Sui Huan was taken aback. He had mentioned to her that Yan Xuan preferred beautiful women, but this seemed excessive and off-putting. He couldn’t understand how a princess from the elegant Chen Kingdom could have such poor taste.
He decided to request a better etiquette tutor for her.
Ruan Ning let someone taste the newly prepared snacks. As she reached out, several bracelets jingled, making Sui Huan furrow his brow; the feeling was bizarre.
“Leave us,” Sui Huan ordered the palace maids, who quickly withdrew. He looked at the oversized gold earrings she wore and said, “A’Ruan, women from Ji Kingdom generally do not wear this many accessories except during festivals.”
Ruan Ning nodded, and suddenly the sound of jingling metal rang out again.
“Yan Xuan doesn’t like women dressing so elaborately,” Sui Huan mused, replacing “ostentatious” with “elaborate” to avoid embarrassing her. Ruan Ning put on a half-understanding expression.
Sui Huan sighed. Although she had become more sensible, she was still a pampered child. This style was likely influenced by her maids. He needed to find her a better attendant.
“A’Ruan, I’ve received an imperial decree. Yan Xuan has assigned me another task, and I’m about to leave. He sent his trusted eunuch Gao Song to escort you.” He pushed aside the heavy gold forehead ornament and looked at her deeply. “I’m very worried about you.”
Ruan Ning was overjoyed.
Sui Huan had little confidence in escaping from under his nose. However, once he left, with her intelligence, she believed she could fool a few palace maids and attendants.
After Sui Huan departed, Ruan Ning became the most prominent figure in the bridal procession. While most people escaped to their hometowns, she chose to head east. She had learned that just beyond a few mountains lay the Yige tribe’s territory. Known for its warm climate and hospitable people, it was a subsidiary state of Ji Kingdom, but had an independent system—ideal for a single woman seeking refuge.
A young man observed her and remarked, “I’ve never seen anyone wear so many rings. Doesn’t your hand hurt?”
