The woman cried, her voice trembling: “You… hurry up…” ”Hurry up with what?” Shang Mian finally spoke, cold and sharp. Ruan Ning couldn’t express her feelings, her shame intensifying her sensitivity. Her surroundings shrank, magnifying her bodily needs. ”Hurry up…” Ruan Ning cried out. ”Say my name,” Shang Mian continued to tease. ”Shang, Mian.” Thirst overwhelmed her shame as she closed her eyes, calling out brokenly. ”Beg me to want you.” Shang Mian increased his force, leaving fingerprints on her skin. Unable to speak, Ruan Ning parted her lips, releasing silent gasps. Shang Mian’s gaze grew colder, sliding down to kiss her. Ruan Ning cried, “Don’t…” ”Beg me to want you,” Shang Mian said coldly. Ruan Ning trembled, losing all sense of shame. In her emptiness, she said: “Please, please…” Once spoken, all barriers vanished. She repeated, unconsciously: “Shang Mian, please, I want…”
Shang Mian responded, and the infinite emptiness filled, illusory fireworks exploding in white light as Ruan Ning quickly reached her peak. However, the man was not done, endlessly taking, harboring jealousy that was difficult to release. This couldn’t make him feel as comfortable as before. Shang Mian forcefully penetrated her again, coldly asking, “Who is Lin Jie?”
Ruan Ning was startled, involuntarily shivering, her body tightening as Shang Mian erupted unexpectedly like rain.
Song Bofu, suppressing his doubts about whether any men had touched her—Was it Song Sizong?—said, “The divorce matter will probably take another month or two. Please be patient.” He could resolve it in three to five days if he dealt with it full-force, but he felt she should provide some assurance.
Ruan Ning, too tired and dull in her reactions, nodded silently without noticing his unspoken meaning. Song Bofu, feeling anxious, pointed to the tea on the table and said, “Pass me the water.”
Ruan Ning obediently handed it over. Taking the opportunity, Song Bofu grasped her hand, gently scratching her palm, and whispered, “Ning Ning, if you want it to be faster, I can find a way.”
Ruan Ning suddenly understood. In an instant, she no longer thought he was like Lin Jie—Lin Jie would never take advantage of someone.
She put down the tea cup and withdrew her hand, but Song Bofu noticed the teeth marks on her wrist.
“What is this?” he asked sternly.
“Feeling frustrated, I bit myself,” Ruan Ning replied with a faint smile, a hint of mockery in her eyes. “What did Uncle think it was?”
Song Bofu was speechless, his heart aching. Even though exposing her could make her life miserable, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Champion King won the battle and brought peace, earning a reputation as a war god and the privilege of not kneeling before the king. At this moment, Shang Mian had someone push his wheelchair over and casually asked the eunuch delivering the imperial decree, “What orders does the Emperor have?”
The eunuch, somewhat afraid of Shang Mian, hurriedly held up the imperial decree and read: “By imperial decree, Su Lin, niece of Consort Wu of the Champion King’s residence, is deemed a suitable wife for Prince Shang Mian and is granted the title of Principal Consort of the Champion King, to be married from the palace immediately.”
The trembling eunuch presented the decree and smiled apologetically at Shang Mian, saying, “Your Highness, please receive the imperial order.”
Shang Mian let out a light laugh, pushed his wheelchair outward, and said, “Go tell my imperial brother that I’m not interested in Su Lin. I don’t want this Champion King’s Consort.”
The eunuch was shocked but turned back with the imperial decree.
In the Forbidden City, Shang Mingsi coldly snorted at Su Lin, “I thought you were capable, but it turns out you can’t even win over a man.”
Su Lin knelt on the steps, swaying slightly, and said, “Your Majesty, although the Prince does not want me now, I believe that in time, he will come to appreciate my worth.”
Shang Mingsi’s gaze swept over her delicate appearance. Though a virgin, Su Lin had learned many seductive techniques from palace matrons and used court recipes to maintain her skin. She was prepared as a plaything for men, with a seemingly weak exterior masking her deep scheming. She had connected with the inner court by staying with Consort Wu, and was willing to use her beauty to gain wealth and status—making her the perfect pawn to deal with Shang Mian.
“Rise,” Shang Mingsi’s tone softened, “He refuses to accept the decree. What do you suggest we do?”
Su Lin stood up elegantly, tilting her head slightly and looking at Shang Mingsi with adoration. “Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. No one can refuse the Emperor’s decree. No matter how great the Champion King is, he cannot be greater than Your Majesty. Even if he does not accept the decree, I am the Champion King’s Principal Consort. I request to complete the marriage as soon as possible and serve Your Majesty.”
Shang Mingsi smiled and extended his hand to her. Su Lin walked over, taking his hand, her voice sweet: “Your Majesty…”
In the afternoon, a large red sedan chair departed from the Forbidden City, with the imperial procession clearing the way. Following the sedan were lavish dowry preparations befitting a county owner’s grand wedding, accompanied by festive music, heading towards the Champion King’s residence.
Su Lin, dressed in the Principal Consort’s formal attire, had a complex expression. Her carefully planned opportunity had been ruined. She had intended to wait for Shang Mian’s drug-induced state, hoping to be forcibly possessed in front of everyone, and then be granted marriage by the Emperor, allowing her to enter the residence as a victim with a legitimate status. However, her plans were unexpectedly disrupted by Consort Wu.
Hearing of Shang Mian’s violent temper, who had recently killed a servant for mistakingly entering his courtyard, Consort Wu brought Ruan Shi to the Champion King’s residence and tricked her into Shang Mian’s courtyard. After a drug-induced state, Shang Mian ended up with Ruan Shi, leaving Su Lin’s plan in vain.
What was even more infuriating was that Ruan Shi did not cause a scene afterward, causing Su Lin to miss her opportunity. Now, being married in this way was far from her original plan, and Shang Mian would surely resist. She decided to adopt the role of an innocent woman, deeply in love but used as a chess piece by the Emperor, hoping to evoke his pity.
Unfortunately, Shang Mian provided no chance at all. When the sedan arrived at the Champion King’s residence, the doors were tightly closed, and not a sound could be heard. Shang Mian had no intention of letting the Principal Consort enter.
Su Lin softly instructed, “Place the dowry outside the courtyard. The matchmaker will stay; everyone else return to the palace to report.”
As dusk approached, the Champion King’s residence was surrounded by a sea of red dowry items and a large red wedding sedan, causing passersby to whisper and keep their distance. Su Lin sat steadily in the sedan, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding discussions.
Crying with tears like falling petals, Shang Mian choked while beginning to unbutton. Ruan Ning burst into laughter. Just as she enjoyed it, icy hands touched her chest, and a voice asked, “What are you laughing about?”
Ruan Ning instantly sobered, slapping away the hand and saying angrily, “We just settled down after half the night, and now you’re at it again so soon!”
Shang Mian lay beside her, casually remarking, “This kind of thing doesn’t depend on time, but on need.” Ruan Ning rolled her eyes, thinking if this guy went to a brothel, he’d become a top performer.
A desperate voice came from outside: “Let me in! I want to see Shang Mian! A-Lin has fainted!”
“So noisy,” Shang Mian frowned.
