Chu Yuan remained silent. Ruan Ning felt his hand trembling and interlaced her fingers with his. He looked down, softly saying: “It’s okay.”
At that moment, a servant announced: “His Majesty has arrived!”
Emperor Chu Allowing strode in, his face dark from hearing Chu Yuan had gone to the son-in-law’s residence. Fearful Zhang Wei might instigate something, he rushed over, scolding: “Bold Zhang Wei, didn’t I forbid you from privately meeting Prince Ning…”
Midsentence, he spotted the bracelet on Ruan Ning’s wrist, suddenly grabbing her hand: “This is A’Yuan’s bracelet. How is it on your wrist?”
“A’Yuan said when Yuan’er married, this bracelet would go to his wife,” Zhang Wei spoke calmly. “I’ve just fulfilled A’Yuan’s wish.”
“Nonsense! This treasured item – how dare this criminal’s wife wear it!”
In his anger, the emperor tried removing the bracelet. Ruan Ning pulled back, and Chu Yuan seized the emperor’s hand, icy-eyed: “Let go!”
Chu Yuan’s immense strength forced the emperor to release his grip. Shocked, the emperor stammered, “You… you strike me for this woman?”
Chu Yuan replied coldly: “She is my wife. As long as I live, no one can humiliate her.”
“Even me?” the emperor asked.
“Even you.”
The emperor trembled with rage, realizing Chu Yuan was becoming increasingly defiant. His sinister gaze fixed on Ruan Ning, secretly resolving to find a way to kill her and resist Chu Yuan further.
Chu Yuan carefully checked Ruan Ning’s hand for injury, then told Zhang Wei: “Father, I’m leaving now.”
“Good… take care,” Zhang Wei replied, watching helplessly as Chu Yuan departed.
Left alone in the room, Chu Yunzheng looked at the memorial tablet of Grand Princess Jin Yuan, surrounded by her lingering presence, and fell into despair, muttering: “A Yuan, are you still hating me in the underworld, which is why our son treats me this way?”
“A Yuan does not hate you; she only wanted to be free,” Zhang Wei said at the doorway.
“Get out!” Chu Yunzheng erupted in rage. “You know nothing!”
Zhang Wei looked at him with compassion. “Like sand in the palm, Your Majesty, the tighter you try to grasp, the faster you will lose.”
