Chapter 4 encourages you to have a child...
Among her dowry was a doctor, but for the past year, apart from prescribing some nourishing and restorative medicines for her physical ailments, he had done nothing to help her in this regard.
A palace physician would naturally be the best, but it wouldn't hurt to try someone else.
"Okay." Li Yunru nodded. "You can arrange it as you see fit."
Perhaps having a child would indeed make things better.
...
In the past, even if it wasn't her fault, she would insist on making a scene to clarify right and wrong. But now Li Yunru didn't want to cause any more trouble. There was no point in making a fuss. She could fight for it with her status, but she couldn't change the arrogance of those aristocratic families. They would still look down on her. It would all be for nothing. So she decided to let it go. Chen Er had already paid the price, and she was too lazy to bother with this. It would be better to focus on the child's issue. The two of them worked together to make things work out for the child. But things didn't go as planned. After only a few times, they started arguing about it.
During the argument, the two brought up Chen Erlang's matter again.
Li Yunru asked if his resistance to her was because she had already intended for her current situation to be exactly what he wanted.
"You think that since I have no one behind me, I can only rely on you and let you manipulate and play with me!"
A gentleman with a clear conscience stood there, his posture aloof, and said, "What's wrong with relying on me? If trouble arises, you don't even need to show your face; I can handle it for you. What more could you want?"
These words immediately triggered Li Yunru's temper, igniting her anger instantly. She transformed into a furious little lion, retorting, "Did I beg you to help me? If it weren't for you, could I not have handled it myself? And ask yourself honestly, was that really helping me? You were only doing it for yourself, for the sake of your Yan family's reputation. If you really were helping me, don't you know what Chen Er is like? As for what happened that day, who was to blame? Did you even ask? Did you ever consider my feelings? No!"
Li Yunru stared at him with wide eyes, trying hard not to let her tears fall. "You know perfectly well that it was Chen Er's fault, and I was wronged, but you took it upon yourself to admit my mistake without even asking me, the person involved. You know the real reason better than anyone else!"
She still harbored a selfish hope that he would deny it, but he stood there, as always, clear-headed and detached from worldly affairs. In the end, she could only manage to stammer out, "Why are you so fixated on the child?"
Why?
She's probably lost her mind; she actually believes in the nonsense that having a child would make things better.
Li Yunru stopped talking and told him to get lost. Without hesitation, she simply said, "Calm down," and left.
Her figure completely disappeared into the night, leaving only the whistling wind. She stood there stunned for a long time before she seemed to come to her senses. A feeling of sorrow welled up in her heart, and she flew into a rage, knocking everything on the table to the ground.
The gilded incense burner with two dragons playing with a pearl fell to the ground, scattering ash and filling the room with fragrance, making the aroma even stronger.
This was a gift from Yan Ning to her shortly after the completion of the princess's residence in Jiankang; it was a strong fragrance that she liked.
My love, my love for fragrance, have remained unchanged to this day, only...
Looking at the incense ash scattered all over the ground, she suddenly thought, "Shouldn't we change it?"
...
This time, the quarrel between the two lasted a long time. Yan Ning did not return to the mansion for three to five days. Li Yunru did not send people to look for him or go to arrest him herself as she usually did. The two went their separate ways, and before they knew it, the locust flowers bloomed in August.
Empress Zhenyuan was from Qingcheng County. In Qingcheng, there is a custom of making locust flower cakes in August. Even though she was already in a high position and was no longer a village woman with muddy feet, she still kept this custom. In August, she would make locust flower cakes with her children. Last year, she got married, and people sent her things early in the season. But this year, for some reason, her share has not been sent.
Li Yunru felt uneasy but didn't know where to begin. In the end, she decided not to wait any longer. Since the palace wouldn't send anything, she would make it herself. Even if she didn't go back, she should still have something to express her longing.
So, on a sunny day, he took a few maids and servants and went out to pick locust flowers in the suburbs.
Unexpectedly, I ran into someone I hadn't seen for many days.
Beneath the locust tree, Yan Ning, dressed in snow-white robes, exuded elegance and refinement, like a deity standing three feet above his head. Beside him stood a graceful young woman, and the two sat facing each other, playing the zither and singing.
Just then, a breeze swept by, blowing down a tree full of locust blossoms, which drifted down and rested on the two of them.
White-clad beauties with flowing black hair, a talented scholar and a beautiful woman—what a beautiful scene to talk about! But alas, she is neither the sensible breeze nor the literary figure who loves to write stories of talented scholars and beautiful women. She is a blazing fire, determined to burn everything to ashes before she is satisfied!
She went outside.
"Wonderful, truly wonderful! Beautiful music, beautiful scenery, and a beautiful woman by your side—it's truly one of life's greatest pleasures!"
Li Yunru clapped her hands loudly, but the sudden appearance of the person interrupted their leisurely mood. The young woman was taken aback at first, then stood up and gave a slight curtsy, "Cui Wan greets Princess Liyang."
Li Yunru's gaze swept over her indifferently. What a noble lady she was! Her manners and etiquette were impeccable, and she was neither servile nor arrogant. Even when she bowed to her, she did not lower her status in the slightest. On the contrary, Li Yunru felt that Li Yunru's sudden appearance was strange and inappropriate.
But that's how it is, she's a princess!
Even if we disregard the fact that these two people behaved inappropriately beforehand, it would be perfectly reasonable for her to make a scene and cause trouble. Ordinary bystanders would not dare to say a word!
She doesn't need to pretend to be generous or suppress her own grievances!
Li Yunru walked over and found a place to sit down casually.
The maids and servants who were accompanying them put down their small baskets, came over, laid out a small table, and set out tea and snacks.
The two people who were disturbed stood there without moving.
"What are you standing there for? Keep going!"
While sipping her tea, Li Yunru said, "Don't let me spoil your good mood, keep going!"
“Yunru”.
"Who gave you permission to address me by my given name!"
Li Yunru's smile vanished, her gaze turning icy as she stared at Yan Ning. She asked, "Shu Yun, you have offended the princess's name. According to palace rules, how should you be punished?"
Shu Yun bowed and replied, "Your Highness, according to custom, ten slaps to the face."
"Um."
Li Yunru nodded in satisfaction, then asked with a forced smile, "Does Lord Yan want to slap me ten times, or play another song for me to atone for his sins?"
Before he could answer, Li Yunru made the decision for him, "Sit down and play until I am satisfied. You can only stop when I tell you to!"
Since they love playing instruments and singing, let them play to their heart's content!
...
Time flowed slowly amidst the music, and before long the sun was setting. The player's hand bled, and the singer lost her voice, but she still didn't call for a stop.
"Enough!"
Yan Ning put down his zither and stood up, saying to Cui Wan, "Wan'er, you should go back to the manor first."
"What right do you have to make decisions for me, the princess!"
Li Yunru called the person back.
Yan Ning stopped her again and instructed Cui Wan's maid, "Send your young lady back!"
The person was forcibly taken away.
"Smack!"
Li Yunru raised her hand and slapped Yan Ning across the face.
"Who do you think you are, daring to make decisions for this princess!"
The moment she released her, everyone was stunned, including Li Yunru herself. She stood there dumbfounded, taking a long time to recover. But the pride of a princess prevented her from backing down. With her head held high, she said arrogantly, "This is what you asked for. This slap is to tell you that no matter how much the world respects your family or how high your status, you are still subjects. I am the ruler. If the ruler wants the subject to die, you cannot live. So always remember your place. The fact that I have spared you until now is a favor to you. Don't even think about overstepping your bounds because of this favor..."
Her lips moved, and she chattered incessantly, but Yan Ning didn't listen at all. He only smelled the fragrant breeze, which made him feel dizzy. He wanted to hold her in his arms and feel her more deeply. He didn't want to wrong himself, so he did it.
He wrapped his large hand around her slender waist, lowered his head, and sealed her lips with his. All sound ceased at that moment, except for the gentle summer evening breeze.
Li Yunru was caught off guard by the sudden kiss and instinctively responded to him. But then she remembered that they were still in a cold war and that she was angry, so she immediately changed her expression.
She struggled to push him away, "Don't think that I'll stop you like this..."
Before he could finish speaking, the conversation was abruptly interrupted once again.
The maids and servants serving nearby were tactful and moved aside, leaving the two of them alone.
The body is always more honest than the mind, and it is easy to recognize people. After not seeing each other for many days, just this one touch, without saying a word, she had already lost control. Li Yunru glared at him hatefully, then followed her heart, put her hands on his neck, and took the initiative instead of being passive.
Sensing the change in the person's emotions, Yan Ning's heart trembled, and she kissed him even more forcefully, as if she wanted to meld him into her body, expressing all the longing she had felt in recent days.
The cicadas chirped softly in the height of summer.
Beneath the locust tree, spring's beauty abounds.
Li Yunru clung limply to Yan Ning, seemingly on the verge of climax, yet she still remembered her bottom line. She asked, "Have you touched her these past few days?"
The Jin Dynasty was a time of open social customs, and the separation of men and women was not strictly enforced. It was common for couples who were truly in love to have sex on the spot, and it was not unusual. Premarital relations were even less surprising.
She wanted to trust Yan Ning, but his attitude always prevented her from giving him her full trust, so she could only leave it at that.
Li Yunru thought that if he really had something going on with Cui Wan or other women, then she would not want him anymore.
She likes clean people!
Instead of answering, Yan Ning asked, "Look at me, do I look like I've been in contact with anyone?"
Li Yunru chuckled and said, "Who knows? How can you tell?"
Yan Ning lowered her head and bit her neck, saying in a hoarse voice, "Bad princess."
He whispered, "Since you can't tell, how about I demonstrate it for you?"
Li Yunru reminded him, "This is outside. If someone sees us, I'm afraid your reputation as a refined and elegant gentleman, Yan Sanlang, might be ruined."
He tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her deeper inside. He touched her lips with his blood-stained hand, making them appear as rouge, and whispered in her ear, "Then it will be hard for the princess to bear this infamy, just like me."
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