Chapter 40 Criticism: "Are you afraid of me?"
In the third year of Yongning, Crown Prince Ningxian colluded with Helian Jia, the new ruler of the northern frontier, and led hundreds of thousands of troops to the battlefield. Within three months, he brought several cities on the border of Daye under his control. Everyone thought that the establishment of a new crown prince was an irreversible situation, but they did not expect that this half-dead crown prince would collude with neighboring countries and the remnants of the Ji family to make a comeback and establish himself as king on the border.
With war raging and flames still burning, the Emperor bestowed upon the Lu family the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, and ordered Lu Wenjin to lead troops to the north to quell the rebels...
...
At the end of the year, the war was a great victory. Today is both the Lantern Festival and Ruan Yang's birthday. Ning Xian was overjoyed and summoned his meritorious subordinates and their families to the mansion for a banquet, so as to make the birthday banquet more lively.
Since losing her memory again, Ruan Yang has only had Lan Rong by her side to serve her. She prefers peace and quiet and really hates Ning Xian's grand birthday banquet for her. Ruan Yang is fed up with this kind of social obligation.
Lan Rong combed the hair of the girl in front of the dressing table and said, "Madam, His Highness has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Yang slowly opened her tired eyes and, through the bronze mirror in front of her, immediately saw Ning Xian standing behind her.
Ning Xian went to war a while ago, and she finally had a few days of peace and quiet. But since he came back, Ruan Yang hasn't had a good night's sleep. Even sending Jin Lian to keep him company didn't work. Ning Xian just kept bullying her.
"Tired?"
Ning Xian informed the maid, then bent down and embraced Ruan Yang from behind.
Ruan Yang turned his head and sighed, "It's been several days. You're not tired, but I'm extremely uncomfortable. You have so much energy. I think you should roll up your pants and go plow the fields."
She rested her chin on her hand and muttered, "You've probably taken some kind of medicine..."
Ning Xian pinched her cheeks and laughed, "No way, it's been months since we last met. I've missed you terribly. I sent you several letters, but I haven't seen you reply to many. What have you been so busy with?"
Ruan Yang glanced at the contents of the bamboo basket: "They're busy doing needlework."
Ning Xian fished out the cloth from the bamboo basket and discovered that it was baby clothes. He was overjoyed and, without thinking too much, gently put his arm around Ruan Yang's waist and said, "Why didn't you tell me about such a happy event?"
Ruan Yang frowned, and it took him a while to realize that he had misunderstood: "What are you talking about? These clothes and children's jewelry are all to be given to Madam Wang today. I am on good terms with her, and her child just turned one month old not long ago."
Upon hearing this, Ning Xian felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. He threw the clothes in his hand aside resentfully and grumbled, "Wang Chongcai has only been married for a short time, less than a year. How could they be so fast, while we haven't made a move at all?"
It's unlikely that Ruan Yang secretly drank contraceptive soup behind his back. He and Lan Rong kept a close eye on her every day, and he personally arranged everything for her, including her food, clothing, and shelter, without allowing any mistakes. Logically speaking, it's impossible.
Ruan Yang comforted her, saying, "Perhaps it's just not the right time yet. Your Highness and I have a long future ahead of us, so why worry about not having children?"
Ning Xian smiled and said, "I hope so. Everything is ready. Most of the guests have arrived. Come with me to the courtyard."
"good."
After Ruan Yang finished speaking, Lan Rong stepped forward, lifted her skirt, and unlocked the chains that bound Ruan Yang's ankles. Looking down the girl's ankles, the chain, as thick as a baby's arm, extended from the corner of the table to the edge of the couch. If she walked any further, the hard metal would hurt her skin.
Many people came to the birthday banquet. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ruan Yang sat at the head of the table, listlessly staring blankly. She finally made it to the end when Wang Chong's wife called her over and insisted on taking her and everyone else to the pond to feed the fish.
Ruan Yang glanced at Ning Xian as usual. She had to report to him in advance for anything she did that would be out of his sight, otherwise, if he found out later, she would have a few more horrifying bite marks on her body.
The wound was so deep that bone was visible, and flesh and blood were mangled.
Ning Xian held Ruan Yang's hand tightly and smiled at her, "I want to go with you, is that alright?"
"sure."
On the stone arch bridge, the women joked and teased each other. When they saw Madam Wang carrying her newborn baby, they rushed over and used their rattles to make the baby laugh.
Seeing that Ruan Yang was standing still, holding fish food in her hand and watching the koi swimming around in the pond, Ning Xian said, "Why aren't you going? Don't you like children?"
Before Ruan Yang could even come to her senses, Madam Wang interjected, "Yangyang loves it. A few days ago, I went to the attic to play with her, and she wouldn't let go of the child, ignoring me completely."
"When will Yangyang be able to bear children for Your Highness? Then I can give away my gold bracelet."
Ruan Yang smiled and sighed, "Thank you for your kind words, sister. However, His Highness is very busy with official duties, and I am often not by his side. The matter of the child cannot be rushed in a short time."
Lady Wang, still a little drunk, laughed and said without thinking, "That's true. I heard that after your miscarriage, you've been traveling around with His Highness without taking proper care of yourself. I'm afraid you've damaged your health. Since His Highness doesn't come back often, it would be good if you took a few concubines for your husband, so that he could have more children."
Ruan Yang smiled and said, "Sister is right, it was my oversight..."
Ning Xian frowned, interrupting their conversation. He gripped Ruan Yang's hand and said, "You don't need to worry about our private matters. It's getting late, so please make yourselves at home."
"this......"
Madam Wang rubbed her dizzy temples as she watched Ning Xian and Ruan Yang's figures recede into the distance.
...
Rumors that Ruan Yang was infertile spread like wildfire, initially only among the noble ladies, but eventually reaching Ruan Yang's ears.
It was clearly Ning Xian who refused to continue her prostitution and take a concubine, but in the end, she was the one who was accused of being jealous. This inexplicable accusation forced Ruan Yang to arrange for Ning Xian to take a concubine.
Once the Lantern Festival is over, the New Year is considered over. The north is not as warm as the central plains, and in early spring, everything in sight is covered in white snow.
The snow in the courtyard had not been cleared, but it was covered with deep and shallow pits from various shoe prints. The door was open, and wisps of incense rose from the lion-shaped golden incense burner in the corner.
Ruan Yang sat on the heel in the center, almost dazzled by the beautiful girls in front of her. She didn't know which girl Ning Xian would like, so she just followed her own heart and picked two girls who were both talented and beautiful for him.
Outside the corridor, heavy snowflakes fell behind them. Ruan Yang saw that the girls' noses were red from the cold, so he sent Lan Rong down to settle them in.
The girls who came here this time were all family members of Ning Xian's subordinates. As a newly rising power, it was inevitable that they would want to arrange marriages. She was just doing her part to help them find happiness. Most importantly, she couldn't allow Ning Xian to refuse them.
Jinlian yawned. Ever since Ning Xian had frightened her in the palace last time, she had become much more well-behaved and no longer dared to openly cling to Ning Xian. She could only rely on Ruan Yang to run errands and deliver snacks and clothes to Ning Xian.
Her chance to be alone with Ning Xian was fleeting, and Jinlian asked, "Why didn't Madam help His Highness make sweet cakes today?"
Ruan Yang came to her senses: "I had forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. I'm a bit tired today, so let's just leave it at that. I'll have the kitchen make some and send it over later."
"What? You want to see him?"
Jinlian lowered her eyes, perhaps in acquiescence.
Ruan Yang understood that Jinlian had taken the risk of switching the soul-loss medicine because she hoped to see Ruan Yang and Ning Xian completely break off their relationship one day, so that she could take the opportunity to rise to power.
Ruan Yang thought that there was no need to completely break off relations. With her strength, going head-to-head with Ning Xian would be like throwing an egg against a rock. As for Jin Lian wanting to take advantage of the situation, she couldn't be happier.
Do you know why His Highness tolerated your presence here?
Jinlian said, "Your Highness has shown me some favor, but it's only because I resemble you to some extent."
Ruan Yang rested her chin on her hand and looked at her, then smiled and sighed, "You seem to know very well. I know your purpose, and I can help you."
"How can I help? I only look six or seven parts like you, we're not twins. Can I replace you?"
Although Jinlian helped her by accident, Ruan Yang would not easily forget how arrogant Jinlian had been to her.
Ruan Yang cupped Jinlian's face and sighed slyly, "You know that His Highness has always wanted a child. If you are fortunate enough to give birth to his offspring, you may gain status through your son and perhaps things will change."
Jinlian had considered this method before, but Ning Xian wouldn't give her a chance to get close: "Your Highness doesn't like me."
"Even if His Highness doesn't like you, he will keep you for the sake of the child. You two will have a long future together. If you follow His Highness, you can at least become his master."
Jinlian asked, "Then tell me, what method have you come up with?"
Ruan Yang beckoned and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
......
In the evening, Ning Xian returned home after a busy day. As soon as he entered the room, he saw a girl sitting on his bed. Although it was the middle of winter, she was only wearing a thin veil, which made her figure appear and disappear everywhere.
Upon seeing this, Ning Xian was startled awake and immediately grabbed the person next to him, asking, "What's going on?"
"Why has the Chen family girl come to my bedside!"
The guard stammered, "This, this is the concubine that the lady personally selected for you."
"Ruan Yang personally chose it for me? Or was it forced upon me by someone else?"
"Madam said these girls look nice and that you would definitely like them, so she decided to accept them for you."
Upon hearing this, Ning Xian rushed to Ruan Yang's bedroom without saying a word. He stood in front of Ruan Yang, looking down at her and saying, "Not bad, not bad at all?!"
Ruan Yang, who was dozing off with a book in her hands, was startled by the loud voice and stammered, "What, what are you doing...?"
Ning Xian paced back and forth in the room, and after a long while, she said angrily, "I don't want anyone else! How many times do I have to tell you, I'll send them back to where they came from!"
"......."
Ruan Yang closed the book and silently glared at him.
They don't care about anyone else, they just keep targeting her and draining her of her vital energy!
Ruan Yang patiently said, "Am I that good? Not to mention the future, you have a large and powerful family now. If you were to lose your position, how could you possibly remain chaste for me alone? It's only a matter of time before you have other women."
"Regardless of the future, I would rather cherish the present than marry another!"
Ruan Yang said with tears in her eyes, "But if I don't do this, those people outside will say I'm bad. We've been married for so many years, but I haven't been able to give you any children..."
"Just to give me some peace and quiet, please agree to let me take them in, okay? Marrying them will help solidify my power. If you really don't like them, just leave them alone."
Ruan Yang knelt beside him, sobbing and biting her lip as tears streamed down her face, looking pitiful.
“I know you’re sad, but if I recover, that child will definitely come back to us.”
Seeing her like a hedgehog with its feathers down, Ning Xian couldn't help but feel sorry for her. He raised his arm and gently stroked Ruan Yang's hair, sighing, "Do you think I'm a scary person for treating you like this?"
How could she not be afraid? He controlled her daily diet, and even when she was about to vomit from eating too much, he would keep stuffing meat into her mouth, not letting her rest. She had to spend the whole night playing tricks on him, and her body was already covered in wounds. He even forbade her to say a single word to any man.
Ruan Yang wiped away her tears, shook her head and said, "Your Highness treats me this way because you like me, I won't blame you."
Ning Xian knew she wasn't telling the truth: "Are you afraid of me?"
Ruan Yang nodded and then shook his head.
Ning Xian lazily rested one elbow on the table, and with the other hand wiped away Ruan Yang's tears, she smiled and sighed, "Alright, don't cry, don't be afraid of me anymore. I'll bully you less in the future."
Ruan Yang remained calm inside, but her words were very cooperative. She pointed to a certain spot and said, "Really? You're not allowed to bite me here late at night anymore, it hurts all day, okay?"
Ning Xian looked in the direction she pointed and chuckled, "I won't bite, I won't bite anymore."
“But I think those rabble must be punished. Anyone who likes to gossip should have their tongue pulled out.”
Ruan Yang said, "They dare to do this because they still look down on me. I heard from Lan Rong that the day I married you was very shabby, right?"
Ning Xian's face stiffened upon hearing this, thinking to herself, "Why is Lan Rong spreading rumors about my predicament everywhere?"
He mumbled, "Um... that day wasn't very good."
“I see…” Ruan Yang lowered her head, a look of utter disappointment on her face.
“You’re starting to stammer again, suddenly bringing this up. Just say what you want to do.”
After hearing this, Ruan Yang looked up at Ning Xian with sincere eyes and said, "A-Xian, I want a proper wedding. Can you give me that?"
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