More than half a month later, Meng Yao finally removed the splint, regaining movement in her right hand. The Meng family had been facing difficulties, and she suggested visiting Qian Ling Mountain to burn incense and pray for blessings.
“Brother, let that little bitch come too,” Meng Yao said gloomily. “I heard that if an enemy prays for you before the Buddha, the blessings will double.”
Meng Chi, wanting to avoid complications, immediately refused, “She’s not in good health. Qian Ling Mountain is too steep; she can’t climb it.”
“Have someone carry her on a sedan chair,” Meng Yao insisted, her nose turning red. “Brother, is this one request too much for you to agree to?”
Meng Chi still shook his head.
He knew his sister hated her stepsister, but he didn’t want to take the risk of intervening.
“I’ll go,” Yuan Ning said from the window. “I also want to pray for my sister.”
If Meng Yao made a move, she would cooperate in a drama.
They set out before dawn. Meng Yao refused to sit in the sedan chair, insisting on holding Meng Chi’s hand while climbing the mountain, chatting and laughing. Ruan Ning sat alone in the sedan chair, absentmindedly observing the scenery, waiting for the outcome.
There were over a dozen temples on Qian Ling Mountain. They visited each one, burning incense and bowing. Ruan Ning quickly became breathless, and Meng Chi half-supported, half-carried her, gently whispering, “You’ve worked hard.”
Meng Yao looked at them gloomily, remaining silent.
Near the mountain top was a nunnery. Meng Yao finally spoke, “Little bitch, this is your old profession. You’ve been thinking about men; haven’t you forgotten how to chant scriptures?”
Ruan Ning glanced at her, anticipating what would happen next.
She said to Meng Chi, “Brother, let her go inside and chant scriptures for me.”
Meng Chi shook his head. This was a nunnery, and men were not allowed inside. He was concerned about possible repercussions.
But Ruan Ning awaited something to happen.
She said softly, “I’ll go.”
She followed Meng Yao for a few steps, then turned to Meng Chi, “I’ll call you if something happens.”
Meng Chi had a bad feeling and rushed into the nunnery when no one was paying attention.
In the misty hall, Ruan Ning knelt before the Buddha, reciting the Heart Sutra. Meng Yao had already gone out. An old woman approached, saying, “Miss, there’s a place for female guests to wash their hands.”
Ruan Ning silently followed her. The washroom was next to a high cliff. After washing her hands, she found the old woman gone and Meng Yao standing in front of her.
“Go die,” Meng Yao said, grabbing Ruan Ning and pushing her towards the cliff’s edge. Ruan Ning didn’t resist and moved towards the precipice. When they reached the edge, she shouted Meng Chi’s name. He rushed over, and Ruan Ning stepped out, half her foot on the cliff’s edge.
“Yao Yao!” Meng Chi exclaimed, “Let her go!”
“I’ll listen to you, brother,” Meng Yao said with a smile, “I’ll let her go.”
As she let go, she pushed Ruan Ning, who staggered back, grabbing a small tree at the cliff’s edge, her frail body half-hanging over the precipice, swaying in the mountain wind.
With her physical strength, she couldn’t last a minute. Meng Chi would likely come to save her, and when he did, she would let go and fall with him to complete her mission.
Meng Chi rushed forward, reaching out to grab her. Meng Yao attempted to stop him but was flung aside. Suddenly, a disheveled figure emerged from the bushes, grabbing Meng Yao and laughing softly, “Ah Yao, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Sun Jia Cong, despite only having his left hand left, easily restrained Meng Yao. He laughed maniacally, pushing her closer to the cliff’s edge: “Brother Meng, how cruel you are. Not only did you chop off my hand, but you also want my life. I cannot seek revenge, but I’ve found something more interesting.”
He pushed Meng Yao another step outward, leaving her half-hanging over the cliff: “Brother Meng, I believe you could defeat me in just a few moves, but your stepsister is about to fall. If you save her first, I’ll push Sister A-Yao down. If you save A-Yao first, your stepsister will fall. You can only choose one sister, Brother Meng. Which one will you choose?”
Meng Yao cried out in despair: “Brother, save me first!”
Meng Chi stood in the middle, torn.
Ruan Ning couldn’t hold on any longer.
She couldn’t wait for Meng Chi to decide. A gust of wind swept through, and her weak hand involuntarily let go. Ruan Ning floated down, experiencing an intense feeling of weightlessness.
Ruan Ning bitterly smiled, reflecting that human plans cannot match heaven’s designs. Who could have predicted Sun Jia Cong’s appearance?
Meng Chi shot out like an arrow, grabbing her arm and shouting, “Don’t be afraid!”
Sun Jia Cong laughed heartily, “Poor Sister A-Yao, even after becoming unfilial for your brother, he still only cares about that sister.”
Heartbroken, Meng Yao pushed him away and smiled desolately at Meng Chi: “Brother, I’ll haunt you even as a ghost.”
“No!” Meng Chi shouted, lunging toward her while still holding Ruan Ning.
A commotion erupted as nuns and servants rushed in, shouting to rescue them.
Meng Yao fell quickly. Meng Chi kicked against the stone wall, propelling himself out and catching her.
“Brother,” Meng Yao’s tears, blown by the wind, landed on his face. “You still care about me. I can die content now.”
Ruan Ning, on the verge of fainting, saw Meng Chi’s resolute face through her blurry vision, wondering if he had ever fallen before and if this time would be the same.
He had been unconscious for two days and two nights, unaware of the beauty of the capital, Yu Fei, whom he had named to be brought into the palace.
At that moment, Yu Fei, resembling a living Guanyin, hid behind layers of curtains, embracing a brocade-clad guard.
“Ning Ning,” the tall and handsome imperial guard Min Shi said breathlessly, kissing away her tears, “come with me. The Emperor won’t last long. Concubines without children will have to be buried alive.”
“What will happen to my parents?” Yu Fei’s tears, just dried by his kiss, began to flow again. Min Shi’s lips could never completely kiss them away.
The salty tears and her delicate skin heightened Min Shi’s desire. He suddenly cupped her face and kissed her lips, soft as rose petals. His voice was hoarse, “If you have a child, you won’t be buried alive.”
Yu Fei instinctively closed her eyes in confusion, then opened them to find the strange man’s face approaching. Before she could think, his hot breath neared her lips, and in response, she reached out to block him. His passionate kiss landed on her palm—wet, hot, urgent, and deep, stirring her compassion.
Simultaneously, countless pieces of information flooded her brain: Ruan Ning, the first beauty of the capital, a forced palace concubine, and Min Shi, her childhood sweetheart and fiancé, risking clan extermination to save her.
“Ning Ning, give me this. Once we have a child, everything will be solved.”
Min Shi’s lips moved from her palm to her neck. Just then, a palace maid’s voice came from outside: “Master Gu!”
Min Shi jolted, quickly releasing Ruan Ning, whispering, “Quickly tidy up and be careful not to reveal any clues to that eunuch!”
He pushed open the back window and jumped out, finding the exits guarded by Eastern Factory personnel. Gu Lianchang, the Eastern Factory’s chief, was walking towards the Emperor’s bedchamber, his gaze sweeping towards Min Shi’s hiding place.
Min Shi couldn’t be sure if he was seen, but that glance made him tremble with fear.
Wei Shu stepped forward, placing his hand on her shoulder, causing her to sway slightly. His eyes revealed: “Imperial Concubine, I have missed you for a long time.”
He leaned in close, almost whispering in her ear: “Do not refuse me.”
