Chapter 53 Compliance "Compliance?"
After about half an hour, the swaying emerald green gauze curtains quieted down. Ruan Yang sniffed, her nose moist, and released the boy in her arms.
She used such a selfish and despicable method to neutralize the aphrodisiac.
She was heartbroken, clutching the jade pendant with the twin fish that Lu Wenjin had promised her in her palm. She curled up tightly on the couch, tears of humiliation streaming down her face onto the soft pillow.
The newly arrived maid, guessing that the incense in the burner had burned out, inappropriately came in to add more incense. As soon as she approached the screen, a vibrant and fragrant scene came into view.
His Majesty is having a drink at Consort Shen's place, but who is that man lying on the couch...?
The maid felt she had stumbled upon a secret about execution. In her panic, the incense burner fell to the ground. She let out a soft cry and ran out immediately.
"How dare you! This is Chonghua Palace! What kind of behavior is this, sneaking around like this!"
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Liang shouted angrily, and soon a young eunuch brought the maidservant before Ning Xian.
The maid looked up, sobbing, and became even more flustered after confirming that the person in front of her was indeed His Majesty.
Ning Xian frowned and said, "What are you shouting for? Is she trying to commit suicide again?"
Ning Xian had been absentmindedly waiting for almost an hour at Consort Chen's place. He waited and waited, but when Ruan Yang did not come to beg him in a disheveled state, he felt an indescribable sense of loss.
He had also been poisoned by the Hehuan Powder, and when it took effect, he felt like he was dying. If it weren't for Ruan Yang saving him, he probably would have died in Helian Jia's mansion long ago.
At this moment, if nothing unexpected happens, the effects of the Hehuan Powder should be causing Ruan Yang a great deal of pain.
Thinking of this, Ning Xian snorted slightly, thinking that the woman really did have willpower.
Forget it, I won't argue with that stubborn guy.
In the end, Ning Xian couldn't bear it and called Lan Rong in the middle of the night to bring the antidote.
"No, Madam is perfectly fine..."
The maid shook her head abruptly, but dared not utter another word.
Ning Xian was in high spirits upon hearing this. He toyed with the antidote in his hand and scoffed, "She sent you to see me, didn't she? Did she give in?"
After saying that, Ning Xian walked into the house full of anticipation. Just thinking about how Ruan Yang would pitifully cling to him, begging for kisses and hugs, made his thin lips curl up in a cheeky smile.
As he walked, he asked Lan Rong, "By the way, where did that brat Fu Ling go? I sent him to check on Ruan Yang, but he's nowhere to be found. Tell him that if I find out he hasn't finished reviewing his books today, he'll be punished with a beating."
Lan Rong nodded: "Yes."
Ruan Yang heard footsteps and Ning Xian's conversation with others, and her heart pounded wildly.
Because the curtain was half-drawn, Ning Xian didn't notice what was inside. He simply sat down casually on the edge of the couch, his back to Ruan Yang. He held the antidote in his palm from his sleeve and said weakly, "Antidote."
Ruan Yang glanced at it indifferently and said calmly, "The poison has been neutralized, there is no need for you to personally deliver the antidote."
"You solved it yourself?"
Ning Xian didn't believe it. He stood up and turned around, intending to throw the antidote in: "Next time, let me see with my own eyes how you're going to do the antidote."
The evening breeze slipped through the gaps in the gauze curtains, lifting a corner of them.
Ning Xian's smile froze instantly.
His arrogance gave him a disdainful glance, and then his naked arm wrapped openly around the waist of the boy beside her.
“Alright, Your Majesty can watch it whenever you wish.”
Ruan Yang let out a soft sigh, but the sigh sounded like a provocation.
Ning Xian's temples throbbed, his head buzzed, and he felt as if this woman was crushing his internal organs.
He had replayed countless times in his mind the look of enjoyment and intoxication on Ruan Yang's face when she was making love with Lu Wenjin, but he never imagined that this woman would seduce his half-brother, whom he had brought back halfway, to spite him!
If it were anyone else, she would have been torn to pieces, but she specifically chose her own younger brother, whom her mother had entrusted to him before her death, asking him to do everything in his power to protect him.
Neither side was willing to kill.
The man was so angry that he became incoherent, and after a long while he finally managed to say, "Are you deliberately bullying me?"
Why would she rather befriend any random stranger than have him touch her?
"How dare I?" Ruan Yang said wearily, "You forced me to do this, I was just trying to save myself."
Ning Xian was completely enraged by her nonchalant attitude. He grabbed her neck and pulled her up in front of him: "So this is how you save yourself? Then let me see just how capable you are and how long you can save yourself."
"Guards, take that woman to the dungeon."
Ruan Yang struggled to get up, but by the time she recovered, the person had already left. She rubbed her ringing ears and prepared to get dressed and leave, but her eyes met those of the young man she had just groped.
There was a moment of silence, and it was quite awkward.
The boy named Fu Ling was clearly faking his fainting spell. He was lying blankly on the couch, his inner garments long since removed. He was being held down by the woman beside him, and his bare waist was only casually covered by a large, thin blanket.
"......."
I'm only seventeen, isn't that too early?
But he was bewildered by everything that had just happened: his enraged brother and the woman who had inexplicably started kissing him.
Ruan Yang placed the outer robe on the boy's chest: "Put on some clothes so you don't catch a cold."
The woman's voice was tearful but cold. Fuling looked intently at Ruan Yang. She was very thin, with pale skin, and her long black hair was still wrapped around his fingertips.
No wonder even the mighty Emperor of Daye couldn't forget her.
Although their mothers were both Empress Xiaoxian of Daye, he did not have royal blood; he was merely the product of his mother's affair with a man from the northern frontier.
Fu Ling remembers that when he was five years old, his mother left the northern frontier. Since then, he has lived alone in the wild north. According to local customs, he drank water melted from the snow-capped mountains, ate raw meat dripping with blood, and lived in a wolf den.
I've never seen a woman like the Moon Goddess.
This barbaric and peaceful life had continued for hundreds of years, until the Northern Frontier royal family went out hunting. The third prince, Helian Jia, mistakenly shot and killed his compatriots, thinking they were wild animals. He unexpectedly discovered that their blood could nourish the insect worms.
These insect gu are different from those of the Miao people. It is said that the insect gu of the North can cure all diseases. The gu children who nurture the insect gu have undergone very strict selection and training. They are superior to ordinary people in both intelligence and physical strength. The purpose of the Northern Frontier royal family in training them is to sell these loyal gu children to various places.
Ning Xian bought it by chance, firstly out of brotherly affection to fulfill his deceased mother's last wish, and secondly to use it to raise Gu and control people's hearts.
"You can go now."
Fu Ling snapped out of his daze and saw Ruan Yang turn cold and start to chase him away. He felt a strange emptiness in his heart. He nodded blankly, obediently put on his robe and boots, hurriedly bowed to Ruan Yang, and left with a sentence.
"I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I'll try to find a way."
Ruan Yang didn't know what the young man meant by those words, but she was too lazy to investigate further. After the man left, she lay down again.
......
As frost descends, the yin energy begins to condense, and all things come to rest.
The banquet is about to begin by Yaojin Pond. The air is filled with the fragrance of fruit wine, the flowers are red and the willows are green. Bright red persimmons and glossy crab roe are all laid out.
The grand procession today is for two reasons: first, the Empress Dowager is returning from her summer retreat at the imperial palace; and second, the Third Prince of the Northern Frontier, Helian Jia, will be returning to Beijing the following day after a short stay of half a month.
With Jinlian gone, all the affairs of the harem fell into the hands of Consort Shen, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. To ensure that there would be no mistakes in the process, she began planning this welcoming banquet well in advance.
Surrounded by a crowd, the Empress Dowager slowly descended from her palanquin. She glanced around but did not see the person she wanted to see.
Where is Madam Lu?
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Fortunately, Consort Shen knew the rarely seen Madam Lu.
"Replying to the Empress Dowager, Madam Lu is probably on her way; she will arrive shortly."
When they arrived safely at the palace, the palace servants told the Empress Dowager about Ruan Yang's predicament. She was extremely worried when she found out. It was raining heavily that day, and it would have been difficult for a young woman like her to protect herself, let alone when she was pregnant.
If something really goes wrong, it could result in the death of both mother and child.
Fortunately, Ning Xian gave her face and sent someone to find her overnight, so Ruan Yang and her child were safe and sound.
Although she reprimanded the maids and fined them half a month's salary, she still felt indebted to Ruan Yang.
"Huh? I just said that, and they've already arrived."
Consort Shen smiled and pointed to the sedan chair not far away.
Ruan Yang stepped down from the sedan chair and paused upon seeing the spectacle. She touched her face and glanced quietly at the lake below as she walked across the covered bridge.
She hasn't seen fresh sunshine for a full two weeks.
She looked haggard, and the dark circles under her eyes were so prominent that she knew it without even looking in a mirror. So she put on thick makeup, hoping to hide her disheveled appearance.
This time, Ning Xian didn't scare her, nor did he treat her to good food and drink as he used to keep her under house arrest. Instead, he really locked her in a dark and damp dungeon.
He never came to see her, nor did he allow the jailers to speak to her. She was only given a few vegetarian buns and a bowl of water each day. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's insistence on seeing her this time, she would probably have stayed in that prison until she died.
"Good girl, what are you standing there for? Her Majesty misses you terribly, come here quickly!"
Aunt Zhu Ruo smiled broadly and pulled her into the crowd. The Empress Dowager also took her hand affectionately and introduced her to these noble ladies.
After exchanging pleasantries, the Empress Dowager pulled Ruan Yang to sit down beside her. She looked Ruan Yang up and down and said, "Why have you lost weight despite being pregnant? Has His Majesty not sent anyone to take good care of you?"
Ruan Yang curled the corners of her lips: "Of course there are."
The Empress Dowager stroked the back of Ruan Yang's head and sighed with a smile, "It's been almost four months. It's moving now, isn't it? Is the baby being too fussy, making you unable to eat or sleep well?"
Although Ruan Yang's pregnancy was becoming increasingly visible, the weather was getting colder, so her clothes were loose and bulky, and no one would suspect anything.
Ruan Yang shook her head: "No, it became very well-behaved afterward."
Seeing that she was putting on a forced smile, the Empress Dowager comforted her, "Why are your eyes red? Good girl, who bullied you? Tell me, and I'll stand up for you."
Ruan Yang smiled and said, "No, it's just that I miss you so much."
"You don't miss me, you miss your husband, don't you? I know that General Lu has been discussing state affairs with His Majesty in the palace recently, so I called him over. You two will be able to meet in a little while."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Yang's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again.
She hadn't seen him for a month, and she couldn't find out anything about Lu Wenjin. In fact, she had been having bad dreams lately.
Ning Xian had gone to great lengths to use her as bait to force Lu Wenjin into the palace alone, so she would never let him go so easily.
Does he have food? Will he get beaten up? Will he worry about her? She knows nothing.
Seeing that she was about to shed tears again, the Empress Dowager continued to smile and said, "Alright, stay with me for a few more days. After the Lantern Festival, go back to Sichuan with your husband. After you give birth safely early next year, bring your child to Funing Palace to play."
Ruan Yang's eyes welled up with tears, and she choked up as she bowed and thanked the Empress Dowager, saying, "Thank you very much, Empress Dowager."
"But I have another request. There are many people in the palace, so I hope the Empress Dowager can help me keep my pregnancy a secret."
The Empress Dowager understood her concerns about becoming a mother for the first time, so she nodded in agreement.
After the singing and dancing ended, Ruan Yang endured the noisy banquet. After all, Ning Xian and Consort Shen were sitting next to her. Throughout the banquet, she was on tenterhooks, afraid that Ning Xian would deliberately embarrass her.
Fortunately, with his beauty in his arms, Ning Xian was too lazy to tease her for the time being.
Just as she was about to return to Funing Palace, Aunt Zhu Ruo called out to her. She took Ruan Yang's hand and said with a smile, "Madam, please wait. Come with me. General Lu is waiting for you in the back garden."
Ruan Yang was taken aback. She subconsciously touched the earring she had lost and then straightened her skirt in front of the water. She had originally planned to go back and tidy herself up before seeing Lu Wenjin.
She was extremely nervous. Since the Empress Dowager had given her permission to go back, as long as she didn't make a fuss, Ning Xian couldn't do anything to stop her.
Now that it's almost certain she's safe, she plans to tell Wenjin the good news that she's pregnant.
Ruan Yang followed Zhu Ruo through the narrow path, and when the view opened up, she saw the figure standing on the bridge in the distance.
She took a deep breath, paused, slowly pulled her hand away from Zhu Ruo's, and ran towards Lu Wenjin in a few quick steps, lifting her skirt.
These were hardly elegant steps. Lu Wenjin knew immediately that they belonged to his little wife. Sure enough, as soon as he turned around, the girl jumped up like lightning and hugged him tightly.
After cuddling for a long time, Lu Wenjin finally let go of him, and said with a gentle smile, "Still so reckless, aren't you afraid of falling?"
Ruan Yang was now reluctant to part with Lu Wenjin. Before long, she snuggled into his arms again, sobbing and laughing as she said, "I wasn't afraid of falling before, but now I am. I'm afraid of everything now. I'm afraid you'll dislike me for having freckles on my face, afraid you'll dislike me for getting fat, afraid you'll dislike me for even walking clumsily..."
Lu Wenjin didn't understand what the little girl was saying. He replied blankly, "You're just talking nonsense. There's nothing to it."
Did he make things difficult for you?
Lu Wenjin shook her head: "He didn't do anything to me, but he was always worried about you."
Lu Wenjin caught a glimpse of the hickeys Ruan Yang was trying to cover on her neck. Although she had expected it, seeing it with her own eyes still made her feel a bit more resentful towards Ning.
Ruan Yang immediately covered her neck: "I'm sorry, I..."
Lu Wenjin shook his head, loosened his fist, wiped away her tears, and said with a smile, "I knew my Yangyang was smart and could protect herself."
He understood Ruan Yang's concerns: "It's okay. As long as you can protect yourself, I won't blame you for anything you do. Don't apologize to me."
Ruan Yang nodded, then, noticing someone approaching from behind, had no choice but to release Lu Wenjin.
The visitor was Ning Xian's eunuch, Eunuch Liang.
Eunuch Liang bowed respectfully to Lu Wenjin: "General Lu, so you're here? I've been looking for you for ages."
"What does my father-in-law want with me?"
Eunuch Liang smiled and said, "The Third Prince of the Northern Frontier is leaving the capital today. To show our court's respect, we hope that General Lu will accompany his wife to the hunting grounds to help His Majesty welcome the Prince of the Northern Frontier."
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The author's note: The male lead remains pure in body and mind, while the female lead will have other men and is free to love. After much thought, the author still believes that the female lead is not worth remaining chaste for someone like the male lead, and the second male lead will never be angry with the female lead for this.
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