Chapter 92: Win rose with water!
The atmosphere suddenly got tense, the words hung heavy in the air, the young master's blunt proposition cutting through the facade of pleasantries like a sharpened sword.
Lady Yang held his gaze, her mind racing as the implications of his offer sank in.
With a composure that belied her inner turmoil, she set down her teacup gently, her delicate hands trembling slightly.
Make her Matriarch? Isn't that clear Indication meaning he will kill her husband or show mercy and just cripple him?
The sudden intensity of the moment sent a shiver down her spine, but she forced herself to remain composed on the outside, maintaining the image of a refined lady.
But beneath her cool demeanor, her heart was a tempest, her thoughts swirling with a mixture of shock, intrigue, and something akin to thrill.
No one had ever propositioned her like this, and the young master's audacity both irritated and attracted her.
"Young Master..." she began, her voice steady despite the maelstrom of emotions raging inside her.
"Your offer is... unexpected, to say the least. You have created an image for being as cold as the winter frost and as direct as a dragon's breath... even I am taken aback by your bluntness,"
The servants and Saintess around them froze in place, their presence forgotten in the charged atmosphere between her and the young master.
Needless to say, they are unable to hear the conversation between, Bai Lung and Lady Yang.
The air felt thick, like a tangible force pressing upon them both.
But Lady Yang kept her composure, her poise flawless even as her heart raced, she couldn't form words clearly.
She met the young master's penetrating gaze, refusing to shrink under the intensity of his scrutiny.
"Young Master, I am a married woman. What you're suggesting... it goes against everything I've been taught. My loyalty, my duty… not to mention, your suggestion seems to be harming my husband not to mention-,"
She paused, her words catching in her throat as she struggled to articulate the complexities of her conflicting feelings.
Her eyes flickered towards her husband's unconscious form, a flicker of guilt and affection mingled in her gaze.
"My husband, even if our marriage was not born out of love, he has been a decent man. I cannot just forget my vows and submit to you, even if the prospect... tempting as it is,"
She wasn't from the capital, for none, it's easy to understand the motive under the veil of alluring words.
She understood, he seemed to be interested in her, in her body of perhaps more. Yet, one thing is sure, this man wants control, he wants powerful force under his fingertip.
Even if he isn't interested in her... It is clear she has to submit to him, and there might be certain times, where she might have to spread something long and slender.
Yet!!!
Even as she voiced her objections, her voice wavered.
She couldn't deny the undeniable pull she felt towards the young master, a magnetic force that seemed to defy reason.
Getting attracted to capable being, is it something extraordinary? Obviously no.
Her skin buzzed with suppressed energy, her body reacting to his presence in ways she couldn't control.
Her thoughts warred with her practical mindset, the part of her that knew she shouldn't, and the part of her that yearned to.
The young master Bai observed her silently, his gaze piercing and intense.
He seemed to read her inner conflict as easily as a book, his expression betraying none of his own thoughts.
"Lady Yang," he murmured, his voice like silk, "You are a woman of intellect and beauty, and you know as well as I do that loyalty is often more of a cage than a choice. Your marriage to your husband may be dutiful, but I can offer you much more... Power, respect, freedom..."
The word 'freedom' echoed through her mind, awakening a deep hunger within her that she had suppressed for far too long.
Her thoughts flickered back to her childhood, to the life she had been forced to lead, and the dreams she had reluctantly abandoned.
She looked at the young master again, the cold edge in his eyes now seemed tinged with heat, a hidden fire that matched her own.
"Young Master," she whispered, the words coming out almost against her will, "You ask me to choose between duty and desire... But what if I cannot ignore what I want?"
A hint of satisfaction flickered in Bai Lung's eyes, though his expression remained as stoic as ever.
He seemed to sense the shift in her demeanor, the weakening of her resolve, a white rabbit ready to be required by a big black Panther.
"Sometimes, Lady Yang," he replied, his voice low and persuasive, "Duty and desire entwine in the most unexpected ways. Sometimes, the path that seems wrong is the one that leads us to true fulfillment. And sometimes, the greatest rebellion is found in letting go of constraints and embracing what we truly crave,"
The words seared themselves into her mind, each syllable carrying a weight that shook her to the core.
She tried to hold onto her reservations, her sense of responsibility, but it was slowly, painfully being eroded by the force of his charismatic persuasion.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she looked at him, her defenses crumbling with every passing moment.
"Young Master..." she murmured, her voice tremulous, "What you're saying... it's dangerous. I can't just... break all the rules, throw away everything I've been taught..."
[ Ding! Yang Su's current affection towards the host is 30 ]
[ Ding! Yang Su's current affection towards her husband is 35 ]
[ Ding! Yang Su is currently intimidated by Host, play your card... ]
When iron is hot, Bai Lung is mastered at hammering it.
He leaned closer, his presence now overwhelming.
"Rules are made to be broken, Lady Yang... Such offers are rare to come by,"