Drunk on Madness - Chapter 84

Morning light filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled patterns across the room.

Li Xiang’s eyelashes fluttered gently as she slowly opened her eyes. When she tried to turn over, the slight movement tugged at the wound on her hand, causing her to frown faintly.

“Did you hurt yourself?” Zhou Mingxuan lay quietly beside her on the left, his gaze filled with tenderness and concern.

She immediately sat up and leaned back in surprise, only to bump into a warm body behind her.

“Xiangxiang, does your hand still hurt?” Su Mo’s husky voice suddenly came from behind. Li Xiang felt her breath catch, unsure how to respond.

Waking up to find three people sharing a bed left her utterly bewildered. Instinctively, she retreated to the foot of the bed, putting distance between herself and the two men. As she moved, the quilt shifted, revealing that all three were dressed in white undergarments.

Su Mo lazily lifted his eyelids, his eyes still heavy with sleep. He slowly sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked toward Li Xiang, who appeared frightened at the foot of the bed.

Her mind went blank, her heart pounding wildly. Her gaze darted between Su Mo and Zhou Mingxuan, as if trying to make sense of the situation.

She stared blankly for a long moment, mouth slightly agape, before finally asking, “Why are both of you in bed?”

Zhou Mingxuan sat up and looked at her. “It was too late last night, and Su Mo refused to leave. We had no choice but to stay here temporarily.”

Su Mo, who had been drowsy, immediately snapped awake and glared at Zhou Mingxuan. “This is mine and Xiangxiang’s room. If anyone should leave, it’s you.”

Afraid they might start fighting again, Li Xiang quickly positioned herself between them, blocking their line of sight. She turned to Zhou Mingxuan, her eyes pleading. “I’m hungry.”

A faint fragrance drifted from her, and Zhou Mingxuan couldn’t help but glance her way.

Li Xiang wore a rose-red undergarment beneath a sheer white plum-blossom patterned gauze robe, which subtly revealed one shoulder and her long legs. Her hair cascaded down to her waist, carrying a delicate scent.

Zhou Mingxuan paused for a moment before pulling her onto his lap. Her back pressed against his chest, and she could feel the warmth of his body. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Alright, let’s eat first.”

With that, he carried her off the bed and walked toward the wardrobe. He selected a set of clothes in the same color as Su Mo’s and helped her into them.

Watching Zhou Mingxuan act as if he were the master of the house irritated Su Mo. He quickly got up and put on a similarly colored outfit. Throughout this, Li Xiang kept glancing toward Su Mo, prompting Zhou Mingxuan to firmly turn her head toward him and kiss her deeply.

Li Xiang tilted her head back, feeling dizzy from the lack of air. She took a step back, leaning against the wardrobe behind her.

Zhou Mingxuan’s gaze darkened, his heated breath brushing against her flushed ear. “If you’re not hungry, we can do something else instead.”

Breathing unevenly, Li Xiang trembled as she gripped Zhou Mingxuan’s wrist. She glanced at Su Mo, who stood nearby looking furious. “I’m definitely hungry.”

Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes flickered with unreadable emotions before he finally let out a soft laugh.

The servants in the residence had been badly frightened the previous day, and Madam Su had spent the entire night on edge. Seeing the three of them emerge for breakfast, they all treaded carefully.

Noticing their apprehension, Li Xiang had the food brought to the room, and the three of them ate breakfast there.

After the meal, Li Xiang wanted to speak with Zhou Mingxuan alone. Now that he had found her, there were matters she would eventually have to face.

Zhou Mingxuan sat by the window in the study. Morning light streamed through the lattice, casting a soft, serene glow on his handsome features.

Li Xiang got straight to the point and asked, “How do you plan to deal with us?”

Zhou Mingxuan sighed inwardly, leaning back in silence as if contemplating her ultimate fate.

The anger from their reunion yesterday had now dissipated like morning mist, replaced by a rare sense of tranquility within him. He closed his eyes slightly, savoring this unusual calm, feeling an inexplicable peace wash over him.

“I divorced Chen Minying,” Zhou Mingxuan opened his eyes and looked at her.

Li Xiang was taken aback. “Why?”

Zhou Mingxuan explained, “After two years in the palace, she never gained my favor, so we divorced.” He lied. He didn’t want Li Xiang to know that he had once used Yu Shu’s appearance to reminisce about her.

After a long silence, as if unable to hold back any longer, Zhou Mingxuan inexplicably chuckled.

He walked toward Li Xiang, his gaze dark and intense. He stared into her eyes, gripping her shoulders, and said, “From beginning to end, I never touched her. Not in my heart, nor physically. I have always belonged to you.”

He stared at Li Xiang, his eyes brimming with an overwhelming depth of emotion.

“Come with me, and I’ll let bygones be bygones regarding you and Su Mo. I was married, but I’ve already divorced her. You were with Su Mo for three years and bore him two children. We’ve each made one mistake, we’re even.”

Li Xiang was slightly surprised. “How did you know the two children are his?”

Zhou Mingxuan replied, “Last night, after you fainted, we talked.”

Seeing no joy in her eyes, his gaze darkened further as he continued, “If you’re worried about the children, we can take them back to the capital and raise them in a courtyard. I promise you, I will treat them as my own.”

Li Xiang’s face stiffened, and a complex expression flickered in her dark eyes. She gently pushed his hand away and said, “I don’t believe you can forget everything and start over.”

“Today, you divorced the Crown Princess, but tomorrow there will be other noblewomen for you to choose from. Don’t deceive yourself.”

As if wanting to persuade her further, Zhou Mingxuan was interrupted by Li Xiang, who said, “I promised Su Mo. In this lifetime, I will never love anyone else but him.”

Zhou Mingxuan frowned, gripping her shoulders again as he pressed, “When did you promise him that?”

When she remained silent, he continued, “Last night, he said the reason he attempted suicide on the day of the boat trip was because you told him you loved me. Is that true? Did you give him up for my sake?”

Overwhelmed by his questions, Li Xiang felt dizzy and unsure how to respond.

She took a step back, freeing herself from his grasp. “Yes, I did love you. So what?”

“I know you didn’t like Chen Minying, but you still married her.”

“Marriage was to consolidate imperial power, I understand. You had your reasons. I tried to forget that you married someone else and attempted to be magnanimous.”

“But I couldn’t bring myself to kneel before your woman with a smile and let my children call her mother. I was with you for three years, and every day I reminded myself to be cautious, not to fall in love with you. I was afraid that one day I would lose miserably. Do you understand?”

Her eyes reddened, as if his questioning had pushed her to the brink.

Zhou Mingxuan stood there, pale and motionless, watching her tears. He remained stunned for a long moment before his arms trembled slightly as he stepped forward and wrapped them around her waist.

“What must I do to keep you?”