Chapter 3: Can only live within three feet.

Chapter 3: Can only live within three feet.

For Tang Li, this night felt longer than a journey through hell.

There were no luxurious quilts and soft pillows as I had imagined, nor any of the romance of a wedding night.

She was like a human-shaped pillow that not only had no human rights but also had to worry about being torn to pieces, held tightly in Pei Yunjing's arms, sitting on the cold iron cage and hard board for an entire night.

Pei Yunjing was sleeping soundly.

Or rather, this was the first time in several years that he had truly fallen asleep.

He held Tangli's waist with one hand and pressed the back of her head with the other, burying his face tightly in the crook of her neck.

His breathing was heavy and long, and the hot air he exhaled made Tangli's skin tingle.

But this position was torture for Tang Li.

Half of her body was already numb and she couldn't feel anything, and her neck was sore from being pressed against his high nose bridge.

As dawn broke, Tang Li couldn't resist any longer and quietly moved her already stiff legs, trying to create a little space to breathe.

"Hmm..."

He had barely moved an inch when the man, still asleep, suddenly furrowed his brows tightly.

The next second, the large hand gripping her waist tightened suddenly, with such force that it seemed to break her ribs!

Pei Yunjing did not wake up; this was entirely his body's subconscious stress response—like a miser who, in his sleep, senses that his treasure is about to be stolen, viciously pulls it back into his arms, and inflicts punishment.

"Hiss—" Tang Li gasped in pain, tears welling up in her eyes.

madman!

That's a complete madman!

She looked down at the man in her arms, who was full of hostility even in his sleep, and the thought that she might be able to "change his heart" vanished instantly.

Reform?

Stop dreaming.

In his eyes, she was probably just a useful "painkiller" or a handy "sleep pillow".

If you don't use this pillow properly, you'll end up as the tiger's breakfast.

...

Three poles in the sun.

Outside the main courtyard of the Regent's Palace, the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed as if a funeral was being held.

The old steward, Uncle Zhao, wiped away his tears and directed four strong guards to carry a thin-skinned coffin that had been prepared beforehand, waiting skillfully at the courtyard gate.

“Be quick-witted,” Uncle Zhao sighed and lowered his voice. “Go inside and be swift. If the body is too fragmented, try to piece it together as best you can, so the princess doesn’t have to die in such a gruesome way.”

The guards looked at each other, their faces pale, and nodded.

Everyone understands.

When the three princesses in front were carried out, they were no longer even human-shaped.

Last night, the prince went berserk; this fourth one will probably be reduced to nothing, not even bones.

"Squeak—"

Just as everyone was observing a moment of silence, the door that had been closed all night was pulled open from the inside.

The morning light poured in.

Uncle Zhao immediately lowered his head, not daring to look around, and said tremblingly, "This old servant will send someone in to collect it right away..."

"What are you collecting?"

A deep, languid, even slightly satiated and hoarse voice sounded from above.

Uncle Zhao was taken aback and suddenly looked up.

The prince, who was usually gloomy and manic with bloodshot eyes, was now standing at the door looking refreshed!

His long hair was casually draped over his shoulders, and he was still wearing the blood-stained black robe, but this could not hide his strangely "good complexion" at this moment.

The fierceness in his phoenix eyes had mostly dissipated, and he looked like... like a demon who had just absorbed a full dose of life force.

And in this monster's hand, he was holding a living person as if he were a chick!

Tang Li's hair was disheveled, she had two large dark circles under her eyes, and there was a horrifying bruise around her wrist. She was being held by the back of her collar by Pei Yun Jing, looking utterly hopeless.

"Alive...alive?!"

Uncle Zhao and his guards stared wide-eyed, finding the brought-over coffin particularly awkward.

Pei Yunjing glanced at the coffin, seemingly in a good mood. He didn't get angry, as was unusual, and simply let go of the coffin casually.

"Take this unlucky thing away."

At this moment, Tang Li finally landed on her feet.

She felt like she had just come down from the execution ground, and her bones felt like they were about to fall apart.

The moment she regained her freedom, her instinct was to get as far away from this source of danger as possible.

step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

As Tang Li moved further away, Pei Yunjing's originally relaxed brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Four steps.

Five steps.

When Tangli retreated to the fifth step—

"Buzz!!!"

That familiar, nauseating, shrill roar returned to Pei Yunjing's mind without warning!

The sunlight in front of him suddenly became blinding, and Uncle Zhao's wrinkled face began to twist and elongate, turning into a blood-red monster.

The sound of the wind turned into a mournful wail once again.

pain!

A sharp, piercing pain shot into my temple!

Pei Yunjing's figure suddenly swayed, and the violent aura he had just suppressed instantly erupted.

The clarity in his eyes was quickly swallowed by crimson, and his face was as gloomy as if a storm was about to break.

"return!"

He let out a low growl, his body moving like lightning, and suddenly reached out and grabbed Tangli, who was about to sneak behind a pillar.

A tremendous force struck.

Before Tang Li could react, she was pulled back forcefully and slammed into that hard, cold embrace.

The distance instantly closed.

Within one step.

The world... fell silent again.

The feeling of returning from hell to the human world made Pei Yunjing's breathing become rapid.

He gripped Tang Li's wrist tightly, with such force that he almost crushed her bones, his eyes filled with a terrifyingly sinister look.

He was conducting an experiment.

Confirm the effective range of this "medicine".

Tang Li was in so much pain that she broke out in a cold sweat, but she dared not struggle, because she could feel the murderous aura about to erupt from the man.

Pei Yunjing lowered his eyes, looking down at the trembling girl in his arms, his gaze as if he were assessing an inanimate tool.

After a long silence, he coldly uttered a sentence:

"Three feet."

Tang Li was taken aback: "W-what?"

Pei Yunjing offered no explanation, but simply announced her fate in a cold and domineering tone:

"From today onwards, you are no longer the Regent's Consort, but merely my personal... medicinal ingredient."

"Remember, anyone who stays more than three feet away from me will be killed without mercy."

Until his poison is cured, this woman is his lifeline, and he will keep her locked in his belt even if it means using iron chains.

Uncle Zhao listened with a pounding heart.

Three feet?

Wouldn't that mean we'd have to follow them even to the outhouse?

After Pei Yunjing finished speaking, he completely ignored Tang Li's pale face, dragged her into the study, and slammed the door shut with a "bang".

The room was dimly lit.

Before Tang Li could even breathe a sigh of relief, her chin was suddenly grabbed forcefully, forcing her to raise her head.

Pei Yunjing's handsome yet dangerous face was inches away.

This time, his eyes no longer held the dependence they had shown before, only a cold scrutiny and suspicion remained.

If it's not a coincidence, then it must be a conspiracy.

"Now, it's just you and me in this room."

Pei Yunjing's fingertips traced the delicate skin of her chin, his tone icy, as if he were discussing the weather:

"Speak! Who sent you? What kind of sorcery did you use on me?"