Chapter 50  

The story began three days ago.

It wasn’t until Ning Yuan entered the palace that the Holy One realized his plan to marry Ning Yuan to both Ah Qiao and another woman.

This was completely unreasonable.

When Ning Yuan learned that the woman was Jiang Huai’s sister, Jiang Xi, he was even more confused.

Jiang Huai was a notorious villain.

“Your Majesty’s kindness, I’m afraid I can’t accept it.”

Ning Yuan bowed and refused.

“Ah Yuan, don’t be hasty,” the emperor waved his hand. “Your father was my only brother. Though we had different mothers, I’ve always remembered the brotherhood between us.”

The emperor paused, sitting down on the royal chair and looking down at Ning Yuan. He continued, “For some reason, our Ning family has always had a small number of children. Your father passed away early, and you’re the only heir left. I have to think of you.”

After hearing this, Ning Yuan slightly raised his gaze, recalling the earlier conversation when he mentioned his ineptitude.

He didn’t understand what the emperor was really trying to say.

“If you have a girl, you can stop the crowds outside.”

When the emperor said this, Ning Yuan almost laughed aloud.

If someone like Dona had no heirs, wouldn’t that raise even more suspicion?

He suspected that the emperor’s true purpose was simply to have a spy at his side.

Now that he thought about it, this must have been Jiang Huai’s idea.

“She’s just a woman. If you take her back, it’ll be just another mouth to feed.”

Ning Yuan sneered inwardly.

Not just a mouth—he didn’t want to keep even half of it.

Besides, the woman was Jiang Huai’s sister. If he took her back, it would ruin his relationship with Ah Qiao for the rest of his life.

He couldn’t agree to this.

However, Ning Yuan knew that the emperor was determined to send someone to his side, so he needed to find a good reason.

There were things he had never intended to share with anyone except Ah Qiao.

But now, in this situation, he had no choice but to use this as an excuse to refuse.

“Your Majesty, may I ask if you know how my mother-in-law died?”

Ning Yuan briefly told the emperor how his mother was killed. He had never planned to tell anyone about these matters before.

“This…” The emperor was momentarily stunned.

He knew there were some schemes in the harem, but he hadn’t realized they could harm the daughter of the former Duke of Fu.

This matter… if it became public, it would scandalize the royal family. After all, Ning Yuan’s father had been guilty of doting on his concubine, causing his wife’s death and neglecting his responsibilities.

Ning Yuan was threatening him.

“I went through this when I was young. I really don’t want to make the same mistakes as my father. Although, as His Majesty mentioned, it would just be an extra mouth to feed, she’s still a living person. If she stays in the mansion… I truly fear that I might lose control and do something irreparable. I wouldn’t know how to explain it to the Xuanwu Marquis Mansion…”

This was the first time the emperor had heard Ning Yuan say so many words.

He was silent for a long time.

It was unclear whether he was more shocked by the past event from over ten years ago or by the possibility of what could happen if he let Ning Yuan take the girl from the Jiang family or the Queen Mother’s family.

But the northwest was far away, with strong troops and horses, and…

The emperor didn’t dare let Ning Yuan completely escape his control.

“You…”

“Your Majesty, I have an unkind request.”

Ning Yuan knelt and said, “I would like to adopt one of Your Majesty’s grandsons.”

This, of course, was to ease the emperor’s suspicions.

If they both had mouths to feed, children were certainly preferable to women.

At least that was Ning Yuan’s thinking.

The emperor furrowed his brow.

He didn’t think the request was bad—on the contrary, it seemed brilliant.

There would be nothing better than having his grandson inherit the Zhenbei Palace in the future.

But it also made the emperor wonder: was Ning Yuan really incompetent?

He had initially thought that this was just an excuse, that Ning Yuan wanted to send a woman to test things out.

But after all, he didn’t believe any man could truly remain celibate.

Now, though, the situation was more complicated.

Ning Yuan was blocking his path in the future.

The emperor naturally believed what Ning Yuan said and didn’t think he would make such an offer just for a woman.

The emperor rested his forehead in thought. He never expected things to go so smoothly.

Ning Yuan knew the emperor wouldn’t refuse, nor would he turn down such an attractive proposal.

Was he regretting it?

Ning Yuan didn’t regret it. Even while sitting in this position, he often had doubts.

He hated his father and didn’t care for the Zhenbei Palace.

But everything he had, including the opportunity to lead troops into battle, came from this identity he rejected. It all came from the royal family that was filled with intrigue.

Had he been born as a commoner, he probably wouldn’t have reached this position at such a young age.

A difficult position, yet one full of power.

“Are you serious?” the emperor asked, confirming.

“I am sure.”

The monarch and the minister seemed to have reached an understanding.

_

Back to the present.

Ning Yuan was getting tired of watching the argument between the man and woman in front of him. He was just relieved that Ah Qiao hadn’t witnessed their bickering.

Ah Qiao might have been able to understand them, but Ning Yuan couldn’t.

From his point of view, these two weren’t any more generous than others; they were just selfish. After a quick glance, Ning Yuan decided to leave them to it and walked out of the room.

“Has it been settled?” Ning Yuan asked.

“Yes, General.”

Yang Pingwei nodded in response.

Ning Yuan also nodded.

“Jiang Huai brought this on himself.”

Although Yang Pingwei didn’t fully understand the situation, he had followed his general’s orders to dig up evidence proving that Jiang Huai had fallen from his horse because he was spending time at a brothel. He then handed this evidence to Yan Guan.

The general had told him to do so, so he followed through.

Ning Yuan smiled and dusted off his clothes before stepping out into the sunlight.

It was time for him to return. Ah Qiao would be missing him.

…

“Was it fun?”

Ning Yuan smiled and gently touched Xu Lianqiao’s head.

Her hair felt very soft, and under the candlelight, her cheeks, pink like peaches, shone.

Unable to hold back, Ning Yuan lowered his head and kissed her on the cheek.

The timing was perfect: the night was beautiful, and they were together, enjoying each other’s company.

Ning Yuan carefully lifted Xu Lianqiao.

“Ah…” she gasped in surprise.

In response, Ning Yuan let out a deep laugh.

“Hmm…” she was kissed until she could barely breathe.

She had no idea that this kind of kiss could completely take her breath away.

“Just a moment more, just a little more.”

He gave her a brief moment to catch her breath.

Like a playful man who had tricked her.

Xu Lianqiao placed her hands on Ning Yuan’s shoulders as he carried her back to the room.

A quarter of an hour later, Ning Yuan grew quiet, placing Xu Lianqiao on the table, holding her gently.

“It wasn’t very fun,” Xu Lianqiao answered his earlier question. “It was a bit boring.”

“But the chef at the princess’s mansion is really good,” she said, remembering the dishes from earlier.

“Princess Anyi really knows how to enjoy life.”

Ning Yuan didn’t care much about other people’s affairs, but he still nodded in agreement with Xu Lianqiao’s words.

“I’ve always wanted to ask the princess why she’s grounded.”

He had overheard some gossip today and was curious.

“It’s nothing. She just beat her previous husband until he was unrecognizable.”

“Ah!” Ning Yuan said lightly, but Xu Lianqiao was shocked.

“Why?” she asked, looking at the princess, who enjoyed watching events unfold but didn’t seem unreasonable.

“Men,” Ning Yuan said, “it’s always about those things—cheating.”

“That’s it…” Xu Lianqiao raised her eyes, pulling away from Ning Yuan’s embrace. “Brother Ning, you said it so casually. Are you thinking of doing the same?”

Ning Yuan laughed.

What he meant was that it wasn’t hard to guess.

How could she think that? But perhaps it meant that she cared about him.

“How could it be? I have Ah Qiao, and that’s enough.”

At this point, Ning Yuan continued, explaining to Xu Lianqiao what had happened in the imperial study.

“But don’t worry, Ah Qiao, you’re not a bad wife.”

He made sure to clarify this first.

Xu Lianqiao’s eyes opened wide, shaking off the sleepiness from her eyes. She didn’t even know where to begin asking.

Was it because the emperor wanted to give Brother Ning a woman, or because Brother Ning couldn’t have one, or maybe they wanted to adopt a child?

Wow… so many questions.

“Everything else is fine, except that we might not be able to have a child of our own in the short term.”

“Will you blame me, Ah Qiao?”

Ning Yuan rested his head against Xu Lianqiao’s neck.

This wasn’t something he decided on a whim but after careful thought.

Given his position, if his own child were to take over the northwest in the future, his entire lineage might be questioned. How could he watch their children live in constant suspicion in the capital, possibly caught up in imperial power struggles? They would either be forced to surrender or fight back with troops.

There was no outcome he would be happy with.

All he wanted was for his and Ah Qiao’s children to be safe and happy.

“How could I possibly blame you, Brother Ning?” Xu Lianqiao comforted him.

Vaguely, she understood that this was the best decision Brother Ning could make.

…

After the first month, it was finally time to return to the northwest.

Before leaving, Xu Lianqiao received the news that Jiang Huai had been demoted three ranks due to negligence and sent to Shu.

At this rate, he probably wouldn’t return to the capital for another three to five years.

But this was of no concern to her.

“Ah Qiao, what are you thinking about?”

In the carriage, Ning Yuan turned his head and looked at Xu Lianqiao, a slight “interrogation” in his eyes. He was wondering if he should keep the news about Jiang Huai to himself.

Xu Lianqiao smiled, took Ning Yuan’s hand, and moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

“I’m thinking about you.”

“I’m right here in front of you, what’s there to think about?”

“I’m thinking about you in the past and you in the future.”

Even though Ning Yuan knew she might be just trying to flatter him, he was still very happy.

“Believe me, Ah Qiao.”

With their fingers intertwined, the air felt full of spring.

Early spring might not have fully arrived yet, but it was certainly on its way.