Feng Tianlan blinked at Si Mobai. What was he going to say?
Si Mobai reached out his right hand. On his middle finger was a half-heart-shaped ring. He held Feng Tianlan’s left hand. Their fingers interlocked, combining their two half-heart-shaped rings into a full heart, tangled together.
“Actually, I didn’t like you at the start. The first time I saved you, I did it because my heart was stirred. After going back to the palace, Si Ming told me that you would be my wife. This is a duty that I was born to accomplish.”
Feng Tianlan looked at him with astonishment, doubting the way he’d addressed the emperor as well the words Si Mobai claimed that the emperor had spoken. She’d still been engaged to Si Rong back then, so how could the emperor have said such a thing?
“That’s why, in the beginning, what I did for you, I did partially because it was my duty. The other reason was that my heart was stirred,” Si Mobai explained. He looked achingly at Feng Tianlan then continued, “However, because we got along, my heart went from being stirred to developing real feelings for you. Then, I felt like I couldn’t live without you.”
Feng Tianlan blinked as she gaped at him. The words he’d just said left her with an indescribable feeling.
“In this lifetime, I have only fallen in love once and have only loved one woman.” Si Mobai tightened his grip on her hands as he looked at her with determination. “That woman is you, Feng Tianlan. It doesn’t matter if it’s you in the past, the present, or even the future. It doesn’t matter what you are—good or bad, pretty or ugly. It doesn’t even matter if you like me back or not. I, Si Mobai, will only love Feng Tianlan for all my life.”
Listening to Si Mobai’s words, Feng Tianlan felt like there was a string at the bottom of her heart. Because of what he’d said, stirrings of love fluttered within her.
“I know you don’t believe me. Anyone can say sweet nothings.” Si Mobai loosened his grip on her. His peach-blossom eyes stared into her and locked on her soul. “Lan’er, have you heard of the natal contract?”
“What?” Feng Tianlan widened her eyes and looked at Si Mobai in astonishment. How did he know about this kind of contract?
Si Mobai chuckled as he raised his right index finger and touched Feng Tianlan between her eyebrows. A drop of blood penetrated her skin. “I, Si Mobai, pledge my life in signing the natal contract with Feng Tianlan…”
“Si Mobai, stop,” Feng Tianlan said, widening her eyes. She was flustered by burning pain in between her eyebrows. He was signing the natal contract with her. Didn’t he know that a painful price had to be paid?
She wanted to stop him, but he was stronger than she was. This was a single-sided forced contract. If she were to oppose, it would backfire on him, and he could even die. The only one who could stop the deal now was him.
“I, Si Mobai, will only love Feng Tianlan as long as I live. If I betray her or let her down, let me experience excruciating heartache in every moment. Let my soul be burned every day and night…”
Feng Tianlan opened her eyes even wider. This was not just a natal contract, it was a blood oath! If he were to go against his promises, all of these punishments would come to pass. He was not swearing an oath of dying a horrible death, but to undergo all kinds of torture. Excruciating heartache, a burning soul—these were all worse than death!
Where did he get the courage to make such a blood oath?
Where did he get the confidence to say that he would never let her down in all his life?
“I, Si Mobai, once again pledge my life by signing this natal contract with Feng Tianlan. If she dies, then let me die too. If I die, then may she live forever!” his sonorous and forceful voice rang out.
Si Mobai’s finger slid down from in between Feng Tianlan’s eyebrow. His ordinarily healthy and straight body instantly became weak and feeble.
Feng Tianlan supported him and shouted indifferently, Si Mobai!”
A natal contract and blood oath! How could he do that? Was he really sure of the consequences?