In one night, he had clearly mapped out his future with Yaoguang, but he completely forgot about Wanchu, the most important and beloved person by his side.
It was only when Yaoguang asked that he suddenly remembered that he wasn't alone, nor was he a lone hero who could rush to Yaoguang's rescue at any time.
He was also an elder brother, a brother who had vowed to his adoptive father that he would take care of Wanchu for a lifetime.
If Yaoguang were just an ordinary woman, he could marry her anytime and make her the mistress of his inner courtyard. He could lead a harmonious life with his wife while taking care of Wanchu.
But Yaoguang was a princess burdened with a deep - seated hatred for revenge. If he chose Yaoguang, he would surely have to abandon Wanchu.
Nor could he privately persuade Yaoguang to give up her revenge and the restoration of her country.
He thought he had finally freed himself from his feelings for Wanchu.
Unexpectedly, the beautiful dream of love would shatter so soon.
He was caught in a dilemma.
Yaoguang gave a faint smile, with a glimmer of tears in her eyes.
She wasn't surprised by Shi Luohan's silence. She didn't expect that one night of passion would make her the most important person in his heart.
She silently put on her clothes, and Shi Luohan's hand drooped listlessly from her shoulder.
Yaoguang stood in front of him, tiptoed, and kissed his lips.
"In our Gaochang Kingdom, there's no such thing as a woman having to be faithful to one man for life. Shi Luohan, you don't have to feel guilty. I don't ask you to be responsible to the end."
She gave a charming smile, radiant like the spring breeze, "You're a good man. I'll always remember you."
It was a rather decent farewell.
Trying to hold back the bitterness in her heart, Yaoguang was about to turn around.
But the man forcefully grabbed her waist and imprisoned her in his arms.
Lifting her chin, Shi Luohan's eyes were filled with a cold glint.
"What do you mean by not being faithful to one man? Do you want to find another man?"
As he spoke, Yaoguang could feel the hostility in his breath.
"I want to restore my country. I have to leave a bloodline for my country so that the throne of Gaochang Kingdom can be passed down."
"You're going to have children with another man?"
Shi Luohan's voice suddenly rose. His expression was as if he wanted to kill that non - existent man with a single blow.
In Yaoguang's memory, Shi Luohan was usually emotionally stable. Even when extremely angry, he rarely lost his composure.
He had never shown such agitation and anger before.
"If you want a child, why don't we have one right now?"
Shi Luohan grabbed the back of her neck and fiercely captured her soft red lips.
Her taste was addictive to him.
She was his woman. How could she have children with another man?
Just thinking about Yaoguang being touched by another man made his blood boil. And the thought that she might take the initiative to approach another man made his heart almost burst. His actions became rough.
"Ouch—"
He accidentally touched the bruise on her back.
"I'm sorry, I—"
"Shi Luohan, haven't you had enough fun?"
Yaoguang angrily pushed him away and stepped back, holding her disheveled body.
Shi Luohan looked at that beautiful and stubborn face and gradually calmed down.
"Wait for me. I'll give you an answer before nightfall."
Yaoguang was puzzled. What answer? She hadn't forced him to make any promises.
He walked out of the room. Wanchu and Liang Yuzhou were already gone.
Zhou Yan had been on a mission with his elder brother last night and just came back. When he learned that Shi Luohan had slept with Yaoguang, he was in shock.
The proud, pure Yaoguang he regarded as his younger sister had been taken by Shi Luohan, that "pig".
Shi Luohan ignored the hostility and anger in Zhou Yan's eyes. "Has Wanchu left?"
"The master sent the mistress back."
A hint of uneasiness flashed through Shi Luohan's mind.
But he silently sighed.
Well, since a man can only protect one woman in his life, and he wasn't Wanchu's protector.
Liang Yuzhou didn't seem so unacceptable after all.
...
As soon as Song Wanchu returned to the Plum Shadow Studio and was about to pay her respects to Old Madam Chu, Shi Luohan arrived.
"When I came to talk to you this morning, was Liang Yuzhou hiding in the wardrobe?"
As soon as he returned to the mansion on Luoxia Street and before he could say a few words to Yaoguang, Liang Yuzhou had rushed in.
Song Wanchu blushed and reluctantly admitted, "Yes."
Suyue put down her needlework and quickly defended her young lady, "The young lady didn't do anything with him. He was the one who was so shameless. He slept outside the courtyard all night, and in the morning, we couldn't drive him away. Then he sneaked into the young lady's boudoir!"
In the past, upon hearing such words, Shi Luohan would surely have been furious and would have gone to settle the score with Liang Yuzhou. A beating would have been a mild punishment.
But now his emotions were unusually calm.
After recognizing his own heart, he gradually came to realize a fact. In this world, only Liang Yuzhou could protect Wanchu.
He had already lost in this game.
"Brother, you and Yaoguang..."
"Wanchu, you know her background. She doesn't want to fall in love easily because she's afraid that no man would dare to share such a heavy mission with her."
Shi Luohan's mind was filled with that tough and stubborn woman. "I want to be that man, and I must be that man."
Song Wanchu gave a gentle smile. "I understand, brother. You have your own life. You have the right to pursue the one you love. I can't be so selfish as to ask you to protect me for a lifetime. That would be unfair to you."
He felt guilty because of his adoptive father's dying wish, and his adoptive father had been extremely kind to him.
But Song Wanchu couldn't use this kindness to bind him.
The heavy rock that had been weighing on Shi Luohan's heart suddenly rolled away. His heart felt much lighter, but there was still a faint bitterness.
It turned out that giving up a choice was such a sad and tangled thing.
No wonder, three years ago when Wanchu finally married Liang Yuzhou, she still felt guilty towards him, missing him day and night.
It was a pity that Liang Yuzhou had never truly understood Wanchu. He even misunderstood that Wanchu didn't love him.
He had never faced a choice. He had never thought of choosing anyone else.
There was only Wanchu in his life.
So he was just a stupid and single - minded person who couldn't understand the complex emotions of humans.
Thinking of this, Shi Luohan was filled with hatred for Liang Yuzhou.
He must have a good talk with him another day.
A beating would also do.
Encouraged by Song Wanchu, Shi Luohan rushed back to Luoxia Street like the wind.
Song Wanchu changed her dress, picked up the plum - blossom cakes she had made herself, and went to the Cihui Courtyard.
She saw Chu Shangxu and Mrs. Ning in Old Madam Chu's room. Each of them looked panicked, as if facing a great enemy.
Song Wanchu's heart skipped a beat. Something had happened?
Seeing her tense expression, Old Madam Chu quickly explained, "The advance official of the Crown Prince came to Yunzhou this morning and informed our family that the Crown Prince will stay at our Chu Mansion during his inspection of Yunzhou."