Six, five, four, three, two, one.
With only one step left to the door, Sun Shaozong slowly placed his hand on the thick wooden bolt.
"Y-you, wait a moment!"
Just then, Wei Ying's frail, anxious voice came from behind the Beaded Curtain, plaintive and tearful, utterly devoid of her earlier resolve.
Success!
A trace of smugness surfaced on Sun Shaozong's face, but his hand did not pause in the slightest. Silently, he lifted the bolt, preparing to set it aside.
"Don't!"
Another low cry sounded, this time much closer to Sun Shaozong.
Sun Shaozong finally stopped moving. Turning back, he made a silencing gesture at the Long-Legged Princess Consort, then pointed toward the door.
Wei Ying hurriedly covered her mouth and nose. Even her stumbling footsteps softened as she approached, revealing only a pair of eyes brimming with despair and supplication.
Surely, the servants outside, accustomed to seeing her strong and domineering side, could never have imagined that their Princess Consort would reveal such weakness and helplessness before another man.
Yet Sun Shaozong felt not the slightest pity.
When this Long-Legged Princess Consort had provoked him time and again, when had she ever spared a thought for his feelings?
Besides, her purpose in yielding now was to ensure that they would have no dealings in the future. If he did not humiliate her thoroughly now, when would he get another chance?
He gazed at her calmly as he gently set the bolt on the floor—after this, all he had to do was give the door a light push, and there would be no turning back from what happened today.
"No!"
A nearly inaudible whimper escaped Wei Ying's lips. She reached toward the bolt, but fearing that she might make a sound and alert the servants outside, she could only resume