When I finally finished with Li Yichen, I collapsed on the bed beside her, panting.
Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I kept her close to my side as I recovered, my eyes fixed on the ceiling above us.
Usually by now I would have gotten up and left, but for some reason today I felt exhausted.
My best guess was that three hours of rough, intense sex was even enough to wear me out; I was feeling sore and empty...
So, I kept Li Yichen down beside me, her petite figure clinging to mine as she fought off the cold.
"Damnit... why is your room so frigid!?"
Glancing around, I finally took in my fiancee's room for the first time in these many years.
Empty; her room was empty.
One shelf, a vanity, and a bed; a room that was large enough to house a family of at least five was barren around me.
Since I used Dark Qi, the entire Shimmering Palace was made from Yin aligned materials, meaning that it was usually rather cold inside.
However, there are many ways to counteract that chill; rugs and fires for one, while Yang aligned materials also made a difference.
The frame for my bed was made from Sun-Kissed Oak, while the sheets were filled with Phoenix Feathers.
It was like being embraced by the fluffiest, warmest hug in the world...
I loved my bed, so when I glanced at the one currently below me, I grimaced.
Ashen Birch and Southern Sheared Wool...
Sighing, I glanced at Li Yichen, who was glaring at me through her tired blue eyes.
"So you just... decided to live in the cold for how many years?"
Narrowing her eyes, she remained silent, making me sigh again as I shrugged, falling back down onto the bed.
"Whatever..."
Using my Qi to clean us off, I pulled the sheets over our bodies and laid back, returning my gaze to the ceiling.
I could feel her stiffen beside me, prompting me to smirk at her confused features.
"I can't sleep with my soon to be wife, hmm~?"
Seeing her grow more confused as she glared at me made me chuckle, and I turned onto my side and pulled her into my chest, stroking her hair as she stiffly laid beside me.
"I gain nothing by ignoring you, but I do gain a little by keeping you close; the main being such an amusing woman to tease~!"
Slipping my hand down to her supple waist, I chuckled as she shivered in my arms.
"Besides that, I do wish to make our interactions more... familiar. I'd rather not have to be placed under such intense scrutiny when our wedding ceremony comes around..."
She shivered again at that, looking up at me with hate as I added "And when people learn that you're with child; wouldn't want them to think I, oh I don't know, forced myself on you~?"
Grinning down at her, I continued to stroke her hair even as she glared at me, though she flinched when I gently squeezed the back of her head.
"Then, I need you to get used to be around me, since we'll be seeing more of each other over the years; one child won't be enough, after all. At the very least, should they be below average like you, I can do as your parents did and forge ties with other families. If they turn out like me, then I can still forge ties with other families, but I could have them lining up, pleading for me to allow their children to marry my own~!"
My grin widened, while Yi'er frowned, her pale blue eyes filling with worry as I spoke.
"W-Why..?"
Hearing her low, frightened whisper, I chuckled as I moved my hand from her waist, brushing the hair from her cheek as I responded to her question.
"It's simple, Yi'er~ Power. Connections. The Matriarch would appreciate it as much as I would; your mother wants to create peace inside the Moonlit Orchard; not the fragile, flimsy peace now, but true peace. Either through unity or through strenght. That's why she cultivates so hard, and why she lets her eldest frolic around; to spread her connections amongst the smaller, but powerful families.
As for you, she used you to snag me. You knew that, and I knew that, but I could care less; it benefits me, being under the Li Family. Now, your younger sister is the only one left unwed, and likely she'll marry one or two influential women, considering her personality. Which leaves us-"
Stroking Yi'er's stomach, I felt her flinch again as I finished "Three to continue growing the Li Family Tree. Hopefully our child is a strong branch, unlike..."
Smirking at her, I released her stomach and wrapped my arm back around her waist, sighing slightly.
"Anyways, that's not for a long time now. Just pray that this one takes after me, as do the next ones. It'll be easier that way..."
I felt her nod, almost missing it, which made me chuckle.
"Even you agree, hm~?"
She nodded again, whispering "No one should feel what I feel... ever."
My smirk widened, and I shivered when she turned those broken eyes up to me.
They looked so damn beautiful like that, and her aura was just...
Perfect.
Like a wounded puppy staring up at a full grown tiger; it knows it's place, and can only plead that the stronger animal won't harm it more...
"Saying that to one of the people you hate the most... you really are broken, aren't you~!"
Seeing her eyes water slightly, I shivered again, feeling something rise up.
She felt it too, and I started laughing as she yelped, her eyes wide as I 'attacked' her again.
"If you show me something like that, Yi'er, of course you'll put me in the mood~!"
Kissing her again, for a brief, fleeting moment, I felt my heart swell as I stared at her, a feeling of warmth entering my body.
She was utterly captivating like this, and I wanted to protect this tiny, weak creature from the world; to cage her so that only I could see this divine sight.
However, that thought was shrouded by the lust that clouded my mind, promptly forgotten as I indulged myself again.