Due to Linqin’s family status, she could no longer be the legal wife of Weisheng.  She could only hope to be his concubine in the Shen household. But knowing Linqin, she would not settle for being his concubine, she would only want to be the legal wife.    

Weisheng’s heart tightened at the sight of Linqin staring directly at him.  His heart called out to her and wondered if she heard it. He wondered if she could feel how much he yearned for her.  

Linqin slowly stood up, the water on her body slid down her curves in a caressing manner.  Every drip of water into the tub, was Weisheng heart beat, beating faster as she held his gaze.  Daring him to look at her, daring him to step out of the darkness and into the light. Challenging him to claim her as his woman.  

Weisheng broke their eye contact to look upon her heavenly body.  Each curve was tempting him to step forward and claim her and yet, in the back of his mind was his family’s obligation and society’s standards. Weisheng took a step back, bringing him deeper into the darkness.  

“Don’t regret your decisions in the future.  For we will never know what the future entails.  What you should do now, do it. What you can’t do in the past, cannot be changed. What you can’t do later, you’ll regret it.”  Linqin said as she got out of the tub and wore her robe. Her eyes stayed on Weisheng as she kept on speaking. “What you want and what everybody wants, is two different things.  What makes you happy and what makes others happy, is two different things. What you do and what others do, are two different things. So what you want, what you do and what makes you happy is your own concern.  What others wants, what they do and what makes them happy is not your concern.”

Weisheng was rooted in his place by Linqin’s words.  He had been stuck between a rock and a hard place for the longest time.  His heart called out to her, wanting to be with her and claim her as his own, but due to her status in society, they deemed her unworthy.  Because of that, he kept away from her as much as he could. He couldn’t make his family unhappy with him, if he married her as his legal and only wife.  He didn’t want to hurt Linqin’s feelings either if he brought her into his home as his wife and have his clan members and other people looking down on her because of her background.  

He had resigned himself to stay forever alone, by her side, silently watching over her and taking care of her.  But tonight, he knew, that without a doubt, if he didn’t do something about his feeling and claim her as his woman.  He would lose her forever. She would become the King’s woman and will be living in the back palace. Away from him and with another man.

That is why he came there to her bedroom tonight.  Because he was afraid she’ll leave and never come back.  So now that he’s here, why is he hesitating? He was never a coward, never one to pull back from a dare, never one who was last.  But when it came to Linqin, he was afraid. He had gotten to know what fear is and yet, he knew he would fight tooth and nail for her.  So why is he hesitating?

Weisheng pulled at his shirt and pulled it off of him.  He walked towards her with silent steps and with each step, he shedded his clothes, one by one, until he was naked in front of her.  

The soft candle light in the room made the uncertain look in his eyes glimmer with hope as Linqin did not scream for help, but instead she reached out and touched his left chest.  His heart began to beat faster as her warm hand made contact with his skin. His throat became dry and his hands kept scrunching into fist, trying to shake off the nervousness.

“Have you decided?  Is this what you truly want?”  Linqin asked as she looked up to him.  

“You have always been what I want.”  Weisheng confessed.

“Even if society and your family disagrees?”  

“From the moment I saw you, I knew, I wanted you.  I knew you would be my happiness. I knew you would be my saving grace.  I knew that we were meant to be, because I belonged to you, just as you belonged to me.”  Weisheng whispered as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. “You are right, what others want and what others say, has nothing to do with me.  The only person who has that right, is you.”

His kiss trailed down her cheek and met her open lips as she hooked her arms around his neck, bringing him down to her level, so they could kiss deeper.  His hands roamed her back and buttcheeks. Suddenly, Weisheng pulled her up into his embrace and Linqin circled her legs around his waist as he carried her to bed.  

He laid her in bed and broke their kiss.  The darkness covered up most of her features and he cursed silently to himself for not lighting one candle inside of the room so he could see her in candlelight.  

“Are you sure this is what you want?”  Linqin asked again.

“Yes.”  Weisheng told her.  “What about you? Once I claim you as mine, no one can have you.”  

“I’ve been waiting since the day I saw you, to claim me as yours.”  Linqin confessed. “Besides, you and I, we were once betrothed and were in the process to get married.  Had it not been for the false accusations against my family, I would have long ago been your wife.”

Weisheng kissed her forehead once again and then the tip of her nose.  

“I will find out who cause your family’s demise and pay them back for what they did to you and your family.”  Weisheng promised her.

“You don’t have to.”  Linqin told him truthfully.  “I have already found the culprit and I’ve already made steps to take my own revenge.”  

“Then what can I do for you?”  He asked her gently as he brushed her hair away from her face. 

“Love me.  Just love me.”