Ruan Ning recalled that first night, the older man continuously changing positions, determined to find the most suitable one. Leading the rhythm felt more pleasurable. Exhausted, she closed her eyes, laughing softly, joyfully bouncing and circling, climbing his heat, and when pleasure arrived with a silent roar, she hoarsely called out: “Lin Jie…”
The room’s temperature suddenly dropped. Shang Mian gripped her throat, coldly asking: “Who is Lin Jie?”
Under the drug’s influence, Ruan Ning felt no pain. She giggled, trying to remove his hand, then pouted: “Don’t. Stop.”
Shang Mian’s face tightened. For the first time, he didn’t vent his anger but roughly threw her onto the bed and left, clothed.
The next morning, Ruan Ning was awakened by screams outside, finding herself naked in bed, the bedding half-dragged on the floor, underwear thrown in front of the bed — everything indicating last night’s encounter, yet she had no recollection.
What happened? Was it Shang Mian? Ruan Ning mumbled while picking up her clothes, noticing Shang Mian hadn’t even cleaned her.
Screams erupted everywhere. Ruan Ning quickly dressed and ran out, joining the panicked crowd.
Wu Shi had just arrived with her sons and servants. To her surprise, the second house’s door was wide open, with people running and screaming. Wu Shi was stunned, then overjoyed, thinking someone must have been caught in the act.
She rushed in, pushing through the crowd, shouting: “I knew this prostitute was up to no good…”
There, she saw a bluish-purple corpse on the ground, face frozen in terror – her own family nephew.
He looked at Ruan Ning, eyebrows raised with anger, her lips pressed into a thin line, eyes glistening with a watery light, reflecting rippling waves. She was his celestial demon, both fierce and beautiful. Song Bofu felt near suffocation and would have offered a whip to let her torment him while he prostrated at her feet.
He quickly turned his head, unable to look at her stunningly angry face.
Mentally violating someone else’s wife in public, the experience mixed with shame and excitement made his body temperature rise rapidly. He slightly bent his waist to cover himself with his clothing and approached Ruan Ning, whispering, “Ruan Niang, she is an elder; don’t give anyone a handle to talk about.”
The divorce had not been finalized, making Wu’s Ruan Ning’s legitimate mother-in-law. She could not give anyone a handle of disobedience, as that would slow down the divorce process.
When Wu’s saw him arrive, she became confident and shouted, “Eldest son, this time you won’t protect this wicked woman! She forced herself on and killed my nephew. Drag her to be drowned in a pond!”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I have already notified the Dali Temple, and officials will come soon to collect evidence and arrest her,” Song Bofu said calmly. “The facts will be explained by the Dali Temple.”
“No need to report to the authorities.” Ten people in dark clothes walked in a line, led by the royal guard captain Chu Liang, who had captured several of Wu’s people at the Champion King’s mansion. With a solemn expression, he said, “Last night, this person attempted to steal from the royal mansion and was killed on the spot after being chased by the guard.”
Wu’s exclaimed, “Impossible!”
“Chu Liang turned to Ruan Ning and saluted: ‘Ruan Niang, please forgive us. This thief was chased by us and had no way out; he climbed over the wall into your courtyard. We were in a hurry to report back to the Prince and did not wake the household. It was our negligence.’
Ruan Ning was bewildered, sensing something had happened last night, but she couldn’t recall the details.
At this moment, Wu’s shouted again: ‘You’re lying! My nephew could never steal anything.’
Chu Liang faced her solemnly: ‘So, are you questioning the words of the Champion King’s mansion?’
Wu’s recalled the horrifying scene of the maids and servants being killed in front of them and dared not argue further, weakly stating: ‘Even the royal mansion must explain a killing, right?’
Chu Liang coldly snorted, placing his hand on the hilt of his knife: ‘Oh?’
Wu’s trembled and lowered her head, silenced.
Song Bofu, experienced in handling cases, found the situation suspicious but preferred not to involve the authorities for the sake of family reputation. He smiled and quickly dismissed the rushing officials along with Chu Liang.
‘What about her? She falsely accused me. Is that it?’ Ruan Ning pointed at Wu’s and looked at Song Bofu, unwilling to let it go.”
Before Song Bofu could persuade her, Chu Liang drew his knife and coldly scanned the crowd: “Anyone who dares to damage Ruan Niang’s reputation or cause trouble will be an enemy of the Champion King’s mansion!”
Wu gritted her teeth in hatred but remained silent.
In the Forbidden City, Emperor Shang Ming listened to the report and smiled knowingly. It was her who had seized the opportunity ahead of Su Lin that day.
Ruan Ning inquired earnestly, “Jiaojiao, you must know what happened last night, right?”
“Host, do not think of me as gossip,” the standard female voice firmly replied. “Since your status has upgraded, I only appear when summoned.”
Ruan Ning wanted to complain but held back, thinking, “Who would believe you’re not peeking!” Instead, she continued as a devoted follower: “Jiaojiao, I know you care about me. You must have monitored it, right? I don’t remember anything from yesterday. How did that person die?”
“I only monitor your progress with the sick yandere. Last night, you two made love again,” the voice replied without shyness. “Other plot points can only be unlocked by you. Inducing the system to spoil will result in deducted rewards.”
Ruan Ning dared not ask further.
Just as she was about to fall asleep with resentment, Ruan Ning was awakened by a pair of cold hands.
Shang Mian.
The curtains were drawn open, and under the moonlight, Ruan Ning saw for the first time what he looked like. His features were exquisitely beautiful, like a fine painting, but his complexion was frighteningly pale, raising concerns about the blood in his veins. Strangely, despite his beauty, he did not seem effeminate; the heavy killing aura surrounding him suggested a man who had seen battle and taken countless lives.
Ruan Ning shuddered and quickly turned her face away.
Shang Mian said nothing, just embraced her from behind and slowly unwrapped the fabric covering her body. Instead of the expected roughness, she felt something icy and bone-chilling that also subtly burned. As she puzzled over this, he began a new torment in an unprecedented way, leaving her empty yet pleasured, gradually becoming addicted and craving more.
He was like a patient craftsman, slowly shaping her into what he needed, until she curled up and let out low moans.
Ruan Ning was anxiously rubbing, feeling empty everywhere on her body and mind, yet Shang Mian was teasing, showing no intention of responding to her needs.
