If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

The burning breath on her neck, the embrace filled with fear and regret, were like an impenetrable net, tightly wrapping Xi Lingxian up.

His rapid heartbeat, transmitted through her clothes, made her heart tremble. The grievances, heartache, and hatred that had been weighing on her heart made her feel suffocated.

She clenched her fists tightly, the stinging pain of her nails digging into her flesh instantly bringing her to her senses. With all her might, she shoved Wang Jue away from her.

Caught off guard, Wang Jue was pushed so hard that he staggered back half a step.

She forced herself to suppress the surging emotions in her heart, to detach herself from the struggle of their earlier confession, and to no longer be swayed by his emotions.

Wang Jue didn't give her any chance to leave him. He reached out and pulled her arm, embracing her from behind.

The Gu worms are causing trouble. The offspring Gu worms are able to get close to their mother Gu worms and are overjoyed. This sudden closeness gives the two people controlled by the Gu worms a thrilling feeling that makes their scalps tingle.

Xi Lingxian couldn't take it anymore. "Ming, we'll start removing the curse tomorrow!"

"This stuff is harmless to the body; it doesn't matter if it's a day earlier or later."

It's easy for him to talk when he's not the one suffering.

Xi Lingxian shot him a sharp glare, "That won't do. I'm going to get married someday. How am I supposed to explain to my future husband that I'm involved with another man in a love potion?"

Wang Jue was already used to being driven crazy by her.

He could even patiently offer her advice, saying, "So what? I don't mind. Why should he mind? If he does mind, it just shows that he's petty and not worth entrusting yourself to."

Xi Lingxian was shocked by such shamelessness.

"Besides, didn't you keep saying you wanted to take a son-in-law? Since he's a son-in-law, he'll naturally respect his wife. How dare he interfere in your affairs? Let alone a mere love potion, even if you keep a few male prostitutes to serve you closely, the son-in-law has no right to say a word."

Xi Lingxian was determined to defy him. "Does a son-in-law have to suffer such humiliation? Are you insane?"

"Which son-in-law doesn't act like this? He's already married into the family; are you expecting him to be treated like a king? What's the point of marrying into the family then?"

Xi Lingxian was speechless for a moment.

She always felt that even if a man marries into another family, the couple should still treat each other with respect. A man can be killed but not humiliated. She couldn't and wouldn't do anything that was too humiliating or hurt his self-esteem.

Wang Jue could see right through her thoughts.

She couldn't bring herself to be bad; she thought all members of the aristocratic class had a compassionate heart, but that wasn't actually the case.

Xi Lingxian thought about it and felt something was wrong. "For a woman to have multiple men serve her, it's an insult to her husband. But when a woman gets married, how many of you men don't have three wives and four concubines? Isn't that an insult to the woman? Why is no one speaking out about this?"

"For you, Young Master Wang, to even obtain the position of a concubine requires the fierce competition and scheming of noble ladies from aristocratic families. Whose humiliation is this?"

Wang Jue tightened his grip and pulled her into his arms. "What you say makes sense, but it's a problem of our times, and it's not something I can change on my own. All I can do is refuse to take concubines or accept them."

Xi Lingxian gave a cold laugh twice.

"You don't believe me? In our past life, we spent three years together. During that time, you tried to put women in my life countless times, but when did you ever see me accept them?"

"Aren't you refusing because you're afraid I'll get jealous and cause a scene? Aren't you afraid that if I make a scene, my father and brothers at the front will find out and it will affect your overall situation?"

Wang Jue's temples throbbed with veins. He rubbed his forehead for a long while, then said, "Xi Lingxian, in your eyes, am I also a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family?"

"what?"

"Call me arrogant or disrespectful, but let me tell you this: if I truly wish to take a concubine, even if your father and brothers were the emperor, they would have no right to stop me. There are so many rules governing marriages between noble families; have you ever seen a maternal family that could extend its influence into the son-in-law's home after a marriage?"

"Are you underestimating me, or overestimating someone else?"

Xi Lingxian slapped away his hand that was across her waist, turned around, crossed her hands in front of her, and smiled sideways, her words piercing to the heart: "That's your own problem. Everyone knows you're naturally averse to women. I spent most of the three years I was married to you living like a widow. Who knows if there's something wrong with you?"

Wang Jue's chest heaved; he felt like Xi Lingxian was really going to drive him crazy.

Living the life of a widow?

Is there something wrong with him?

No normal man in the world could stand those two sentences.

Xi Lingxian was so caught up in her own pleasure that she completely failed to notice the man in front of her whose face was so black it could be used as ink.

Suddenly a gust of wind hit her face. Before she could react, she felt a powerful force binding her waist, lifting her up and pulling her into a warm embrace.

His warm breath brushed against her skin, his tone sinister, each word deliberate: "Have you forgotten who stayed in bed for three days straight back then?"

He would never have said such a thing before; he must be really furious today.

Xi Lingxian's arrogant and domineering demeanor vanished instantly, and a sudden burning sensation washed over her cheeks, spreading down her ears.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Who's talking nonsense? Try me again if you disagree!"

Xi Lingxian's heart skipped a beat, but not wanting to lose face, she continued to act aggressively, "Who wants to try with you? Have you no shame? I have nothing to do with you now. Do you think the dignified Young Master Wang would be willing to be my bedmate?"

Wang Jue's eyes widened: "Aren't you ashamed to say such things, you're a girl?"

"What's it to you? And who started this shameless thing first?"

"You're all talk and no action. Every time before, you're the one who ends up begging for mercy."

"Yeah, yeah, you're amazing, you're so amazing that you can make me live like a widow for a year or two without even realizing it."

Wang Jue clutched her chest, panting, "I... I was out on business, are you even being reasonable?!"

"Are you telling me I'm unreasonable for the first time? Besides, you're nobody to me, so mind your own business!"

"Xi, Ling, Xian!"

Wang Jue's eyes were practically spitting fire, but Xi Lingxian was happy. The breath that had been stuck in her chest was finally released, and she felt completely refreshed.

The two masters were shouting loudly, and the Wang family guards following in the distance lowered their eyes, all of them startled.

Chang'an and the others had followed Wang Jue for many years and were used to seeing his maturity beyond his years and his strategic thinking. At such a young age, he possessed a level of forbearance and composure far beyond his peers, as if he was born to be so calm, reserved, and in control of the world.

That is why the vivid anger in his eyes and the undisguised emotional fluctuations he displayed at this moment were so unfamiliar to Chang'an and his personal guards.

Seeing his ashen face, as if afraid she would anger him to death, Xi Lingxian said, "Speaking of which, the day after you saved me with the mother Gu, A Song told me that if the love Gu ever went out of control, he would simply treat you as a male prostitute and have you serve me."

"And then?" Wang Jue's expression was so calm it was almost eerie.

"Since they're all male prostitutes, of course they don't have any official status; they're just living a life of casual sex."

Wang Jue's face immediately darkened. "You're dreaming."

He, a dignified member of the Wang clan, had lived a life of incest with other women.

Xi Lingxian shrugged and smiled, seemingly unsure if it was appropriate.