Chapter 12 Husband and Wife: My Relationship with the Princess – From Closest to Most Distant – Husband and Wife

Yan Ning arrived in Shangjing the next day. When she arrived, the city gates had just opened, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and the ground was covered with the heavy moisture of early autumn.

He did not let the weather affect his decision and went straight to the palace gate.

Emperor Qi Xuan had been "ill" for nearly a year. Crown Prince Li Xun was still young and inexperienced in politics. Chancellor Xiao Yuanshan assisted him and acted as regent, handling affairs. He did not go to court unless necessary and went directly to his residence. Therefore, the palace gates were not as closed as before when he arrived at the palace according to the morning bell and evening drum.

This door was only for people inside the palace. It wasn't a problem for the eldest son of the Yan family. He took out the Yan family's token, and they made an exception for him and opened the door for him alone.

He took the opportunity to inquire about Li Yunru's whereabouts and learned that yesterday at dusk, someone had indeed forced them to clear a path into the palace, claiming to be Princess Liyang. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, thank you." The man handed a gold leaf to the guard at the gate and then hurried into the palace in his carriage.

...

"Your Majesty, the young master of the Yan family has arrived. Shall we invite him in?" Empress Zhenyuan had just risen and was in her dressing room when a palace maid came to report from outside the door.

"Please invite him to sit in the East Warm Pavilion."

The servant gave the order, and the palace maid who received it went out.

She gave her instructions, but delayed going to see him. About half an hour later, the maid Lianxiang, who was combing her hair, asked, "Isn't Your Highness going to see Yan Langjun?"

Lianxiang was confused and looked suspicious. The head maid who had been serving Empress Zhenyuan closely said, "Just do your job and don't ask any more questions."

The woman lowered her head after being shouted at. Empress Zhenyuan turned and glanced at her, but said nothing, only saying, "This is none of your business. Go down."

"yes."

After the maid who was combing her hair left, Empress Zhenyuan got up, but not to see Yan Ning. Instead, she asked about the various medications that Emperor Qi Xuan had taken that day. After a while, she sat down, and the nanny poured her a cup of tea, which she then slowly began to eat.

"Do you know why I don't go to see the Yan family's son?" Empress Zhenyuan asked.

The head maid said, "Your Highness must have your reasons for doing this."

Empress Zhenyuan replied to her, "Rui Lin'er returned suddenly this time and didn't mention much about the Yan family. He must have suffered a lot of grievances."

The old woman said, "Does Your Highness mean to give the Yan family a warning and avenge the princess?"

Not entirely.

She sighed, "This Yan Changjun is the eldest son of the Yan family, highly regarded and of excellent character, yet he is aloof and arrogant. The fact that he caught up with us so quickly suggests that he isn't entirely without feelings for Ruilin'er. It's not that she said she raised her like a sparrow, but this arrogance, along with his status as the eldest son, destined him to be rather self-centered, rarely communicating, and only seeking results. So if we met him so easily and let him see Ruilin'er, then people would really think that his status is so useful. It's still the same, sigh..."

Empress Zhenyuan sighed and said, "Sometimes, this is how relationships are. People who are clearly interested in each other will hurt and misunderstand each other for various reasons. Unless pushed to the extreme, they always feel that there is still a future and are unwilling to reveal their feelings."

The head maid had never married and had served in the palace since the previous dynasty. She didn't understand the ways of men and women, but she was good at reading people's expressions. When Empress Zhenyuan said so, she agreed.

"The princess and the Yan family will understand Her Majesty's deep love for her daughter."

Empress Zhenyuan remained silent, but took sips of her tea until both cups were empty before saying, "Let's go, we'll go see this Yan family lad."

...

When Yan Ning had almost finished reading all the books in the East Warm Pavilion, he finally met Empress Zhenyuan.

He stood up and respectfully bowed to her, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

This time, Empress Zhenyuan didn't deliberately hold him back. She told him to get up and said, "Now that you and Ruilin'er are married, we are family. There's no need to be so formal. There are no outsiders here. You can call me Mother like she does." "Yes."

Yan Ning did as she was told, and respectfully called out "Mother Empress".

This was the first time he had shouted like that. The dashing and unrestrained young nobleman, who was usually so carefree and unconventional, suddenly became somewhat flustered and reserved. His voice was not so confident and was low and weak.

Empress Zhenyuan observed this, and a smile gradually spread across her lips. A seasoned playboy would be frank, generous, and polite in such matters, leaving no room for criticism. He was indifferent to a person, but when he did care, anything related to her, even just a seemingly insignificant title, could stir his emotions.

She and Emperor Qi Xuan were right to have made the right choice.

He is the kind of person they can entrust their daughter to with complete peace of mind.

"You don't need to be so formal, my lord." Empress Zhenyuan addressed him by his courtesy name, a term usually used by close relatives.

She pulled him up and sat him down at a nearby table, asking with concern, "Has Ruilin'er caused you a lot of trouble this year?"

Yan Ning replied, "No."

"Don't speak up for her. I know my daughter well. She's been spoiled by me, her father, and her brothers and sisters since she was little. She's extremely willful and will definitely cause trouble."

Yan Ning: "..."

"The princess is a bit willful, but she has a good heart and won't cause any major trouble."

Empress Zhenyuan agreed with him, saying, "Rui Lin'er has always been like this since he was a child."

As she spoke, her expression softened, and she said, "His Majesty and I came from humble beginnings. Back then, he was a bookworm who couldn't even afford a meal, and I toiled in the fields every day. Later, just to have enough to eat, the two of us started fighting for the world, and who knew we'd actually win. Ruilin was born amidst the flames of war and suffered a lot from a young age. His Majesty and I always felt indebted to her, so we always let her grow up carefree..."

Yan Ning listened attentively and replied, "Father and you share a deep love for their son, which is truly precious."

Empress Zhenyuan said, "That's how it is, but she's been spoiled to the point of being so reckless and lawless."

Using this sentence as a springboard, she shifted the focus to the current political situation, saying, "While her father and I are still around, there's always someone to back her up. But as you know, if she continues like this, what will happen to her after we're gone? With such a strong personality, she won't back down even a little..."

Yan Ning understood the meaning behind Empress Zhenyuan's words; she was using a feigned retreat to force him to make a promise.

The situation is about to change, and everyone will become a victim of this change, especially the royal family... If the Yan family steps in to protect them, at least they can save one of their lives.

This woman, as expected of someone who accompanied Emperor Qi Xuan through countless battles, remained calm and composed even in the face of such a major event, and quickly came up with a solution.

Even knowing this.

He... was still willing to give her face.

Yan Ning said, "Mother, rest assured, now that Liyang has entered the Yan family, she is a member of the Yan family. No matter how turbulent the situation is, it will not change. Changjun will also do his best to protect her and not let her suffer any harm."

Empress Zhenyuan smiled knowingly and said with relief, "Your mother believes in you."

No one stopped Yan Ning from meeting Li Yunru. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they said, "Rui Lin'er is resting in my palace. She's exhausted and hasn't woken up yet. Go and take a look."

"yes."

Yan Ning went out, and Empress Zhenyuan followed her out of the East Warm Pavilion. At this time, Emperor Qi Xuan should have woken up and taken his medicine.

He didn't want her to work hard or serve him closely, but she didn't want to entrust the simple task of administering medicine to someone else.

...

Led by a palace maid, Yan Ning entered Empress Zhenyuan's bedchamber. She was still asleep, and from afar, she could see a beautiful young woman lying behind the screen, in the crimson gauze curtains. The brocade quilt was half open, barely covering her waist, revealing her slender and graceful figure and her exquisite breasts... She was sleeping very soundly, occasionally letting out soft murmurs.

"Please wait here, Your Highness. I will go and wake the princess," the maid said, and then stepped inside. Yan Ning stopped her, "No need, you may leave."

"this……"

"yes."

Although it was somewhat against the rules, Yan Langjun was the princess's husband, so it should be alright. Thus, the person obediently withdrew.

Yan Ning walked around the screen, went inside, parted the curtains, tucked the kicked-off blankets back in, and half-squatted down beside the bed, gazing tenderly at the person before her. In just half a month, he had lost weight and become much darker, with deep shadows beneath his beautiful almond-shaped eyes…

She was in such a hurry that he had to turn back to find someone to deliver a message for just a few moments before he couldn't catch up. Yan Ning never expected that she, a little princess who had been raised in the palace since childhood and had never suffered much hardship, would actually make it through such a long and arduous journey.

That's truly impressive.

"Bad princess," he said helplessly, "She's really a handful."

He complained, but his eyes were full of tenderness. He brushed her slightly disheveled hair aside and kissed her forehead.

In her daze, Li Yunru felt something sticky and slightly prickly on her forehead, which was very uncomfortable. When she opened her eyes, she saw Yan Ning, whose face was as beautiful as a peach blossom. Because they were so close, she could clearly see the fine downy hair on his face, the stubble that had just grown, and the dark circles under his eyes.

"It's you!"

She woke up with a start, all sleepiness gone in an instant. She sat up abruptly from the bed, pointed at the door and shouted angrily, "Get out of here!"

The person was extremely emotional, their body was trembling, and their doe-like eyes were wet, as if they were about to cry but were trying hard to hold back their tears.

Yan Ning's heart softened completely at the sight. He grabbed her hand, pulled her into his arms, and said, "The princess and I are the closest yet most distant of husband and wife. Wherever the princess is, that's where I should be. Where can I possibly go?"

"Go wherever you want!" Li Yunru persisted, her attitude remaining firm, struggling to break free from the embrace.

She has been deceived by people's feigned tenderness far too many times.

"Brother Changjun was also present at the time regarding Chen Erlang's matter, and he did not object."

He was no different from those people. They were all hoping for her father's death, waiting for her family to fall into ruin and for her to have no one to support her, so that they could squeeze out the last bit of value from her and send her to a powerful family in exchange for their benefits...

They're disgusting!

That's absolutely disgusting!