Before she finished, guards in dark purple uniforms surrounded them. A leader stepped forward, addressing Third Aunt: “Concubine, this is the Prince’s area. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. We are here to arrest people as per protocol.”
Suddenly, a spark of insight flashed in Ruan Ning’s mind. Alin, Elder Aunt, Third Aunt, and the uncaring Prince…
So this is the story!
In the distant high pavilion, dense curtains blocked out all light. A pale hand lifted a corner of the window curtain, letting in a sliver of light.
The hand belonged to a man in red sitting in a wheelchair, his face deathly white, with extremely black hair and a vibrant red garment. He was a pool of blood in the half-light, his long phoenix eyes glancing briefly at Ruan Ning’s back, his eyebrows slightly raised.
A man in white stood beside him, placing three fingers on his pulse. Suddenly, a triumphant smile curved his mouth: “Shang Mian, your blood is surging, you’re sweating, and your pulse is weak. You’ve just had intense intercourse and taken stimulating drugs. There’s poison in the medicine. It’s impressive; blood poison and spirit poison attacking the heart would kill or cripple an ordinary person, yet you can still enjoy a woman.”
“Enough nonsense,” Shang Mian said coldly. “Give me ten days to remove the poison.”
The white-clad man grimaced, shaking his head: “I’m not a god. At least a month.”
He then asked curiously, “Will the blood poison harm your kidneys? Do you need medication even if your legs aren’t fully healed?”
Shang Mian lowered the window curtain: “I was careless and someone took advantage.”
The white-clad man laughed heartily: “You’re in a wheelchair and still have romantic encounters? Could it be she was on top and you were on bottom…”
Before he could finish, his throat was gripped by Shang Mian, who looked at him with a half-smile: “Xie San, say that again.”
The white-clad man immediately surrendered: “Spare me! You’re virile, capable of serving ten women, always on top.”
He drew a thin blade and cut Shang Mian’s arm, dark red blood flowing out and filling the room with a bloody smell. Shang Mian remained calm, as if the cut meant nothing. His arm was covered with numerous small and long knife wounds, indicating he was accustomed to such pain.
As the blood pooled around him, Shang Mian lowered his head and licked the wound, stopping the bleeding. A hint of red appeared in his phoenix eyes as he languidly said: “Her blood is very sweet.”
The white-clad man was stunned, then realized he was referring to the woman he had been with and immediately looked disgusted: “Enough, you’re crazy!”
When Ruan Ning was sent back to the Song family, a speculation formed in her mind. Everyone was detained except her – could it be Shang Mian who had forced her in the cave?
Ruan Ning shivered at the thought. Shang Mian, cold-hearted and murderous, had cut Su Lin’s throat publicly after capturing the capital and hung her upside down at the palace gates until she bled to death.
A bloodthirsty psychopath – was this the sick and twisted lover she needed to conquer?
“Jiao Jiao, is it Shang Mian?” Ruan Ning asked with hope.
“It could be,” the standard female voice replied leisurely.
Song Sizong steadied himself and said, “What nonsense are you talking about? Tell me, what happened? Where’s my mother? Where’s Alin?”
“I don’t know,” Ruan Ning lied, her expression unchanged. “I fainted, and when I woke up, I was sent back.”
“Fainted?” Song Sizong was stunned. “Is Alin okay?”
Ruan Ning shook her head, a sarcastic smile appearing. “I’m your wife, yet you don’t care about my well-being but are anxious about Su Lin?”
“You’re sitting here fine; what could possibly be wrong!” Song Sizong replied.
Ruan Ning frowned, disliking him even more. Coldly, she said, “Since you’re so concerned about Su Lin, go to the Wang Mansion and find her yourself. I know nothing.”
Song Sizong was shocked by her tone.
Shang Mian traced the knife scar on his arm, not answering.
Xie San asked, “What do you plan to do with those from the Song family? Let them stay for dinner?”
Shang Mian smiled, his phoenix eyes gleaming. “Dinner? My dinner isn’t so delicious.”
Song Sizong felt torn between hatred and fear when the side door cracked open, and two women were pushed out—Wu Shi and Su Lin.
The gatekeeper ordered, “Scram.”
Rushing to support Wu Shi and pull Su Lin, Song Sizong felt Su Lin sob in his arms: “Cousin, I’m scared…”
Wu Shi shivered, having witnessed the gruesome killings of some of Wu’s servants and concubines, which left her nauseous.
“My child,” Wu Shi trembled, “that Shang Mian is a madman!”
Upon arriving at the second residence, Song Sizong led Wu Shi and Su Lin inside but found no sign of Ruan Ning. He asked a maid, “Where is my wife?”
“Madam has gone to find the clan leader,” the maid replied.
“Shameless woman, not taking care of the home!” Wu Shi vented her frustration.
Song Sizong frowned, pondering Ruan Ning’s intentions.
Chapter 33: The Blood of a Tyrant’s Heart
Ruan Ning looked at Song Bofu and deeply curtsied, saying, “Clan leader, I want to divorce Song Sizong.”
She had learned from Qing Yu about Ruan Shi, the niece of the second madam and the only surviving member of the Ruan family. The second madam had arranged Ruan Shi’s marriage to strengthen family ties. Ruan Shi initially treated her husband with reverence, but Song Sizong was indifferent. After the second madam’s death and Wu Shi’s arrival, Ruan Shi faced constant abuse. Had Ruan Ning not transmigrated, Ruan Shi would likely have perished.
In this era, only family could support a woman, but Ruan Shi had none. Ruan Ning carefully considered the characters in the original text and sought help from the clan leader, Song Bofu.
Song Bofu, the eldest son of the main branch and the highest-ranking official in the Song family, became clan leader due to his father’s early death. In the original text, he greatly valued the family’s reputation. Ruan Ning planned to leverage the Song family’s standing to compel him to act justly.
Song Bofu observed Ruan Ning, surprised by her transformation. Previously, she had kept her head down and seemed timid, but now her eyes sparkled, and her demeanor was both charming and dignified.
He felt a shift and, less stern than usual, remarked, “Nonsense. How can a woman divorce her husband?”
“Then a separation will do,” Ruan Ning replied, smiling at him.
Her suggestion was a strategic move to engage Song Bofu’s interest, and he indeed reacted.
Her smile caught Song Bofu off guard as he asked, “Why do you want a separation?”
“Song Sizong was adopted by my aunt, so he was her son. After her death, he rejected our family and acknowledged his birth parents. Not only that, he’s using my aunt’s money to support them while he beats and abuses me. I find him despicable and refuse to live with him,” Ruan Ning explained calmly.
Beating and abuse? Song Bofu instinctively examined her exposed skin for signs of injury—possibly concealed beneath her clothing. He hesitated, aware of Song Sizong’s reputation, but he was reluctant to intervene without support from the second branch, as he wanted to avoid damaging the family’s reputation.
Who would have thought a woman would dare to make such a fuss?
He tried to smooth things over: “Fifth brother might have been confused momentarily. I’ll speak to him later and have him apologize at his second uncle and aunt’s memorial.”
“Kowtowing and apologizing is necessary,” Ruan Ning replied, her eyes bright, “but I must have a separation.”
So stubborn and bold. How had he never noticed her before? Song Bofu suddenly thought it fortunate his own wife was dead.
