The next day, Sui Huan arrived in Dengzhou. The officials sent by the imperial court had already been imprisoned, and although Dengzhou had not openly raised a rebel flag, it was secretly under Sui Huan’s control. He leisurely bathed and changed clothes, but before eating, he was informed that the people who had taken Princess Changlé were trapped near the capital and could not arrive as agreed.
“Useless trash!” Sui Huan roared. He had expected to see her upon returning to Ji Kingdom, but it was still not possible!
“Are you waiting for Sister?” Ning Ye looked like she had been struck by lightning, her face pale. Sui Huan did not respond, pacing irritably in the courtyard. Ning Ye felt as if she had fallen from the peak of happiness to the bottom. She couldn’t understand why her sister, already married, was still clinging to Sui Huan, who she had promised to give to her.
Later that night, Dengzhou raised the rebel flag, officially declaring war against Yan Xuan’s imperial court.
Sui Huan was busy every day, dispatching people but unable to bring Ning Ruan back. Yan Xuan had turned Ji Kingdom into an impenetrable fortress. To see her, he needed to go personally.
Sui Huan finally made up his mind. He sneered, “My life is in the hands of heaven. If heaven wants me to perish, then there’s nothing to say!”
“Sui Huan,” Ning Ye emerged, “are you going to fetch Sister?”
“Don’t meddle in my affairs. Stay home and wait,” Sui Huan frowned.
“Home? What home do I have?” Ning Ye replied sharply. “I’ve lost everything for you.”
“That was your choice,” Sui Huan said indifferently.
“Sui Huan, who do you really love?” Ning Ye grabbed him. “Last night I heard you call a name in your sleep, A Mi. Is this a woman?”
A Mi? A sharp pain struck Sui Huan’s heart. It was A Mi, the woman who had died many years ago. When she first married from Chen Kingdom to Ji Capital, he was captivated at first sight. He tried every way to get close to her, overjoyed just to speak to her. She filled his dreams every night until the emperor killed her due to the ridiculous recommendations of ministers.
In the emperor’s eyes, such a beautiful woman was merely a plaything to be discarded at any moment. He despised the Yan family and aimed to overthrow their empire. The Chen Kingdom’s inability to defeat the Yan family and the consequences for her would also be addressed.
Sui Huan murmured “A Mi, A Mi…” confused about whom he was trying to rescue, Ning Ruan or Ning Mi.
Ning Ye, chin raised defiantly, stated, “Who is A Mi? Are you going to find her or my sister? I won’t let you go. You are mine. I must marry you!”
Sui Huan replied, “Do as you wish,” before walking away and riding off.
Ning Ye clenched her fist, unwilling to let go after her sacrifices. She jumped on a horse and followed him.
Meanwhile, Ruan Ning had been locked in a dark room for days, distinguishing time only by three meals. After leaving Ji Capital, she was sometimes transported at night, but the tightening situation forced them to hide in an abandoned courtyard, waiting for Sui Huan to find a solution. Ruan Ning had communicated with the system multiple times, but the limited rewards meant she could not secure escape assistance and had to endure her situation.
“Jiao Jiao, are you sure tormenting the host is legal? Do you have a complaint channel?” Ruan Ning threatened helplessly.
“The host can choose email, site message, or Weibo to file a complaint. We adhere to fair principles, and relevant personnel will handle complaints promptly,” the standard female voice replied.
“Then I’ll complain now that you’re abusing the host!” Ruan Ning said angrily.
“First, you need a mobile phone, computer, or pad to file a complaint,” the voice responded cheerfully.
Ruan Ning: …
I’m in an ancient novel; where am I supposed to get a mobile phone or computer?
“Host, please be patient. Perhaps there will be a breakthrough soon. Sui Huan is about to arrive,” the voice continued.
Ruan Ning was startled. Sui Huan, not Yan Xuan?
Footsteps shuffled outside, and soon Sui Huan strode in, embracing her tightly: “A Ruan, I’m here!”
“Let go!” Ruan Ning pushed him away.
Sui Huan embraced her again: “A Ruan, don’t be angry. I’m late.”
“I’m angry because you shouldn’t have come,” Ruan Ning gritted her teeth, breaking free. “I don’t like you. I only want Yan Xuan.”
“No, you like me!” Sui Huan cried hoarsely. “You said it many times.”
“Is that so? Well, now I’ve changed my mind,” Ruan Ning looked at him directly. “I only want Yan Xuan. Let me go. Keeping me here is useless.”
Fallen out of love? Sui Huan slapped her, and Ruan Ning instinctively closed her eyes, but the slap never landed. After a moment, Ruan Ning opened her eyes to see Sui Huan holding his hand, dazedly asking, “A Ruan, you said that to provoke me, right? You’re afraid Yan Xuan will harm me, so you pretended not to like me. This is for my own good, isn’t it?”
Ruan Ning: …
How could he imagine things more than her?
She stepped back and coldly replied, “I’m not doing this for you. I simply don’t like you. Keeping me here is useless. I want Yan Xuan. We are already married. In this life, I only want to be with him.”
“No, you’re doing this for me!” Sui Huan rushed over and tightly embraced her, frantically kissing her hair. “A Ruan, although Yan Xuan forced you, I don’t blame you. You are still mine.”
Sui Huan urgently tore at her clothes. Ruan Ning panicked and struggled, but he was skilled in martial arts. Soon, her outer garment was torn open. Just as Sui Huan was about to kiss her, he suddenly heard Ning Ye curse, “Sister, how shameless!”
Ning Ye ran over, wanting to slap Ruan Ning.
Ruan Ning, restrained by Sui Huan, couldn’t escape. Just before a slap landed, Sui Huan struck Ning Ye instead, exclaiming, “Don’t touch her!”
Ning Ye’s face turned swollen as she covered it in shock, momentarily speechless. Finally, she exclaimed, “Sui Huan, how could you hit me?” Her gaze, filled with hatred, swept over Ruan Ning’s torn garment and landed on her face. She laughed, “Sister, do you think you’ve seduced Sui Huan? His true love is called A Mi.”
“Get out!” Sui Huan, overwhelmed, erupted in anger. “Get this madwoman out!”
Two people soon entered to drag Ning Ye away.
Ruan Ning quickly covered her clothes and pointed at the wall, “Sui Huan, if you dare touch me again, I’ll kill myself right in front of you!”
“A Mi, don’t!” Sui Huan shouted. Years ago, when A Mi was in danger, he rushed to save her, but she insisted she wouldn’t harm him or the Chen Kingdom. She threatened to die if he didn’t leave.
A Mi’s face merged with that of the girl before him. Even after all this time, they still rejected him, preferring death.
Sui Huan shouted and lunged, pinning her down. “You cannot die. I absolutely refuse!”
He kissed her chaotically, believing they had been defiled by the Yan family’s madman but thinking he could cleanse them. Desperately, he tore at her clothes. She remained motionless, seemingly giving up resistance, but her cold voice cut through him: “A Mi? My aunt? She’s the one in your heart? Then what am I?”
Sui Huan felt his deepest secret mercilessly exposed. Shocked and ashamed, he could only respond, “Nonsense! I want you. You are the one I want!”
Ruan Ning finally understood the strange feeling when he looked at her but seemed to see through her. He loved Ning Mi, the Chen Kingdom princess who, like her, was sent away.
“Don’t overthink. I like you,” Sui Huan said quietly. “From the first time I saw you, I liked you.”
“No, you want to treat me like her,” Ruan Ning replied, pushing him away and standing up. His dejection confirmed her judgment.
“I didn’t,” Sui Huan weakly defended.
