Chapter 22: The Pain of a Lifetime

In the afternoon, with nothing else to do, Shen Ning took Shi Qin and Shi Qi to explore the Regent’s residence for half a day.

The residence of the Regent was vast, too large to be fully explored in half a day.

The Golden Courtyard was the main residential compound within the residence, located at the center of the entire inner courtyard. Outside, there were artificial mountains, lakes, pavilions, and buildings, creating a beautiful landscape. A winding corridor connected it to the rear garden of the residence.

The Yanne Residence was situated in the southwest corner of the residence, a bit further from the Golden Courtyard. It required passing through corridors and crossing bridges, with two courtyards and a waterside pavilion in between.

In the northwest corner was the training field of the residence, where many of the Regent’s personal soldiers were stationed. Besides those on duty, the others would train on the field for at least an hour before changing shifts.

There were rows of barracks and an armory, with ninety-nine rooms in total.

One end of the training field had over a dozen fixed targets, and on both sides were rows of weapons, available for the elite soldiers to use at any time during their training.

Shen Ning watched from a distance, a sense of desolation gradually filling her eyes.

The military camp had once been her domain.

When the new Emperor of Nan Dynasty ascended to the throne, there were frequent wars and rebellions in those years. The vassal lords from all sides did not submit to the Emperor, violating the court’s prohibitions, and repeatedly expanded the size of their armies, attempting to declare themselves Emperors.

Neighboring countries invaded with their cavalry, their ambitions clear. Nan Dynasty faced internal and external threats, with the country’s stability hanging by a thread.

The generals in the court had to quell rebellions, resist foreign enemies, and deal with the persecution from a faction of treacherous court officials, leaving them almost no time to spare.

It was during that time when her fiancé, with gentle words and soft tones, asked her to lead the army to pacify the country for the Emperor. He promised to wait for her, no matter how many years the war lasted, and vowed never to break his promise.

A sarcastic, bone-chilling smile flashed across Shen Ning’s lips.

The warmth and affection in that person’s smile, the eager anticipation in his eyes, the unwavering commitment to their feelings, and a precarious country on the brink of collapse.

She had no choice but to agree.

Amidst the skepticism of the entire court, she repeatedly led the army to quell rebellions, returning victorious each time, bearing countless wounds, both major and minor, stabilizing the country for her imperial brother, and securing a bright future for her nominal fiancé.

It took three and a half years to initially quell the internal unrest. The vassal lords were powerful and not easily dealt with. By the time the vassal lords were completely subdued, there was no one left to defend the border.

Despite her unhealed injuries, she led her eight thousand elite troops to the border to confront the ambitious northern people, which lasted another three and a half years.

Over seven years, the reputation of the war goddess, the Imperial Princess, spread throughout the various countries.

Perhaps even she herself did not expect that so many wars would forge the legend of a female war god.

On the day of her triumphant return to the capital, the citizens of the city lined the streets to welcome her.

She seemed to see the mountains and rivers she had guarded about to usher in a prosperous era.

By then, she was already twenty-five years old.

With military power in her grasp and illustrious glory, the entire court envied and admired her power and status.

Her fiancé, who had vowed to wait for her return, fulfilled his promise and, under the Emperor’s decree, prepared a grand and magnificent wedding ceremony for her.

Shen Ning leaned against the pillar of the corridor, her heart filled with endless pain.

Is it inevitable that even the strongest woman cannot escape the sweet words and tender affection of a man?

In the midst of such a grand and luxurious wedding, she believed she was about to welcome decades of stability in Nan Dynasty and a peaceful life for the rest of her days.

However…

After becoming Shen Ning, she had almost no time to recall the past during those two days. Now, as she remembered everything, the excruciating pain and despair overwhelmed her, making her feel as if something was blocking her lungs, making breathing incredibly difficult.

The person she loved the most offered her poisoned wine on their wedding night, rendering her martial arts useless and turning her into a cripple. That was not enough, he even used iron chains to bind her hands and feet, as if worried she had the ability to fly or escape.

Under her shocked and disbelieving gaze, he mercilessly tore off the mask of gentleness and deep affection, using venomous and sarcastic words to destroy all her hopes, one by one.

“You are my legitimate wife and will always be. No one can replace you in this position, whether you are alive or dead.”

“You are the renowned female war god. The Emperor is proud of you, I am proud of you, and the people of the world are proud of you. How glorious you are! How could I let someone else be the legitimate wife? Wouldn’t that be a slap in the face to the royal family? I can’t be that stupid.”

“But there are too many people who want you dead, too many…”

“Imperial Princess, what I want to be is a powerful minister, not a prince consort. Do you understand? What I’ve always wanted is not the position of a prince consort!”

“They all say that I owe my current title and power to your military achievements. What right do they have to say that? I’ll show them that without you, the Imperial Princess, I can still rise to power in the court!”

“From now on, you will be a prisoner, obediently staying in the inner courtyard, never to see anyone again. The generals under your command will never have the chance to see you again.”

“If you don’t behave, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“The Emperor won’t see you either. Your current situation, if not by the Emperor’s orders, do you think I would have the audacity?”

“My mother thinks you’ve delayed me for so many years and should be taught some discipline. This is also a wedding gift for you on our wedding night.”

“One hundred lashes, endure them well.”

The fierce whip cut through the air, striking her body over and over, tearing her wedding dress and shattering her pride.

Her breathing became rapid, and the sensation of pain returned, making those scenes seem to reappear vividly before her eyes.

A crystal-clear cold sweat formed on Shen Ning’s forehead.

“Princess Consort.” Shi Qin, noticing her unusual expression, looked at her with concern, “What’s wrong?”

The air seemed to freeze for a moment as Shen Ning suddenly opened her eyes, returning from her reverie, with a fleeting look of panic in her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her breathing, “It’s nothing.”

Looking once more at the distant training field, Shen Ning turned to walk back, “Let’s return to the Golden Courtyard.”

“Princess Consort, are we not going to continue exploring?”

“No, we’re not.”

“If the Princess wishes to practice martial arts, the training field is available.” Shi Qin followed behind her. “Shi Qi and I can accompany you.”

Shen Ning paused slightly in her steps. During her seven years on the battlefield, she had eight female bodyguards by her side. They not only took care of her daily needs but also fought alongside her.

Unfortunately, four of them died over the seven years. When the war ended and she returned to the capital, only four remained. Two were granted marriages by the Emperor, and the other two were taken into his harem by him.

Shen Ning let out a faint sigh, not dwelling on it further, and simply said, “My arm strength is still a bit strenuous for archery. Tomorrow morning, we’ll start with basic training.”

Either way, she had nothing to do in the Regent’s residence, making this the perfect opportunity to regain her skills.

She was proficient in martial arts techniques and moves, with horseback archery being her forte.

The only thing this body still lacked was greater physical strength.

And physical strength, as long as one is not afraid of hardship or fatigue, can be improved in the shortest time possible.

After half a day of exploring, the sky began to darken.

After returning to the Golden Courtyard and washing up, Shen Ning sat alone by the window, quietly gazing outside, her expression indifferent and frosty, as if shrouded in a thin mist, making it impossible to discern the emotions in her eyes.

Shi Qin began to prepare the evening meal.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yanran, who had fallen ill from the shock of Mama Wu being beaten to death early in the morning, came to the Golden Courtyard once again.