Chapter 27 Bonus Chapter: He Wants to Kill Her!
Enraged, Yan Ning lunged forward, grabbed her by the neck, and threatened sharply, "You dare!"
"Why wouldn't you dare?"
Once the words were out in the open, the beast that had been suppressed within Li Yunru was finally unleashed. She was no longer afraid, and she met his bloodshot, murderous gaze with a triumphant laugh.
"See? You can't bear to part with it, so this body is extremely useful!"
Yan Ning is going crazy!
He wanted to kill her!
In fact, he did just that, gradually tightening his grip. He pinched her slender, white neck until red marks appeared, and some of the marks bled from the cuts caused by his fingernails.
Li Yunru was gasping for breath, her face flushed purple, her lips pale, and her long eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly that had suffered a great shock. A few tears slid down her cheeks, but even so, she did not soften in the slightest.
She's always been like that.
No matter the occasion, she always acted like a princess, refusing to lower her proud head even a fraction.
Looking at that face, which showed no fear whatsoever and was still laughing wildly, Yan Ning suddenly felt that it was all meaningless.
He slowly released his grip, picked up the clothes scattered on the ground, and draped them over her.
"You stay right here and don't step out of the room without my permission!"
They really are mother and son; even their methods of restraining people and their threatening tone are exactly the same!
...
The two had a big argument and parted on bad terms.
Yan Sanlang left the Yan residence at dusk, but for some reason, he did not disturb anyone.
After being provoked by Li Yunru, Cui realized that this matter could not be delayed any longer. After dinner, she went to the study to discuss with the head of the Yan family the matter of letting the Li family go.
Supporting a new leader is a tacit understanding among the major families. In reality, it doesn't matter whether Xiao Yuanshan or someone else takes the throne, as long as they maintain their current unshakeable position.
Only by standing in a high position can the glory continue and the century-old foundation of the family be sustained!
As for who the new master is, it doesn't really matter.
The Yan family originally didn't intend to get involved. They would simply take back the military power, protect Li Yunru, and ensure her safety.
It's not worth the trouble.
Unfortunately, his own son was a disappointment, being led by the nose by a young girl. Not only did he take the initiative to contact other noble families to act as intermediaries and plead for the Li family, but he also had the people write a petition to prove just how popular the Li regime was!
If he hadn't discovered these things in time, intercepted them, and communicated with the heads of various families to reach a consensus, the consequences would have been unimaginable. It seems that one problem after another has arisen.
After Emperor Xuan passed away, Crown Prince Li Xun was deemed incapable of fulfilling his duties and posed no threat whatsoever. Yet, Li Yunru resorted to using him as a bargaining chip.
"We all underestimated this little princess," said the head of the Yan family.
Cui said, "I thought that Liyang was arrogant and immoral and wouldn't amount to anything. I also thought that Changjun's feelings for her were just a passing fancy. But now it seems that he's serious."
She was very worried.
The head of the Yan family had a different opinion on this point.
"It's just the nature of a young person. This affection is only for the moment; as time goes by, it will fade."
He spoke casually, but Cui remained silent.
Everyone knows that the Cui and Yan families are all linked by marriage, and that she is no different from the Yan family head and the previous Li Yang Yan Ning.
Before officially assuming the throne, the Yan family head also had a close friend. Back then, for this person, he even said that he would give up all his identity and wander the world with him.
For more than ten or twenty years after their marriage, this was praised as a beautiful story of their youth in the family.
Even now, in his study, under that box, there is still a portrait of a woman. Day and night, he leaves her alone in the empty room while he reminisces about his past love under the lamplight.
How could this be a youthful spirit that fades with time?
In matters of the heart, Yan Ning followed his father's example.
I was young and impetuous.
His father, perhaps, has learned to conceal his true nature in public after years of experience.
He kept it hidden for so long that he seemed to have truly forgotten about it, which is why he spoke of it so frankly.
Madam Cui said, “What my husband says makes sense. The eldest son is young and inevitably impulsive. He may be blinded by love. But this is a critical moment for the Yan family. If we let this go unchecked, I’m afraid not only will the eldest son be affected, but the Yan family will also lose all its reputation as a noble family…”
The head of the Yan family's deep eyes flickered, and he asked, "What does Madam think?"
Cui said, “Actually, the Li family is not unforgivable. Look at the previous dynasty. To consolidate his power, Emperor An killed all the members of the royal family, which ultimately led to the loss of popular support. In just a few years, he was overthrown by an uprising. Emperor Xuan succeeded to the throne and did not follow the same path, but he won the hearts of the people. The Xiao family is an old friend of Emperor Xuan. If we were to exterminate the relatives of our close friend, it would definitely cause a huge uproar.”
The head of the Yan family said, "They're just a bunch of commoners, what can they possibly accomplish?"
His arrogant demeanor, never taking those people seriously, was something Cui liked most about him.
Even if a person has lost their way, they will always maintain this mindset and not follow the crowd of those common people whose feet are covered in mud.
She doesn't want any love or romance, all she needs is this pride that makes her stand out from the crowd. She just wants basic status and respect so that she can maintain her position in the aristocratic family.
Having understood the Yan family head's attitude, Cui relaxed a little. She said, "Commoners can't accomplish anything, but they are as numerous as ants. If they really cause trouble, it will only annoy people. Besides, have you forgotten about the Xie family?"
"Ding'an got into trouble with the Xie family and gained a reputation for driving the princess to her death. Now her status among the aristocratic families is extremely precarious."
The head of the Yan family remained silent.
Cui said, "The current royal family is nothing more than a bunch of powerless women. That Crown Prince Li Xun is utterly incapable of anything, he doesn't even have a shred of Liyang's courage, what threat does he pose? To exterminate him will only make the noble families resent the Yan family. It's better to give Liyang face, and besides..."
She paused for a moment and said, "Xiao Yuanshan is a member of the Hongnong Yang clan. Once he ascends the throne, he will inevitably support the Hongnong Yang clan. At that time, how can we guarantee that the interests of our families will not be harmed? With Li Xun, the so-called legitimate ruler, there is some deterrence."
The head of the Yan family looked up at Madam Cui and asked, "Madam, how long have you been thinking about this explanation?"
His eyes held not admiration, but a chilling intimidation.
Having been married for many years, how could Cui not understand this? What the Yan family head hated most was women interfering in court affairs.
She said humbly, "I have thought about this for a very long time and read through countless historical records and classics before I came up with these ideas. I think they are a suitable excuse and can also save Changjun. If I have said anything inappropriate, please punish me, my husband!"
Cui was the legal wife, and Yan Ning was the legal son.
Even though he didn't have much affection for people, he was willing to give her enough respect out of respect for the Cui family, and he placed high hopes on this eldest son.
The man helped Cui up and said, "Madam's foresight is truly remarkable. I was being stubborn. Let's do as you say, and I will handle it as soon as possible."
"Um."
The two of them reached a decision in this way.
...
Yan Ning left the Yan residence and walked along the streets of the capital. It was already dusk, the pedestrians had dispersed, and all the hustle and bustle had returned to calm, with only a few inns and restaurants still lit up.
He was so frustrated that he didn't have time to think about anything. He just followed his instincts and went to a restaurant, booked a private room, ordered a few jars of wine, and started drinking.
Unexpectedly, they ran into Wang Wulang and Huan Dalang here. Since the incident at Lanchun Pavilion, the three of them had rarely been in contact. When they bumped into each other, they were speechless for a moment. However, they were old friends who had grown up together and were both future heads of powerful families. They had to support and cooperate with each other. There was no grudge that lasted overnight. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they completely let bygones be bygones and forgot all their past grievances. They started drinking and exchanging cups.
After a few drinks, Huan Dalang forgot his composure and started speaking without restraint, asking, "Changjun, you've been tormented by your little princess again, haven't you?"
"Although you may not be happy to hear this, if you ask me, the problem still lies with you. You spoil them too much."
He thought of how Li had rushed in and slapped him that day...
Um.
She was an extremely feisty beauty.
Everyone has a love of beauty, but if it were him, he would never have indulged Li so much, showing no manners or upbringing whatsoever.
"Now that the Joseon Dynasty has fallen, she is no longer some high and mighty princess who has to depend on you and rely on you to survive in this court. To put it bluntly, given her current status, it would be an honor to even make her a concubine. She is so ignorant, it wouldn't be a big deal to just send her away."
Wang Wulang agreed with Huan Dalang's words, but remained silent. He knew best about Yan Ning's attitude towards the little princess.
He dared to lose face in front of others, asking him to apologize to a fallen princess and rejecting the royal family's overtures. Yan Ning should understand this better than anyone else. His current distress can only be attributed to his own indulgence.
One party is willing to give, and the other is willing to receive; there's nothing more to say.
Yan Ning listened to Huan Dalang's words but didn't take them to heart; her mind was a complete mess at that moment.
On one side were his parents and relatives, and on the other side was the woman he loved.
They wouldn't budge, and she was so resolute...
The thought that one day she would be as intimate with others as she was with him, allowing them to witness her myriad charms, drove him mad!
He believed she was truly daring and capable of doing it!
That person has always been like that.
But since his parents raised him, taught him knowledge and manners, and provided him with servants and maids, he could not disregard their thoughts and wishes.
This is so annoying!
There is no perfect solution to this problem.
For the first time in his life in twenty years, this man from Jiangzuo, renowned for his exceptional talent and knowledge, was at a loss for what to do.
Escaping is shameful, but it's useful.
He found an excuse not to return to the Yan family home and instead hid in a separate courtyard.
On the third day after they moved into the villa, news came that Princess Liyang had sent invitations to several prominent families to a banquet.
The location was Jing Shui Xuan in Yan Family East Garden.
Upon hearing this, Huan Dalang exclaimed repeatedly, "Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
What woman invites so many men to a banquet in her own name, especially at her father-in-law's house or even her husband's courtyard?
They didn't try to avoid suspicion at all.
Only Yan Ning knew that she was...forcing him!
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Author's Note: It's finished! I'm finally satisfied with the revisions. Yesterday was so laggy that many details weren't refined. I apologize to everyone who clicked in to read this!
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