"No,..."

Shang Ruyi wanted to say something, but her soft murmurs were swallowed by the searing kiss. Yu Wenye held nothing back, more passionate and intense than any time before, even more so than on horseback, as he embraced and kissed her fiercely.

Her lips quickly became swollen and numb from his unrestrained kissing, bitten until they hurt. Shang Ruyi trembled, tears almost welling up. Yu Wenye, too, sensed the trembling of the hot, softer body in his arms, but refused to let go. Only after another deep kiss did he finally stop his reckless plunder.

Their breaths were fiery, their hearts pounded like drums.

He pressed his forehead against hers, staring intently into her teary, slightly shimmering eyes in the pitch blackness, his heavy breaths like a hurricane, flickering her tear-filled eyes with each gust.

That helpless, even somewhat shy and innocent gaze ignited a fire deep within him, impossible to restrain.

He said, "Ruyi..."

And Shang Ruyi didn’t dare to respond.

Just now, nearly losing her senses from his kisses, her limbs weak and falling into his sturdy embrace, at his mercy, she realized at that moment that her inner garment had unknowingly been stripped away in the frenzy.

Her pearl-like skin exposed, exuded a faint fragrance in the darkness.

Despite her bewilderment and restraint, she understood what he desired.

In fact, who else yearned and desired, if not him?

But...

His heated hand, void of any restraint, traced her body’s gentle curves once more. Shang Ruyi trembled continuously, unable to respond, unable to resist. She could only bite her lower lip, clutching his arms tightly, burying her cheeks in his shoulder.

A cold wind swept through, as Yu Wenye discarded his clothes. Immediately, his even hotter body clung to hers.

Outside the tent, the cold wind howled.

The northern winds shook mountains and seas, more fierce at night as if to overturn the earth itself. At that moment, Shang Ruyi felt a tremor as if the world turned upside down, finding herself inexplicably lying back on the bed. The bedding, cold until now, inexplicably warmed up, sweat gradually seeping and pooling on her collarbone, shining in the dim light, while the searing body above left no gap, entangling her, rubbing against her skin as if to ignite flames.

Under Yu Wenye’s tight embrace, nearly suffocating her, she was about to be consumed.

But...

"No,"

Just as Yu Wenye was about to submerge in the cloying tide, she finally whispered a gentle refusal, biting her lower lip: "No..."

"...!"

Yu Wenye’s breath sank.

Shang Ruyi, still clinging tightly to his shoulders, trembled, her nails nearly digging into his skin, dragging bloody marks across his sturdy back.

She whimpered gently, still lightly saying, "No..."

Almost entwined in their shared breaths, hearts pounding like thunder, they heard the patrol of soldiers outside, even hearing voices of Shen Tu Tai, Shantong’er, and some other soldiers not far away.

This, after all, was an army camp.

In their earlier entanglement, Shang Ruyi almost completely yielded to him, yet even in such passionate moments, she restrained her voice, but that was her limit.

If she were to give him... she truly couldn’t assure anything.

Even Yu Wenye himself understood, in facing this young woman, he was always uncontrollable.

If those outside heard any sound, how could he maintain his standing in the army? And Shang Ruyi, she might feel too ashamed to face anyone.

Yet, the flames within would not diminish from this.

Yu Wenye breathed heavily, his scorching palm caressing her sweaty, slippery, beautiful back, then along her slender arm, her delicate wrist, guiding her tightly holding his back.

Removing her hands from his back, guiding her...

Shang Ruyi blushed deeply, about to say something, but he kissed her forcefully, forbidding any protest, biting her lips, only soft murmurs squeezed out during their struggle, nasal and weak, yet adding a touch of sweetness.

Lips entwined, fingertips fiery, his breaths like muffled thunder...

Who knows how long passed until the storm ceased.

Not much had happened, yet Shang Ruyi lay on the bed, feeling completely drained, like being run over, unable to move, while Yu Wenye lay on top, his back rising and falling gently with heavy breaths, sweat glistening in the dark.

Amid their uneven breathing, Yu Wenye suddenly whispered in her ear —

"You told me today that Lei Yu is pregnant."

Bringing this up at such a moment unexpectedly drew a chill through their heated breaths, yet immediately, Yu Wenye’s body warmth reignited the fire, Shang Ruyi only nodding lightly: "Yes."

What she didn’t know was, this also made Yu Wenye decide not to interfere with the Turkic coup anymore.

But at present, anything about the Turkic, anything about the coup, he no longer wished to concern himself with.

Holding this young woman, hearing her gentle breaths, Yu Wenye inexplicably felt satisfied for the first time, unwilling to pursue more — though it was just a fleeting moment.

Propping himself up, he looked down at her slightly red eyes and the lips swollen from his ravaging advances.

Satisfaction surged again, and he leaned down, kissing her gently.

This time, he refrained from previous recklessness, exerting great effort to control the emotions surging within, gently biting her lips, murmuring: "Let’s have a child too."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi’s heart sank slightly.

Though the sweet atmosphere lingered, their intertwined bodies hadn’t separated, bringing this up still couldn’t help but remind her of some dark, unsettling memories.

Seeing her trembling eyes, Yu Wenye understood why.

His breath deepened, yet he refused to part from her lips, kissing her lightly, saying seriously: "The past doesn’t count."

"..."

"Let’s start anew."

"..."

"Let’s have a child."

"..."

"I want to give everything I have, everything I can attain, to this child, and to you."