“Look, he ruthlessly took you away before, and now he can only watch me do as I please with you,” Wei Shu’s voice carried triumph and hatred. “What should be mine will ultimately be mine.”
He placed her on the bed’s edge and suddenly pounced, pinning her down and reaching to untie her clothes.
Ruan Ning’s hand brushed against the cold brocade quilt as she heard the Emperor’s heavy breathing, feeling horrified. She mustered her strength to push him away and tried to escape.
Wei Shu quickly caught her, his gentle facade disappearing. Breathing heavily, he encircled her waist and whispered in her ear: “Doesn’t my beloved find this interesting? He took you away, so I will take you back right before his eyes. Don’t be afraid, I will be gentler with you.”
He leaned in to kiss her, but Ruan Ning dodged. He didn’t force it, kissing her hair gently instead. “My beloved, do you know what to do? Be good, your family and Min Shi will be fine. On the day of the grand ceremony, I will protect you and won’t let you be buried alive.”
Ruan Ning was unsure of what to say. He seemed to like her, but she couldn’t tell if it was for her or because he couldn’t have her.
“Don’t see Min Shi again in the future. I’ll be jealous.” Wei Shu tucked her hair behind her ear and continued, “In the past, you had a marriage contract with him, and I didn’t mind your interactions. But from now on, if you dare to entangle with him again, if I see him in the forbidden palace, my beloved, I’ll take his head.”
His hand slid to her neck, gripping gently as if measuring it. Ruan Ning shivered and nodded obediently.
“My beloved is so good,” Wei Shu laughed, kissing her hair again. “Tomorrow, I’ll arrange a better palace for you. You won’t stay here anymore.”
In the long night, Ruan Ning lay on the imperial concubine’s couch, fully clothed, closing her eyes to process the vast amount of information from the past half-hour.
