Chapter 70: Cheng Zhao Wants a Divorce

Shou'an Courtyard was located at the westernmost part of the entire Duke's estate. One had to pass through Chengming Hall on the central axis to reach Chenhui Courtyard.

Cheng Zhao wore a rose-red short jacket woven with gold floral vines, paired with a long white silk skirt. Two jade pendants weighed down her waist, and she wore only a gold hairpin on her head.

To call her attire luxurious would be inaccurate, as it was simple in every aspect; yet to call it plain would also be wrong, for it was so dazzlingly beautiful that one could hardly look away.

As she walked into Chenhui Courtyard, it was as if she had brought the evening glow into the side room. The sunlight reflected off her gold hairpin, bathing the room in a brilliant radiance.

Zhou Yuanshen lifted his eyes to look at her, set down his book, and said to Nanfeng outside the curtain, Serve tea.

Nanfeng complied.

Soon, he brought in two cups of hot tea.

Cheng Zhao picked up one cup and handed it to Zhou Yuanshen first before taking the other for herself.

...How was the banquet today? Zhou Yuanshen did not drink the tea; his quiet gaze fell upon her face.

Cheng Zhao replied, Just as you saw, it was only those two ignorant children from the Sun family who were provoked into causing trouble. Nothing else happened; everyone was very polite.

She added, All the guests, except for Grand Princess Fukang, came to curry favor with the Zhou family. Who would dare to cause a scene?

Zhou Yuanshen picked up his tea and began to drink.

He seemed to finish it in one gulp.

Seeing that his teacup was empty, Cheng Zhao asked, Would the Duke like some more tea?

The side room featured a large heated brick bed by the window, with several chairs arranged nearby. There was also a folding screen that blocked the view from outside the curtain. Behind the screen stood a table and a long couch for resting.

Usually, a thermos of hot water would be placed on the table.

Cheng Zhao glanced in that direction.

There was a window behind the screen, but it was closed. The light there was dimmer compared to this side, making it hard to see clearly if there was a thermos on the table.

The servant boy Nanfeng ran around all day; his main duty wasn't serving tea and water here anyway.

As these thoughts flashed through Cheng Zhao's mind, Zhou Yuanshen spoke, Alright.

He pushed his teacup toward her.

Cheng Zhao was speechless.

Sometimes a wife had to pour tea for her husband; it was nothing out of the ordinary, just a standard duty.

Thinking this, Cheng Zhao slipped on her shoes, stepped down from the brick bed, and walked around the screen.

Sure enough, there was a thermos on the table.

To her surprise, it actually contained hot water.

Before her hand could touch the thermos, a dark shadow loomed behind her.

Cheng Zhao instinctively turned her head. Zhou Yuanshen had actually followed her and was standing silently right behind her.

She furrowed her brows slightly.

She thought, if you were going to pour the tea yourself, why did you order me to do it?

Looking closely at him again, she noticed something was different.

His eyes were very bright, especially in the dim light. There was no extra expression on his face, but his eyes seemed to be tinged with fire.

In their half-year of marriage, Cheng Zhao had seen this look on him twice before.

He was like a furnace about to erupt. When untouched, it was a quiet stove; but upon contact, one would realize how scalding hot it was, burning fiercely on the inside.

Panic gripped Cheng Zhao, and she turned to dodge away.

She instinctively tried to hide, but just as she turned, Zhou Yuanshen had already trapped her in his arms.

Cheng Zhao braced her hands against the tabletop to keep from falling back onto it, while he leaned in and captured her lips.

...My Lord Duke, it's the middle of the afternoon! Cheng Zhao was pinned so tightly she couldn't move.

If she shoved him, her arms would lose their support, and he would press her onto the table. If she kept supporting herself, he would just press against her and kiss her, leaving her at his mercy.

She turned her head away and barely managed to utter a word before he cupped her face again.

Unable to care about anything else, Cheng Zhao freed one hand to push him.

In her desperation, she blurted out, Zhou Yuanshen, you can't do this here again...

He caught her hand, his body continuously pressing down on hers, determined to bend her backward over the edge. Why can't I? Cheng Zhao, you can try to convince me.

This is the study! Cheng Zhao gritted her teeth, but she felt her waist growing weak.

As he kissed her, waves of warmth washed over her. Her hands, her waist, everything felt like it was melting into water, unable to hold out against the current situation.

I want to, he said in a low voice. His brows and eyes remained still, and there was no smugness at the corners of his lips. Amidst this calm, his eyes burned even brighter, like a cluster of flames.

His breath grew even more scorching.

He held onto Cheng Zhao's hand and moved to untie her sash.

Cheng Zhao still wanted to struggle, but he had already loosened her hair bun. The gold dangling hairpin was removed, and her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, with one strand falling across her eyes.

The arm supporting her lost its strength, and her defenses completely crumbled.

Zhou Yuanshen supported the back of her head, pressing Cheng Zhao down onto the table. With a loud crash, the thermos and the teacups all fell to the floor.

The water from the thermos trickled down from the table, and Cheng Zhao could hear the pattering sound of it.

Zhou Yuanshen...

Hmm? He stroked her cheek and lowered his head to kiss her lips again.

Can you... she tried to speak between their touching lips.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

It was a woman's voice, somewhat familiar. My Lord Duke.

It was the maid from Zhou Yuanshen's outer study. Cheng Zhao remembered her; her name was Mingyu.

My Lord Duke, your subordinate has something to report. It is an urgent message from the Northwest, Mingyu's voice came from outside the door.

Cheng Zhao dared not move an inch. She held her breath, waiting for Zhou Yuanshen to leave her.

Zhou Yuanshen straightened up slightly, his lips leaving hers, but his feet did not move a single step.

Shockingly, he said, Come in and speak.

Cheng Zhao abruptly widened her eyes.

She sat up, but couldn't sit completely straight, propping herself up halfway with both hands.

Her dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, draping over her smooth shoulders and revealing skin as white as snow.

The stark contrast between her black hair and snowy skin made Zhou Yuanshen's breathing grow significantly heavier.

Outside the screen, Mingyu seemed to hesitate for a moment. My Lord Duke?

Speak, Zhou Yuanshen commanded.

Cheng Zhao dared not move.

A buzzing sound filled her ears.

The window by the large brick bed was open, and the sunlight streamed in from there. From behind the screen, Cheng Zhao could see Mingyu's shadow.

Mingyu stood at the doorway, still some distance away from the screen.

She was reporting something about official horses, but Cheng Zhao couldn't hear a single word clearly because the noise in her own ears was too loud.

Zhou Yuanshen had not stopped.

His breathing, her own racing heartbeat—Cheng Zhao heard them with absolute clarity.

My Lord Duke, your subordinate has finished reporting. Should I ask the advisors to wait at the General's Manor for you to discuss this? Mingyu asked.

Alright, go... make the arrangements first. I will head over after dinner, Zhou Yuanshen said.

Mingyu left. Cheng Zhao didn't even hear the sound of the door closing; she could no longer hear any noises from the outside.

For a moment, Cheng Zhao's mind went completely blank.

Zhou Yuanshen carried her to the long couch. Just as he tried to straighten her clothes, Cheng Zhao reached out and slapped him across the face.

Her hand carried quite a bit of force, leaving her palm numb.

Zhou Yuanshen froze for a moment. He slowly raised his eyes, his dark gaze landing on her face.

Tears were already streaming down Cheng Zhao's face.

I want a divorce! she told him in a calm voice, letting her tears flow freely.