The beautiful and gentle twilight glow gave a feeling of wanting to get closer, but in the pursuit, it was discovered to be an unattainable dream. Just like Qi Yuntian, he may seem approachable, but is he really? As I gazed at the sunset, my heart ached with an indescribable pain.

"Son-in-law, what are you so absorbed in?" Hu Jiangling noticed his son-in-law staring out the window in a daze and thought that his daughter had called him away, leaving her husband alone.

"Father-in-law, I was just looking casually." I inwardly blamed myself for being too relaxed and letting my guard down in my surroundings.

"Ah, hehe~ No need to hide it from your father-in-law. I'm sure Ling'er went to accompany her mother. She left you alone. Come, come, let's play chess together." Hu Jiangling didn't give me a chance to explain and forcibly dragged me to play chess with him.

Thinking about facing my wife when I returned, it might be better to accompany my father-in-law in playing chess. At least it's better than facing the awkwardness, but I couldn't help but worry that Hong Ling would mention to her mother that we hadn't consummated our marriage yet.

"Pojun, I've heard that you are a talented individual in both literature and martial arts. Your chess skills are astonishing. Today, this old man will learn from you." Hu Jiangling eagerly set up the chessboard in his study, looking eager to try.

"Father-in-law, you overpraise me. I only play chess casually during my free time. There's no need to exaggerate my skills. Perhaps someone has spoken too highly of me." I didn't know where he heard it from, but I didn't bother to explain. He was the one who taught me chess, so if my skills were impressive, wouldn't that make him a chess sage?

"Haha~ It's good for the young to be modest." Hu Jiangling was delighted to hear that his son-in-law wasn't arrogant at all, and he burst into hearty laughter.

"I hope you go easy on me, Father-in-law." I sat comfortably across from Hu Jiangling.

"Alright, alright, alright." Hu Jiangling smiled and said three "alrights" in a row before becoming serious and placing a white piece on the chessboard with a raised hand.

From the beginning, I played casually, but under Hu Jiangling's unrelenting attacks, I became serious and focused on the game, with no wandering thoughts.

Meanwhile, the mother and daughter were having a different conversation in their room.

"Ling'er, does he treat you well?" Yang Shi held her daughter's hand as they sat on the edge of the bed, speaking in hushed tones.

"Mother, my husband treats me very well." Hong Ling didn't want her mother to worry about her and felt that Pojun's attitude towards her was very humble and polite.

"Then... have you consummated your marriage?" Yang Shi asked awkwardly, but she also knew that she had to ask.

"Well..." Hong Ling hadn't expected her mother to ask about such intimate matters. For a moment, her face turned red, and she couldn't find a way to answer.

Seeing her daughter hesitating and not answering, Yang Shi thought her daughter was shy. Asking further wouldn't necessarily elicit the answer she wanted, so she turned to look at Zizhu, who had been standing silently beside them.

"Madam, Master and Miss haven't consummated their marriage yet." Zizhu saw the questioning gaze from the old madam and truthfully reported the situation.

Upon hearing Zizhu's answer, Yang Shi furrowed her brow. She thought that perhaps her son-in-law had learned about the matter and that's why they hadn't consummated their marriage. Looking at her daughter's expression, she silently shook her head. She couldn't understand why, after three days of marriage, they still hadn't consummated their relationship.

"Old Madam, on the wedding night, Master drank too much. He was already drunk when he entered the room. Yesterday, he was summoned by the emperor and was gone for a day. He only returned this morning and immediately came to accompany Miss." Zizhu reported the whereabouts of her master over the past few days to the old madam.

Hearing Zizhu's explanation, Yang Shi finally felt relieved. But she still couldn't help but worry. A mother knows her daughter best. If her daughter didn't apply some pressure, she might confront Pojun and report the matter to the emperor. It wouldn't just be a personal matter but would involve the entire family. She didn't want to do it, but she had no choice.

This conversation hit Hong Ling's heart hard. Yes, her own life and death were insignificant, but if Pojun couldn't accept it and got angry, reporting the matter to the emperor, it wouldn't just be a personal affair. It would lead to the decimation of the entire family. She couldn't fathom the consequences, and her face turned pale, making her unable to shed tears.

"What should I do?" As soon as the words were spoken, tears streamed down her face.

"Ling'er," Zizhu saw it all and felt the pain in her heart. This was the first time she had seen her young miss like this since she started serving her. But she was powerless to do anything for her.

"Hong Ling, the best solution now is for you and him to consummate your marriage as soon as possible. If the child is born a month or two earlier, it can be said to be a premature birth. If it's delayed further, things may get worse." Yang Shi also knew that the best way now was for her daughter to take the initiative and approach Pojun. However, it was difficult for her daughter.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Mother, I want to... but I..." Hong Ling knew her mother was looking out for her, but she really couldn't bring herself to do it. Just the thought of how she had to seduce Pojun made her shudder, and she shook her head in front of her mother, indicating that she couldn't do it.

Seeing her daughter shaking her head, Yang Shi thought about what could be done. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her, and she had a calculating smile on her face. "Ling'er, don't worry. Mother has a way."

Time passed in the midst of chess and scheming. The night was hazy, with a crescent moon hanging high in the sky, casting swaying tree shadows on the ground.

"Mother, I'll go back to my room now." Hong Ling walked out of her mother's bedroom, tightly holding a small package in her hand, feeling as if she was about to do something outrageous.

"Go, but if a few days pass and he still hasn't consummated your marriage, remember to put this in his tea." Yang Shi anxiously instructed.

"But... Mother, won't my husband, being a martial artist, notice if I... if I drug him?" Hong Ling anxiously asked.

"Don't worry, this is a good thing. Even if his martial arts are powerful, it would be difficult for him to detect it." Yang Shi patted her daughter's hand reassuringly, with a smile on her face.

"Ling'er, think about it. Pojun is also an outstanding individual. Following him, you won't be at a disadvantage. Forget about Zhimin." Yang Shi worriedly lectured her daughter.

Hearing her mother's repeated reminders, Hong Ling felt a sourness in her heart. Forgetting someone was easier said than done. How could anyone do it? To sever a relationship that had been nurtured for so many years. It was difficult... so difficult!

"I'll take my leave, Mother."

"Yes, Zizhu, take good care of Miss."

"Yes, Old Madam."

Hong Ling walked and thought, becoming increasingly uneasy. Now she realized that she couldn't accept anyone other than her cousin touching her. Even if Pojun was her husband, she couldn't allow it. No, if I don't do it... it will affect my parents and countless others in the household. Hong Ling agonized over her thoughts.

Ah... ah... Before Hong Ling could cry out, she was embraced by a warm chest. Her startled cry was smothered by rough kisses.

As soon as Hong Ling felt the familiar embrace and breath, tears flowed like a torrent. She responded passionately to the person who was kissing her fervently. The longing and affection that had built up over the past few days surged between the two, illuminated by the gentle moonlight in the clear night sky.

Seeing this scene, Zizhu quietly retreated, not wanting to disturb the pair who couldn't be together.

I stood at a high place, watching the entangled couple in the garden, deeply regretting my decision to agree to the absurd request without investigating. My intrusion had broken up a perfect couple, and my remorse shattered the facade of indifference I had forcefully maintained. But I understood that I couldn't change the situation. I silently watched everything before me.

Let tonight be the time for you to be together, tomorrow morning you will still be Pojun's wife, and I will still be your husband. Don't blame me for being heartless and unwilling to fulfill your wishes. It's just that I have no choice.

"Cousin..." After Hong Ling regained her senses in the midst of the passion, she looked at the man before her with a joyful expression.

"You heartless woman... abandoning me for an empty title," Zhimin murmured angrily, holding the person in his arms, but also hating himself for not being able to let go.

"It's not like that, I..." Hong Ling couldn't find the words, looking at her handsome cousin. She could only shed tears of grievance, unable to tell him everything. If she did, her cousin would surely take her away. But for the sake of her elderly parents, she couldn't do it... not to mention the lives of so many people.

"Hong Ling, does the title of General's wife make you forget our years of love?" Zhimin interrogated, remembering that three days ago he learned that she was marrying someone else. It made him so angry that he spat blood and fainted on the spot. If it weren't for his parents stopping him, he would have gone to take her away as soon as he regained consciousness.

"Cousin, it's my fault. I hope... cousin, please... forget about me," Hong Ling said and hurriedly ran away, tears streaming down her face.

Left in disbelief, unable to comprehend how the person he loved could be so heartless, Zhimin felt his internal energy churn, a bloody and sweet sensation surging up.

"Hahaha... Hong Ling, your affection is as fragile as jade." Zhimin took out the token of their love from back then and exerted a little force. A translucent jade butterfly shattered under his internal energy, and after discarding the jade pendant, Zhimin disappeared like he had when he arrived.

Meanwhile, Hong Ling, who had initially left, reappeared in the garden after confirming that Zhimin had left. She looked at the jade butterfly discarded on the ground by her cousin and slowly lowered her body to pick up the broken jade. She carefully wrapped it in silk and held it in her arms. Kneeling on the ground, she cried bitterly, unable to stand up, her body trembling with pain.

And I could only watch her cry, unable to offer any comfort. Must their happiness be sacrificed for the stability of the court? Thinking of how he was holding his beloved beauty in his arms, enjoying himself, while I had become the destroyer of someone else's marriage, I couldn't stop blaming myself for my sins.

It's him, it's all because of him, he's the one who led me into this inescapable predicament. Why did I sacrifice so much for him? He doesn't understand my feelings. Rage consumed me, and my mind was filled with only one thought. I should kill him so I won't suffer anymore. Clenching my fists tightly, I couldn't feel the pain of my nails digging into my palms. Just as I was about to obey my brain's command, a voice echoed in my heart, "Can you really let go of your feelings for him?"

I couldn't face Hong Ling tonight, nor could I accept that I still couldn't let go of my feelings for her. I needed to calm down, to adjust my derailing mentality. With light and agile movements, I leaped and somersaulted back into the quiet pine forest. Facing the silent mountains and the shimmering Mirror Moon Lake, without thinking, I plunged into the cool lake. I didn't mind the water soaking my clothes, standing in the water, I lowered my head and looked at my reflection in the water.

"Why? Why? Why me? Why did I have to fall in love with you? You were only seeking loyalty. Why did I foolishly offer my infatuation? Why? Ah~" I muttered to myself until my voice turned into a roar. But it couldn't dissipate the suffocating frustration in my chest, instead scaring away the birds in the forest. I angrily slapped the water, hoping to calm down, but it had no effect.

"I'm going crazy, I'm going crazy~ I'm going to lose my mind. Ah~" Fresh blood gushed out in the midst of my frenzy. I fainted, and a pair of large hands lovingly carried me into an unfamiliar embrace. As my will completely dissipated, I only heard a deep sigh from the person holding me. I wanted to ask, "Who are you? Why are you sighing?" but I couldn't find my voice, and the overwhelming drowsiness stole my thoughts away.

"My spirit, I almost lost you." The man embraced me, his slender phoenix eyes filled with a tender and indulgent gaze as he looked at the person in his arms.

"For someone who doesn't love you, is it worth torturing yourself like this?" The man whispered to me again, regardless of whether I could hear him or not. He carried me away from Mirror Moon Lake, and once on the shore, he used his internal energy to evaporate the water from his body. With a gentle step, he disappeared without a trace.