“Your Majesty,” he bowed to the Chen Emperor, “I would like to ask for Princess Changlé’s hand in marriage.”
Ruan Ning looked at him in surprise. She felt that if someone like him wanted her, he would speak to her directly, not propose through her father.
The Chen Emperor, initially stunned, joyfully replied, “My humble daughter is unworthy. I am grateful that you wish to form a lifelong bond.”
Raised in luxury, the Chen Emperor only knew how to drink and compose poetry. After the recent fall of the Chen capital, he was shocked and desired to preserve his past life. If he could win over Sui Huan, it would greatly benefit the Chen Kingdom.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sui Huan replied with a slight smile.
On the fourth day, an envoy from the Ji Kingdom arrived urgently in Chen’s capital with the Emperor’s decree: summoning Princess Changlé Ruan Ning to the palace and conferring the title of Noble Consort.
A momentary crack appeared in Sui Huan’s stern expression.
Ruan Ning decided to remain calm and adapt to whatever came.
“A Ruan.”
In the silent night, a man’s call suddenly rang out. Ruan Ning awoke from her dream and, in the moonlight, noticed someone at the foot of her bed.
Sui Huan.
Sui Huan closed her eyes, burying her head in her thick black hair, inhaling its faint fragrance and gradually calming down.
After a long time, Sui Huan broke the silence, whispering, “I’ll take you away, I want nothing else.” His heart raced, nervously waiting for her response.
After another long while, she replied, “I don’t know.”
Sui Huan felt a wave of disappointment followed by relief. If she had agreed and he couldn’t follow through, he would have hated himself. Her hesitation spared him that pain.
Ruan Ning felt the situation was extremely troublesome. She didn’t know the story’s direction or the whereabouts of the sick yandere, but she understood that her decisions would shape what came next. What should she do?
When dawn broke, Ruan Ning slowly awoke to find Sui Huan had already left, and the gold hairpin she had been holding was also gone.
She presumed he had taken it. Ruan Ning lazily squinted her eyes, trying to process everything. Unable to make sense of it, she summoned the system.
“Jiao Jiao, you must give me some clues? I have absolutely no idea right now.”
The standard female voice replied gleefully: “Host, you chose this yourself. I already told you that the consequence of this choice is that this character has no plot, and you’ll have to explore everything on your own.”
“Was I out of my mind? How could I make such a bizarre choice?” Ruan Ning reflected, struggling to recall the circumstances of her decision.
The standard female voice redirected: “Think about it. Although this character only has one line in the original text, it’s very important. Once you remember it, you’ll know what to do.”
“Give me a hint? Dear Jiao Jiao,” Ruan Ning sweet-talked.
The standard female voice ignored her.
Frustrated, Ruan Ning rose to dress and groom herself.
“Sister!” A charming young girl rushed into the room and embraced her.
Ruan Ning was hesitant, unsure of who this was.
“Sister, I finally made it back. Why aren’t you paying attention to me?” The girl pouted.
Ruan Ning then realized who she was. Reports indicated that the princes and princesses of Chen Emperor had been located, except for the youngest, Princess Ning Ye, now before her.
So Ning Ye and Ning Ruan were close? Ruan Ning cautiously patted her shoulder, trying to appear nurturing: “Good girl, was your journey smooth?”
Ning Ye lifted her chin proudly: “I encountered several people trying to steal food, and I dealt with them! Later, General Sui’s subordinates found me and brought us back.”
Once again, it was Sui Huan, who seemed to care deeply about the princesses of Chen Kingdom. Was it because of Ning Ruan’s connection, or for other reasons?
Ruan Ning felt a headache from her sister’s antics. Used to being alone, she stiffly said, “Stop it. Everything will be arranged by Father Emperor.”
Ning Ye rolled her eyes and rushed over to grab Sui Huan. When he slightly turned, she lunged into empty air. Undeterred, she continued, “General Sui, you don’t have anything important to do anyway. Just take me out for a stroll!”
“The marriage alliance between Chen and Ji nations is a major event,” Sui Huan said, showing impatience. “As the envoy, I have significant responsibilities and cannot bring the princess along.”
Disappointed, Ning Ye looked at Ruan Ning. “Sister, you promised to help me. Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Ruan Ning replied, “I said I have no position to interfere, but I never said I would help you.”
Ning Ye shouted, “You’re always deceiving me,” and stormed out.
Chen Emperor, feeling embarrassed, tried to placate Sui Huan. Knowing his youngest daughter was willful and might cause trouble, he soon chased after her.
After Chen Emperor left, Sui Huan had less reason to stay but stubbornly remained, watching Ruan Ning. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Ruan Ning ordered the palace servants to withdraw. Once alone, Sui Huan asked, “What did Princess Qingping want you to do?”
“She… She likes you,” Ruan Ning hesitated.
“So you agreed to help her?” Sui Huan’s face darkened, voice cold.
“No, I didn’t!” Ruan Ning felt guilty and hurried to explain.
Sui Huan’s expression softened slightly but remained icy: “You told her you have no position to interfere?”
Ruan Ning nodded reluctantly.
Sui Huan’s expression turned ugly again. After a long moment, he said coldly, “So in your heart, I’m still just an unrelated person.”
Ruan Ning wanted to explain but couldn’t find the words. Sui Huan stared at her until she lowered her head helplessly. He sighed, “A’Ruan, you promised. Don’t forget me.”
Ruan Ning held back her anger. Sui Huan gently pulled Ning Ye’s sleeve and led her to the cabin door, saying patiently, “I’ll arrange a cabin for you. Go settle in first, and I’ll come see you later.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.” Ning Ye was satisfied.
Sui Huan watched Ruan Ning’s petite figure disappear in the distance, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.
Ruan Ning felt dizzy. The unreliable Ning Ye and the unpredictable Sui Huan made her uneasy.
Sui Huan sat beside her, placing a pill at her lips: “Hold it in your mouth; it might help.”
The pill’s cool sensation eased her frustration. Sui Huan gently massaged her forehead and temples, inducing relaxation. Yet, his hot breath surrounded her, making her tense amidst the comfort.
Ruan Ning didn’t have the courage to refuse, softly saying, “No need to trouble you, I’ll do it myself.”
Sui Huan’s arms loosely encircled her, more ambiguous than an embrace. He said, “Let me.”
A big wave hit, and the ship shook violently. Ruan Ning fell into his arms, turning the virtual embrace into a real one.
Sui Huan’s muscles tensed. After not embracing her since that night, he sensed his strong desire as he held her tightly. His voice was hoarse: “A Ruan, shall I take you away?”
At that moment, he was sincere.
Ruan Ning broke free. Sui Huan sighed, his empty arms hanging before him, fists clenched.
Late at night, as the lights dimmed and the ship entered dreamland, a voice suddenly pierced the silence: “Something’s wrong, we’re on fire!”
Sui Huan hesitated, saying, “Moreover, Yan Xuan is obsessed with beauty and dissolute by nature. After ascending the throne, he built Qixia Palace, where newcomers must reside. Only those who satisfy him can leave, while those who do not are killed or sent to the Cold Palace.”
Qixia Palace… Ruan Ning narrowed her eyes, feeling she had heard the name before.
“Also,” Sui Huan leaned in, lowering his voice, “there’s a rumor that Yan Xuan cannot perform sexually.”
