Qian Renxue's Intimidation

The next seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Ye Yunxi barely returned to the Crown Prince's Mansion ahead of schedule.

It was only on the morning of the eighth day that Ye Yunxi returned to the Crown Prince's Mansion of her own accord.

"Xue Qinghe, aren't you going to hurry up and welcome your Imperial Concubine?"

With a fragrant roast goose in her mouth, Ye Yunxi kicked open the gates of the Crown Prince's Mansion and shouted.

Qian Renxue, who was sitting under a tree drinking tea, felt a sudden surge of irritation as she watched the arrogant Ye Yunxi.

Who exactly was the master here? This creature had run off for seven days; if not for Pufferfish following her, she would have been worried her little vixen had been snatched away.

"Yo, Xue Qinghe, drinking tea here?"

Ye Yunxi sat down across from Xue Qinghe, propped her chin on her hands, and batted her eyelashes at Qian Renxue.

The originally furious Xue Qinghe found herself completely disarmed by those peach-blossom eyes.

Why did it have to be like this every time?

"You ran off for seven days without sending me a single message. Do you still remember that you are the Imperial Concubine and I am your husband?"

Qian Renxue asked, seething with anger.

"First of all, I am only your woman in name, not in reality. Furthermore, you are only my husband in name, not in reality."

Ye Yunxi smiled faintly. She had never acknowledged it, and besides, Qian Renxue had kidnapped her and spread the news herself.

If not for this status as Imperial Concubine, she would have run far away long ago.

Hiding in a corner to cultivate until she reached Title Douluo—if she had the chance to become a god and ascend to the God Realm, wouldn't that be wonderful?

"You certainly have a way with words!"

Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, deeply dissatisfied.

She immediately signaled for a maid nearby to bring over the manual from her room.

Too lazy to argue further, Qian Renxue gestured for the maid to retrieve the booklet and tossed it onto the stone table in front of Ye Yunxi. The booklet landed with a "thwack" and fell open, revealing the large characters on the front page.

Seventy-Two Arts of Imperial Concubine Management

"These are all positions for matters in the bedchamber. You should study them well."

"When I am in a good mood one day, we shall discuss the matter of our children."

Qian Renxue smiled faintly, her tone not sounding like a joke at all.

Ye Yunxi glanced down at the contents of the booklet. The shameful positions made her earlobes turn bright red instantly. She scrambled to close the book, her cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg, and snapped in embarrassment:

"No, where did you get this messy stuff? I'm not learning it!"

She had lived two lifetimes and had never seen anything so direct and explicit. Yet, Qian Renxue spoke with such solemnity, as if she were discussing some profound martial soul theory.

If she learned all of this, wouldn't she be finished?

Qian Renxue chuckled, set down her teacup, and leaned forward. Her handsome features loomed closer, carrying the inherent arrogance of a Crown Prince:

"I am the Heaven Dou Crown Prince. Is it difficult for me to obtain such things?"

She paused, her gaze lingering on Ye Yunxi's flushed cheeks, the possessiveness in her eyes thick and unshakable. "Furthermore, children are a necessity. Once we have children, you will never be able to escape my grasp for the rest of your life."

These words struck Ye Yunxi's sore spot. She jerked her head up, her peach-blossom eyes wide and round. The shyness vanished, replaced by a fierce, spirited edge. She slapped the stone table, her voice crisp and provocative:

"If you have the guts, do it now!"

She stared at Qian Renxue, every word ringing with defiance, refusing to back down an inch. "If you don't dare, then you're a coward!"

Qian Renxue was choked by her words. The playfulness in her eyes froze, replaced by a surging, fiery intensity.

She looked at the little fox baring her claws before her—her cheeks were still flushed, her eyes full of provocation. This combination of cowardice and stubbornness only made the fire in her heart burn brighter.

Qian Renxue slowly stood up and leaned in, her tall shadow engulfing Ye Yunxi as her warm breath brushed against her ear.

"Are you sure?"

Ye Yunxi shrank back from the sudden pressure, her heart beginning to race, yet she refused to soften her stance:

"Of course I'm sure! Who's afraid of whom!"

No sooner had she spoken than she saw a dangerous curve form on Qian Renxue's lips. The next second, her wrist was seized with a grip so firm she couldn't break free.

"Very well. Since the Imperial Concubine is so eager to skip ahead, we shall begin now."

Qian Renxue glanced at the maid beside her.

The maid, understanding the situation, went to wait outside the gates of the mansion.

Once the maid had left, Qian Renxue stopped hiding her intentions. Gripping Ye Yunxi's wrist, she didn't wait for her to utter another threat; with a swift motion, she pressed her down onto the cold stone table.

"Ugh!"

Ye Yunxi gasped as her chest hit the hard stone, the pain forcing a sharp intake of breath.

No, no, this Qian Renxue is insane! And this position...

Ye Yunxi immediately began to struggle desperately, kicking her legs wildly and pushing against the table with both hands to rise, but Qian Renxue's palm felt like a heavy mountain pressing against her back, leaving her unable to move an inch.

Her smoky pink dress was crumpled, and a few stray locks of hair clung to her sweat-dampened cheeks, leaving her looking both disheveled and exquisitely alluring.

"Xue Qinghe! Let me go!"

Ye Yunxi panicked; her previous arrogance and domineering air had vanished, replaced by a barely perceptible tremor in her voice.

"If you dare to mess around, I will never forgive you!"

Qian Renxue leaned down, her chest pressed against Ye Yunxi's back, her warm breath brushing against her ear.

"Never forgive me? Who was the one clamoring for me to 'do it now' just a moment ago? I've really come now, and you're afraid? Whether it happens sooner or later, we might as well settle it now."

Qian Renxue's fingertips traced Ye Yunxi's reddened earlobe, her touch carrying an irresistible sense of possession.

"Ye Yunxi, have you forgotten whose territory this is?"

Ye Yunxi's struggles grew weaker; the scorching heat radiating from her back made her entire body go numb, and the panic in her heart spread instantly.

She was afraid—afraid that this obsessive Qian Renxue would truly disregard everything and break her.

Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably, blurring her vision in an instant.

Ye Yunxi choked back a sob, her voice softening into a tearful plea:

"Crown Prince, please don't... I was wrong..."

"Yunxi won't provoke you ever again... please let me go, don't do anything reckless..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, thick with a nasal tone, like a tamed little fox, devoid of the bared claws and fangs she had shown before.

Qian Renxue's movements paused. She looked down at Ye Yunxi's reddened ears and trembling shoulders, the anger in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by deep satisfaction and a hint of an imperceptible smile.

She loved seeing her like this: bright and moving when arrogant, yet pitiful and delicate when begging for mercy. It made her heart itch, and she longed to knead her into her very bones.

Qian Renxue slowly loosened her grip but did not pull away. Instead, she leaned in close to her ear, her voice low and bewitching:

"Wouldn't it have been better if you were this obedient from the start?"