Ruan Ning wanted to continue being friendly, but she was too tired. As soon as she closed her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep. When she woke up, Yan Xuan was gone. The windows were closed, the candlesticks had disappeared, and the room felt fresh.
That strange night was like a chaotic dream.
“I’ve always thought so,” Ruan Ning continued to flatter enthusiastically.
“Is that so?” Yan Xuan chuckled, “Don’t I remember you calling me a brat back then?”
Ruan Ning pointed to the two pufferfish by the bedside and changed her flattery: “Your Majesty is truly skilled; those two pufferfish are so lifelike, I can’t take my eyes off them.”
“If I’m not mistaken, you threw them back and hit me,” Yan Xuan pointed at her chest. “Right here.” “Well…” Ruan Ning stiffened her face and tried to explain, “It’s my fault for being dull and offending you.” Yan Xuan laughed. “No, you understood exactly what I meant, which is why you were so embarrassed that you threw them at me.” “This…” Ruan Ning played dumb, “Your Majesty is overthinking; I was just shy.” Yan Xuan laughed again: “Consort, you are truly clever and charming.” Ruan Ning, delighted, responded, “My little cleverness compared to Your Majesty’s great wisdom is like a firefly to the sun and moon. Even if I escape to the ends of the earth, I cannot escape from Your Majesty’s palm.” Yan Xuan almost burst out laughing—did she have any little cleverness? But since she mentioned “escape,” he lifted her chin: “I wanted to ask, why did you try to escape back then?” “I…” Ruan Ning realized she had misspoken—she wished she could take back those words and quickly remedied it: “I didn’t escape; I just felt stuffy in the carriage.” “Is that so?” Yan Xuan suddenly pulled her close, “Be good and stay with me, or maybe one day when I’m in a good mood, I might let you go.”
Ruan Ning almost blurted out “Really?” but stopped herself in time.
“Sleep,” Yan Xuan kissed her lips and picked a hair comb from the makeup box. “My scalp itches a bit; come comb my hair.”
