“Chen Wu, bring the medicinal oil,” a cold voice suddenly rang out. The man in the vermilion robe had returned, standing several steps away, his gaze fixed on Ruan Ning’s bare feet, his face as cold as frost.
Chen Wu, who had followed him for years, sensed his surging anger and quickly walked away.
Ruan Ning felt a bone-chilling fear, wrapping her clothes tighter and retreating into the room. She seemed to feel his gaze like a poisonous rot fixed on her feet.
Ruan Ning thought he was staring at her feet because they were dirty. She had stepped on a wooden strip while getting out of bed, spraining her ankle and falling miserably—all because of these two men who didn’t know how to treat a delicate woman.
Despite her struggles, she couldn’t break free from his restraint. He gripped her so tightly that she was about to cry from the pain. Fear mixed with anger grew within her; he was the one who tied her up, and now he thought she was trying to seduce him?
The man noticed her eyes reddening with tears, yet she stubbornly pursed her lips, refusing to let a single tear fall. This vulnerable yet defiant appearance made his heart skip a beat. He realized he hadn’t been this close to any woman in over a decade, not even in the years before that.
What puzzled him even more was that he had been holding onto her foot continuously.
Yesterday, after a brief embrace, he had felt tense and disgusted. Yet now, after prolonged contact with her, he felt no repulsion.
It seemed these beautiful feet had awakened some unspeakable fetish, overshadowing his usual aversion to women. The dormant part of him stirred, and he felt warmth rise in his face. Who would have thought he would be aroused by this woman after so long?
Under the influence of shame, he loosened his grip slightly. The moment she sensed this, she tried to pull her foot back, angering him anew. He gripped her tightly again and coldly said, “What, are you playing hard to get?”
Ruan Ning felt intimidated by his strong presence yet suffocated by humiliation. Instead of retreating, she suddenly kicked out at him. The unexpected strike caught him off guard, but it felt more like a provocation than a true offense. Surprised again, he held her other foot tightly, looking down at her coldly. “Is this how you seduce men?” he asked.
Ruan Ning’s tears streamed down her face.
Her identity was more terrifying than her perverted nature. She had brought her enemy to the brink of destruction and was now about to win over his father. What a mess this was…
Lin Jie stared at her, her expression strange—part frightened, part bitter smile, part guilty. This made him feel there was something he didn’t know. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What are you plotting now?”
“No, nothing,” Ruan Ning said cautiously. “Lord Lin, could you please let me go? If someone sees you like this, it would damage your reputation!”
Lord Lin? Lin Jie thought. From that one sentence, she had guessed his identity. How could a young lady from a boudoir have such insight?
He released her foot, and she jumped down, straightening her dress and standing far away from him. Though his hands were now empty, the sensation still lingered in his heart.
His gaze fell on Ruan Ning’s bare feet, marked with several red impressions. This thought gave him an inexplicable excitement. He wanted to leave his marks all over her body.
It seemed Lin Jie’s interest in Ruan Ning extended beyond her feet; he did not dislike her as he did other women. Perhaps she was the remedy he had been searching for.
Lin Jie decided to keep her.
The courier officer expressed concern: “The courtyard is ready, but this carriage is too large to enter the gate…”
“Demolish the gate,” Lin Jie responded calmly.
The governor and officials exchanged surprised glances, questioning who in the carriage was valued by the Chief Counselor.
Unaware of the animosity she had drawn, Ruan Ning thought as the vermilion-wheeled carriage passed through the partially demolished wall, “What an oppressive society! An official can simply command a courtyard to be torn down. As a mere pawn, this is quite distasteful.”
Later that night, while reviewing documents by lamplight, Lin Jie was interrupted by a guard: “Sir, Miss Ruan requests an audience.”
Curious about her intentions, Lin Jie closed the documents. “Let her in.”
Moments later, Ruan Ning entered with a food box. Upon seeing Lin Jie, she thought, “I wonder how he will die in the future? Poisoned? Shot? A car accident? Or jumping off a cliff? The thought of approaching him with a killing intent feels exciting…”
Lin Jie frowned.
Tonight, Ruan Ning was different. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips vivid, and as soon as she entered, he detected an unfamiliar scent—the fragrance of cosmetics, which he most detested.
Lin Jie suppressed his disgust and coldly asked, “What do you want?”
Ruan Ning approached with an ingratiating smile, opened a food box, and offered a bowl of yogurt mixed with fruits and drizzled with honey: “Sir, I’ve prepared a midnight snack. Please taste it.”
Though inexperienced, she had learned that to win a man’s heart, one must first win his stomach. The only things she could make were instant noodles and yogurt mixtures; with no instant noodles available, yogurt would have to suffice.
She was very close to him. Under the lamplight, Lin Jie noticed her drawn eyebrows, rouged cheeks, and reddened eyelids. She wore a waist-hugging water-red dress adorned with silver powder depicting starry patterns, shimmering under the candlelight.
Her eyes, posture, and breath all conveyed seduction—the deliberate allure of a beautiful woman.
Tensing up, Lin Jie felt overwhelmed by the fragrance of cosmetics as Ruan Ning stepped closer, raising the crystal bowl high: “Sir…”
In that moment, he blurted out, “Get out!”
The guard rushed in, with Chen Wu entering last. He drew his sword, nervously asking: “Sir, how should she be handled?”
Lin Jie closed his eyes, suppressing the urge to vomit, and irritably replied: “Watch her carefully. Don’t let her run around!”
As Ruan Ning was taken out, she felt bewildered. This was her first attempt to seduce a man, and it ended this way? After putting on makeup, she was inexplicably scolded and driven out. Wasn’t she deserving of some respect as a peerless beauty?
Lin Jie’s cold gaze landed on her. Since he had driven her away, she had stayed away from him. Now, her complexion was fresh, her expression calm, and she walked respectfully, looking down at her toes. Lin Jie raised an eyebrow—was this how a rural woman who had never seen the world should look?
In the Ci’ning Palace, Empress Dowager Hu sat high above and immediately noticed Ruan Ning behind Lin Jie. A mysterious smile appeared on her lips: “You are Ruan Ning? What good talent. You shall stay and serve me.”
The moment Empress Dowager Hu spoke, the expressions of several people in the hall became subtle.
Ruan Ning never expected to be the first one singled out. She looked at Empress Dowager Hu, a woman who appeared no older than thirty, with fair skin and delicate features. Her thick black hair was styled in a neat bun, and she wore a dark red robe embroidered with golden phoenixes and mythical birds, exuding an aura of celestial beauty.
Surprised, Ruan Ning quickly lowered her head, reflecting on the Empress Dowager’s youth and beauty, yet recognizing her widowed status. Why did the Empress Dowager want her here?
Lin Jie had been visibly angry since hearing about the Empress Dowager’s request to see Ruan Ning. He stated coldly, “She cannot stay.”
Ruan Ning thought she had misheard. Lin Jie was refusing the Empress Dowager on her behalf—why? He had previously told her to leave, yet now he opposed it?
