This chapter contains scenes of physical violence and power imbalance, including corporal punishment and emotional manipulation. It may be disturbing or triggering for some readers. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
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They were all really curious about what was happening inside, especially after hearing all that noise. But all they could do was stand outside and try to listen, hoping to catch something useful.
Pearl Su had finally used up all her strength. Earlier, she had felt delighted hearing that bastard's pained cries. Looking at the heavy wounds on his body, the smile on her face wouldn't go away.
"Feeling good now, are you?"
"Not really," Alaric Yun replied, "but if it helps my wife feel better, I'll gladly endure it."
Pearl Su gave a cold snort and lay half-reclined to rest.
After resting for about half an hour, Pearl Su said to Alaric, "Come on, let's continue."
Alaric smiled with a glint in his eyes. "Alright."
Pearl Su's expression soured when she heard him, and she sneered, then started again.
Alaric played along and made painful sounds. He had figured it out— the more miserable he sounded, the happier this little woman seemed to be.
The faster she let go of her anger, the sooner he could coax her back to peace.
The guards outside heard their lord crying out again from inside, even louder than before. They were even more curious about what the two of them were doing to make him sound like that.
Pearl Su used all the strength she had again. She looked down at the bloody and battered figure in front of her and smirked coldly. "Still feeling good?"
With a stiff face, Alaric Yun replied in a deep voice, "No, it feels terrible."
Pearl Su snorted again. "Good. It's supposed to."
She half-reclined to rest again. This time, it took her a whole hour to recover her strength.
Pearl Su wanted to continue again, but as she moved her arm, she felt sharp pain. She couldn't believe how useless her arm had become. She moved it again, and more pain shot through it.
Her face darkened. She cursed her own weak body silently. With no other choice, she had to give up her plan.
She gently pulled a thin blanket over Alaric's body and called someone in to take the saltwater away.
Soon, the door opened again. Pearl Su sat up and peeked through the curtain.
Alaric teased, "What is it, my wife? Afraid someone might find out?"
Pearl Su turned and gave him an annoyed glare, then looked out again through the gauze curtain. She could vaguely see someone placing bowls and dishes on the table.
Alaric's charming voice drifted to her ear again. "They're just here to deliver dinner. Remember to tell them what you want for tomorrow's meals."
After hearing that, Pearl Su finished peeking and turned back around, shooting him another glare, then silently sat back on the bed.
Alaric chuckled. "I'll be troubling you to feed me later."
Pearl Su glared at him again but didn't say anything and turned her head away.
After sitting for a bit, she felt hungry and got up to eat dinner.
The meal included five dishes and one soup: braised donkey meat, roasted goose, salted quail, steamed fish, shrimp with peas, and abalone ginseng soup.
Eating alone with no one forcing her felt like a rare joy. Pearl Su ate until she was full and satisfied.
After resting a bit, she picked out some of the dishes that didn't look too appetizing and carried them over to the bed.
When Alaric saw her walking over with a smile, Pearl Su's happiness instantly disappeared. Her face turned cold. She sat beside him and said with a snort, "Eat."
Alaric smiled. "Thank you, my wife."
Pearl Su didn't answer. She kept a cold expression and fed him one spoonful at a time. After he finished, she got off the bed and put the bowl away.
When she returned, Alaric said, "One bowl isn't enough. Could my wife give me another? With you feeding me, I can eat two bowls easily."
Hearing such shameless words made Pearl Su furious again.
"You're just a prisoner, and you still want to eat your fill? You should be grateful I'm being generous. If you keep talking, you won't even get your next meal."
"Hmm, I always knew my wife was generous and magnanimous," Alaric Yun replied with a smile, picking up her words.
Pearl Su snorted, ignored him, and sat down to rest.
After a while, she thought for a bit, then told the servants outside to clear away the leftovers. She also gave instructions for tomorrow's three meals and asked them to prepare bathing water.
Someone answered outside, and soon a few came in to clear the dishes and left.
Once they were gone, Alaric Yun teased, "Wife, you're such a good manager. If you took charge of the entire estate, I'd be completely at ease."
Pearl Su sat there without responding.
Manage the estate for him? Ha. He can find someone else for that.
Someone came to report that the bathwater was ready. Pearl Su gathered her clothes and went to bathe.
Peaceful moments without anyone bothering her were so precious. She enjoyed her bath slowly and happily. When she returned, she found that shameless man lying quietly on the bed, seemingly asleep.
She sat on the bed and started drying her hair. As she dried it, she suddenly heard Alaric Yun's voice laughing.
"Such a pity I've lost my inner power. I can't help you dry your hair anymore. Don't you think that's a shame?"
Pearl Su ignored him.
Hmph. As if she needed him. Her hair would dry on its own.
"After your bath, you look like a lotus rising from the water. So beautiful. Sigh, I wonder how many more days I'll get to see this?"
Hearing that, Pearl Su immediately turned her back to him so he couldn't see.
"What's wrong? Are you shy? Don't want your husband to look at you?"
Pearl Su clenched her teeth, didn't reply, and snorted inwardly. Keep running your mouth for now. Just wait till I'm done with what I need to do.
After more than half an hour, her hair finally dried. She braided it into two neat plaits.
Then she walked over to Alaric Yun, lifted the thin blanket covering him, and revealed his body, already scabbed over from wounds.
Alaric Yun smiled. "Wife, are you feeling sorry for your husband and here to apply medicine?"
Pearl Su gave a cold laugh. "Apply medicine? Do I look like a good person to you? I'm here for something else."
"Oh? And what does my wife plan to do with me?"
Pearl Su smiled. "You'll know in a moment."
Her soft, fair fingertips began to slowly move across his body, making him tremble involuntarily.
Outside, the night guards suddenly heard muffled groans of pain coming from inside the room. The sounds were intermittent, sometimes long and drawn out, and if you listened closely, they almost sounded like frustration, like someone unable to find release.
The noises continued late into the night before finally stopping. The guards couldn't help but feel curious. What kind of strange scene was happening in there?
The next morning, the guards on duty noticed that Alaric Yun didn't come out at the usual time. One of them called out to him.
From inside came Alaric Yun's deep voice. "Go request leave from the court for me. Tell them I'm not feeling well and need my wife to take care of me."
"And no matter what sounds you hear, do not disturb us. And keep your mouths shut."
Hearing this, the guards standing outside looked at each other. Then, they heard those painful groans again from inside the room. A few of the sounds even made their skin crawl. Still, they only perked up their ears to listen.
They were extremely curious about what exactly their Lord was doing in there. What kind of twisted play could cause such bizarre noises?
That night, the same guards from the night before again clearly heard those frustrated, painful groans coming from inside the room.