Chapter 30 The Grand Wedding (Three Chapters Combined, Full of Melodrama)
With the help of the matchmaker, Ruan Yang stepped into her and Ning Xian's bridal chamber. The wedding was rushed and hasty, and she did not enjoy the treatment that a crown princess should have. Although the Eastern Palace was filled with red double happiness characters tonight, the usual liveliness was barely there.
The only people making a scene at the wedding were the few newly arrived maids from the Eastern Palace. These people were specially arranged by Lan Rong on Ning Xian's behalf.
Ning Xian was not close to others, so he was very self-aware of his own popularity. He felt that a wedding should be a joyous occasion, and if it was held in a cold and desolate manner like a funeral, Ruan Yang would probably be sad.
So he rewarded his servants with a lot of silver, telling them to dress festively that night and preferably come to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber.
The moment Ruan Yang stepped into the bridal chamber, the palace servants on both sides grabbed flower petals from bamboo baskets and scattered wedding candies in the path in front of her.
She was covered by a veil and couldn't see the road clearly. Suddenly, a flower petal sneaked into her collar, making her shiver.
Before she could even catch her breath, Lan Rong and the others closed the door behind her, leaving Ruan Yang alone in the fragrant room. It was so quiet that she could hear the red candles melting and the wax dripping onto the table.
Ruan Yang immediately pulled off her veil, wanting to see the surrounding furnishings, but unfortunately, the veil was caught on a gold hairpin in her hair.
In an instant, the more she tried to untangle her thoughts, the more tangled they became, and the more terrified she felt of the world outside the veil.
After a while, the hairpin that held the veil finally fell to the ground. As her heart gradually calmed down, a dark shadow suddenly appeared from behind her and tightly gripped her waist the moment she turned around.
"...Who goes there? Let me go!"
Ruan Yang couldn't help but gasp softly. The next moment, her feet were suspended in mid-air, and then the familiar fragrance of lotus flowers quickly enveloped her.
Ruan Yang was pinned down and couldn't turn over. She could only look down and see the hand covering her lower abdomen.
His hands had distinct knuckles, and a few blue veins were faintly visible on the back of his fair hands.
It's a man's hand.
Ruan Yang looked up along the other person's wrist and saw that the person was wearing the same wedding dress as her.
Her heart started racing for no reason: "...Your Highness, you're hurting me. Please put me down."
But for some reason, the man behind her didn't say a word. He just placed his chin on her neck and began to greedily suck on her earlobe.
"......"
Feeling uncomfortable, Ruan Yang had no choice but to extend her sharp claws and scratch Ning Xian's hand.
The man's breathing became increasingly erratic, and ever since his hands had bled, he had become restless, gripping her hands even tighter.
The jade ring on her finger hurt Ruan Yang, so she had no choice but to bend down and bite the man's tiger's mouth.
Ning Xian winced in pain, groaned impatiently, and released the person.
With the red candles burning warmly in the bedchamber, Ruan Yang fell onto the couch. She quickly turned around, secretly grabbing the golden scissors on her back, adopting a defensive stance.
"We're an old married couple, what's there to be shy about?" Ning Xian said lazily.
A halo of light, like the glow of a rainbow, fell upon Ning Xian's fair and delicate face. His half-down black hair was ruffled by Ruan Yang, and his cheeks were flushed from drinking some fruit wine.
The man's crimson lips curved slightly, his eyes gazing at Ruan Yang with a dreamy look.
"It's been so long since we talked. Do you miss me?"
Ruan Yang's pupils widened slightly. After seeing the face that filled her with both hatred and fear, she finally asked a very stupid question after a long while: So Ji Jiu and Ning Xian are the same person?!
"...It's you? You're not dead?"
Ning Xian opened her arms, twirled in front of Ruan Yang, and said with a smile, "So, are you surprised to find out my true identity?"
Ruan Yang felt a chill run down her spine. She had advised the emperor and the Ruan family, and had also been secretly having an affair with him. Ning Xian's current predicament was partly due to her "contribution".
But the Ruan family and the Crown Prince have always been sworn enemies.
Therefore, in order to get revenge on her and the Ruan family, Ning Xian wanted to ruin her reputation and make her stay by his side in a reasonable way.
Was it all just exploitation during those years spent living together in the small bamboo house?
Those days of intimate companionship and endless conversations were perhaps just her own private enjoyment.
The cause and effect unfolded like silk threads, drawing ever more in, soon suffocating Ruan Yang.
Ning Xian sneered, "You don't seem happy at all?"
The pain in her heart slowly turned into anger. Ruan Yang raised her hand and slapped Ning Xian across the face, spitting out hatefully, "Happy? Why don't you just die?"
After she finished speaking, her tears started falling uncontrollably again.
Ning Xian's smile froze on her face, and she stopped herself from going forward to be affectionate.
Ruan Yang said bitterly, "Ji Jiu, no, Ning Xian, I originally thought you were just a spoiled brat who was not devoted enough and liked to sleep with women, but I never expected that the reason you deceived my feelings was to use me to deal with the Ruan family in such a big game!"
Ning Xian watched her throw a tantrum quietly, then chuckled and said, "I did use you, but what did you lose? As for feelings, who lied to whom? Hmm?"
The man slightly raised his chin, but his eyes were lowered, and he coldly glanced at Ruan Yang before savagely pushing her down onto the couch.
"What did you promise me back then? You hugged me and coaxed me, saying you would follow me for life, but what happened? You were secretly flirting with that ugly thing Lu Wenjin behind my back."
“I did not betray you,” Ruan Yang retorted.
"Really? I think if your father hadn't looked down on him as a son-in-law and insisted on finding reasons to separate you two, you probably would have already given birth to his little bastard child by now!"
"It was you who broke us up."
Ruan Yang interrupted, "If I hadn't met you, you scoundrel, Lu Wenjin and I would have been married and living a carefree life long ago."
Ning Xian scoffed: "I'll break you up? Then go back now if you dare. I didn't tie your hands or feet."
"The price of eloping is rather terrible. You might be shot to death by arrows before you even leave the city gates. That Lu Wenjin doesn't take the imperial edict seriously. It wouldn't be unreasonable for the emperor to confiscate your property."
At this moment, Ruan Yang's feelings for Ning Xian had been completely erased by his own hands, and even in the future, recalling them would feel as disgusting as swallowing phlegm.
She said angrily, "You said you hated me, loathed me, and didn't want to see me, so I listened to you and left. But why are you sticking to me like a leech now?"
"Because I like you, don't you understand?" Ning Xian said in surprise.
"You like me?"
Ruan Yang laughed angrily: "Ning Xian, can you tell the difference between liking and hurting? Don't tell me no one taught you how to love someone."
Ning Xian felt his most tender spot had been touched. Was she mocking him for having a mother but no one to raise him?
He said patiently, "What do you mean? Say it again if you dare?"
Ruan Yang's words were like knife marks slashing into Ning Xian's heart: "A person like you doesn't deserve to be loved at all, which is why even your mother died young. You are a jinx."
The words that were once spoken from the heart have now become weapons to hurt each other.
Ning Xian scoffed, "Ruan Yang, it's clear that you don't trust me."
When has he ever been entangled with a woman?
"Is it my problem?"
Ruan Yang felt that her sincere feelings had been wasted. Her clenched fingers turned white, her mind was buzzing, and tears welled up before she could speak: "So, you told me to get out because someone forced you to say that? Jinlian could climb into your carriage so leisurely without your permission? She dared to openly hold your hand in front of me?"
She suddenly remembered the child that had almost been in her womb, and sighed with a smile, "When I was struggling to carry your child, you were enjoying the company of a beautiful woman. Did you ever care about the life or death of your own flesh and blood?"
Ruan Yang paused, lowered her eyes to let the tears slide down, then sniffed and looked at Ning Xian again, continuing to recount his crimes: "You clearly have a fiancée, yet you still lied to me and entangled with me. If I didn't agree, you tried every means to ruin me. Which of these things did I wrong you about?"
Ning Xian's eyes instantly reddened as she listened to Ruan Yang's outburst: "But I never even glanced at them. I kept them far away."
"I was angry with you that time because I was upset that you didn't trust me. Jinlian wasn't someone I wanted to bring back. As for Ji Changhuan, we didn't have any arranged marriage, so it doesn't count at all."
Ning Xian knew that Ruan Yang would not believe him at all. After tears welled up in his eyes for a few seconds, he said dryly, "I'm not that happy about losing the child."
How could he be happy? He had prepared so many things: the child's name and clothes, and he had personally selected the midwife and wet nurse, only to have it all come to nothing.
Ruan Yang went crazy, completely disregarding the fact that the person in front of her could strangle her at any moment. She said willfully, "Why are you crying? Do you think you're so pitiful? Please don't pretend to be innocent in front of me. It makes me feel nauseous."
"you...."
Ning Xian gritted her teeth. He lowered his head to give her a way out, but she was about to trample him into the mud?
He nodded helplessly: "Fine, fine... You'll only be satisfied if I die, right? Then I'll get out, I'll get out."
A gust of wind swept through the wide sleeves, extinguishing the candlestick and instantly darkening the room by several degrees.
When the door opened, Ah Chou and the others were so shocked to see Ning Xian's red and swollen cheeks still covered in tear stains that they were speechless.
After a long silence, Lan Rong watched as the lonely figure receded further and further away from her, then put down the wedding candy in her hand and chased after him.
"Your Highness..."
Lan Rong asked, "What happened?"
Why are you crying?
Fearing that Ning Xian was going back to the room to get a weapon or something to kill Ruan Yang, she immediately dissuaded him, saying, "Your Highness, you mustn't! No matter how disrespectful Ruan Yang is, you can't lay a hand on her here."
Ning Xian pushed Lan Rong away: "It's none of your business. Get out of here, and don't follow me."
Under the eaves, as Ning Xian turned around, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. He narrowed his phoenix eyes: "...Who is that?"
Lan Rong looked in the direction Ning Xian was pointing and winked at Jin Lian, whose eyes were shining.
Jinlian was taken aback, then took small, quick steps to Ningxian and said shyly, "This servant is Jinlian."
Upon hearing this, Ning Xian's brows relaxed, and she smiled, "Oh, I remember, it was you."
"Does Your Highness have any instructions?"
Ning Xian, palm up, beckoned to the woman who looked remarkably like Ruan Yang and said with a smile, "We were just strangers who met by chance, but I never expected to see you again. Come with me, I have something good to reward you."
“This…” Jinlian glanced at Lanrong.
"Just do as His Highness says."
Lan Rong lowered her eyes. She couldn't understand Ning Xian. Why would he call Jinlian over so late? Did he intend to sleep with her?
Jinlian smiled shyly, and seeing Ningxian's hand still lingering in mid-air, she took it upon herself to grab the corner of his sleeve.
Ning Xian slowly withdrew her smile, and as she turned to face the shadows, her eyes turned cold.
He roughly pulled Jinlian over, not caring that the girl hadn't even stood up properly, and strode outside.
Qingyu Palace was very quiet. Only a few lamps could barely illuminate the path in the back garden. As it grew darker ahead, Jinlian began to panic: "Your Highness... could you please slow down? I can't keep up."
The night was deep and the dew was heavy, making the stone path slippery. Jinlian fell several times, her knees bruised and battered, but Ningxian showed no intention of stopping to wait for her.
He dragged his life back to Xiao Xuan, who often spent time alone.
Ning Xian released the person and looked around as if looking for something.
Jinlian leaned against the back of the door and saw a made-up bed not far away. Her heart skipped a beat. She sat up, hugging her knees, rubbing them with her hands, and said pitifully, "Your Highness, it hurts so much..."
Ning Xian ignored her, looked around, and finally fixed his gaze on the collar the child was wearing. He recalled the look of disgust Ruan Yang had given him, and his heart sank even further.
He walked over and threw the collar he had made himself.
The jade necklace shattered into several pieces, and some jade fragments bounced into nooks and crannies, where they could not be found no matter how hard they looked.
Jinlian saw Ning Xian sitting on the ground, exhausted. The moonlight shone on his slightly damp face, and his Adam's apple bobbed as if he wanted to swallow the salty taste.
She crawled over and helped Ning Xian pick up the collar: "Your Highness, be careful with your hands..."
She smiled and said, "So much time has passed, I never thought Your Highness would still remember me. After my mother passed away, I was left with no one to rely on. Later, I entered the palace as a maid to make a living, but I never expected to meet Your Highness here."
"Although I'm a bit foolish and often make Granny Lanrong angry, Jinlian swears she will never betray you and is willing to give you anything..."
Ning Xian turned her head to look at her: "Then cut off the hand."
"What?"
Jinlian thought she had misheard this seemingly random remark.
Ning Xian threw the dagger in front of Jin Lian: "Cut off your own hand."
He chuckled, "Didn't you say you'd give me anything? Now I want your little hand as an ornament."
Jinlian trembled with fear: "I don't want to be a decoration, I really can't, Your Highness, please spare me..."
"Don't want to? Then what do you think I brought you here for?"
This place is deserted, truly a place where no one can help you. Jinlian looked at the gleaming silver dagger and felt a chill in her heart.
"You want me to do it myself?"
Ning Xian's tone turned cold, as if she was determined to punish her today.
Jinlian had never even killed a chicken, so how could she have the courage to cut off her own arm? She picked up the poor dagger and then dropped it.
Seeing her indecisiveness, Ning Xian lost his patience. He strode over, snatched the dagger from Jinlian's hand, and was about to stab her wrist.
Jinlian cried out, but before she could even scream, the moment Ning Xian walked up to her, her vision went black and she fainted.
"..."
Timid as a mouse.
The dagger stopped in mid-air. Ning Xian saw that the person convulsed for a while and then fainted. Even the most beautiful cry of pain when the arm was severed could not be heard. Ning Xian felt that there was no point in continuing.
After glaring at Jinlian, he squatted down and put the broken necklace into a purse before turning and lying down on the small couch.
The moonlight was cold tonight, and the weather had turned cool after autumn. Ning Xian felt a bit chilly lying down. He reached into the bed and grabbed the rabbit doll hidden in the crevice.
Although the doll was quite old, it was very soft and about half the size of a person. Ning Xian curled up and hugged the doll to her chest.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't sad that the wedding he had personally planned had been ruined like this, but now that things had come to this point, it seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make Ruan Yang like him again.
Is it to plant a curse, chain the person up, or knock them unconscious with a stick so they forget everything from their past?
He was despised by his wife, hated by his own father, and even his unseen child rejected him as his father and wanted to leave him, yet he clearly hadn't done anything wrong...
Ning Xian grew increasingly drowsy, and that terrifying and eerie voice slipped into her ears again. Unlike before, she couldn't control it; this time, it was like a raging flood, completely out of control.
"Yuanbao, come down and keep your mother company, okay? Your mother is so lonely all by herself."
"You shouldn't live anymore. If you die, you'll be forgiven..."
Ning Xian covered his ears, but the sky in front of him began to distort without warning. Accompanied by the sharp cries of a baby and the wailing of a woman, he could no longer bear it and grabbed a sharp jade shard, cutting it bit by bit against his wrist.
Although the shards were sharp, they were not as clean as a blade. At first, they only broke the skin, but Ning Xian wanted the pain to distract him from his mental fear, so he tightened his grip more and more.
A few minutes later, a perfectly healthy wrist became a bloody mess, sticky and unpleasant.
Only when blood trickled out from the severed tendons did he throw away the shards, close his eyes, and fall asleep.
...
Half an hour passed, and seeing that Ning Xian hadn't made any noise, Ah Chou figured that nothing major would happen tonight.
She sighed, "Miss, it's been so long, His Highness the Crown Prince probably won't come. You should get some rest; we might have to set off tomorrow."
Although Ruan Yang was extremely tired, she was wide awake. She smiled helplessly and said, "Ah Chou, do I even have a chance to survive?"
Ah Chou paused and said, "I don't know, but you shouldn't have argued with His Highness just now."
"Because you're afraid he'll get revenge on me sooner or later, right?"
Ruan Yang pulled off the heavy hairpin from his hair and said with a wry smile, "Never mind, let him be."
At worst, we'll all perish together.
After speaking, Ruan Yang took off her outer robe and climbed onto the soft quilt. Seeing that A Chou was about to go outside to keep watch, she called out to her, "Sister A Chou, I'm a little scared. Would you like to sleep next to me tonight?"
"I?"
Ah Chou frowned. They used to sleep in the same quilt when they were children and had a very good relationship, but things are different now. What kind of sentimental act is Ruan Yang putting on now?
"With so many people guarding you outside, what do you have to be afraid of? Besides, you are a noble lady, how could a lowly maid like me dare to sleep with you?"
Ruan Yang was inexplicably scolded, and her heart was immediately overwhelmed with deep grievance. She threw off the covers, grabbed Ah Chou's waist, and wouldn't let her leave: "Sister..."
She looked up at Ah Chou and pleaded, "Good sister, please say yes. I'm a complete stranger here, and you're the only person I trust."
Seeing that she couldn't push him away no matter how hard she struggled, Ah Chou subconsciously poked Ruan Yang's forehead with her index finger as she always did, and snorted, "Why have you become so coquettish?"
"Who did you learn that from?"
Seeing that A Chou no longer rejected her, Ruan Yang smiled through her tears: "Then, Sister A Chou, are you willing to pity me?"
Ah Chou was also very sleepy. She was exhausted from keeping watch all night. She loosened her clenched fist and said, "I really can't do anything with you, but let's make it clear beforehand that I will steal the blanket when I sleep. You can't use that as an excuse to punish me."
Ruan Yang smiled and nodded, shaking out the pillow and blanket as she retreated to a corner, saying sincerely, "No, I wouldn't. After all, you're the only one who's never left my side."
Whether out of guilt or mocking Ruan Yang's naive cuteness, Ah Chou turned her back, took off her clothes, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes with her back to Ruan Yang.
"Go to sleep, stop making noise!"
Ruan Yang destroyed the candles by the bedside, and only after leaning against the warm and fragrant Ah Chou did he gradually relax and drift off to sleep.
......
The night was filled with rolling dark clouds, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth. Judging from the smell, it was going to rain soon. Sure enough, less than half an hour later, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and in an instant, the dry soil was stained with specks of ink.
The rain wasn't heavy, but no one closed the windows in the small pavilion, and the rainwater quickly seeped into the eaves and spread into the house.
Jinlian was awakened by the cold rain. She woke up groggily and wrung out her wet skirt before realizing why she was in a place where she couldn't see anyone.
The dagger is still there, but where is Ning Xian...?
She wanted to run away quickly, but then she caught a strong smell of blood.
“…”
Jinlian looked around. It was pitch black all around, and she could only make out the outlines of some tables and chairs. Occasionally, lightning would flash, illuminating the surroundings more clearly, but this light was fleeting and made her feel uneasy.
"Boom—"
A lightning bolt, like a silver snake, streaked across the sky. The drizzling rain intensified. Jinlian, seeing something, widened her eyes in surprise, and her neck, which had been moving, instantly froze.
She lit the candle in her hand and looked through it by the light.
On the couch not far from her, the fiery red wedding dress made the young man's face look even paler. He was curled up on his side, sleeping peacefully, his wrist hanging down gently, but the rabbit doll he was holding was almost soaked with blood.
Seeing that the wound was still bleeding, Jinlian covered her lips and stumbled into the rain, running towards the bridal chamber from the previous night.
"Help! Everyone wake up!" Jinlian pounded on the door.
Ruan Yang was fast asleep when he heard such a loud noise, so he had no choice but to put on his outer robe and go open the door.
Seeing Jinlian soaking wet, she exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you back? Weren't you with Ningxian?"
Jinlian shook her head, panting, and said, "Summon the imperial physician immediately! Your Highness, he... he committed suicide, he's dying..."
"Suicide?"
Ruan Yang's heart skipped a beat: "How is this possible?"
Jinlian lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing a pair of embroidered shoes stained red with blood to Ruan Yang.
She sobbed, "It's a long story, but I'm not lying to you. His Highness bled a lot; it was all over the curtains and the floor. We don't even know if he's still breathing..."
Ah Chou was naturally surprised by this incident. He wanted to go out and call the imperial physician, but he saw Ruan Yang rush out like a whirlwind.
"...Yangyang?"
Ah Chou's wish, which she had been praying for day and night, seemed to be about to come true. She wanted to see if Ning Xian was really going to hell.
She chased after her with an oil-paper umbrella, calling out, "Girl, you haven't brought an umbrella yet!"
All the way, the rain kept hitting Ruan Yang's cheeks and eyes. She was only wearing a thin nightgown with a cloak over it. The autumn rain slid down her chin and hair into her chest, making her feel very uncomfortable.
If Ningxian were to die on their wedding night, she, as his wife, would certainly be unable to shirk responsibility, and might even be accused of plotting to murder the crown prince.
God help him, please don't let anything happen to him!
Ruan Yang pushed open the door and rushed to the screen. What came into view was a mess. Withered leaves were rolled in, and rainwater and blood were mixed together on the floor. Ning Xian was curled up on the couch, looking lifeless.
So fragile that it could shatter with a gust of wind.
"...Ning Xian?"
She patted the boy's face hard and said anxiously, "Ning Xian, wake up!"
Ruan Yang grabbed Ning Xian's slashed wrist and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the bleeding was slow and the color was dark red rather than bright red.
Before the imperial physician arrived, she used her limited medical knowledge to give Ning Xian's wound a simple treatment. Seeing that the rabbit doll had become dirty, she immediately pulled it out of the boy's arms and had someone take it to be washed clean.
The imperial physician rushed over, stitched up the wound, and applied medicine. He then instructed Ruan Yang, "Your Highness has lost too much blood and will need to recuperate properly after waking up. Furthermore, Your Highness is emotionally unstable, so you must have someone keep a close watch on you."
"knew."
Ruan Yang glanced at the person on the couch, then turned and left.
Lan Rong was still in shock when she saw Ruan Yang leave so heartlessly. She exchanged a glance with Jin Lian and said, "She just left like that, without caring about anything?"
Jinlian sighed, "How cruel! I really don't understand how His Highness, who is usually so dignified and calm, could be so desperate for a woman who doesn't love him."
"His Highness almost lost his life, but his wife didn't seem to feel any pity. What deep-seated hatred could she possibly have that made her too lazy to even glance at him?"
Jinlian's unintentional act caused the person on the bed to tremble slightly upon hearing it, and then, behind the curtain where Lan Rong and the others could not see, her chest heaved noticeably several times.
Lan Rong dragged the man out: "Stop talking nonsense. What do you, an outsider, know about that young couple? When the Crown Princess was with His Highness and Ruqinse, you were probably still digging in the dirt."
"Your Highness has made many mistakes. The Crown Princess is just being stubborn with Your Highness. They will make up in a few days."
"By the way, this place is no longer suitable for you. Pack your things and go work at the laundry department tonight."
Jinlian was stunned. How could anyone do the work in the laundry department? It was a hundred times harder than picking mushrooms on the mountain. Seeing Lanrong leave, she couldn't help but sob for a long time in grievance.
How could she possibly wash clothes for someone for the rest of her life? The only person Jinlian was willing to serve was Ning Xian. Even if Ning Xian didn't like her, she couldn't just grow old and die in the palace as a kept woman to an old eunuch.
Entering the palace is easy, but leaving is difficult...
"Why are you crying here? Was Ning Xian good to you last night?"
Jinlian turned around and saw that it was Ruan Yang. She immediately wiped away her tears and remained silent, kneeling on the ground as if she were secretly competing with Ruan Yang.
While at the temple, she bullied Ruan Yang quite a bit, both openly and secretly. After learning that Ruan Yang was pregnant, she even considered killing Ruan Yang and her unborn child.
Ruan Yang said to himself, "It seems I've been wronged by him."
"Alright, I'll give you two choices: either listen to Lan Rong and become a laundry maid, or..."
Ruan Yang lowered his eyes and looked down at her: "Choose to stay by my side."
Jinlian looked up after hearing this, puzzled, and asked, "What do you mean? Aren't you afraid of raising a tiger that will become your threat and take your place? Or do you want me to do something for you?"
Ruan Yang glanced at Jinlian and walked into the house: "Then you can go and suffer in the laundry department."
Jinlian didn't expect Ruan Yang to reject her without a word of explanation. But entering the laundry department was not as simple as washing clothes. If you were unlucky, you would be forced to become a lover by the old eunuch!
"No... I'm willing to go with you!" Jinlian grabbed Ruan Yang's skirt: "Please take me in."
Ruan Yang smiled upon hearing this, stopped and turned around, saying, "Go find Ah Chou, she will make arrangements for you."
"Yes, this servant will go right away. Thank you, Crown Princess."
No sooner had Jinlian left than a maidservant came out of the room with an anxious expression. Upon seeing Ruan Yang, she said, "You've come at the right time. Go and see His Highness quickly."
"What's wrong with him now?" Ruan Yang felt extremely annoyed.
"His Highness refuses to take medicine at all, and won't even drink brown sugar water meant to replenish his qi and blood."
Ruan Yang sighed, "If he refuses to eat, we'll force him. He's in a daze right now, and we're afraid he'll punish you when he wakes up?"
Seeing the maid's embarrassment, Ruan Yang took the medicine and went straight over.
Seeing a glimmer of tears in the corner of the unconscious boy's eyes, she deduced that he was faking it and that his act of suicide was probably intentional.
He's being a scoundrel.
Ruan Yang felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, then secretly chuckled. If Ning Xian really wanted to die, why would he need to go through all that trouble himself?
She rolled her blurry eyes and sat on the edge of the couch, quietly watching Ning Xian for a long time.
He absolutely cannot die now.
Ruan Yang leaned down and wrapped her arms tightly around him, coaxing him softly as before, "Why won't you drink your medicine? You're such a grown man, be a good boy, okay?"
"Just live well for my sake, I can't live without you."
Ruan Yang closed her eyes and pressed her ear against Ning Xian's chest: "Your rabbit doll was covered in blood and I threw it away. I'm going to make you an exact replica."
As expected, Ning Xian couldn't hold back after hearing this and was defeated.
He suddenly blurted out, "Am I really annoying?"
"Why doesn't anyone like me?" Her voice was slightly hoarse, choked with sobs.
Why? Ruan Yang couldn't help but think that it was because some people didn't know what was good for them.
Seeing that he had finally stopped pretending to be dead, Ruan Yang stood up and said, "If others don't like you, can't I like you? As long as you're willing to drink the medicine."
Ning Xian glanced at Ruan Yang, closed her eyes and said, "You're lying, you clearly like Lu Wenjin."
Seeing that his lips were closed again, Ruan Yang had no choice but to say, "I just drove Lu Wenjin away yesterday because I don't like him, so I didn't elope with him."
Seeing that Ning Xian was slowly willing to drink the medicine, she continued to sigh and say, "Look, I've already chosen to run away with you to the ends of the earth, why don't you still believe me? Lu Wenjin is no match for you at all. He's not as pretty as you, and his figure isn't as good as yours. I remember you have big pectoral muscles and several abs, but he doesn't."
"You saw his whole body behind my back?" Ning Xian frowned.
"......"
Oops, I let it slip.
Ruan Yang shook her head guiltily, silently kowtowing to Lu Wenjin several times in her heart.
"So what if he saw it? Anyway, you won't see him again in the future," Ning Xian said. "He has rendered meritorious service, and the emperor is preparing to let him marry the princess sent from Shuobei for a peace treaty. He will forget about you soon."
Ruan Yang smiled wryly and said, "Really? That's fine then. Let's just forget each other in the vast world..."
If Lu Wenjin could live a happy and fulfilling life with his wife and children, that would be the best outcome, much better than suffering with her.
Ning Xian asked in surprise, "You don't regret not eloping with him?"
Ruan Yang had no choice but to shake his head.
"If you lose me this time, will you regret it?"
Ruan Yang really didn't understand what she should regret, or what she had done wrong.
In the three years since we met, who has been bullying whom?
She laughed and said, "I regret it. I regret that I shouldn't have made you angry and talked back to you yesterday. I swear I will never do it again. I'm sorry."
After hearing this, Ning Xian gently grasped Ruan Yang's thin shoulders and stared at the girl's chest, saying, "Then let's tattoo my name here, shall we?"
Ruan Yang was stunned, her smile freezing on her face.
In Da Ye, only heinous criminals and courtesans have tattoos.
"...Why?" Ruan Yang asked in a trembling voice.
Ning Xian took it upon herself to remove Ruan Yang's belt, and the light blue straight-hemmed outer robe fell from her shoulders, revealing the tightly wrapped moon-white inner garment, all the way down to the last layer.
Ruan Yang grabbed Ning Xian's wrist, trembling with anger.
Ning Xian smiled and said, "It proves that you belong exclusively to me. Putting my name on it will prevent anyone from taking you from me in the future."
Yes, no decent man in the world would marry a woman who has someone else's name tattooed on her private parts.
Ruan Yang turned her head away: "Things? What do you take me for?"
Seeing that she had that disgusted expression again, Ning Xian said urgently, "You don't want to? Then what you said just now was all a lie? Were you just playing with me?"
Ruan Yangzhen thought this person was too unreasonable, but the moment she met Ning Xian's eyes, she smiled and said, "If I refuse, will you have someone pin me to the table and force me?"
Ning Xian raised an eyebrow and smiled, "But I don't think it's necessary to make it into the scene you described."
As soon as he finished speaking, he called for someone to bring some tools for processing.
Before Ruan Yang could speak, Ning Xian took the ink needle and slowly pierced her skin. After spending half an hour tattooing his own name, he felt it wasn't enough and slowly spread it to softer areas.
Ruan Yang felt itchy and numb in her chest, with a strong burning sensation. After Ning Xian's hands left, she looked in the mirror and saw that her collarbone was completely red.
Ning Xian threw the things away, then wiped away Ruan Yang's tears: "It hurts a little, but it's over now, let's not cry anymore."
After speaking, he wrung out the towel with one hand while carefully wiping away any excess marks from Ruan Yang's body.
This blatant insult was too much for Ruan Yang to bear. She pushed Ning Xian away and tried to get up to pull her clothes back up, but Ning Xian grabbed her by the back of her collar and pressed her straight down on the bed.
With tears streaming down her face, Ruan Yang asked, "What else do you want to do?"
"Pinky promise."
Seeing that the other person was unmoved, Ning Xian took Ruan Yang's small hand, hooked her fingers together, and said with a smile, "From now on, we're made up, and we promise we'll never quarrel again."
"Whoever throws another tantrum will be the first to die."
Continuing to argue with Ning Xian would be exhausting, and Ruan Yang didn't have the energy for it right now, nor did she want to cause any more trouble. She thought it best to use delaying tactics to appease him first, and then find an opportunity to leave him after leaving the palace.
Throughout history, princes and nobles who were exiled to guard the frontier for making mistakes either died of illness in a foreign land or were assassinated en route.
None of them died of old age, let alone made a comeback and made a comeback.
Considering his current options, confronting Ning Xian head-on would not end well.
Her smile was more like a grimace, and she hooked her finger around Ning Xian.
Ruan Yang didn't sleep well last night, and now her eyelids are drooping. She begged to go back and rest, but Ning Xian refused.
She had no choice but to force herself to stay up with Ning Xian from day to night, until Ning Xian herself was exhausted, and only then did she allow Ruan Yang to fall asleep beside her.
...
When the emperor learned of Ning Xian's suicide, he allowed him to recuperate in the palace for three days before setting off again.
The emperor sent Ning Xian a troop of fewer than ten soldiers to escort her, and there were only two carriages. The carriages were simple and shabby. Only Lan Rong was left to accompany her. The emperor also allowed A Chou and Jin Lian to accompany her because he was worried that Ruan Yang, a young girl, would have no one to take care of her on the road.
One autumn rain brings a chill. Several rains have fallen in the past few days, and the temperature has dropped significantly. Ruan Yang changed into an inconspicuous folding robe, which was a very light purple all over with a lotus root-colored collar.
Ruan Yang had been tormented by Ning Xian for several nights and had barely slept a wink for the past three days. She was leaning against a tree trunk with her eyes closed, trying to rest, when a refreshing lotus fragrance quickly enveloped her.
The morning dew was heavy and the wind was cool, so A Chou draped a cloak over Ruan Yang.
She grabbed the cloak, frowned, and asked, "Whose is this?"
"Naturally, it belongs to His Highness."
Ruan Yang immediately took off her shawl: "Take it, I want to wear my own."
"You're starting to look down on me now?"
Ruan Yang looked over upon hearing the sound and saw Ning Xian had gotten off the carriage early and was standing alone not far away. He was leaning casually against the banyan tree, waving a foxtail grass in his hand.
A cool breeze lifted Ning Xian's loose hair and wide sleeves as the young man smiled at her.
Ruan Yang took a deep breath, lowered her eyes and looked away expressionlessly.
"Yangyang, come to me."
Ruan Yangfu looked up again, remembering the strange and varied habits he had in bed, and had no choice but to move towards Ning Xian.
She asked, "Husband, is there something you need from me?"
Without saying a word, Ning Xian stepped forward and messed up the girl's neatly combed hair, then used mud to smear Ruan Yang's fair and tender face until it was all dirty.
Ruan Yang felt a cold sensation on her face. She had always loved cleanliness and beauty since childhood, and the mud on her face made her hair stand on end.
She endured for a moment, then glared at Ning Xian with teary eyes: "...you."
After Ning Xian finished doing all this, she looked around warily, then her face darkened, and she said coldly, "You're not allowed to get on the car. Stay with Ah Chou and the others."
"Jinlian, come here."
Jinlian was hiding in the back, counting ants and playing. She was startled when Ningxian called her: "What? You want me to ride in the same carriage as you?"
"......"
Everyone was stunned for a moment. Even Ruan Yang didn't understand what trick Ning Xian was playing this time, so she could only silently watch Ning Xian and Jin Lian get into the carriage.
The forest path was inevitably muddy and difficult to walk on, but with Ruan Yang and A Chou by his side, the journey wasn't too lonely.
If she could avoid seeing Ning Xian's face for most of the day and not be bullied by him for no reason, Ruan Yang felt that going down to walk along the mountain path was a good choice.
"Ah Chou, have you ever tried qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling)?"
Ah Chou shook his head: "Never."
"It's made by kneading these cudweeds from the ground, isn't it?"
Ah Chou was taken aback. This was a practice unique to the nobles of Bashu, and few people could spread it. But Ruan Yang had been staying in the Central Plains since losing his memory, so how could he possibly know about these things?
"How...do you remember all this?"
Ruan Yang picked a sprig of cudweed and said with a smile, "These past few days I've been having many dreams, dreams of many things from the past, such as making grass balls with these plants, secretly running away from home with General Lu to travel the world, and having an older sister who is about your age."
Upon hearing this, Ah Chou felt a chill run down her spine. Hadn't Ning Xian been feeding her medicine all along? How could he still be thinking about things from the past?
She said, "Dreams are all fake. The grass dumplings you mentioned are made of mugwort. General Lu is too busy with official duties to have time to go out and play with you. Besides... the Ruan family doesn't have any older sisters around your age."
Ah Chou hurriedly brought up another topic: "By the way, aren't you afraid that if you summon Jinlian to your side, she'll turn around and bite you and take your place?"
Ruan Yang smiled and sighed, "If only she could replace me."
After speaking, Ah Chou saw Ruan Yang quicken his pace and catch up with the caravan.
After the carriage had traveled for nearly an hour, both the people and the horses were exhausted, so Lan Rong told everyone to rest where they were.
Just as Ruan Yang was taking his first bite of rations for the day, he heard the sound of horses' hooves coming from deep within the forest.
The Third Prince chuckled slowly, "Oh! Isn't this our Crown Prince? I've come here incognito, and I never expected to run into him in this remote and impoverished place. What a coincidence!"
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Author's Note: My next book, "The Fake Playboy Meets the Real Romantic," is available for pre-order.
The story of a naive young nobleman who gets involved with a black mamba princess, thinking he has the upper hand, only to find himself the prey. Those interested can check out the column! [Sprinkling flowers]
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