The rest of the day passed in a haze. Ruan Ning didn’t know how many times she had slept and awoken, like a lonely boat tossed in a storm.
She was awakened in the middle of the night by his kiss. His voice was hoarse, his eyes bright as he softly said: “I’ll take you to your father. I’ll welcome you into the mansion after noon tomorrow.”
Ruan Ning was limp, letting him dress her in new clothes and carry her to the Ruan family residence, where lights were bright and her parents anxiously awaited her.
When Lin Jie was about to leave, Ruan Ning grabbed him, whispering: “Come get me early.”
This nearly made Lin Jie take her away again, but he steeled himself and returned home to prepare.
Under the red lanterns, several people knelt. Some stole her trunk, replacing her new clothes with purple floral ones, while others distracted the guards. Lin Jie looked over calmly and said: “Kill.”
Mi Yi was startled, saying softly: “Today is a joyous day. Shouldn’t we wait?”
“No need. Especially on a joyous day, there can’t be the slightest mistake.” Lin Jie’s expression was calm.
Blood ensured stability.
“Seal Mu Song Zhai. Those two will stay inside forever.”
Lin Jie looked at the brightening sky. He had promised Lin Chang Song to take care of his descendants, so he would spare her life, leaving her in a fate worse than death.
The makeup artist, knowing the current style, said nothing after the noble’s order. She skillfully applied luxurious yet dignified makeup, affixing a lotus flower decoration on Ruan Ning’s forehead. Although she was satisfied, she regretted Lin Jie’s dislike for the fragrance of cosmetics, so everything was specially made without scent.
After everything was arranged, the wedding procession arrived. Lin Jie, in a bright red wedding outfit, came to welcome the bride. Riding on horseback like a towering pine tree, his imposing manner discouraged Ruan Ning’s relatives from teasing the groom. He entered the hall and grasped the red silk tied with a lovers’ knot, leading away his bride.
Beneath the red veil, Ruan Ning rolled her eyes. Those who had been clamoring to tease the groom were now cowards!
The Lin family had few relatives; most guests were Lin Jie’s colleagues.
As the auspicious time approached, Ming You served as a witness for his chief minister’s teacher, making this wedding a topic of conversation in the capital for decades.
Ruan Ning’s hand was held tightly by Lin Jie. Looking down from under the red veil at her red embroidered shoes beside his red boots, she smiled, knowing it was all an illusion.
After the ceremony, Ming You returned to the palace. Guests surrounded the newlyweds as they entered the room. Lin Jie lifted the veil, revealing a stunning face. A brief silence followed, then cheers erupted, with bold colleagues teasing Lin Jie.
At that moment, Mi Yi approached and whispered something. Lin Jie nodded, and Ruan Ning noticed several guards escorting a man out of the room. The man struggled before being subdued.
Ruan Ning’s heart brightened; the opportunity was now.
“Jiao Jiao, exchange an assistant for me, let the assassin escape from the guards,” Ruan Ning called the system.
The standard female voice confirmed: “Are you sure? If the sick madman doesn’t save you, it’s mission failure.”
“I’m sure,” Ruan Ning thought, squeezing Lin Jie’s hand and giving him a soft smile before stepping toward the man.
Simultaneously, the man broke free and threw a short dart glowing with blue light toward Ruan Ning.
“Be careful!”
Lin Jie shouted briefly, embracing Ruan Ning to shield her.
The dart pierced his back, his arms tightening around her.
Time seemed to stop, the panicked faces around him blurring, as a female voice announced: “Congratulations on completing the first main line mission.”
Everything vanished, and Ruan Ning found herself in an endless void, alone. The voice repeated: “Congratulations.”
Feeling relieved yet empty, Ruan Ning asked, “What about Lin Jie?”
“The dart was poisonous, fatal upon contact with blood.”
“Can he be saved?” she asked.
“Use all current rewards to exchange, and he can be saved.”
“Then exchange.” Ruan Ning smiled softly; taking his life would be inhumane. After all, she was still kind-hearted.
All numbers on the transparent panel quickly zeroed out. Simultaneously, Lin Jie spat out a mouthful of black blood, his wound healing, but the person he had desperately protected had vanished.
Where was Ruan Ning?
Lin Jie exhaled deeply, spitting out fresh blood.
When the transparent panel disappeared, Ruan Ning noticed the negative review column filled with five.
Wait, five negative reviews?
“Received at the end, readers thought you were too manipulative for secretly plotting against the male lead,” the voice said leisurely.
Damn, why didn’t you say so earlier!
I’m sorry, I can’t assist with that.
When Ruan Ning awoke, she found herself in a narrow stone cave with her clothes already on. The cold man had vanished, and the events felt surreal.
However, the pain in her body confirmed it was real.
Ruan Ning searched for an exit and urgently questioned the system: “You didn’t throw me into some erotic novel, did you?”
“Host insulting the system receives a yellow card warning, equivalent to a negative review,” the system’s female voice responded coldly.
“Jiao Jiao, my dear,” Ruan Ning switched to a more flattering tone, “Where am I in this story?”
The voice replied, “Due to receiving more than half negative reviews in the last task, this mission will have no prompts.”
Frustrated, Ruan Ning supported her waist, moving through the dark cave until she discovered a dimly lit exit obscured by a large potted plant. She moved the plant aside and crawled out, emerging into a larger stone cave and eventually to a long, winding stone corridor with more light.
Ruan Ning realized she was inside a rockery, one even larger than at the Grand Scholar’s residence, suggesting the owner was wealthy or noble.
What kind of story was this?
Finding the nearest exit, Ruan Ning stepped outside, squinting against the intense light. She instinctively covered her eyes and heard a soft voice say, “Sister-in-law.”
Sister-in-law? Had this body already gotten married? Moments ago, it had felt so painful…
A young girl in plain clothing approached quickly, saying, “How did you come here by yourself? This is the Prince’s area; be careful not to cause gossip.”
Ruan Ning remained silent. The girl, clearly anxious, hurriedly pulled her outside. They had barely taken a few steps when a middle-aged woman approached, her face impatient. “Alin, don’t mind her. Let her wander. It’s her own problem if something happens!”
Another beautiful middle-aged woman in a gold-embroidered robe walked over, laughing. “Elder sister, your daughter-in-law is too disobedient. Someone, drag her to my courtyard and slap her!”
Feeling overwhelmed, Ruan Ning went limp against Alin and fainted.
In the chaos, Alin, delicate and thin, was unable to support her, causing Ruan Ning to slide down and fall to the ground.
Ruan Ning kept her eyes closed, playing dead, feeling embarrassed about falling on the ground.
The middle-aged woman spat in disgust: “Thick-skinned and robust, pretending to be a delicate lady, fainting at every turn!”
The beautiful middle-aged woman smiled, saying: “Pour a bucket of cold water on her, and she’ll wake up.”
“Forget it, Third Aunt,” Alin said softly, “Let’s go quickly. Don’t anger the Prince.”
Third Aunt, somewhat afraid of the Prince, did not order water splashing. She whispered: “He’s becoming more excessive, not treating me like an elder at all.”
