Jin Mulan once again lifted her sword the blade catching the light as it rose. Her grip tight and unwavering. Just as it was about to come down Luo He spoke.
"I am willing to vouch for this man's life with my own." His voice cut cleanly through the tension in the courtyard. It was an old tradition rarely seen nowadays but still upheld among ancient noble families.
A man could stake his own life to guarantee another's innocence. It did not mean the accused would be released for sure but the accused might be forgiven placing immense responsibility on the one who vouched.
And this time it was her own husband. Jin Mulan froze. Her jaw tightened and her eyes were flickering with conflict. She could not refuse him not in front of everyone, not under the weight of tradition. Slowly, reluctantly, she lowered her sword.
The sharp edge dipped then stilled.
Without another word she turned and stormed off. Her steps heavy and filled with barely restrained frustration.
She was furious burning with humiliation. In front of the entire mansion she had been undermined by her own husband's intervention. It wasn't just anger it was pride shaken and exposed. So she stormed off.
The lord and lady departed with their usual composed demeanour as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. The gathered crowd dispersed almost immediately afterward. Their murmurs fading into silence though whispers would surely linger.
Luo He calmly picked up the box he had brought and followed after Jin Mulan.
She sprinted ahead of him her robes fluttering behind her like a storm given form. Reaching her room she shoved the door open and slammed it shut in his face with a loud bang.
For a brief moment silence lingered. Then Luo He simply reached out opened the door without urgency and stepped inside. "What part of 'I want to be left alone' don't you understand?" she snapped. Her voice sharp and cutting.
"Nearly every part if I am being honest," he replied with a light laugh. It wasn't particularly funny. His humour is still lacking. His skill humour is barely developed but the attempt was there.
"I really wanted to see you. It's the first time you got blood on yourself for me." Luo He said. Her eyes narrowed anger flickering again. "I never expected I still had someone to look after me." Luo He confessed.
Then her tone softened and hardened once more. "Now you've got a new friend go do everything with him. Don't come to see me." Jin Mulan said. Luo He paused.
Within his mind he opened his system. He had accumulated over 130 charisma skill points. Without hesitation, he invested them 45 points into Seduction raising it to level 9 and 91 points into Charm bringing it to level 13.
A subtle shift occurred. Nothing visible yet everything about his presence seemed warmer and more inviting. It's more naturally compelling than before. He stepped closer and gently wrapped his arms around her bringing her in to a warm embrace.
"So my loving wife what made you go berserk trying to protect this humble husband?" Jin Mulan stiffened caught off guard by the sudden change in tone and demeanour. His voice carried a softness that hadn't been there before.
Luo He smirked faintly beneath his calm expression. This system just a few upgrades and I already feel different. He was quietly satisfied.
For a brief moment she softened her anger loosening its grip. But it didn't last. She quickly regained her composure and launched into a firm almost lecture-like speech about duty, family honour, and authority how people would never follow someone who wasn't feared.
As she spoke Luo He's hands slowly moved along her sides. The curves of her body allowed his hands to glide almost effortlessly the motion natural yet deliberate.
Her words faltered. She suddenly stopped and shot him a cold glare sharp enough to freeze him to the bones.
The room seemed to grow colder. Luo He didn't pull his hands away immediately. Instead he casually remarked. "Your smooth body made my hands slip down." A moment passed. Then he withdrew as if remembering something.
"Wait." He reached for the box he had brought and carefully opened it. From within he took out an elegant porcelain music box delicately crafted with a small handle on the side.
"This is a gift for my wife for everything you did for me," he said holding it out to her. "Go ahead, open it." She hesitated for only a moment before lifting the lid.
Inside was a finely crafted figure of a woman in a graceful dancing pose. "Turn the lever," he instructed gently. She did as he said. As the lever rotated the figure began to spin slowly and gracefully as if dancing. A soft melodic tune filled the room delicate and soothing. Contrasting sharply with the tension from moments before.
The music echoed gently against the walls filling the silence between them.
When the lever stopped the music faded into stillness. "So... what do you think?" Luo He asked.
Jin Mulan was visibly impressed. Her earlier anger seemed to fade as she became momentarily immersed in the beauty of the gift.
"So... what made you truly defend me?"
Before she could respond Luo He stepped forward again and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer.
Their eyes met. He kissed her. But as anyone would expect she didn't resist instead she gave in.
For a brief moment everything else disappeared the tension, the anger, the pride. It deepened as both of them became more immersed in it. Losing track of time and thought.
But suddenly. "Wait." Luo He pulled back abruptly. "Who are you trying to fool? Because it's not me." She looked at him confusion flashing across her face.
"I think you're trying to make me consummate our marriage just because people know we haven't done so yet. Just in order to satisfy others."
Jin Mulan was taken aback. How does he know? Was I that obvious? Am I rushing this?
Luo He paused then spoke more gently. "We're not ready. Specifically I'm not fully set yet. So we don't need to rush things just to satisfy others' expectations."
She stared at him surprised by his honesty. Deep down she knew she wasn't fully ready either.
"We can be close," he continued his tone softer now. "We can be intimate but we'll let it happen naturally." The room fell quiet again this time not with tension but with something far more uncertain. Perhaps the beginning of understanding.
She took him quietly to the window. The wooden panels creaked softly as she pushed them open letting in the warm afternoon air. Below in the courtyard the aftermath of the earlier event was being handled with grim efficiency.
Servants moved in silence their expressions carefully neutral as they cleaned up what remained. The blood that had stained the ground was being scrubbed away with water, soap and coarse salt. The sharp scent rising faintly into the air. Dark red streaks slowly faded into nothing leaving only damp stone behind.
Bodies were being carried away on stretchers wrapped, covered, and already treated as if they were no longer people but burdens to be disposed of.
They were being prepared for burial. No one spoke loudly. Even the air itself seemed heavy, weighed down by what had just occurred.