Chapter 48 A Joyous Event "She's really going to be a mother this time."...
Ruan Yang steadied herself, trying to calm herself down, and looked at Ning Xian warily.
It had been a long time since I last saw him, but the man's face remained untouched by the passage of time. If there was any change, it was that he seemed to have shed the naivety and recklessness that occasionally surfaced back then, replaced by unfathomable depths in his eyes.
He wasn't wearing a bright yellow dragon robe; instead, he wore his favorite black robe backwards on his tall frame. However, the robe wasn't a deathly black; it reflected a dappled light in the dim sunlight.
Ning Xian stood obediently beside the artificial hill, neither too close nor too far from Ruan Yang. The man had lost his usual gloomy demeanor; he simply gazed at her quietly, a hint of tears glistening in the corner of his eye.
He gritted his teeth, his normally heaving chest trembling slightly, his throat feeling unbearably sour and swollen as if he had swallowed several spoonfuls of sourness.
I've loved, and I've hated.
Even when he was abandoned on his wedding night, he swore a vicious oath to himself, saying that once he caught this woman, he would cut her into a thousand pieces and then throw her half-dead body into a hunting ground to amuse himself, only then would he be satisfied with his revenge.
Upon first seeing her, all he wanted was for her to go home with him.
Ruan Yang had nowhere to retreat, and after a long stalemate, Ning Xian was within reach.
She turned her face away and said calmly, "Who...who are you? This is the Funing Palace, how can you be so rude?"
Ning Xian paused, gently cupping Ruan Yang's small face in one hand. His eyes narrowed slightly, and then his gaze lingered on her alluring face with a spiderweb-like intensity.
The woman's skin was as white as snow, her eyes were upturned, and her red lips were full. Ruan Yang, who usually went out without makeup, now looked even more sharp with her makeup.
Her appearance has changed drastically, and even her voice is different now, making it hard to associate her with the cute and innocent girl she used to be.
If he hadn't heard that the ever-loyal General Lu was suddenly willing to get married, Ning Xian thought he would probably never have been able to find Ruan Yang in his lifetime.
The procedure of bone reshaping and skin replacement is extremely risky, and the postoperative pain will be immense. Ruan Yang is so afraid of pain, how could she possibly undergo bone reshaping and skin replacement to avoid him?
Ning Xian snorted coldly.
He felt that Lu Wenjin was stirring things up and scheming, and that Lu Wenjin had completely fooled him.
Ruan Yang pressed against Ning Xian's chest, her heart pounding faster.
She was actually very afraid that Ning Xian would go crazy here and do something outrageous to her, and she didn't want the Lu family to be disgraced because of her.
The girl instinctively clutched her collar, and when she caught sight of her best friend out of the corner of her eye, it was like she'd found a savior. She exclaimed excitedly, "Madam Wang? How come you're only just now..."
Ning Xian frowned, immediately stepped forward and covered her lips. He pinned her against the stone wall and threatened, "Don't shout. If others find out that you're having an affair with me, you'll be accused of adultery."
The man exuded a fragrance as pure as a lotus, and his breath enveloped her skin, making Ruan Yang so anxious she was on the verge of tears.
Ning Xian felt Ruan Yang's pearly teeth biting his palm. Slowly, blood trickled out, almost smearing half of the girl's face. He could only sigh, "Don't bite me. If this gets to Lu Wenjin, he'll dump you."
Ruan Yang tearfully conceded, saying that this was a personal grudge between her and Ning Xian, and Lu Wenjin should not be involved.
Ning Xian wiped her mouth with her sleeve: "Don't cry, I just wanted to hug you."
"I won't force you."
He was too stupid before, not realizing that he was too rough in that matter. Logically speaking, the more exciting the matter is, the more pleasure the other person will have, but his penis seemed to be made of dough and could not withstand too much pain.
But his intention was by no means to insult; he wished that Ruan Yang would return the teeth marks and kisses he left behind tenfold.
But he belatedly realized that what he considered Qin Qu's pleasure had become abuse in Ruan Yang's eyes.
Ruan Yang had no choice but to accept. The moment the other person rushed towards her, she suddenly felt a churning in her stomach. She knew that this nausea was not because of Ning Xian.
She hadn't had an appetite lately, and at lunchtime, she only managed to eat some porridge and roasted venison to fill her stomach in order to keep the Empress Dowager company.
There's nothing left to vomit, so I can only turn my back and dry heave.
Ning Xian laughed in anger upon seeing this: "Are you disgusting me?"
"I wouldn't dare," Ruan Yang said coldly.
Ning Xian smiled dismissively, then drew out the first syllable and said disdainfully, "Oh, so you're pregnant."
Ruan Yang was taken aback, then immediately retorted, "Impossible! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Why not? Could it be that Lu Wenjin is impotent? Or is it that you can't let me go at all, and you only married him to spite me?" Ning Xian bent down and pinched the back of Ruan Yang's neck.
Ruan Yang broke free: "I don't understand what you're saying. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
Ning Xian asked knowingly, teasingly, "Really? Then who are you?"
"I am Lu Wenjin's lawfully wedded wife, let me go!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Xian gritted her teeth and said, "You're his wife? Then what am I? Did you get my permission to remarry without my consent?! I didn't write a divorce agreement to let you go, did I?!"
Upon hearing this, Ruan Yang decided not to continue the act. She retorted with a sneer: "A divorce agreement? You must be joking. Although the Emperor Emeritus bestowed this marriage upon us, my name was not recorded in the imperial register. Of course, I can pretend that unbearable marriage never existed!"
A bucket of cold water was poured directly into Ning Xian's brain. It didn't exist? The marriage contract he had gone to great lengths to obtain could actually be treated as if it didn't exist in Ruan Yang's eyes?
His voice trembled with grievance, and Ning Xian said unwillingly, "What about when we left the state? I married you again in a grand and glorious ceremony, with all the proper matchmakers and betrothal gifts."
"Do you have any official documents?" Seeing him speechless, Ruan Yang chuckled and said, "No, right? Then what kind of wife am I to you?"
Given the circumstances back then, how could there have been any opportunity to obtain any documents?
Now that everything is better, what difficulty would it be for Ruan Yang to want the position of Empress?
Ruan Yang interrupted Ning Xian, looked him straight in the eye, and said, word by word, "From beginning to end, you have only ever treated me as a concubine to satisfy your physical needs. Now that you have a new lover, why are you not allowed to pursue my own happiness?"
"I hate you. I hate that you never respected me and never treated me like a real person!"
Ning Xian was speechless. Looking at Ruan Yang's moist eyes, he was shocked to realize that there was not a trace of love in her eyes when she looked at him now.
He was a little scared afterward, so he humbled himself and said, "I'm sorry, I know I was wrong."
"I can give you anything you want now; the position of Empress is just a matter of a word from you."
Wrong?
Ning Xian finally admitted that he was sorry from beginning to end, and that he was the only one who had done wrong.
Ruan Yang no longer cared about such material possessions. She coldly said, "Are you prepared to let me share you with countless women?"
"No, no, as long as you come back, I can drive them all away, and the child you bear will be my only offspring."
"Then where do you put Jinlian and the others?"
Ning Xian shook her head, saying helplessly, "No, it's not what you see. Jinlian won't have a good ending, and the child in her belly has nothing to do with me..."
“I can show you the front.”
Seeing that Ruan Yang did not believe him, he said humbly, "If it really doesn't work, just think of me as your mistress who you keep outside, and come to see me whenever you have time."
"I like you so much, I don't want to break up with you."
Ruan Yang huddled in the corner, and when she caught sight of someone approaching from afar, she stopped arguing with Ning Xian. She tidied her hair and clothes and listened quietly to the maid's words.
The maid was taken aback by Ning Xian's presence and paused for a moment before offering her greetings: "May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Ning Xian returned to his serious demeanor, sniffed his moist nose, and asked, "What is it?"
The maid replied, "The Empress Dowager has finished her afternoon rest and said she wants to find someone to play chess and arrange flowers. She is currently looking for Madam Lu everywhere."
Ruan Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Ignoring Ning Xian's presence, she smiled and said, "I'll go right now."
Ruan Yang left accompanied by her maid, leaving behind only a handkerchief by her boot. Ning Xian picked up the cold handkerchief and slowly clenched it. Ruan Yang's resolute back view made him very unhappy.
Is she trying to use the Empress Dowager as a shield?
Ning Xian pondered for a while, then gave a soft hum and quickly followed.
......
Ruan Yang felt much more at ease after seeing Lady Wang and the Empress Dowager. She stepped into the pavilion, where the two were chatting and laughing with scissors and flower branches in hand. On the table, fennel, yellow tulips, monstera, and other plants stood gracefully in the water on one side of a ceramic plate.
Madam Wang carefully gathered the pruned branches and leaves into a cloth bag. Seeing that Ruan Yang was late, she asked curiously, "I only went to add some clothes for a short while, and when I came back, you were nowhere to be seen. Where did you go?"
Ruan Yang slowly sat down, and said with a smile, "I was originally by the rockery in the back garden, but I didn't see the path clearly when I was going down the steps and I tripped and fell. I couldn't call anyone nearby, so I went to rest in the nearby pavilion."
The Empress Dowager said with concern, "You young people should be careful, especially you. I'm counting on your skillful hands to massage me in the future."
Ruan Yang was still shaken. She had managed to avoid Ning Xian this time, but what about next? Now that Ning Xian was watching her, what should she do?
So, he smiled absentmindedly and said, "It's alright, I'll be fine after a few days of rest."
"Empress Dowager, His Majesty has come to pay his respects."
Ruan Yang was stunned, startled by the eunuch's shrill voice. She rubbed her throbbing temples and heard the Empress Dowager say, "His Majesty is busy with state affairs and it is rare for him to come to Funing Palace. Please come in."
Ning Xian stepped into the pavilion under the afternoon sun. The man's shadow stretched long, and as he approached, his dark shadow climbed onto Ruan Yang's thigh: "So everyone's here. I recognize this lady as Lady Wang, but I've never seen this lady before..."
Ruan Yang stood up stiffly and said nonchalantly, "This humble woman is Jing, the wife of General Lu Wenjin."
The Empress Dowager said, "Now that we know each other, please take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat."
Ning Xian smiled and nodded, then sat down and poured himself a cup of tea and drank it: "When I was at the door, I heard the Empress Dowager praising Madam Lu's excellent cooking skills. In my opinion, Madam Lu should stay in the palace for the time being, which would also make it easier for the Empress Dowager to relieve her headaches."
Ruan Yang's heart skipped a beat.
"What? Is Madam Lu unwilling to serve the Empress Dowager?"
Ruan Yang looked up and saw the Empress Dowager looking at her with a kind smile. She immediately shook her head and said, "How could that be? It's just... if I'm away from home for too long, I'm afraid my husband will worry about me."
Ning Xian scoffed upon hearing this: "What's so difficult about that? Tomorrow I will send a message to General Lu, asking him to come as well, so that we can catch up."
"Would Madam Lu be willing to accompany me?"
As if swallowing a bitter pill, Ruan Yang smiled and said:
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. It is my honor to relieve the Empress Dowager's worries."
Ning Xian played chess with the Empress Dowager for a long time. It was already sunset. The golden sunset shone on the man's sharp profile. His high nose cast a small shadow on his cheek. His long and thick eyelashes fluttered slightly as he pondered.
Ruan Yang recalled a winter day many years ago when they sat in the golden courtyard playing chess. If they got tired, they would snuggle into Ning Xian's arms and fall asleep, only to wake up the next morning.
Things have really changed now...
Ruan Yang lowered her eyes and rubbed her aching lower back. It had been strange lately; she had no appetite and was always sleepy. Now she had even developed a backache.
I should see a doctor when I have the chance.
As Ruan Yang was pondering this, the young eunuch from before entered again, his tone somewhat urgent: "Your Majesty, they say from Cuilin Pavilion that Lady Jinlian has experienced a miscarriage..."
Ning Xian frowned, but quickly masked her impatience: "Has the imperial physician gone yet?"
"Yes, she went, but Lady Jinlian kept saying she wanted to see you."
The Empress Dowager said, "How could this be?"
"It is said that... a cook in the palace tried to take advantage of Lady Jinlian, and the lady was so frightened that she had a miscarriage."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager merely gave a cold snort: "What kind of behavior is this, all this fuss and startling?! Fine, go on your way. That's your first child; you should cherish him more."
Ning Xian then realized that he had been making Jinlian too comfortable lately, so he got up, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said, "Yes, I will go now."
Ruan Yang choked on the tea and coughed a few times. Then her stomach churned, and it took her a while to recover.
Madam Wang took Ruan Yang's hand, placed her fingertips on her pulse, and after a while exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! Good girl, tell me honestly, have you had your period this month?"
"No... but it'll be in the next day or two."
The Empress Dowager and Lady Wang looked at the bewildered Ruan Yang and smiled at each other: "Zhu Hua, quickly go and invite the imperial physician to take a look. It seems there is good news."
......
Ruan Yang's heart was pounding wildly; she was terrified that she was pregnant with Lu Wenjin's child at this critical juncture.
With her eyes closed, she silently prayed, "God, please don't die!"
The visitor was an old imperial physician from the palace, who could determine whether a woman was pregnant in the blink of an eye.
After bowing, the imperial physician reported to the Empress Dowager: "Congratulations, madam, you are indeed more than a month pregnant."
Ruan Yang was both happy and scared. Her nose tingled with emotion: "Are you sure it's not a misdiagnosis?"
"Absolutely true."
Ruan Yang's palms trembled as she gently pressed them against her lower abdomen; this time, she was truly going to be a mother.
Although this child came at an inopportune time, it was her and Lu Wenjin's flesh and blood, and she would do everything in her power to protect it and not allow anyone to take its life.
Including Ning Xian, who poses the greatest threat.
Ruan Yang clutched her wildly beating heart. At that moment, she felt somewhat relieved that Ning Xian hadn't heard what the imperial physician had said.
Otherwise, this child might not survive until tomorrow.
She said, "Empress Dowager, Lady Wang, the pregnancy is still not stable. Could you two please keep this a secret for me?"
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Author's Note: If the male lead found out his girlfriend was pregnant, he'd probably go crazy...
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