Lotus in a Bottle - Chapter 4

Section 6

It didn’t really matter if he’d overheard me.

If Tan Lian couldn’t stand my “vulgarity,” I’d be more than happy to divorce him and make my escape…

The thought had barely crossed my mind when a cool hand took mine.

Tan Lian still carried the scent of incense from the temple. With his ethereal voice and appearance, he seemed like an immortal descended from an altar. His tone was as gentle as ever, yet it held an inexplicable firmness that was wholly unlike him.

“Baoping will be my only wife in this lifetime. Husband and wife are one, so there is no question of either being unworthy of the other.

“If any of you have a problem with the Tan Family, you may say so directly to me. But please do not make things difficult for my wife.”

The entire gathering fell deathly silent.

This time, Zhou Luoyue truly burst into tears.

Besides his peerlessly handsome face, Tan Lian was famous for his gentle and considerate nature. He was practically a White Lotus whose compassion extended to all living beings.

No one had ever heard him utter so much as a harsh word. Today was the first time he’d made an exception.

When the young ladies around us fell silent, Tan Lian’s expression softened, and he gave me a tender smile.

“Shall we go light the offering lamps?”

With that, he led me straight into the main hall without letting go of my hand.

It was just holding hands, yet my face burned even hotter than it had after last night’s kiss-

Purely because all those piercing stares were terrifying me.

My palms were slick with nervous sweat, but Tan Lian showed no sign of disgust. He merely asked in confusion, “Baoping, are you nervous?”

I gave him an awkward smile. “A little. Just a little.”

Tan Lian reassured me, “There’s no need to be nervous. You are the wife I have chosen. Mother will certainly like you.”

That wasn’t what I was nervous about.

When the cold wind had swept past us earlier, I’d suddenly realized something.

As soon as Zhou Luoyue and the others descended the mountain, word that Tan Lian had stood up for me would spread throughout the entire capital.

If those rabid supporting male leads could still sit still when Tan Lian merely took a wife, then once news spread that he had “flown into a rage for his beloved beauty”…

“Hm? Baoping, why did you stop?”

I looked at the oblivious beauty beside me and serenely closed my eyes for a moment.

“My legs feel a little weak. It must be the cold weather.”

Section 7

Sure enough, only half a month later, someone sent an invitation to me, “Tan Lian’s one and only wife.”

The Princess Royal was His Majesty’s only elder sister, so naturally, I could not refuse her invitation.

Her Highness had always been arrogant and overbearing, and her appetite for beauty was notorious throughout the capital.

She showed her imperial consort husband no consideration whatsoever. Not only did she keep countless young and handsome male favorites in her residence, but years ago, she had even tried to get her hands on Tan Lian when he was sixteen.

However, the Princess Royal did have one weakness: her only son, Han Ming.

It was only because Han Ming had desperately pleaded with his mother that the Princess Royal hadn’t abducted Tan Lian straight into her residence back then.

One could say that Tan Lian’s irresistible charm exposed him to all sorts of danger, but that same charm protected him as well.

The Princess Royal had most likely invited Tan Lian and me to this banquet because of Han Ming.

Given her personality, she wouldn’t care whether Tan Lian was married. Only Han Ming would agonize over whether Tan Lian had fallen in love with someone.

The Princess Royal’s poetry gathering had separate seating for men and women, so Tan Lian and I were forced apart the moment we entered.

Leaving aside what was happening on Tan Lian’s end, I was promptly “invited” by one of the Princess Royal’s maids to meet Her Highness.

The instant she saw me, the Princess Royal’s eyes lit up. Smiling, she took my hand.

“No wonder you managed to win little Tan Lian’s heart. The young lady of the Xie Family is truly enchanting.”

As she spoke, her hands continued roaming over me like some man-eating seductress.

Goose bumps erupted all over my body.

The rumors only said the Princess Royal was lustful. No one said she swung both ways!

Seeing my strained expression, the Princess Royal released me with obvious regret, then waved her servants away.

“I find you quite pleasing, Young Lady Xie, so I won’t make things difficult for you.

“You can probably guess what I wish to discuss. I don’t care how affectionate you and little Tan Lian are, but that disappointing son of mine cannot accept it. Therefore, I would like to propose a transaction.”

She tossed several booklets in front of me.

There were deeds to shops and estates, banknotes worth staggering sums… and a stack of indenture contracts belonging to male courtesans.

“You are both still young, so you think fidelity is something precious. In truth, life is short. Enjoying yourself while you can is what truly matters.”

The Princess Royal’s alluring red lips curved upward as the pointed guard on her finger touched my chest and slowly trailed down.

“These little pets are all untouched. Their looks may not compare to little Tan Lian’s, but each of them is still a rare beauty. Help my son become intimate with little Tan Lian, and all of this will be yours.”

So even an irresistible heartthrob was nothing more than a commodity to be traded in the eyes of those in power.

All I had to do was nod. Not only would I make a fortune, but I could also free myself from Tan Lian and all the trouble his irresistible charm brought.

Perhaps the Princess Royal’s incense was simply too strong, but my chest felt tight. I could barely breathe, and with my breath coming so uneasily, I naturally didn’t feel like nodding.

“Your Highness, Tan Lian is not an object. I have no right to-”

Before I could finish refusing her, the Princess Royal’s door was violently thrown open.

She looked back in displeasure, but after seeing who had barged in, she rolled her eyes with equal parts exasperation and indulgence.

Shen Huaihuan stumbled inside in a panic. Only after seeing that my clothes were still intact did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The Princess Royal gave a mocking laugh. “Why are your eyes fixed on another man’s wife? Have you forgotten to greet your aunt first?”

Shen Huaihuan was clearly terrified of the Princess Royal. She had probably taken plenty of liberties with him when he was younger.

After stammering out a greeting, he waited until the Princess Royal wasn’t paying attention, then secretly grabbed hold of me.

“Aunt, I need to speak with her. We’ll be leaving now!”

Under the Princess Royal’s knowing smile, Shen Huaihuan dragged me away without looking back.

It took me a moment to realize that Shen Huaihuan seemed to have rushed over specifically to rescue me because he was afraid the Princess Royal would torment me.

Ah, was he protecting me for Tan Lian’s sake?

His love for Tan Lian truly ran deep.