Jin Ning was prepared to give up her chastity just to survive.
She had thought it through; whoever this person in the hall was, it would be better than being crippled and then killed by her own family.
However... she hadn't expected this person to be the Emperor of Great Liang himself—Xiao Yi.
The moment Jin Ning froze, the man's cold voice sounded again, "Since you know who I am, why aren't you getting out of here quickly!"
At this point.
Jin Ning's feelings were complex, yet resolute.
There was no turning back once the arrow was loosed. It was even better that this person was the Emperor! If it was the Emperor who took her chastity... would her so-called family still consider her a fallen woman?
Jin Ning did not leave; instead, she allowed the aphrodisiac to control her body.
She looked at the man hazily and murmured, "Your Majesty... please... please cherish me."
Along with her unrestrained words, her actions became even bolder.
Unable to tear off the man's clothes, she tore open her own crimson dress.
She had come to see the Crown Prince today, so she had dressed up specially. The crimson dress was both dignified and charming.
At this moment, her eyes had long lost the dignity befitting a young lady from a noble family, leaving only a burgeoning allure.
The moment her collar was torn open, her warm, white, jade-like skin was instantly exposed to Emperor Xiao Yi's eyes.
Normally, although Xiao Yi was not a sage, he detested women who actively threw themselves at him.
In the palace, any palace maid or other woman who tried to seduce him to climb the social ladder met a terrible end.
But today...
Before setting out for the hunt, he had drunk some Deer Blood Wine in Consort An's palace.
For some reason, a persistent restlessness lingered in his heart.
When Jin Ning lunged at him like this, it completely ignited the restlessness within him.
Jin Ning tightened her grip on the Emperor's neck, and the Emperor leaned down.
As if receiving a signal, Jin Ning kissed him.
Crimson and dark black garments scattered and intertwined.
Jin Ning was like a thirsty fish, trying to draw the life-giving moisture from this stern Emperor to survive.
Their clothes fell away.
The accumulated coldness in the deserted hall, uninhabited for years, fell upon Jin Ning's skin.
This made Jin Ning instinctively struggle, wanting to push the Emperor away.
Her soft hands pressed against the Emperor's chest.
The Emperor's lust-filled gaze fell upon Jin Ning. This time, he wrapped his arms around Jin Ning's slender waist, pulling her back as she tried to escape, and slowly pressed down.
The wind and snow outside intensified. With a bang, Wei Mang, the personal guard, rushed in from outside.
He had just gone to feed the horses and saw two men who looked like mountain bandits heading up the mountain. After repelling them, he rushed back to protect His Majesty.
"Your subordinate arrived late to protect Your Majesty, please..." As he spoke, Wei Mang was about to look up.
Jin Ning, pinned beneath the Emperor, was completely unable to move. The sudden intrusion from outside made her instinctively tense up, her whole body rigid.
Suddenly, the Emperor completely shielded Jin Ning and then scolded Wei Mang, "Get out!"
Although Wei Mang couldn't see Jin Ning, the scattered women's clothes inside already told him what had happened!
His Majesty was here... in this abandoned old palace's side hall, having... someone?
Could it be one of the consorts who had followed him here?
But no matter who it was, he dared not linger. He didn't dare to look again, and quickly lowered his head, walking out.
With Wei Mang gone, only Jin Ning and the Emperor remained in the room.
Jin Ning vaguely heard the Emperor's deep, somewhat helpless voice: "Relax a little."
Later, she only remembered that she was like a small boat on the river, rising and falling, drifting with the waves.
She didn't know how much time had passed.
All she knew was that Wei Mang, who was guarding the door, had a thick layer of snow on his shoulders.
The effect of the medicine finally wore off, and Jin Ning regained her senses.
She was now lying on the bed in the side hall. The man beside her had also sobered up from his lust and was looking at her with a distant gaze.
"What is your name?" Xiao Yi's voice was extremely cold.
Hearing his question, Jin Ning instantly understood that he didn't recognize her!
It made sense.
She had been away from the capital for three years and had just returned from her hometown in Huaiyang. Moreover, for two years before that, she had been by her grandfather's side, accompanying him to seek medical treatment, rarely staying in Bianjing.
In five years, she had transformed from a little girl into a beautiful and dignified young lady of a noble family. Even her parents would sigh at how much she had changed upon seeing her.
Let alone the Emperor, who had only seen her once many years ago?
"I'm asking you a question!" Xiao Yi frowned and looked at the young woman before him.
His gaze was icy and piercing, completely devoid of the tenderness from their absurd encounter just moments ago.
If he hadn't decided to go hunting on a whim today and stop here on another whim, he would have suspected that this woman before him had actively thrown herself at him to climb the social ladder!
Even though the woman before him was not suspicious.
This feeling of being out of control made it difficult for him to have any good feelings towards Jin Ning.
Jin Ning moved her lips, unsure how to answer. What was her name? Her name was Pei Jinning, and she was the future Crown Princess, bestowed by the Emperor, about to marry the Crown Prince.
However, after this incident, Jin Ning knew she would never become the Crown Princess.
She didn't want to be the Crown Princess anymore either!
But even so, Jin Ning did not reveal her name.
Firstly, the current situation was truly awkward.
Secondly... if she revealed her identity, how would His Majesty deal with this matter?
Would he silence her to cover up this royal scandal, or... would he allow her to enter the palace and become a consort?
After all, having favored the Emperor's bestowed Crown Princess was not a glorious matter for this Emperor, and Jin Ning did not know what decision he would make.
Even if His Majesty were willing to give her a title and let her enter the palace as a consort, given the current circumstances, he might not favor her in the future.
Having lived another life, Jin Ning was no longer the naive Jin Ning of her previous life.
Although she was flustered at the moment, she was more composed. She wanted to plan carefully for herself and find a way to survive.
If she pretended that nothing had happened and returned to the Marquis's Manor to continue being their eldest daughter? Those who harmed her, if they failed once, would try again.
Who told her that she was blocking the path of that true Daughter of Destiny?
To survive... there was only one path. Jin Ning looked at the solitary and stern Emperor beside her, her expression growing more determined.
She wanted to enter the palace, to cling to this great tree, so that those who looked down on her and belittled her would not dare to insult her so casually!
But... she needed more leverage to make this Emperor willingly take her into the palace.
Instead of gambling that the Emperor would definitely let her enter the palace based solely on this one absurd incident.
Seeing that Jin Ning remained silent, Xiao Yi said coldly, "Mute?"
Saying this, the Emperor seemed to recall something and let out a light laugh, "Not mute."
Although he was drunk earlier, the girl's soft pleas had never stopped. Why was she unable to speak now?
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