Chapter 286: Chapter 283: EntanglementLuo Shan gradually put down roots in the Capital City.

    She now had her own Luo Mansion, adjacent to the Duke Zhongyi Mansion, surrounded by noble residences, which meant security was hardly an issue.

    It was just that she also lived close to the Cui Family’s residence—down one road and around a corner.

    It took merely a quarter of an hour to get there.

    Luo Shan was somewhat hesitant to choose this location at the time, but considering safety, it was the most secure place.

    She thought that the Cui Family wouldn’t bother to stroll over to her side.

    However, she thought wrong.

    Once Cui Jianqing learned she had entered the palace and become a female doctor and even gained the Empress’s favor, he started thinking about rekindling their past love.

    Once, when she was returning home from the palace, she encountered him right at her front door.

    Cui Jianqing was a handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth, had Sang Yan seen him, she would surely find him a likable little puppy—but even little puppies can bite, and bite hard.

    He had betrayed Luo Shan, and shattered her heart.

    "My heart does have a place for you. Shanshan, I do not love that woman. I had no choice but to obey my father’s orders."

    He blocked the way of her carriage, reeking of alcohol.

    He was probably ashamed and lacked the courage, so he drank before coming over, thinking that alcohol could bolster his timid bravery.

    Luo Shan caught the scent of alcohol on him and frowned.

    During her time at the brothel, she saw plenty of men get drunkenly wild, sometimes even turning to violence against women.

    So, she had a strong aversion to it.

    Cui Jianqing had been with her for over a year without so much as touching a drop of alcohol, and yet, in just half a year, everything changed.

    "Shanshan—"

    When Cui Jianqing saw Luo Shan rub her nose, he knew she detested the smell of alcohol on him and hurriedly explained, "I didn’t intend to drink. It’s just that... after leaving you, my parents pressed me repeatedly, and I had no choice but to drown my sorrows in liquor. I came to see you today because I feel ashamed. Shanshan, I wronged you, I was at fault. Can you forgive me?"

    This was the scene Luo Shan had once longed for.

    She wanted to see Cui Jianqing weep bitterly before her, begging for her forgiveness. Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But when it actually happened, she found she wasn’t as delighted or as satisfied as she thought she’d be.

    She knew it was because she had come to terms with it, she didn’t love him anymore.

    Once love was gone, there was no point in clinging on.

    "Forgive?"

    She scoffed coldly, "What then, after forgiveness? What are you planning to do?"

    Cui Jianqing’s face turned an awkward red as he said in a low voice, "I’ve already spoken to my father, and I want to make you my... concubine. He has consented. Shanshan, we can be together now."

    He had truly liked her once.

    And he still had some feelings for her now.

    As he said the last sentence, his smile revealed some sincerity.

    "But Cui Jianqing, I don’t want to be with you anymore."

    Luo Shan’s words froze his smile.

    Cui Jianqing hadn’t expected Luo Shan to reject him.

    He thought that after showing his responsibility and sincerity, she would joyously accept him.

    After all, he was the legitimate son of the Minister of Rites!

    "Shanshan, what did you just say?"

    He thought he must have misheard.

    Seeing his disbelief, Luo Shan sneered again, "I said I don’t want to be with you. Mr. Cui, please leave."

    She was grateful that she met the Empress and awakened in time: reliable men were too scarce. Look at his tone just now, as if taking her in would be a great fortune for her? Little did he realize that when he had sincerely proposed, it was her choice to marry him. When had she given him the impression that she was so humble?

    "Luo Shan, do you realize what you’re saying?"

    Cui Jianqing still couldn’t believe Luo Shan would refuse him.

    Seeing this, Luo Shan didn’t spare his feelings, retorting, "Mr. Cui, I know exactly what I am saying. Or perhaps you have grown deaf at your young age?"

    She had stated her point twice clearly, yet it seemed not to have registered with him at all.

    Utterly boring.

    She ran out of patience and started to walk away—

    When Cui Jianqing saw this, he hastily reached out and grabbed her wrist, his expression turning dark, "Luo Shan, do you have someone else?"

    His possessiveness as a man surged, not allowing her to be with anyone else even though he was the one who abandoned her first.

    "Enough!"

    Luo Shan recognized his shamelessness once more, disappointment filling her eyes, "Cui Jianqing, so this is what kind of man you truly are."

    She didn’t want to say another word to him, flung off his hand harshly, and stepped into the mansion.

    Cui Jianqing still wanted to chase after her——

    The old gatekeeper stepped forward and shouted, "Hey, stop, what are you doing? If you keep pulling on our Miss, I’ll report to the authorities!"

    On hearing of reporting to the officials, Cui Jianqing, his face turning from red to purple, stopped in his tracks.

    As the son of the Minister of Rites, he most certainly could not afford the disgrace of being involved with an official due to some courtesan!

    He could not bear that shame!

    He didn’t chase after her, yet he was not willing to just let go.

    The following morning

    He came to Luo Mansion again.

    Just to run into Luo Shan who was about to go to the palace for her duties.

    "Listen to me——"

    He grabbed Luo Shan’s hand, eyes earnestly upon her, he pleaded, "Shanshan, what do you want me to do for you to forgive me? As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do it."

    He couldn’t bear to lose her like this.

    Such is the inferior nature of men.

    They can leave you, but once you no longer want them, it revives their desire to conquer.

    Luo Shan shook her head, her face resolute, "Cui Jianqing, I’m telling you for the last time, I don’t want to be with you anymore! No matter what you do, I won’t be with you again!"

    After speaking, she shook off his hand and got on the carriage.

    Cui Jianqing watched as the carriage drove away, his hands clenched tightly into fists.

    "Luo Shan, you’re pushing me too far!"

    He had gone from resentment to hatred.

    He spent the day drinking in the tavern, yet it wasn’t enough to quell the hatred.

    When it got dark, guessing that she would have finished her duties and left the palace, he went out to intercept her again.

    This time, he was "subtler" in his approach.

    He stood atop a high roof, waiting, and when he saw the carriage turn into the alley of Luo Mansion, he flew across and landed on the carriage, striking down the coachman with a swift chop of his hand.

    The entire process was executed with quiet movements.

    Luo Shan sat inside the carriage, pondering over a tough medical issue she had encountered at the Imperial Hospital—she had been given a hard time by the male Imperial Physicians. They looked down on her, assigning her the bizarre case of an Emperor averse to the presence of women, demanding her to come up with a solution.

    She had been busy with this for several days.

    Even after leaving the palace for home, she was still engrossed in thinking of how to resolve it.

    Because she was so immersed in thought, she was completely unaware of the situation outside—the assault on the coachman, who now lay unconscious to the side, and now it was Cui Jianqing driving the carriage.

    The carriage swiftly passed Luo Mansion.

    The old gatekeeper sat on the doorstep, yawning, nearly asleep.

    He did not notice his Miss’s carriage flash by.

    The carriage continued onwards.

    Traveling up to a secluded alley.

    The moon shone like silver.

    A chill spread across the ground.

    Luo Shan in the carriage grew uneasy—Why haven’t we arrived? Oh, what’s this scent of alcohol?

    She frowned, reaching out to lift the curtain of the carriage——

    Cui Jianqing, projecting himself, lifted the curtain first and stepped inside.

    "Why are you here?"

    Luo Shan turned cold, staring at him with wary eyes.

    Cui Jianqing, reeking of booze, said, "Shanshan, if I’m not here, where should I be? Huh? You tell me, where should I be?"

    He had developed a drinking problem because of her.

    Now it was not the liquor intoxicating the man, but the man drowning in his sorrow.

    "Shanshan, you belong to me."

    He laughed loudly, then lunged at her.

    Luo Shan screamed in fright, "Get away! Cui Jianqing, you’re insane!"

    Then she raised her foot and kicked him where it hurt the most.

    "Agh!"

    The kick hit home with solid impact.

    Cui Jianqing’s pain was piercing, he felt tears spring to his eyes.

    "Luo... Shan!"

    He hissed through clenched teeth, his frustration boiling over with fury, his only thought was to make her cry and beg for mercy...