Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 126 Say You Love Me More
He didn't remind Song Yi, and just stared at her with amusement, thoroughly enjoying the view.

When Song Yi came to her senses, she realized that Jiang Lanye had already applied the medicine. His gaze was intense, fixed on her, almost burning her skin.

She jolted, quickly grabbed some clothes from the side, held them in front of her, and stammered:
How could you do this?

Jiang Lanye raised an eyebrow and deliberately asked, "What's wrong with me?"

"You've already applied the medicine, why didn't you tell me? Why are you just staring at me like that?"

Jiang Lanye stood up, put away the ointment, and said in a low voice, "It's not like I haven't seen it before."

Song Yi's cheeks flushed pink. Hearing his words, her lips moved for a moment before she whispered, "You scoundrel!"

She wasn't dressed properly; she was just using clothes to cover her body.

After saying that, Jiang Lanye turned to look at her.

Her hands gripped her dress tightly, wrinkling the fabric and showing how hard she was squeezing it; her knuckles had turned white.

Jiang Lanye deliberately startled her: "Since you've said that about me, why don't I just carry it out?"

His arms were strong and powerful. Every time he put his arm around Song Yi's waist, no matter how much she struggled, Jiang Lanye remained unmoved.

Song Yi was indeed afraid that he would force himself on her again, so he immediately said, "No, no, no, Your Majesty is a virtuous gentleman. Even with a beauty in your arms, you can remain unmoved."

Jiang Lanye gave her a deep look and chuckled cryptically.

"Behave yourself tonight, and I won't touch you."

After all, she wasn't fully recovered yet, so doing that kind of thing once would be enough.

Any more, and Song Yi's body would indeed not be able to handle it.

Song Yi took Jiang Lanye's words to heart. She lay on the bed and watched as Jiang Lanye changed into his nightgown, lifted the covers, and lay down beside her.

Staring intently at his profile, Song Yi recalled the way Miss Meng had looked at him earlier that day, and her feelings became complicated.

Jiang Lanye is an emperor; if he so desires, he can give her the best things in the world. However, Song Yi's situation has always been entirely at Jiang Lanye's mercy.

Here, she has no friends, no family; the only person she can hold onto is Jiang Lanye.

Falling for him wouldn't be a good thing; Song Yi feared she would really be tied down.

But often, when she falls in love, it's not up to her.

In fact, I had already been tied down for a long time.

She stroked the jade pendant at her waist, took it off, and gently placed it on the table.

Seeing this, Jiang Lanye remained silent.

Song Yi lay down beside him and whispered, "Jiang Lanye, do you believe me now? Do you still think I want to run away?"

Jiang Lanye noticed that she seemed to be in a bad mood, so he hugged her tightly and held her close.

He was so strong that Song Yi could barely breathe.

The usually assertive Jiang Lanye showed extreme unease at this moment, wishing he could merge his blood with Song Yi's.

"Song Yi, would it be better to tell me a few more words about your hobbies? Otherwise, I really wouldn't dare to let you go."

He feared that everything before him was just a mirage, after all, three years ago, Song Yi could utter those so-called vows of eternal love without batting an eye, which moved him deeply.

Song Yi was taken aback, gave up struggling, and nestled obediently in his arms.

"Jiang Lanye, don't overthink it. If I really wanted to run away, why would I have gone through all this trouble to follow you? Wouldn't it have been better to be a respected imperial concubine in the palace?"

Jiang Lanye reached out and stroked her soft hair, running his fingers through her dark strands, carefully inhaling the delicate fragrance emanating from her, and murmured:

"Song Yi, you can no longer lie to me."

Song Yi buried her face in his chest, rubbing against him vigorously, and couldn't help but say:
"If you don't let go of me, I'll stop breathing."

Jiang Lanye paused, then held her tightly, his voice tinged with grievance: "I want to hold you."

Song Yi said with difficulty, "Hold me, you must hold me. Let me hold you." Only after hearing this did he finally let go of Song Yi.

Song Yi brushed her slightly messy hair aside and was about to hug him when Jiang Lanye suddenly reached out and supported her thighs and buttocks, forcing her to sit on his lap. Then he hugged Song Yi again.

Song Yi lay completely on top of Jiang Lanye, utterly stunned.

This isn't right.

Song Yi buried her face in the crook of his neck and couldn't help but laugh, "Jiang Lanye, what exactly are you trying to do?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she clearly sensed something.

Then, she braced herself against Jiang Lanye's chest with both hands, sat up abruptly, and shouted, "I'm not hugging you anymore!"

Then, she scrambled off Jiang Lanye.

Jiang Lanye's eyes lit up for a moment, as if he had discovered something new and interesting. He looked at Song Yi seriously and said, "Try this next time when you're healed."

Song Yi naturally understood Jiang Lanye's meaning and reached out to cover his mouth.

"Shut up!"

She looked fierce, but her ears were actually bright red.

Jiang Lanye chuckled softly, gesturing for her to lie down properly.

"It's getting late, go to sleep."

Song Yi gave a vague reply.

She usually falls asleep quickly, but for some reason, she couldn't fall asleep tonight.

There's no moon outside tonight, it's pitch black outside, and it feels a bit stuffy.

Jiang Lanye didn't seem to be in a good mood either.

Thinking this, she gently turned over.

Jiang Lanye was clearly not asleep either. Hearing her turn over, he suddenly spoke in a low voice:

"In a few days, it will be the anniversary of my mother's death."

Song Yi was startled and instantly understood why Jiang Lanye was so sad. She quickly turned back, hugged him tightly, and ran her hands over his body.

"After the anniversary of the Empress Dowager's death, comes the anniversary of the Emperor's younger brother's death."

Song Yi's eyes widened instantly. Jiang Lanye had never told her about his younger brother.

She hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Jiang Lanye, how did your brother die?"

Jiang Lanye gently closed his eyes, his eyelids trembling slightly.

"Not long after his mother's death, he was so grief-stricken and frightened that he developed a high fever for several days. He refused to eat or drink, and even vomited up the water that was forcibly given to him. The imperial physicians said they had done their best, but they still couldn't save his life."

On the day his mother died, his younger brother knew nothing. He could only watch helplessly as his mother was stabbed to death by his father. The only person he could rely on was his elder brother, Jiang Lanye.

But Jiang Lanye was just a child back then.

He staggered to Jiang Lanye, crying bitterly.

The child's voice was high-pitched; he tugged at Jiang Lanye's sleeve and couldn't help but question:

"Why couldn't you protect Mother! Why!"

Even though he knew it wasn't Jiang Lanye's fault, he was just a child. He didn't dare blame his father, so he could only grab his elder brother and cry and question him over and over again.

Before he died, he left his favorite slingshot to Jiang Lanye. His eyes were already closed, and his last words were "I'm sorry."

He shouldn't have been so insensible. His elder brother was also very scared and sad, so how could he have poured all his emotions onto him?

(End of this chapter)