According to Ji Kingdom’s laws, how should he be dealt with?”
Before Gao Song could respond, A Mo spoke up: “Princess, you’re mistaken. I didn’t extort you; you voluntarily paid me for water. Though I accidentally hurt your foot, you also bit me…”
Ruan Ning roared, “Shut up!”
The maidservant was startled and decided to remind the princess about royal etiquette later.
Ruan Ning frowned at A Mo: “Why are you telling me these things? Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and His Majesty? Speak, who sent you?”
A Mo calmly took a sip from the water cup: “What is the princess talking about? Do I look like I’m up to something?”
“You do,” Ruan Ning pointed at his clothes, “You’re wearing straw sandals and a short garment, pretending to be a peasant, but your sandals are exquisite, and your hands are not those of a laborer.”
A Mo chuckled, a glimmer in his eyes: “When did I say I was a peasant? My family is wealthy. I dress like this because I find it interesting.”
It seemed he never claimed to be a peasant; that was her assumption.
A Mo smiled and pointed at his feet: “Besides, I never intended to disguise myself.”
These straw sandals are woven from phoenix-tail grass, known to everyone in Qi. A small bunch costs several taels of silver, and making a pair costs nearly a hundred taels. How could the princess think I’m a peasant when I’m wearing these shoes?”
Ruan Ning, feeling mocked, puffed up angrily, grabbing a plate of lotus powder cake. “No eating!” she declared fiercely.
“Has the princess ever seen a pufferfish?” A Mo suddenly asked.
Ruan Ning stared at him, confused, and didn’t answer.
“Poke a pufferfish, and it swells up into a ball,” A Mo said, clapping cake crumbs from his hands before walking away laughing.
Realizing he was comparing her to a pufferfish, Ruan Ning shouted, “Little brat, stop right there!” and grew even angrier.
A Mo grinned and ran faster, disappearing beyond the wall.
The nursemaid coughed worriedly, surprised that a noble princess used the word “brat.” The feng shui of Qi was truly terrible—what had become of this princess?
“My family,” A Mo said with a smile, “they’re all dead.”
Ruan Ning was startled, feeling a sense of shared misfortune. She didn’t expect he was also alone in this world. Her voice softened, “How old are you?”
“Almost seventeen,” A Mo laughed again. “Don’t worry, there weren’t many good people in my family. It’s best they’re all dead.”
Ruan Ning, confused, thought to herself, Why aren’t you acting normally?
Unable to continue the conversation, Ruan Ning suddenly became angry, throwing the clay pufferfish into his arms. “Go away, I don’t want to see you.”
A Mo chuckled, his little tiger teeth flashing white. “In two days, we’ll be in Ji Jing. The princess is about to enter the palace.”
Only two days left? Ruan Ning’s heart sank. “Can you help me with something?”
“What?” A Mo rubbed his chin, intrigued.
Ruan Ning leaned close and whispered, “I’ve been in the carriage all day and can’t go out. I’m feeling suffocated. I want to walk around.”
Her sweet breath brushed against A Mo’s cheek, deepening his smile. So this was her plan… He pretended not to understand: “You can ask the head manager or the matron to take you out.”
This fool isn’t easy to trick, Ruan Ning thought. “They won’t agree. They’re afraid I’ll run away again. I’m really bored. I just want to sneak out for a bit and come back quietly. Can you help me?”
A Mo felt a tickle in his ear from her breath as she spoke, captivated by her charm.
He wanted to taste them again. He grinned and asked, “How can I help?”
Ruan Ning was overjoyed, thinking he was just a little kid and easy to manipulate. She said, “Wait until everyone’s asleep, and we’ll sneak out. You distract the guards while I walk around and return to find you.”
She knew that while distracting the palace maids and matrons was easy, the guards were not so simple to fool. She needed A Mo’s help.
“Okay, at the second watch of the night, I’ll come find you,” A Mo said, stuffing the clay pufferfish back into her hand. “But I have a condition.”
“What condition?” Ruan Ning was surprised.
“You have to let me bite you,” A Mo replied, pointing to his upper lip. “You bit me last time, and I still have a scar. I need to get even.”
Ruan Ning blushed but smiled, “Fine, but we’ll talk about that after I return.”
Of course, she had no intention of coming back. Suddenly, urgent hoofbeats sounded on the road. Ruan Ning was startled and prepared to hide when A Mo grabbed her hand, saying, “Are you done wandering? It’s time to go back. I’m waiting for you to repay me.”
“Let go!” Ruan Ning anxiously kicked him, and during their struggle, the hoofbeats drew closer, followed by a familiar voice: “A Ruan!”
Ruan Ning turned back to see Sui Huan jumping down from his horse. Upon noticing A Mo, Sui Huan’s expression changed, and he knelt on one knee, saying, “Your Majesty!”
Sui Huan reported, “This subject found the drowning Princess Qingping and hurried here overnight to inform Princess Changluo.” He glanced at Yan Xuan, who was holding Ruan Ning in his arms, his voice laced with bitterness. “When I arrived at the palace, the head manager said the princess had gone out early to play, so I searched along the way, not expecting to find Your Majesty here.”
Yan Xuan, with his arm around Ruan Ning’s shoulder, casually replied, “The morning scenery is beautiful, so I brought the Imperial Consort out for a walk.”
Ruan Ning was bewildered, realizing she, the soon-to-be Imperial Consort, was inadvertently helping the Emperor escape. She felt despair, worrying that her fate would be reflected in history as Ruan Ning, the princess who angered the Emperor.
With Yan Xuan not telling Sui Huan to rise, he remained kneeling, secretly observing Ruan Ning.
She was wearing small internal attendant’s clothes, appearing both ridiculous and cute. Pale and held in Yan Xuan’s arms, she looked absent-minded. Sui Huan wondered if she was sad to see him or afraid of Yan Xuan.
He found it difficult to entrust her with such a dangerous task. Yan Xuan, enamored with the first beauty of Chen Kingdom, had long desired her, and she once loved him dearly. She seemed the most suitable person to enter the palace as an inside agent. Though survival in the palace was perilous, Sui Huan vowed to protect her. After all, once revenge was accomplished, Yan Xuan couldn’t consummate the marriage and would marry her as compensation.
After a while, Yan Xuan smiled and said, “General Sui, why are you still kneeling? Get up.” He embraced Ruan Ning, whispering playfully in her ear, “Are you done wandering, my beloved? If you’re done, let’s return together.”
Ruan Ning’s voice was weak: “Wandering… enough.”
“Let’s go.”
As Yan Xuan stepped forward, dozens of individuals in black clothing carrying swords emerged from the grass, silently following him. Ruan Ning realized these were hidden guards. Her movements had been under Yan Xuan’s control from the start. No wonder her earlier escape attempt had been so miserable—was it intentional?
Sui Huan led the carriage.
Yan Xuan leaped up and pulled Ruan Ning up, then lowered the curtain. He lay on her lap and closed his eyes.
Ruan Ning stammered, “Your Majesty, I just wanted to look around…”
“I know,” Yan Xuan replied carelessly. “I’m tired and want to sleep.”
He soon began to emit soft snoring.
Ruan Ning sat trembling, not daring to move. He was a ruthless person. She had cursed and hit him, but now her life was in his hands.
What a surprise.
Afraid and regretful, she felt dizzy and soon fell asleep with a bitter heart.
