Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Anger and Determination

Imperial Palace, Liangyi Hall

"...A few years ago, I would have accepted your request to lead the army. However, my strength is waning, and the Crown Prince is still young. You are indispensable to the administration of state affairs. This time, let's focus on deterrence."

"If you are still concerned, you can send border troops to patrol the various tribes of foreign nations to enhance our national prestige."

"I am tired, please leave."

The emperor leaned against the imperial couch and spoke earnestly. Then he waved his hand and lay down again, closing his eyes with a slightly tired look.

Qin Jingyao seemed to be hesitant to speak, and stood quietly in the hall for a moment. Finally, he bowed and left.

As he left the hall, the frown on his face suddenly relaxed, his expression no longer gloomy. The sun was blazing brightly in the sky. He glanced up at the sky, and a chill settled over him.

The Imperial Palace was majestic and vast, the Emperor's residence situated at the very heart of the palace, symbolizing the presence of a true dragon, pacifying the four directions. From the central court to the palace gates, the distance was several miles, and even by carriage it would take half an hour, let alone walking.

Moreover, there are many eyes and ears in the palace, and it is difficult to avoid being seen.

However, Qin Jingyao strode out of the palace gate in just a quarter of an hour. At this time, there were officials and civilians outside the palace gate, but he completely ignored the public gaze, directly unloaded the carriage, jumped on the horse, whipped it and galloped away.

The long street was packed with people, but he simply used his empty whip to push back the crowd without slowing down at all. The journey that originally took half an hour was compressed into a moment, and he rushed straight into the mansion.

It was not until he was about to go to the hospital to see her that he suddenly realized from the servants' anxious and careful questioning that in his haste, he had not even changed out of his official uniform.

As soon as he entered the mansion, the butler briefly informed him of the truth. A myriad of countermeasures flashed through his mind, but he paused only for a moment before dropping the reins and sprinting inside in his purple official robes.

*

Lan Nongnong hadn't run at full speed like this in ages. Even though her chest felt like it was about to burst, her throat burned, her legs trembled like sieves, and her whole body felt limp and weak, she had to admit that the laziness and emptiness after exhaustion, the focus on her breathing, made all the troubles seem distant and unimportant.

The shock, pain, hatred and anger that had been lingering in her chest and making her feel like she was dying seemed to gradually fade away with this outburst.

Since returning to this house, she has not spoken a word. The garden, the lake, the pavilions and the waterside terraces, which used to be full of traces of sweetness, are now covered with a layer of hateful gloom, making her avoid them and not want to look at them again.

She took off all the hair ornaments, earrings, bracelets, and dresses he had given her and replaced them with her own clothes. The only thing she kept was the bracelet on her wrist, which she had hand-engraved, had been consecrated before a Buddha, and had been reinforced by him. Even though her wrist was red, swollen, and broken, she still refused to take it off.

Lan Nongnong undid her hair and braided it back into a thick, long braid. She packed all her belongings into her bag. She sat down in the front hall, staring blankly into space with her red eyes for a long moment before finally lowering them and waiting silently.

This abnormal calmness is like the silence before the storm.

Seeing her so determined, Biyu and the others were terrified, and could only cautiously surround her, not stepping forward to stop her. No matter how much they pleaded and persuaded, they couldn't get her to pause for a moment, glance at her, or even respond.

She seemed to be alone in another world, completely unresponsive to everything around her. Her lips were chapped, yet she refused to drink a drop of water. She was exhausted, yet she refused to eat a single grain of rice. Now, she sat in plain clothes, her eyes lowered, and a chilling silence enveloped her.

Compared to the lively and bright appearance she had in the past few days, with a smile as dazzling as a spring flower, the current scene was so sad that I couldn't help but tear up my eyes.

There's a saying that there's no greater sorrow than a dead heart. Even if I were to feel uncontrollable rage after learning the truth, it would still be more hopeful than feeling completely dejected at this moment.

The master has great ambitions and his actions are full of meaning. Although he conceals his identity, he dotes on the girl with all kinds of love and indulgence, which is hard to describe. With the master's high position and power, and his peerless beauty, many noble ladies in the capital flock to him, but even if they offer themselves to him, they cannot get him.

Miss Lan is but an orphan. Even if your Excellency has never married, she would hardly be your principal wife. To have your Excellency's favor is a blessing earned through several lifetimes, let alone being your exclusive favor, enjoying all the splendor and glory, is truly a step to heaven. Isn't all your Excellency's gifts enough to outweigh this little deception?

Even if there was deception, it was insignificant compared to what was gained. Why would it come to this?

Biyu and the others were really puzzled and racked their brains to try to persuade them, but it was all in vain.

The dead silence was suddenly broken by the sound of galloping horses. The bewildered maids in the hall rushed out as if they had been pardoned.

Lan Nongnong sat still, only slowly raising her eyes to look at the tall figure that almost touched the door frame. He walked in against the light, and only a slender figure could be seen, walking in slowly and solemnly.

*

The flower stands in the hall were filled with fresh flowers, all vibrant and fragrant, each one delicate and graceful. However, neither of the two people in the hall cared to glance at them.

As the man approached, the majestic purple official robe embroidered with peacock patterns came into view clearly.

Lan Nongnong's cold and lonely heart suddenly shook violently like a volcano erupting. The coldness all over her body was instantly ignited by fire. Her breath suddenly became disordered, and flames seemed to rise in her pair of dark eyes.

It was only then that she realized she had overestimated herself. Her supposed strength, calmness, and awareness were all just a facade; she was so fragile and vulnerable!

His throat, dry for a long time, was hoarse and weak, his voice was soft and gentle, but every word was like a knife cutting through it: "Yao Jing, Qin Jingyao?"

"Ha, what a Yao Jing! Should I call you Yao Jing, or the illustrious Lord Ling Gong?"

Qin Jingyao's expression remained unchanged, his steps unbroken, and he made no reply. His calm features trembled only for a moment at the sound of her hoarse voice. Since he had dared to arrive in his official robes, he had no fear of being discovered, and he disdained no further futile excuses.

Her temperament was evident from the moment she bravely traveled a thousand miles to find him, angrily scolding him in the opera house. She was fierce and stubborn, with a clear distinction between love and hate. She was courageous and resourceful, daring to think and act, unconstrained by convention and imaginative. Her actions defied common sense and were not to be measured by ordinary worldly standards.

However, even if one has an unruly spirit, he will eventually be bound by the secular world and cannot escape the hunter's snare.

He had already made all the necessary arrangements. Even if she was momentarily shocked and angry, he could patiently explain things and allow her to vent her anger. Since they had already discussed the marriage and had even experienced physical intimacy, they could always reconcile and remain as loving as ever.

However, all his previous faith and control vanished the moment he saw her plain clothes and the bag in her hand.

Perhaps it was because he was in too much of a hurry, his clothes were too tight, or maybe it was because of the hot weather, but he felt a lump in his throat and his breathing was suddenly choked.

Qin Jingyao didn't lose his focus, simply staring at her intently. He untied his official robe and took it off, throwing it to the ground. The black gauze hat on his head was also discarded. The second-rank official uniform, a symbol of his great power, now fell to the ground like a worn-out shoe.

He chuckled softly, his voice slightly hoarse, and walked towards her while whispering, "I am whoever Nongnong wants me to be. Take off your official robes now, and I will be your fiancé, Yao Jing."

"Shut up! You're not! You're a despicable liar! Liar!!!"

Lan Nongnong stood up abruptly, her fists clenched, her whole body trembling with anger, her chest heaving violently. She gritted her teeth and glared at him hatefully.

He was only wearing a moon-white brocade shirt with dark patterns, which made him look taller and more handsome, just as she had fallen in love with him when they first met.

But who knew it was so terrible inside!

Her eyes, which had long since dried, were suddenly filled with mist. Gazing at his face, Lan Nongnong felt a tangle of love and hate, a burning pain so unbearable that she was speechless.

Qin Jingyao felt a sharp pain in his heart at her hateful gaze. The pain wasn't intense, but it was lingering, seeping into his bloodstream like threads, tangling with his internal organs, making every breath aching with an inescapable pain.

He was not a good person to begin with, and became even more arrogant with her indulgence. He could not tolerate any emotion other than love in her eyes, especially hatred.

Now that the truth was out, he didn't bother to continue pretending. This game, which had initially been played for fun, was now boring to him and he didn't want to drag it out any longer.

He opened his arms, wanting to hold her in his arms, and calmly faced her scolding, with a doting smile on his face, as if she was just being unreasonable and he would still indulge her infinitely.

But those eyes revealed an undisguised arrogance and aggression that looked down on others.

"I did conceal my identity. However, I was completely sincere to Nongnong. This is my fault, and I cannot deny it. No matter how angry Nongnong is, I am willing to bear it."

It was obvious that he had done something wrong, but he didn't show any shame in his words!

Lan Nongnong was so angry at his shamelessness that her lips turned pale and her whole body trembled as she pushed him away with all her strength. Tears rolled down her wide eyes, and she was filled with shock and anger, as if she had just seen this man's true face for the first time.

Suddenly, she let out a laugh, and the sound seemed to be pulled out from deep in her chest, extremely painful.

"Your love is all about deception and calculation, playing me in the palm of your hand! You coldly watch my ignorance and stupidity, believing your every word, allowing you to easily deceive me! You made me, in my ignorance, become the third party who I despise the most, violating morality and being despised by everyone, who interferes with other people's marriages!"

"Even though you're a prominent figure, everyone's attention is on your side, and everyone recognizes you, yet you've kept me in the dark! You've left me clueless, shamelessly appearing before everyone, while I've been ridiculed and cursed behind my back, becoming the complete laughing stock of this city!"

Lan Nongnong's heart was bleeding. She suppressed the anger in her chest until it felt like it was about to burst. She choked and scolded, "I asked you, asked you in person if you had a family, if you were engaged! Just a few days ago, I asked you if you were lying to me, and you said no! It was because you said no that I dared to pursue you boldly and come to find you!"

"If I knew you were married, I would never allow myself to have anything to do with you!"

"Even though you have outstanding looks and great power, you are nothing but a complete liar and a complete fraud!!!"

Lan Nongnong didn't want to be so excited and angry, but when she thought about how ignorant she had been and how she had done stupid things that now seemed ridiculous, she felt so regretful that she felt ashamed!

She wished she could split her life in two, sever all ties with him, and throw him into a furnace to burn to ashes!

My head suddenly felt numb, my ears were buzzing, and everything around me was silent.

Suddenly, Lan Nongnong regained consciousness. The thought of arguing with him about who was right and who was wrong was ridiculous! Even if they could argue, how sincere could an apology from someone who had no sense of shame be? What was the point?

After removing the disguise, the man in front of her was still handsome, but in Lan Nongnong's eyes, he looked hideous.

By this point, her heart had completely turned cold. She didn't want to be in the same room with him for a moment longer. She just wanted to go back to Yuqing immediately, back to the little home that belonged only to her.

But he deceived her. Even if the law cannot punish him and justice will not criticize him, she must seek justice for herself!

"Lower your head."

Qin Jingyao was a man of such stature that he naturally understood the deeper meaning of her words. Anger could only be dissipated if it was vented; otherwise, if it was pent up in the heart, it would become a serious problem.

Then, his expression, which had been gloomy due to her rejection and her regret for being with him, suddenly softened. His eyes were filled with tenderness and doting, and he slowly leaned closer.

“Bang!”

The crisp sound of slaps exploded in the silence. Tongze, Biyu, and the others, who had been waiting outside with their heads bowed, felt as if struck by lightning. Their heads were buzzing, their legs were weak, their eyes were wide open, and they held their breath even more, wishing they could become invisible, even holding back their breath.

Lan Nongnong, enraged, struck him with all her might, causing her palm to tingle and tremble slightly. She saw his cheek being slapped to the side, with five finger marks gradually becoming more distinct, redness and swelling appearing, and blood seeping from the corner of his lips.

She should have felt happy, but she felt mixed emotions that were hard to describe.

She gasped, feeling her hands and feet go numb, her throat ached, and her head pounding. She thought it was just her overexcited emotions, so she shook her head, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. When she looked up again, she saw his dark eyes staring at her silently.

Lan Nongnong suppressed her tears, her throat choked, and she gritted her teeth as she said, "I was deceived by you because I was inexperienced and didn't know people well. I'll just swallow what happened today as a lesson. I'll return this slap to you. From now on, we're even, and we have nothing to do with each other anymore!"

She threw the hairpin and earrings she had been holding tightly at him fiercely, and regardless of whether he could catch them or not, she suddenly let go: "Yours, I'll give them back to you!"

"Give me back my bracelet!"

She didn't want to keep his things, nor would she allow her own things to remain there.

Seeing his indifference, she reached out to pull, but the bracelet had been reinforced and no matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn't budge. Not even the seemingly fragile gold-encrusted jade piece budged. The more anxious she became, the more futile it became. Her head was buzzing and tears welled up. Seeing that she couldn't pull it off, she simply gave up!

She shook his hand away fiercely, no longer looking at him, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, turned around, picked up her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and was about to leave around him.

But before she could take a step forward, a burning hand gripped her arm firmly. Her shoulder felt lighter, the scenery before her swayed, and her bag was thrown far away, right on top of the official robe.

She herself was also pressed back into the chair.

He had already leaned forward, and in an instant the wide chair turned into a cramped cage.

He was no longer the man she knew and loved. Beneath his skin, he hid countless shamelessness and lies, exuding a strong aura of aggression that was so unfamiliar that it made her heart flutter.

Lan Nongnong was in a state of panic, her heart beating wildly, and her hair stood on end. With one hand, she pushed away the iron-like hand on her shoulder, and with the other, she desperately pressed against his chest, exerting force with her waist and abdomen to try to break free from this tight situation.

But she was already pinned firmly against the back of the chair. Even with her long legs, her toes couldn't even reach the ground. Like a fish on a chopping block, her struggles were futile.

Despite this, Lan Nongnong refused to give up. She kicked and struggled against him, suppressing her panic and angrily shouting, "Yao—Qin Jingyao! What do you want to do?! Let me go! You lied to me, played tricks on me, and humiliated me. Isn't it right for me to slap you? Are you going to get angry and hit me back? If you still have any conscience, get out of the way immediately!"

"Nong Nong is my fiancée. I dote on you and pamper you to the point of wanting more, so how could I possibly lay hands on you?"

The corners of his lips and left cheek felt burning and stinging, but Qin Jingyao seemed unaware of it. His tall and slender body was as firm as a pine tree and a rock, and he did not move at all despite her kicks and punches.

When she paused, exhausted, he gently pushed her legs apart with his knees. The hand that had been clasping her shoulder blades moved to her wrist, gently caressing the rubbed and swollen skin beneath the bracelet, his eyes suddenly cold.

His fingertips suddenly moved upwards, pinching the red earlobe that was left after she took off the earrings, and rubbing it gently but without letting her retreat. He raised his eyes and met her frightened eyes closely, his thin lips slightly curled, and his words were as cold as ice.

"Nong Nong also said that everyone in the capital knows me. Since I'm taking you on a trip, no one will dare to criticize me behind my back. I can still tolerate your beatings and scolding, but if anyone dares to make you a laughing stock, I will make sure he never laughs again."

His thumb released her earlobe, which had been rubbed bright red, and he flicked his wrist slightly, and the powder hairpin and earrings that she had just thrown away suddenly reappeared in his palm.

“I don’t want—!”

The earlobe is swollen, numb, and hot, as if being bitten by ants, with a slight tingling pain.

Lan Nongnong suddenly woke up, resisting with all her body, and twisting her head to dodge. She wished she could sew up her ear holes immediately, so that no more jewelry would be allowed to pass through them in her life.

But as soon as she struggled, a large hand easily grasped hers and pinned them behind her head. The hand was so strong that it even had enough fingertips to press against her neck, forcing her to arch her back. Her legs dangled in the air, kicking in vain, her entire body forced to offer itself to him in a deeply shameful position.

Lan Nongnong was filled with rage, and also with immense anxiety about what he was doing. She struggled mightily to escape. However, compared to him, her strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree, or a butterfly accidentally touching a spider web. The more she struggled, the more she was trapped by an invisible force, and in the end, she could not move an inch.

"Let me go! I won't wear it! We're not engaged yet, and I won't be engaged to you again. You have no right to do this to me. Don't force me like this anymore!"

It was easy to suppress her.

Qin Jingyao's movements in putting the earrings on her were gentle and familiar. He lowered his eyes slightly and looked at her snow-white neck and red earlobes. The pink earrings swayed slightly because of her trembling, adding a touch of charm and tenderness.

He felt slightly satisfied, so he picked up the lily of the valley hairpin again and wanted to put it on her head again.

However, her long black hair was not tied up, and there was nowhere to put it. He frowned slightly, and although he was unhappy, he had to give up for the time being.

He raised his eyes and stared at her frightened face, his five fingers threaded into her black hair, his palm gently supporting the back of her head, the smile on his face faded. His phoenix eyes locked onto her panicked gaze, his voice slow but firm,

"I wasn't initially attracted to her, but it was her intense, passionate, and vibrant nature that gradually drew me in. Although I concealed my identity, it wasn't to humiliate you. Regardless of the circumstances, since Nongnong provoked me, you can't just break off the relationship without permission. If you've drawn a line in the sand, don't ever mention it again. Since I've agreed to your marriage, it will take place as scheduled."

"Nong Nong is my future wife. I pierced both of her ears myself. This is a token of our love, so I have the right to wear it for her. In the future, I am the only one who can take it off for you."

"Madman! You are a madman!"

"You have no right to order me around, to demand anything of me! You deceived me, you tricked me into falling in love with an illusion that didn't even exist! I won't marry you, and I won't even bother being your concubine! You can't do this to me, you can't, I won't agree!"

It turns out that this is his true face, selfish, arbitrary, self-centered, aggressive, and vindictive!

Lan Nongnong trembled all over, shaking her head. Her anger, now exposed to his true face, turned to fear. Her hair stood on end, her chest heaving, her short gasps trembling with fear, but her hands still struggled to tug at the pendant on her ear.

Qin Jingyao still didn't let her go, he stroked her lips with his thumb, gently pushed open her clenched teeth, and let her bite down suddenly, but he laughed softly, his tone doting,

"Silly Nongnong, that fake me is also me. If you like that look, I can still be your ideal person in the future. This is the only thing between you and me, like a tiny flaw in a beautiful jade, it's nothing. I will repair it carefully like a skilled craftsman, so that you can still be happy and worry-free every day. Just like in the past, you will wait for me in the mansion when I return, and laugh and talk with me about the fun things of the day."

"When I take a rest, I will take Nongnong to travel all over the capital. The relationship between you and me will only become closer."

"Nong Nong's heart is as pure as a child's. After two years, when her heart settles, she will give birth to one or two children, either boy or girl, who will carry our blood. Then, you can bring your children and wait for me in the mansion every day. Wouldn't that make your life perfect?"

He seemed to have clearly imagined that a few years later, she would be standing in a warm and magnificent mansion with two children, bathed in starlight and candlelight, waiting for his return. She was born with a young face, and it was not clear whether she would stand with the children or hold them together, but rather like a big child leading two small children.

The scene was amusing and heartwarming, bringing a smile to Qin Jingyao's eyes. The gentleness that shone upon his handsome face, like that of a banished immortal, was enough to captivate everyone.

Lan Nongnong stared at the face above her in a daze. As he described the future, she felt a chill rising from her feet and rushing up to the tips of her hair. Her entire body felt cold and tense, her breathing quickened, and she couldn't stop shaking her head.

He was a lunatic, self-righteous, and headstrong! He had deceived her like that, and she hated him so much she had already decided to break up with him. How could there be any future for them? Not to mention giving birth to a child for him!

He already had a wife, perhaps even children, yet he still deceived her, and wanted her to deceive herself and accept this lie! He simply wanted to turn her into a dodder that depended on him, a bird in a cage, a puppet with an empty mind, eyes only for him, looking forward to him all day long, without any self-will!

He wasn't even obsessed with her at the moment. He just enjoyed being pursued and loved by a woman like her who dared to take the initiative. All this had nothing to do with her.

Lan Nongnong suddenly remembered that he always called her "Silly Nongnong". She used to think it was just a way of endearment, but now she understood that there was no affection in that word, only condescending scrutiny, disdain and coldness. He really thought she was stupid.

It's ridiculous that she was blinded by love and never realized it at all!

Lan Nongnong had never been so frightened as she was at this moment. She was afraid of his identity, and even more afraid of the authority that identity gave him. Just like now, she scoffed at his idea in her heart and would never agree with it, but he had easily trapped her here before he even used his power.

She had no relatives or friends here, no one to turn to. Even if he was just a merchant, he could have trapped her to death in this house quietly. Moreover, he held great power, enough to openly make his words come true, and no one dared to say a word of criticism!

But I don't want to live a life that is arranged by others. I know I was wrong, I regret it, I still have a lot of good years ahead of me, I can't let one misstep cost me my whole life!

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The author has something to say: Today, babies are going to change the list, 6,000 are here, and I will also take a break [heart][heart][heart]