Suddenly, Ruan Ning recalled: “Someone died in Qixia Palace before, a concubine named Ning who was strangled to death by the emperor.”
Concubine Ning, Qixia Palace. Ruan Ning realized she had transmigrated into another body destined to die.
The original story featured a palace maid rising to empress. Qixia Palace was where she first stayed, soon to be demolished due to ghost rumors mentioned by minor characters.
Ruan Ning half-laughed and half-sighed, reflecting on her role as a high-quality cannon fodder, recalling a single sentence from countless words. It seemed she was the concubine strangled by the high emperor. Her frown deepened; why had she said “again”? Had she transmigrated into a body destined to die before?
Sui Huan misinterpreted her low exclamation as surprise about Yan Xuan’s sexual inability. His jealousy tinged his voice as he softly said, “Don’t be afraid, A’Ruan. He can’t touch you. I’ll find a way to rescue you soon.”
Ruan Ning, however, hadn’t heard the “cannot perform” part. Looking at him blankly, she asked, “What do you mean, touch me?”
Sui Huan felt a surge of desire. The longer he was with her, the harder it became to control his attraction. While this guilted him, her bewilderment delighted him. She was an undeveloped land waiting for him to cultivate.
Seeing her slightly furrowed brow and trembling eyelashes, he was stirred and reached out to embrace her, whispering in her ear: “The thing a man does to a woman, the thing I want to do to you right now.”
Ruan Ning noticed his body’s reaction and blushed, pulling away. Sui Huan did not pursue her.
If he touched her again, he would lose control. But he couldn’t touch her now; it would reveal his intentions. Yan Xuan was incapable anyway, and she would eventually be his. He must be patient.
Sui Huan smiled, suppressing his desire, and said softly: “Don’t be afraid. If I can’t marry you openly, no matter how much I want to, I won’t touch you.”
Ruan Ning bit her lip, unsure what to say.
“A’Ruan,” Sui Huan said seductively, “will you help me? I want to marry you soon. I want you.”
Long after Sui Huan left, Ruan Ning remained motionless on the soft cushion, her mind in chaos.
Sui Huan wanted her to enter the palace, win Yan Xuan’s favor, gain his trust, and then inform him about Yan Xuan. He claimed Yan Xuan’s throne was illegitimate, stating he had killed his brothers and father to seize power. He described Yan Xuan as temperamental and cruel, executing concubines, servants, and officials at the slightest dissatisfaction. After a year on the throne, the entire country was in terror, everyone hating this tyrant. He told her that helping him meant supporting justice, and they could be together openly.
He was well-prepared, even sharing details about Yan Xuan’s preferences and temperament.
So she was Sui Huan’s beauty trap? Ruan Ning rubbed her forehead, thinking, Sui Huan, you’re really overestimating a cannon fodder’s intelligence and acting skills.
As soon as she entered the palace, Ruan Ning feared becoming the unfortunate Concubine Ning, strangled by the emperor. The original text indicated the imperial clan was surnamed Sui, meaning Sui Huan could eventually overthrow Yan Xuan and become emperor. However, the text didn’t specify which emperor would kill her, leaving the possibility open for Sui Huan to be her executioner.
Ruan Ning knew her priority was survival, avoiding the fate of Concubine Ning. With that in mind, she decided to escape.
Sui Huan did not appear that day, giving Ruan Ning ample time to plan her escape. As a princess, she had no silver but plenty of gold and jewelry. She chose the most valuable pieces to keep, instructed the servants to prepare snacks, and by the time Sui Huan arrived the next day, she was adorned in dozens of golden rings and several golden hairpins, resembling a head full of chopsticks.
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?”
Ruan Ning found him impossible to communicate with and removed all her rings, stuffing them into her sleeve pocket as she continued to limp forward. After a while, the pain in her foot became unbearable, and she stopped to sit down, grimacing as she rubbed her foot. Suddenly, someone patted her shoulder—it was the young man. “Is the injury serious? Let me take a look,” he said.
Ruan Ning quickly pulled her foot back and glared at him, retorting, “Have you heard of propriety between men and women?”
“Hey, isn’t someone over there calling for Princess Le?” the young man suddenly said.
Ruan Ning was startled and turned to look, but he quickly grabbed her ankle and twisted it. Ruan Ning screamed, “Hey, I injured my right foot, not my left foot!”
When he put down her left foot, Ruan Ning was shocked to find that now both her feet were in the same condition—both limping.
So angry, she didn’t want to speak. Would killing him make her feel better?
The young man scratched his head, looking embarrassed. “I made a mistake. Do you have something to eat? I smell a fragrance.”
Before she could answer, he grabbed the corner of a pastry package from her chest and pulled it out, instantly devouring it. He puffed out his cheeks like a white bamboo rat and mumbled, “It’s too sweet. Don’t you find it cloying?”
Ruan Ning: …
That was her entire day’s ration. She really wanted to strangle him!
Half an hour later, Ruan Ning was leaning against a roadside tree, glaring fiercely at him. If looks could kill, he would have been turned into a hedgehog long ago.
Now, she had no food, no drink, and both feet were useless. All she could do was sit and rub her feet.
“Do you have money?” the young man seemed completely oblivious to her murderous intent.
“No, yes!”
Ruan Ning gritted her teeth, enunciating each word.
