"Your Highness, your concubine understands everything. However, I have something important to tell you."
Chu Yanxi's eyes narrowed slightly. What scheme was she up to now? What important matter could she possibly have to tell him?
"What I need to tell you, Your Highness, is about Zhao Yulong."
Seeing that Chu Yanxi remained unmoved, Liu Menghan directly revealed her final trump card. Just as she had expected, Chu Yanxi's expression changed dramatically the moment she uttered the name 'Zhao Yulong'.
"What exactly do you want to say?" Chu Yanxi asked, a hint of panic in his voice.
"My brother had some dealings with Zhao Yulong. Before Zhao Yulong was captured, he entrusted some items to my brother. I saw something that seemed to be related to Your Highness, so I stole it."
"Where are the items?"
Chu Yanxi could not immediately determine if Liu Menghan was telling the truth. However, given the current circumstances, he had no time for speculation. He had to eliminate any unfavorable factors at all costs.
"Your Highness can rest assured, the items are in my possession, and I will ensure no one finds out."
"Are you threatening me? It seems the previous incident did not teach you a lesson!"
The feeling of suffocation and powerlessness from before surged through his limbs and bones. Liu Menghan forced herself to remain calm, taking a deep breath. She said in a low voice, "Your Highness exaggerates. How would your concubine dare to threaten you? Since ancient times, a woman marries and follows her husband. I am destined to rely on Your Highness for my entire life. All I wish for is for my husband to look upon me a little more, and to have a place to belong."
"Everything you've returned, and anything else, this Prince will not mistreat you. What is it you truly desire?"
With leverage in Liu Menghan's hands, Chu Yanxi's tone softened considerably, which was rare.
"I want a child. I want to give birth to Your Highness's eldest legitimate son, the heir of the Third Prince's manor, the future Crown Prince of Dong Chu. I implore Your Highness to grant my wish."
Since this husband was unreliable, she could only rely on her son. With a son, she would ascend in status. As long as she bore the legitimate son, the future Crown Prince, her life would remain secure. As for that lowly Feng Ruoyan, she would only ever be a concubine.
Chu Yanxi clenched his fists tightly, his face instantly darkening. "Do not push your luck."
"Your Highness can take your time to consider. If Your Highness wishes to kill me, please reconsider carefully. I have hidden the items in a very safe place, but if I die, your secret will be revealed to the public."
She did not want to be in this situation. It was all because Chu Yanxi had forced her to it.
When she first married him, had she not thought about their future life? Even though Chu Yanxi had humiliated her on their wedding night, she had accepted it with a smile. What she received in return was not his pity, but his cold mockery and humiliation.
Only when Chu Yanxi tried to kill her just now did her last shred of fantasy completely shatter, and she finally saw his true face.
Since Chu Yanxi showed no regard for their relationship, she would not be blamed for her actions.
Everything she was doing now was to find a way to survive, to live in this treacherous and unforgiving deep mansion.
Since men were unreliable, she could only rely on herself. She had to give birth to a legitimate son and secure her position as the Third Prince's consort.
Seeing Chu Yanxi hesitate, Liu Menghan was certain that Chu Yanxi had agreed.
She took out a porcelain bottle from her waist, tipped out a black pill, and walked towards Chu Yanxi. With a smile, she placed the pill near his lips.
"I know Your Highness is unwilling to touch me. To avoid making Your Highness difficult, please take the medicine. This way is best for both of us."
Chu Yanxi glanced at the undisguised disgust in Liu Menghan's eyes, snatched the pill, and put it into his mouth.
Instantly, Chu Yanxi felt his body heat up. His gaze towards Liu Menghan was mixed with a hint of desire. His body uncontrollably picked up Liu Menghan and threw her heavily onto the bed, then pressed himself down.
Slammed down suddenly, Liu Menghan felt a searing pain in her back, coupled with a hard knock to her head, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. Before she could react, her body was subjected to Chu Yanxi's brutal torment.
Liu Menghan endured the pain, her lips bitten until they bled, her face filled with suffering. The humiliation in her heart made her feel even worse.
Her husband could only touch her with the help of medicine. This was the greatest humiliation for any woman.
And this was all she had brought upon herself. No matter how great the pain, she had to bear it alone.
...
"Miss, this is the medicine the Madam specially found for you. After drinking this dose, you will be able to conceive quickly and surely bear a son, the eldest son."
Feng Ruoyan looked at the dark medicinal soup before her, and her stomach churned violently. She forced down the nausea.
"Granny Zhang, I only recently suffered a miscarriage, and my body was injured last time. Will it be safe to conceive so soon? And Feng Jin also said that I am currently..."
"Miss, you are truly muddled. How can you believe what that lowly Feng Jin says? Don't you remember that both you and the Madam ended up in this state today, all thanks to that lowly Feng Jin? The Madam instructed that you must conceive the eldest son before Consort Liu, to secure your position in the Third Prince's manor."
Feng Ruoyan glanced at the medicinal soup and hesitated. After a struggle in her heart, she reached out and shakily picked up the soup.
"Miss, if this medicine cools, it will lose its effect. You must drink it while it's hot. The Third Prince promised to visit your chambers tonight. You mustn't miss such a good opportunity."
Granny Zhang recalled Madam Sun's instructions and urged Feng Ruoyan to drink the medicine quickly.
Feng Ruoyan stared intently at the bowl in her hands, her heart sinking. She directly lifted it and drank it in one gulp.
Her mother was right. She had to conceive the eldest son as soon as possible to secure her position in the Third Prince's manor, and to have a chance to become Empress. This was her only bargaining chip.
"Someone, please invite the Third Prince to come. Say that I have a terrible headache."
"Yes, Consort."
"Good, that's the way. Miss, change into this outfit." Granny Zhang took out a thin, silk-like sleep dress from the wardrobe and told Feng Ruoyan to change into it.
"This is excellent. When the Third Prince sees you like this, he won't be able to control himself. Conceiving the eldest son will be no problem."
Feng Ruoyan looked at herself in the mirror, her small face flushing red. This dress was too... too revealing. What was the difference between wearing this and wearing nothing?
The red garment made her skin appear even fairer. The neckline was cut very low, and any slight movement would reveal glimpses of her.