The chilling aura around him made Ruan Ning instinctively step back, preparing to slip away quietly. Yan Xuan swiftly noticed and grabbed her wrist tightly, causing her pain. “You’re hurting me, Yan Xuan. Let go,” she pleaded.
“Is it you? The one from Chen Kingdom?” Yan Xuan asked, still holding her. He guided her hand to a spot on the trunk. “Feel it. Can you feel his blood? It flowed down from here, a large pool.”
He began to laugh, his voice fluctuating: “The former Emperor was very angry. That was his most beloved son. He wanted to kill me to avenge his son, but he didn’t dare, do you know why?”
There was no blood on the tree, but Ruan Ning seemed to see the scene from his words. She shook her head, not daring to answer. This reaction pleased Yan Xuan. He released her, his voice dripping with sarcasm: “Because I killed all of his sons. He didn’t dare kill me; if he did, he would have no sons left.”
Ruan Ning recalled Sui Huan’s words about Yan Xuan killing his brothers and father. She shivered, instinctively feeling she shouldn’t continue listening.
“Are you tired? We should go back,” Ruan Ning said bravely.
“Go back…”
Yan Xuan repeated it several times, seeming hesitant. Ruan Ning mustered her courage to hold his hand, whispering, “Yan Xuan, let’s go back. I, I’ll let you kiss me.”
Suddenly, Yan Xuan grinned and held her hand: “Imperial Consort, what are you doing standing here?”
If Ruan Ning still couldn’t guess that two people were living in this body, she would be hopeless. She cursed inwardly and forced a smile: “I’m tired; let’s go back. We’ll play again tomorrow.”
Yan Xuan noticed her expression. His face slightly changed as he reached out to touch the tree and asked casually, “Has he been here?”
Ruan Ning lowered her head, not daring to look at him or answer.
“What did he tell you?” Yan Xuan asked again.
Ruan Ning remained silent, his grip on her chin tight. Without expression, Yan Xuan repeated, “What did he say?”
Feeling pain, Ruan Ning managed to say, “He talked about this tree.”
Yan Xuan reluctantly loosened his grip, rubbed her face comfortingly, leaving behind two red finger marks that embarrassed him slightly.
“Go back.” He turned and left.
For several days, he did not return to Qixia Palace or summon Ruan Ning. The women in the inner palace breathed a sigh of relief; the newly arrived noble consort had fallen out of favor.
Author’s note: Those who expose themselves can’t handle it~
Chapter 57: Substitute White Moonlight
“Jiaojiao, do you think he might kill me?” With Yan Xuan absent, Ruan Ning’s already tedious days grew even duller, prompting her to chat with the system.
The standard female voice encouraged her: “Host, keep going!”
Ruan Ning inquired, “Are there any aids to help seduce men? I remember other quick transmigration novels had things like becoming more beautiful or increasing charm.”
The standard voice denied this: “No such thing, I’m a proper system.”
So-called proper system probably meant useless and just there to cause trouble.
Ruan Ning was about to ask more when she suddenly heard the palace maids outside excitedly call out, “Your Majesty!”
Yan Xuan entered, his expression calm, different from his previous casual demeanor. He approached her and sat down, saying, “It’s been a while, Noble Consort, how are you?”
Ruan Ning noted his return to formality, feeling somewhat disappointed. She replied coolly, “I’m fine. How is Your Majesty?”
“I’m also well.”
After a moment of silence, Yan Xuan’s gaze fell on the pufferfish on the dressing table. The clay one looked fine, but the dough one had dried and cracked, resembling its owner.
A faint smile appeared on Yan Xuan’s lips as he recalled their first meeting. He hadn’t visited recently because he struggled with how to face her. While he didn’t regret his actions, he longed to return to being the carefree A Mo.
Pulling something from his chest, he waved it in front of Ruan Ning, revealing a wooden carving of a pufferfish, lifelike in detail.
He had been cold to her for days, keeping her on tenterhooks, yet he suddenly seemed in good spirits? Ruan Ning couldn’t help but roll her eyes dramatically.
Yan Xuan laughed, pleased by her boldness.
“My dear,” he asked, “Has Sui Huan told you about me?”
The question came out easier than he had imagined.
Behind him, Gao Song was startled and quickly waved for the servants to leave, closing the door and standing guard outside with a conflicted heart. Could the Emperor be preparing to share such things with the Noble Consort? Had this woman, known for such a short time, already become so important? Gao Song couldn’t discern if it was good or bad and furrowed his brow.
Ruan Ning thought the same. She struggled to get down, but Yan Xuan held her tighter, even biting her ear and saying, “My beloved, don’t move around; I can’t handle your provocation.”
Provocation? Ruan Ning rolled her eyes. Although Yan Xuan had been sleeping in the same bed for over a month, they had only hugged and kissed. She was now certain that he was incapable.
Realizing this made Ruan Ning feel a few extra points of sympathy for him. Being young and yet incapable was quite pitiful.
She no longer tried to hide when changing clothes, and the fact that he didn’t lose control seeing her body only confirmed her conclusion about his inability.
Sui Huan heard Yan Xuan’s words and noticed Ruan Ning’s eye roll, which made his heart race. He realized her previous dependence on him had shifted entirely to Yan Xuan.
When night fell, Ruan Ning was still walking. Yan Xuan had invited her to join him in the hot spring, but she always felt suffocated while soaking, so she stayed behind to enjoy the scenery.
The palace was built on a mountain, and as Ruan Ning walked, she noticed the palace servants following her had disappeared. Suddenly, someone pulled her into a mountain cave.
“It’s me,” Sui Huan’s voice rang in her ear, followed by his breath hitting her face as he pressed her against the stone wall, attempting to kiss her.
Just as his lips were about to touch hers, Ruan Ning instinctively blocked him and pushed him away. However, he quickly pressed her back, voice filled with anger and bitterness: “I can’t stand it. He’s holding you right in front of me. I wish I could kill him right now!”
His lips pressed down again, his hands holding her face, preventing her from escaping. Ruan Ning suddenly felt nauseous and began to retch.
Sui Huan was furious, feeling out of control. A month ago in the forest, she had been attached to him. But now, she kept rejecting him.
“Has he kissed you?” Sui Huan ground out.
Ruan Ning stubbornly looked away and didn’t answer, confirming his suspicion.
He felt both hate and regret, disregarding her disgust as he tried to kiss her more violently, breathing heavily and asking, “Is this how he kisses you?”
His body pressed her immovably. Sensing his desire, she attempted to retaliate but was taken by surprise when he bent in pain. Ruan Ning escaped while he was distracted.
The palace servants were searching nearby. Just as she caught her breath, Yan Xuan arrived, still wet from the hot spring, his hair damp. He grabbed her and carried her into the inner chamber.
Under the soft light of the night pearl, her shaken face and awkward expression spoke volumes, but she remained silent. Yan Xuan’s brow furrowed as he carried her to the pool’s edge and jumped in with her.
Her wet clothes clung to her body. Ruan Ning turned her face away, embarrassed, but he pulled her back and washed her face with water.
“Do you have nothing to tell me?” Yan Xuan asked softly, embracing her from behind.
Ruan Ning hesitated, hoping to avoid the subject. If she spoke, she’d have to explain everything about Sui Huan and feared Yan Xuan’s anger.
