Chapter 23 Going Mad: Let's Go to the Underworld and Become a Loving Couple...
Yan Ning was inexplicably annoyed by the stabbing pain. She glanced up casually and saw a dressing table. The square sandalwood table was decorated with bright peony patterns. A bright bronze mirror stood there, reflecting the fragrance of orchids on the opposite side. Nothing had changed, except that the people from before were gone.
When they first got married, out of consideration for the Yan family's reputation, the two of them lived in the Yan family's main house for a period of time, and Li Yunru often sat there drawing her eyebrows and applying makeup.
She was particularly concerned about her appearance, especially her eyebrows and eyes. If she didn't draw them well, she would either throw a tantrum and break things, or she would lose all interest in doing anything and sit there sulking all day.
Therefore, in the past, whether he was waking up in the morning or returning from outside, he always saw the beautiful and flamboyant Li Yunru.
She'll lift her skirt and rush into your arms, tilting her chin up and asking with a mix of coquettishness and arrogance, "Lord Yan, am I beautiful?"
People always like to call him by his full name.
However, he never told her that she was beautiful, and that he had never seen a more beautiful woman since.
As beautiful as a peony in spring, as delicate as a crabapple after the rain, especially in bed... those calls of "My love" were so sweet they melted one's bones.
He considered himself to be of upright character and polite, but in front of her, he realized that he was no different from other men in the world, just an ordinary person who craved a gentle embrace.
Upon seeing her, he completely forgot all about being a gentleman and observing proper etiquette.
“Li Yunru…”
He murmured the name softly, a slight smile appearing on his lips, and his inner turmoil eased somewhat.
I haven't seen her for several days.
The scene of their parting that day was still vivid in her mind. Her face was pale, and her clear, bright eyes were red and brimming with tears. But she was incredibly stubborn and tried her best to control her emotions, not letting them fall. She didn't want to lose her composure in front of him. She choked out in a hoarse voice, "You are all too greedy!"
He wanted to see her.
At this moment!
"Prepare the carriage, I'm going to the palace!"
"But your legs?"
"It's alright!"
Yan Ning waved her hand firmly and said, "Just do as I say!"
"yes."
Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Chen Jingsheng stopped trying and went out to make arrangements. Stepping through the soft autumn rain, Yan Ning entered the palace just after 9 a.m.
The palace was now draped in white mourning clothes, exuding a heavy, deathly atmosphere. As the carriages passed by, there was no sound except for the muffled creaking of the carriage shafts accompanied by the rain.
He entered the palace infrequently, but he was still familiar with the palace where Li Yunru had not yet established her own residence.
The man headed straight for Chaoyang Palace. Upon seeing another carriage from the Yan family outside the gate, he frowned and asked, "Why is there another Yan family carriage here?"
Chen Jingsheng replied, "Yes, Madam. I heard from the girls in the courtyard that Madam went to the palace very early this morning."
Upon hearing this, Yan Ning frowned even more deeply, quickly got off the carriage, and walked into the palace with an umbrella.
Fang had been kneeling all night, and his legs, which had not received any treatment, were even more painful in the rain. It was a sharp, stabbing pain, as if the pain was coming from his very bones. Despite his efforts to maintain the dignified and respectable demeanor of a young master, he could not.
The walking posture was difficult and not very graceful, but at this moment, people could not care about such things and continued to move forward without stopping.
...
Upon hearing Shu Yun's report, Li Yunru couldn't help but frown slightly, and her gaze inadvertently swept over Cui Shi in front of her.
Having reached an agreement, she didn't linger and was packing to leave. Li Yunru didn't feign concern to keep her, but simply mentioned, "Although you and I know about this matter now, I still hope Mother will pay attention to it and let it settle down, so as to avoid any other troubles arising."
Her words carried a threat, which Cui Shi understood. She responded with an "Mm" and stepped out. Upon seeing her son at the door, her face darkened further.
Chen Jingsheng had reminded him earlier, so Yan Ning wasn't surprised to see her now. He bowed respectfully to Cui Shi and said, "Greetings, Mother."
Cui wanted to scold him, but when she saw the wet hem of his clothes and the fact that he hadn't slept all night and his dark eyes, she instantly lost her temper.
That's enough!
Li was exceptionally beautiful. At his age, it was understandable that he would occasionally lose his mind when captivated by a beautiful woman. In any case, the matter was about to be settled.
Without Li Shi's influence, and with a suitable noble lady to serve him, he will soon be able to return to the proud and elegant gentleman she once was.
Thinking this, the person simply responded calmly and said with concern, "The autumn rain is chilly, it's not advisable to stay outside for long, go back home as soon as possible."
Yan Ning clasped her hands in a gesture of gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Mother."
"Um."
Without saying anything more, Cui turned and left, but Yan Ning called her back.
"What is it?"
Yan Ning said, "The princess and Emperor Xuan had a deep affection for each other. With his passing and the changing political landscape and internal troubles, she must be feeling down for a while. If there are any disagreements, I hope Mother will be understanding and not hold it against her."
"What did you say!"
Madam Cui looked at him in disbelief, but Yan Ning did not shy away at all. His eyes met hers, and he repeated, "If the princess is wrong, I will teach her. If she has said anything offensive today, I beg Mother to forgive her for my sake."
"In your eyes, is your mother such an unreasonable and wicked woman?"
Enraged, Cui raised her hand and slapped him across the face, her body trembling uncontrollably.
The old nanny helped the woman up and spoke up for Madam Cui: "Young master, how can you speak to your wife like that? Do you know what happened to her today..."
"Don't tell him that!"
Cui interrupted the old nanny, "His heart is only for that woman now, why bother telling him these things!"
She glared at Yan Ning sharply and said, "You think your mother bullied and humiliated her, and that the family has wronged her, but do you know what a kind and good person she is? You will regret this one day!"
Yan Ning stood there, her cheek burning from the blow, only finding some relief when the wind blew.
People also know that this statement was a bit excessive.
But he did not regret it, and said respectfully, "I never thought that way. But if that day comes, it will be my karma, and I will bear it myself."
Cui looked at the person in front of her.
He stood in the wind, his figure as upright as a pine tree, displaying the demeanor of a distinguished gentleman, a quality cultivated through careful upbringing from childhood.
He hasn't forgotten, yet now, this same man is so suspicious of his own mother because of a young woman...
That's ridiculous!
That's ridiculous!
Cui hurried out, with only one thought in her mind: it seems that Li must not be allowed to stay!
...
The commotion outside the palace did not escape the notice of those inside, and it soon reached Li Yunru's ears.
"When I needed his protection in the past, he always had all sorts of reasons, and he would just say a few words to brush me off. Now that I don't need him anymore, he's doing this again. It's really interesting."
She put down a sour candied fruit and said to Shu Yun, "Go and invite them in."
"yes."
Shu Yun went out, and soon returned with the people into the inner room.
A few days apart felt like three autumns. Li Yunru missed Yan Ning, but then she remembered the deal she had made with the Cui family, so she became a little colder towards him.
She feigned indifference, ignoring him, and said indifferently, "Why isn't my husband staying at the Yan family home? What are you doing here?"
Yan Ning, on the other hand, answered frankly, "I came to see the princess."
"What's so interesting about me? I'm just like this anyway, I won't die."
“Yunru”.
Yan Ning disliked the word, but she kept mentioning it, which really annoyed him.
With a furrowed brow, he sat down without waiting for her permission, hugged her from behind, and pulled her into his arms, saying in a muffled voice, "Don't say such deadly things."
He reacted strongly every time this was brought up. He didn't like hearing it, he didn't want her to die, but what else...?
If something really happens to her, what will become of her?
She suddenly wondered, if she really died, would people be as she had lied to Cui Shi about...?
Thinking this way, Li Yunru asked the same question. She didn't let go, letting him hold her, but said, "Take my life? Whose life do you want?"
She turned around, cupped his face in her hands, and asked seriously, "Yan Changjun, if... I mean if, I really died, what would you do?"
Yan Ning didn't want to answer, but Li Yunru didn't give him the chance. She continued to press, "Will you come with me? In the underworld, we can rekindle our love and continue being a loving couple."
Say yes!
She thought.
If Yan Ning gives her a positive answer, she will stay.
I'll settle things at home and stay with him no matter what, even if it means breaking the contract and being ridiculed by the Cui family, it doesn't matter.
She is his mother, and she can lower herself to appease Cui Shi. She will do anything as long as he agrees and firmly chooses her.
Li Yunru's thoughts raced, and she secretly rallied herself to make a decision, but... she waited for a very long time and still did not receive a positive answer from Yan Ning.
He didn't speak for a long time, but his tone was full of resentment, "Why do you always say these useless and discouraging things, talking about dying? What's the point? Do you think you'll only believe me and go back to the Yan family if I die with you?"
"yes!"
The words were blurted out by someone who was extremely disappointed.
Yan Ning paused, his arms around her froze, and slowly removed them from her waist. He stood up and rebuked her, "You're being too extreme!"
"You accuse us of being greedy and of our powerful families, but are you saying that your royal family is innocent? Your father rose to this position with the support of powerful families. On the surface, he flatters us, but in reality, he secretly favors those from humble backgrounds and does so many things that infringe upon our rights. What does that count as? Betrayal!"
“Li Yunru, things in this world are not black and white. Everyone has their own identity and their own position. It is impossible for everything to go as you wish. If what you want is for me to betray my family, abandon my parents and relatives, and live and die with you, I'm sorry, that's impossible. My identity, my relatives, and my background are all my honors, and I can't give them up for you!”
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