Ruan Ning tried to give her robe to Liang Fu, but he replied sternly, “Even if the Liang family is poor, we’re not so bad off that we don’t have clothes for you.”
Ruan Ning squeezed out tears, secretly delighted at Huo Rou’s frustrated expression. Being a little white lotus feels good!
That night, Ruan Ning received half a box of old clothes from Liang Fu’s deceased mother. Though aged, the fabric was warm, meeting her urgent needs.
News of Huo Rou catching a cold spread quickly. Liang Fu, who had just delivered the clothes, rushed to visit her.
Ruan Ning followed him, anxious: “Sister Rou must have caught a chill while helping me with my cloak. It’s all my fault! Brother, can I go with you to see Sister Rou?”
Author’s note: Going to the hospital tomorrow, I’ll try to update early, love you all~
Chapter 115
Ruan Ning sat in the sedan chair heading to the Huo family, feeling satisfied.
Initially, Liang Fu had refused her, but she didn’t beg. Instead, she silently unbuttoned her long gown, curled up in the snow, and cried.
Thanks to the cold, she sneezed repeatedly. Fortunately, top-tier beauties only have tears, not runny noses, making her snow-crying appearance both beautiful and pitiful.
Liang Fu couldn’t bear it, cursing under his breath: “What are you doing taking off your clothes? Aren’t you afraid of freezing to death?”
“It’s my fault Sister Rou caught a cold. I’m guilty; I want to atone,” Ruan Ning cried. “Oh heavens, please let Sister Rou’s pain befall me!”
Feeling nervous, she realized her melodramatic acting might seem exaggerated. She wondered if Liang Fu would buy it.
He did buy it. After being worn down by Huo Rou for so long, he preferred the white lotus type of woman. A little exaggeration was fine. He approached her, angrily buttoning her up, saying: “What are you? Heaven won’t listen to you!”
After buttoning her up, he still grabbed her hand and they got into the sedan together.
Ruan Ning: …
What a two-faced pervert!
The sedan swayed, soon making Ruan Ning drowsy.
She leaned on Liang Fu’s shoulder, glimpsing through her eyelashes as he alternated between gritting his teeth and gazing at her, like a Sichuan opera face-changing performance. His inner struggle must be intense. Ruan Ning wanted to laugh but gradually fell asleep, considering a plan to escape later.
Recalling that Huo Rou’s father was a minor official without money, she remembered their residence was close to the city gate, making it easy to hide. The house next to Huo Rou’s room had been empty for a long time, allowing her to jump over the wall—something Huo Rou often did to sneak out.
Despite her lack of money or status and the improbability of leaving the city, Ruan Ning felt luck might be on her side. Even if she couldn’t escape, she might encounter another sick beauty.
“Wake up!” Liang Fu suddenly pushed her, and Ruan Ning awoke to find they had arrived. She was pushed against the sedan wall, her sleep on Liang Fu’s shoulder obvious from its wrinkled state.
“Brother Rethink, was I just asleep?” Ruan Ning asked, her drowsy eyes and hoarse voice strikingly alluring.
Liang Fu felt he had discovered a gentle white lotus flower, realizing that people can indeed change.
Huo Rou was as clear-minded as Ruan Ning, having used this trick before.
Did she really think she could fool her? This woman was far too casual, mixing Buddha, Bodhisattva, and pleading to the heavens in one sentence. She was truly an ignorant fool who didn’t even put effort into lying.
“I’m fine,” Huo Rou said, placing her hand on her forehead and swaying slightly as if about to fall.
Liang Fu was scared and immediately supported her. Huo Rou gave him a weak smile, softly saying, “I’m really fine. Go take care of Sister Ning; she needs you more.”
Liang Fu detected a tone of blame and glared at Ruan Ning, thinking: If it weren’t for you, my cousin wouldn’t have fallen ill. She’s sick and still worries about you. How annoying!
Just then, a maidservant was about to fetch medicine, and Ruan Ning quickly said, “Sister Rou, let me get the medicine for you.”
“No need to trouble you, let the maid go,” Huo Rou said weakly. “It’s just a minor illness. Sister need not worry.”
Ruan Ning wouldn’t agree. She snatched the basket from the maidservant’s hand, looking apologetic, “If Sister doesn’t agree, it means she’s still angry with me. I can’t be at peace.”
“Go quickly, stop talking!” Liang Fu shouted.
Ruan Ning ran off swiftly. The Huo family’s layout had been described many times, and since the house was small, even Ruan Ning, directionally challenged, could roughly remember the path. The medicine was quickly retrieved.
As soon as Ruan Ning arrived at Huo Rou’s small courtyard, she covered her stomach and told the maidservant, “Sister, my stomach hurts. I need to use the east toilet.”
The maidservant pointed outside, “It’s behind those side rooms.”
Waiting for the maidservant to walk away, Ruan Ning hid behind the door and tiptoed to the courtyard wall, which was just about her height. Remembering that Huo Rou had hidden a ladder in the grass, she found it, erased her footprints in the snow, jumped over the wall, hid the ladder, and quickly slipped out the back door.
The city gate was nearby. On this snowy day, she grabbed a handful of dirty snow, smeared it on her face, and mussed her hair. Running had splashed mud on her clothes, making her look unkempt and unassuming.
Ruan Ning nestled among a group of villagers returning from selling vegetables. As she approached the gate, she casually held onto the basket of the person in front. The gate guards, familiar with these villagers, didn’t check her. Holding her breath, she passed through the city gate.
Walking quickly in the crowd, the majestic city gate grew distant.
With no one calling or stopping her, Ruan Ning took a deep breath and ran, determined to be a proud undocumented person.
She chose routes with fewer people, exchanging her silk coat for coarse cloth, dry provisions, and hot water when passing by homes. As daylight faded, she became increasingly aware of her solitude.
Suddenly, the white light of the snow illuminated a cold, handsome man’s face. Despite having killed many, his countenance was unmarked by blood, only exuding a bloody aura reminiscent of the demon king. He stared at her indifferently, his gaze sharp with killing intent.
Ruan Ning shivered, tears welling in her eyes, their crystal-like forms clinging to her eyelashes.
To her surprise, the man’s killing intent dissipated, seemingly cleansed by her tears. His agitation faded, revealing a calm he hadn’t felt in a while, and his cold expression softened slightly.
Ruan Ning dared not move or speak. She remembered someone calling him “Your Highness,” but couldn’t grasp any further understanding.
His blood-stained fingers suddenly gripped her chin, and he asked coldly, “What is your name?”
Ruan Ning felt the blood on her hand touch her skin, making her nauseated, but she remained silent. A tear rolled down her pale cheek.
How tearful, the man thought, then released her, bending down to grab some snow to wipe the blood from his hands. He asked again, “What is your name?”
“Ruan Ning,” she replied, her voice trembling.
Her voice was hoarse yet had a unique charm that stirred his heart. He lifted her chin, examining her delicate face in the weak light. His fingertips caressed her smooth skin as he said, “You saw everything. Tell me, what should be done?”
Ruan Ning’s mind buzzed; she shouldn’t have seen anything—he was going to kill her! Overwhelmed by hunger and cold, her body swayed, and she fainted.
