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.
