoarse endurance.

When Lu Ziyuan heard, his heart felt a slight sting, and he lowered his head, intending to kiss her. But then he heard her say, "I will bring Erqing with me."

His action paused, eyes inexplicably cold, "What if I say no?"

"Erqing has served me since childhood," Xie Wanqing raised her eyes, anxiously saying, "I can’t be without her."

Can’t be without her...

Their gaze met for a few seconds, the coldness in his eyes unabated, causing Xie Wanqing’s heart to panic, and she turned away first.

"What I mean is,... I can’t be without someone to serve me."

Lu Ziyuan responded with a low, unclear sound, "Wanwan, you must understand, apart from me, you shouldn’t have anyone else you can’t be without."

Is a maid worth such reliance?

Xie Wanqing understood his meaning, a thin layer of coldness appeared in her eyes.

What kind of reason is this?

He can have many wives and concubines, yet she can’t even have a close maid by her side.

In her whole world, there could only be him alone.