Drunk on Madness - Chapter 83

Li Xiang’s fingers were deeply cut by the blade from gripping it too hard, blood seeping profusely from the wounds and trickling down her fingertips, dripping onto the steps to form pools of crimson.

Her brows furrowed slightly, the pain making her breathing heavy and rapid. “You promised me you wouldn’t hurt anyone?”

Zhou Mingxuan’s fingers trembled slightly as he clutched the hilt, struggling to maintain his composure. “Fine, I promise. Now let go.” As he spoke, he tried to pull the sword free, but Li Xiang held on stubbornly, more blood oozing from between her fingers. Zhou Mingxuan dared not move again.

Li Xiang watched Zhou Mingxuan hesitate because of her injury and suddenly felt unwilling to release her grip. Despite the unbearable pain in her hands, she showed no intention of backing down.

Zhou Mingxuan seemed to sense her resolve. His voice low and hoarse, tinged with a hint of madness, he said, “Let go now, or everything we just agreed on is void. I’ll have Su Mo killed immediately.”

At his words, Li Xiang slowly loosened her grip on the blade, her fingertips trembling slightly, shaking off more blood. Su Mo immediately caught her, pulling her into his embrace. Tears glistened in Li Xiang’s eyes as she gave Su Mo a wounded glance before fainting.

Thanks to Li Xiang’s persistence, the captured individuals were allowed back into the estate. Servants tidied the rooms, and the accompanying imperial physician bandaged Li Xiang’s wounds. For the moment, the situation seemed under control.

It was already late at night, and Zhou Mingxuan showed no intention of leaving.

The two men stood vigil by Li Xiang’s bedside in silence, like strangers who had never met.

Zhou Mingxuan lowered his head, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Li Xiang’s face as if he could never tire of looking at her. Gently, he brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead.

Su Mo watched Zhou Mingxuan’s actions without a word.

Suddenly, Zhou Mingxuan spoke. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Su Mo’s eyelid twitched. “What is there to say?”

Zhou Mingxuan’s tone turned stern. “Back then, why did you kidnap Xiangxiang, pretend to kill me, and then attempt suicide? Why did you leave for Youzhou without a word, only to sneak back and take her away again? Don’t you owe me an explanation for all this?”

In the flickering lamplight, Su Mo’s handsome face stiffened, his sharp, dark eyes flashing with complex emotions.

After a long pause, Su Mo finally spoke. “I heard she wasn’t doing well in the palace. I wanted to return to the capital to see her. But when I entered the palace that day, I found her hiding under the bed, refusing to come out.”

He turned, a fleeting trace of fury in his eyes. “She stayed under that bed for ten whole days while pregnant. You had already married Chen Minying as your principal wife. How could I possibly entrust her to you?” His phoenix-like eyes, dark as ink, briefly flashed crimson before the emotion vanished without a trace.

“And the most absurd part? I watched the imperial guards set fire to Wanxiang Hall.”

Su Mo suddenly grabbed Zhou Mingxuan’s collar, his cold gaze locking onto his eyes as he continued, “Imperial guards? Was it your father the emperor or your mother the empress? If she had stayed in the palace, she would have lost her life.”

Zhou Mingxuan frowned. He hadn’t known Li Xiang had spent those days hiding beneath a bed, she must have hated him deeply at the time. Pushing Su Mo away, he explained, “I was framed by Chen Minying. Her family is influential. My father had no choice but to make me marry her.”

“As for the guards setting fire to Wanxiang Hall, it was because Xiangxiang had been missing for days. The Empress Dowager believed she had been killed and, seeing me in such low spirits, resorted to this desperate measure. She didn’t know Xiangxiang was still inside Wanxiang Hall.”

Su Mo said, “Has Your Highness ever considered why she would think Xiangxiang had been killed? She neither searched for her nor sought revenge, but instead burned down Xiangxiang’s residence?”

Su Mo stared at him, a flash of fury passing through his eyes. “She wanted you to give up completely, Your Highness. Don’t you understand?”

The ice in Zhou Mingxuan’s gaze deepened, his voice trembling slightly. “The Empress Dowager didn’t mean it. I’ll explain to Xiangxiang and ask for her forgiveness.”

Su Mo sneered at his words. “What if Xiangxiang forgives you? What then? I won’t let her go with you again.”

Zhou Mingxuan was left speechless.

After a long silence, he continued, “Why did you try to kill me that night on the lake?”

Su Mo stiffened, unwilling to answer.

Zhou Mingxuan remained composed. “If you won’t say, I’ll just ask Xiangxiang tomorrow.”

Su Mo slowly turned to look at him, his anger growing. “Fine, I’ll tell you. Just don’t regret hearing it.”

He walked to the center of the room, sat by the table, poured himself a cup of water, and drank before speaking. “That day, I wanted to take her away. She said she was tired and didn’t want to be caught between us anymore. She chose you, she wanted to stay by your side. I couldn’t accept it.”

Su Mo clenched the cup in his hand. “I waited every day just to see her, and yet she said she was giving up on me, just because she was tired. I didn’t believe it.”

He suddenly lowered his head, his voice muffled. “I… I tied her up and forced her to tell me why.”

Zhou Mingxuan frowned, watching Su Mo’s struggle to speak, an inexplicable tremor rising in his heart.

Su Mo gazed at the unconscious Li Xiang, a low laugh escaping his throat. “She said she fell in love with you and wanted to live a peaceful life with you.” His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, his eyes immediately reddening.

His body shook faintly, as if unable to bear it. “Isn’t that funny?”

Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes flickered with shock. He froze for a moment before turning to look at Li Xiang. His expression stiffened, his face flushing crimson as he stared at her.

The accidental brush of his fingers against her cheek made him turn even redder. He clenched his fists unconsciously, struggling to suppress the joy in his heart.

“How could I accept it? She always loved me, why did she choose you in the end? I asked her if it was because of the child. I told her I could wait until the day you grew tired of her. But she refused to give me another chance.”

A cruel smile suddenly curled at Su Mo’s lips, pulling one into the abyss. “Luckily, I didn’t lose completely. That afternoon, Xiangxiang and I spent hours together, and we had Ranran. It’s also thanks to me not dying and returning to the capital in time that I saved Xiangxiang and Ranran from the fire.”

Zhou Mingxuan’s expression froze. After a long silence, he asked, “That child is also yours?”

Su Mo gave him a cold look. “Yes. She’s mine.”