What should she do? She didn’t want a tattoo, especially not on her chest! Ruan Ning’s mind raced, and she suddenly reached for his hand, instinctively taking it into her mouth, gently kissing it, and softly said, “Supervisor, please.”
Gu Lianchang pulled his hand back, realizing he didn’t want to feel like her plaything. He let out a light snort, drawing out a thin silver needle, and said, “No.”
Ruan Ning panicked, her waist tightening in his grip. “Supervisor, please, I beg you,” she repeated.
Despite her pleas, Gu Lianchang’s face remained cold as he prepared to prick her skin with the needle. Suddenly, her soft lips covered his, their cherry-like warmth timidly brushing against him. “Please,” she whispered.
Caught off guard, Gu Lianchang felt a surge of heat rush through him, and his steady hand trembled. The needle merely grazed her skin before slipping away.
Tears filled Ruan Ning’s eyes, the pain intensifying her fear. Whimpering, she said, “It hurts…”
Unable to hold back any longer, Gu Lianchang flicked the needle away and forcefully covered her lips with his own. Despite resisting, he was drawn to her warmth, passionately kissing her before quickly pulling away, as if waking from a dream.
He threw her discarded clothes back to her and said, “Get dressed. Go!”
Ruan Ning, crying, looked at her chest and discovered it was smooth and without a single scar.
He didn’t pierce her?
Joyful but fearful he might change his mind, she quickly dressed, put on her shoes, and ran away.
Gu Lianchang’s face darkened. What did her hurried escape mean? Wasn’t she just trying to use him?
He lunged forward, grabbing her clothing belt. “Where are you running?”
Ruan Ning blinked in confusion. “Aren’t you the one who told me to go?”
Gu Lianchang sneered, “Without me, could you return to Yikun Palace alone?”
Ruan Ning was speechless. She couldn’t navigate the palace’s complex terrain alone. Turning back, she grasped his hand: “Then you lead me.”
Gu Lianchang wanted to shake her off but found himself holding her hand, leading her through the palace halls back to Yikun Palace.
When he helped her enter through the window, his annoyance peaked.
He didn’t want to look at her and turned to leave immediately.
Ruan Ning lay on the bed, confused. Everything had been fine moments ago, so why was he suddenly angry? After pondering for a while without finding an answer, she gradually fell asleep. Long after, the door opened slightly; someone looked in for a moment and then quietly closed it again.
Qin Zhi, frustrated with someone who lacked a proper plan, decided to push him to resolve the current predicament. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Your Highness, as long as we let those two come in, the Emperor will never wake up again.”
Wei Shu trembled at her surprise.
Qin Zhi gently kneaded his neck, her voice low: “Your Highness has a soft heart and hesitates, but this matter requires a quick decision. Those two are restless. Blocking them will only raise suspicions. It’s better to let them act. The Emperor’s critical condition makes it likely he won’t wake up, and any issues will not implicate you.”
Wei Shu’s heart chilled—she knew everything!
She knew the Emperor’s sudden illness was a result of his own machinations, and he was now hesitating, unsure whether to send the Emperor to his death. This gentle and elegant wife was not as pure as she appeared.
Wei Shu, still indecisive, shook his head. “Do not interfere with my affairs.”
Qin Zhi inwardly sneered at his indecisiveness. She softly replied, “This concubine dare not interfere, but having Consort De and Prince Jin attend to the illness is both reasonable and beneficial. Other princes and princesses are clamoring to take turns attending, and this cannot be suppressed forever.”
Irritated, Wei Shu recognized he had brothers and sisters, and this matter could not be ignored. However, the thought of patricide conflicted with his instincts.
Qin Zhi moved to take charge. “Your Highness, I will call them in now.”
She walked out, leaving Wei Shu wanting to call her back but ultimately silent.
With a darkened expression, he gazed at the dragon bed. The medicine bowl in Consort De’s hand was almost empty, with most of the medicine already given to the Emperor—everything was set in stone.
“Your Highness, with Consort De and Prince Jin here taking care of the Emperor, everything is most appropriate. You haven’t rested for many days, so please go back and rest for a while,” Qin Zhi said to Wei Shu, her eyes full of compassion.
Wei Shu remained silent and turned to walk out. Once in the inner palace’s bedchamber, he suddenly slapped Qin Zhi, leaving five red fingerprints on her fair face. The palace maids and eunuchs lowered their heads in fear, but Qin Zhi just smiled and waved them away.
The door closed, and silence fell over the room. Qin Zhi softly said, “Your Highness, if you’re angry, you can take it out on me.”
Wei Shu felt that she wasn’t afraid of him and didn’t care about his thoughts, which left him feeling stifled. He raised his hand and delivered another heavy slap, causing the other half of her face to swell.
As he prepared to hit her again, he met Qin Zhi’s gentle gaze. His heart softened, and the slap did not fall. He said fiercely, “You’re too cruel. That was my father!”
“Your Highness, I’ve had someone examine the Emperor’s pulse. He was beyond saving,” Qin Zhi’s soft voice made Wei Shu shudder. She indeed knew everything.
Wei Shu turned away unwillingly. Being unsavable was different from dying immediately.
Moreover, she shouldn’t know about this, let alone make decisions for him. He said fiercely, “What nonsense are you talking about? Father is temporarily unconscious and will definitely recover!”
Qin Zhi sat beside him, her face showing remorse as she softly said, “I know you respect and love your father, but he was too partial. Prince Jin has no talent or virtue—how can he compare to you? I dare not let the Emperor wake up. Once he does, Prince Jin will turn everything upside down. Your Highness, you are my husband, my lifelong support. For you, I dare do anything.”
Wei Shu jumped up, his voice fierce as he growled, “What nonsense? How will Prince Jin turn things upside down? I am the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne. Who can overturn this?”
Qin Zhi seemed frightened, her eyes glistening with tears as she explained, “Your Highness is right. You are the heavens, and no one else compares. The Emperor was momentarily confused and spoke inappropriately. As long as it’s handled properly, no one will know.”
Wei Shu felt a chill. He had underestimated his wife, thinking she was gentle and submissive. He now realized she knew about the Emperor’s promise to make Prince Jin the heir. He suddenly found her strange and terrifying—he himself would hesitate at patricide, yet she could plan so meticulously, even using Prince Jin and Consort De as scapegoats.
Wei Shu had murderous thoughts about Qin Zhi—if he killed her, his secrets would remain hidden, and the blame would fall on her.
Qin Zhi sensed his intentions, lowering her head and letting her tears flow. She despised his cowardice but recognized the necessity of collaboration to achieve her ambitions.
Wei Shu softly asked if he needed to bring the Imperial Consort to the Eastern Palace. “No!” he interrupted sharply; he didn’t want to rely on a woman for his plans. When he saw Qin Zhi start to cry again, he comforted her, stating, “I have my own plans for the Imperial Consort. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Qin Zhi nodded obediently, kissing him on the lips and saying, “Your Highness knows I would do anything for you.” His heart stirred, and he kissed her back, the heat of his pent-up desires igniting fiercely in that moment.
