This Woman Is a Madwoman

"Why are you standing there? Didn't the old nurse teach you how to serve someone?"

Qiao Shuyi's voice rang out, mocking and haughty.

In the book, Qiao Shuyi had been so enamored of Zongzheng Heng's face that, despite being the legitimate daughter of a prince, she had deferred to him in everything, afraid of displeasing him.

Now that she had taken her place, she was not nearly so good-natured.

If she couldn't have an easy time of it, no one else could either.

Zongzheng Heng stepped forward and stood beside the bed.

Qiao Shuyi sat up as well.

She raised her foot, her long right leg emerging from her smooth silk nightdress to reveal a length of calf, lustrous and white as jade.

Her ankle was slender, the arch of her foot graceful.

She pointed her foot, her toenails stained with red dye, the contrast of red and white startlingly vivid.

"What are you staring at? Put my shoes on for me."

Zongzheng Heng lowered his eyes, a dangerous gleam flickering in their depths.

But after a moment, he slowly crouched down.

His large, slightly callused hand closed around her ankle-

That hand had well-defined knuckles. It had held a sword, wielded a brush, and directed the affairs of the realm. Now, however, it held a woman's ankle.

Warmth met his palm; her skin and bones were like ice and jade, smooth and warming beneath his touch.

With his other hand, he picked up an exquisite embroidered shoe and put it on her.

Zongzheng Heng, however, felt not a trace of sensual delight. His deep, slanted eyes remained fixed on her foot.

Qiao Shuyi seemed very different from what his investigation had revealed. She might be a spoiled wastrel, but she was not without brains.

Knowing the male favorite she had snatched away hated her, she had made him take Power-Dissolving Powder as soon as he entered Jinglan Garden, leaving him afraid to act rashly now.

Once his identity was exposed and Qiao Nanyu was alerted, his life would end here in Jinzhou.

Zongzheng Heng had fought a bloody path through the other princes to reach the throne. Endurance and pretense had long since been carved into his bones.

Endure an indignity for a moment in exchange for an achievement that would last a thousand autumns-he could reckon that bargain clearly.

Qiao Shuyi lifted the corner of one eye and gazed at the male lead of the book.

Although Zongzheng Heng had many women in his harem, the female lead was the one with whom he truly lost his virginity.

Presumably, he was still thinking of saving his "first time" for Su Yunyan.

As she thought this, the shoe was already on her right foot.

Qiao Shuyi raised her shod right foot and rested it on his shoulder.

She leaned down and looked at him:

"Zhigui-"

"Has no one ever told you that when serving this young lady, you must always kneel?"

Zongzheng Heng's black eyes were fathomless.

His gaze fell on the skirt hanging beside her foot. The fabric was cloud brocade, a tribute from Shu, worth a piece of gold an inch. An ordinary family could not afford to wear it in a lifetime.

But at this moment, the skirt's owner was resting her toe on his shoulder, her posture arrogant, as though he were nothing more than a dog at her feet, wagging its tail and begging for pity.

He was the emperor of Great Zhang. How could he kneel to a woman!

Qiao Shuyi waited a moment, but when he did not move, she raised an eyebrow.

"Well?"

"If you want to kill me, miss, then kill me. If you want to flay me, then flay me. But if you want me to kneel-"

"Forgive me, but I cannot obey."

When he finished, he raised his eyes to hers, neither retreating nor yielding, neither servile nor arrogant.

Though he was crouched at her feet in a lowly position, the way he looked at her was as if he were looking down on her.

Qiao Shuyi suddenly laughed aloud.

"Interesting, but... what I like best is-breaking a proud spine."

"Zhigui, the more you resist, the more interested I become in you."

With that, she suddenly raised her voice and called outside:

"An Yi."

A black shadow landed silently in the room.

Qiao Shuyi lazily lifted her chin.

"Since he won't kneel, find a way to make him."

An Yi did not answer. His figure flickered, and he appeared behind Zongzheng Heng.

The next instant, a hand settled on his shoulder.

Zongzheng Heng felt a powerful surge of internal energy pour into his shoulder-well acupoint, crushing down like a mountain and allowing him not the slightest resistance.

One leg bent uncontrollably, as though its sinews and bones had been pulled out-

Thud.

His knee struck the floor.

Zongzheng Heng lowered his lashes, concealing the surging killing intent and viciousness in his eyes.

Yet his back remained ramrod straight.

An Yi raised his hand again, preparing to make him kneel on his other leg as well.

"That's enough."

"You may leave."

An Yi withdrew his hand. His figure flickered, and he vanished.

Silence returned to the room.

Qiao Shuyi drew her foot off his shoulder and leaned down.

Her face was so close to his that her breath brushed against it.

This face truly was handsome.

His brows were like blades, his eyes like cold stars. Even kneeling at her feet, there was still a stubborn refusal to yield in his expression.

The pad of her finger slid slowly down his brow bone, across his eyelid and the bridge of his nose, finally coming to rest on his tightly pressed lips.

"Aren't you kneeling now? Zhigui, I am the Prince of Jin'an's legitimate daughter, and you are a mere commoner-why wouldn't you kneel?"

Zongzheng Heng raised his eyes and met hers. They were so clear as to be almost transparent, holding neither mockery nor triumph, only a calm that took it all for granted.

It was as though she truly did not understand what reason he had not to kneel.

His heart tightened slightly.

Is she testing me, or... did she really just ask on a whim?

He suppressed the emotions churning in his eyes and said obediently, "This commoner knows his mistake."

For now, he could not act rashly, much less let her grow suspicious.

Qiao Shuyi gripped his chin, her gaze sweeping possessively over his face.

"Zhigui, your face is so handsome."

"You're kneeling and saying you know your mistake, yet your eyes still say you would rather break than bend. That makes me even more-fascinated."

"I really... like you so much..."

Zongzheng Heng met her gaze, and seeing the infatuation in her eyes, he felt a moment of disgust.

Like me?

If she likes me, would she make me sleep in the woodshed, carry water, and kneel to put on her shoes on the very first day?

Qiao Shuyi, however, seemed entirely unaware of his thoughts. When she had finished speaking, she pointed to her other foot, which was still bare.

"Put my other shoe on too."

"As long as you're obedient-" She drew out the last syllable, her words full of meaning. "I can give you anything, Zhigui."

She can give me anything?

Zongzheng Heng sneered inwardly.

So be it.

He would remember today's humiliation.

Once he found evidence of the Prince of Jin'an's treason, he would repay it a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

The shoe was on.

Qiao Shuyi gathered the dress that had slipped down her shoulder and rose from the bed.

Her silk nightdress was as light and thin as mist. It swayed with her movements, outlining her graceful figure.

The way she walked was unlike that of ordinary young ladies as well. Her waist swayed gently, her steps unhurried. Though she looked lazy and casual, she somehow exuded an air of noble bearing.

She walked to the doorway and paused.

"Fuzhi, you needn't attend me for my bath today."

Fuzhi respectfully answered, "Yes."

Qiao Shuyi leaned against the doorframe and pointed a jade finger at Zongzheng Heng, who was still kneeling on the floor and had yet to rise.

"Zhigui, you'll attend me."

Zongzheng Heng's hand clenched tightly behind his back.

There was an unmistakable suggestion in her eyes.

Was he, an emperor, really going to be forced to lose his virginity to this madwoman?

Before entering Jinglan Garden, Zongzheng Heng had known he would be searched, so he had secretly discarded all the medicines he carried.

He had thought that, with his martial arts, slipping in and out of this place unnoticed would be as easy as turning over his hand.

But he had not expected her to dose him with Power-Dissolving Powder the moment he entered.

Now, all his martial skills were as good as useless, and secret guards watched him like tigers eyeing their prey throughout the courtyard.

If Qiao Shuyi truly meant to force him, did he seem to have any way to resist?

After a long moment, Zongzheng Heng lowered his lashes. "Yes."

Then he followed her.