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Feeling Inferior?
Shen Ning finished the tonic, suddenly remembering that their earlier conversation seemed a bit off, her gaze slightly narrowed.
They were once your soldiers too.
He really didn’t hesitate to reveal her former identity, nor did he deny that he had always known where she came from.
Shen Ning couldn’t quite describe her feelings at the moment, perhaps it was shock, bewilderment, or even disbelief, but the fact remained that it had happened, and her rebirth in Shen Ning’s body must have something to do with Ji Yucang.
No offspring, reduced lifespan.
Thinking of the vague voices she heard in her dream that afternoon, Shen Ning felt that it shouldn’t be a coincidence. If her rebirth had to come at a price, perhaps it was the result of his reduced lifespan and childlessness in exchange.
It was as if hundreds of ants were constantly stinging her insides, causing a series of densely packed, sour aches. Shen Ning closed her eyes gently, she didn’t know when Ji Yucang had known her, nor why he had done so, but she genuinely felt a profound emotion.
It was different from the camaraderie between former comrades, different from that person’s feigned gentleness and sweet talk, it was something more profound, a perception that seemed to come from the depths of the soul.
Just…
She couldn’t help but doubt, was it really that important for her to come back to life?
If she was destined to die in that manner, if her lifespan was meant to end that year.
Then could it be said that her rebirth was an act of defying fate and changing destiny?
As the price for defying the heavens, he had to give up the most important things in his life. So, her rebirth was more important than his lifespan and offspring?
“What are you thinking about?” Ji Yucang asked, noticing her prolonged silence.
Shen Ning regained her senses and quickly organized her thoughts before looking up at the man in front of her: “Ji Yucang, do you believe that people can come back to life after death?”
Ji Yucang’s eyes flickered slightly as he nodded slowly: “The world is vast and full of wonders. Successive Emperors have claimed to be ordained by heaven, ruling over the people. They believe that heaven will bestow auspicious signs or disasters. Therefore, it shouldn’t be too difficult for the heavens to let someone die and then resurrect.”
Shen Ning didn’t expect him to use the Emperor as an analogy, but after thinking about it, she found his words reasonable.
However, from the king to the common people, even though they believe in the heavens, no one has truly seen them. Such belief must always carry some doubts, right?
“If a person can really live another life, what should they do?” She asked as if questioning him, or perhaps answering her own question, “Shouldn’t they do something meaningful? Like accumulating more virtues and doing good deeds, following the will of heaven, seeking the well-being of all living beings, and establishing peace for all generations?”
Ji Yucang reached out and brushed her hair, his voice gentle: “Following the will of heaven is important, but it is even more important to follow one’s heart and do what one truly desires, otherwise, it will only add more shackles to oneself.”
Shen Ning couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow: “Then have all the things you’ve done since childhood been following your heart?”
“Obviously not.” The corner of Ji Yucang’s mouth lifted slightly as he took her hand and kissed it lightly, “When I was young and weak, how could everything go as I wished? Therefore, after growing up, we must be strong enough, both for ourselves and for our country.”
If one is strong, no one dares to bully them, if the country is strong, no foreign enemies dare to invade.
This is an eternal truth.
Shen Ning pondered quietly. Following one’s heart is important, but human hearts are fickle. Today one might want to be an Emperor, and tomorrow they might want to become a monk…
“Are you tired?” Ji Yucang reached out and touched her forehead, “You’re weak now, you must be careful not to get a fever tonight.”
His long and powerful hand rested on her forehead, the warmth from his palm transmitted, causing Shen Ning to feel a strange and subtle palpitation. Her body instinctively wanted to resist, yet she forced herself to accept his slightly intimate gesture.
Ji Yucang stood up, loosened his clothes, and then very naturally lifted the covers and got into bed.
Shen Ning was slightly stunned and instinctively moved to the side of the bed, stopping halfway and turning to look at him: “Must we sleep in the same bed tonight?”
Ji Yucang paused his movements and silently turned to look at her: “Aren’t we husband and wife?”
Shen Ning remained silent: “…” It seemed so.
Ji Yucang leaned against the headboard: “You’re weak now, shouldn’t I take care of you up close? If anything happens, I wouldn’t even have time to regret it.”
Shen Ning said: “Aren’t there Shi Qin and Shi Qi?”
“Can they be the same as me?” Ji Yucang raised an eyebrow, as if questioning something, “Could it be that Ning plans to spend her life with two maids?”
Shen Ning: “…”
In her heart, she actually had a lot to say, especially about her rebirth, but whether it was intentional avoidance or worry about owing too great a favor, the words reached her lips but were swallowed back down.
With her current abilities and feelings for Ji Yucang, it was indeed not yet time to repay such a significant favor. She didn’t even know what in the world could be comparable in weight to lifespan and offspring.
The empire?
If Ji Yucang wanted the empire, he wouldn’t need anyone’s help, and Shen Ning was self-aware enough to know that she couldn’t help him much.
“Ji Yucang, what do you want?” Shen Ning turned to ask him, her eyes earnest and serious, “What is it that you care about most in your heart? Is there something you particularly desire but haven’t been able to achieve yet?”
Ji Yucang glanced at her: “I have no great ambitions, only one wish.”
Shen Ning was taken aback: “No great ambitions?”
With these words spoken, she scrutinized Ji Yucang from top to bottom, looking at him from every angle, but only saw four words: overwhelming power and influence.
If someone like him claimed to have no great ambitions, then it was truly hard to explain what great ambitions should be.
Expanding territories, conquering the world, unifying the nine provinces, becoming an Emperor for the ages?
Shen Ning’s lips twitched slightly: “Then what is your wish?”
Ji Yucang didn’t speak, only looked at her quietly, his gaze deep, as if harboring myriad emotions ready to burst forth.
The inner room fell into a subtle silence.
The atmosphere was ambiguous and intimate.
Shen Ning had never experienced such a profound feeling before, it was strange, like having a thousand words rush to the tip of her tongue only to suddenly become mute.
Shen Ning silently lowered her gaze, her voice slightly hoarse: “I am a patient now, you wouldn’t take advantage of someone in distress.”
“As your husband, I naturally wouldn’t take advantage of someone in distress, but…” Ji Yucang turned around and suddenly reached out to embrace her waist, bringing her within inches of him, his voice low and pleasant, “My wife has saved my life, and as her husband, I should repay her with my own body. What does my wife think?”