“This prince will not consummate the marriage with you!”
The red candles burned brightly, filling the room with festive cheer.
Yet the words that came from the man’s mouth were utterly cold.
Lin Nong held an exquisite tuanshan fan before her face, revealing only a pair of clear, beautiful eyes that stared at him in astonishment.
Her gaze shimmered with shattered light under the flickering candles.
That direct stare, so hurt and humiliated, made it impossible for Xiao Chengyan to remain entirely self-righteous, despite his princely status.
His tone softened involuntarily. “You must be aware of the feelings between this prince and A Li. Marrying you was an imperial decree, a helpless last resort. But this prince already has A Li, so I will not touch any other woman.”
“I hope you will remember this fact clearly and refrain from entertaining any improper thoughts in the future.”
The A Li he spoke of was his first wife, the mistress of Chen Wang Manor, Zi Sangli.
She was of common birth.
Years ago, when Xiao Chengyan was on a mission in the south, he was injured and fell into dire straits. Zi Sangli saved him.
Afterward, she helped him hide from his pursuers, protecting him all the way back to the capital.
The affection born from shared hardship was not something an ordinary person could tear apart.
But Lin Nong had transmigrated into a book and knew this pair was the second male lead and second female lead.
Although not described at length, the trajectory of their relationship was clear.
Because Zi Sangli grew arrogant and complacent due to being doted on, failed to improve herself, and her belly remained quiet for a long time, she was despised by the Empress, who took it upon herself to install the original owner of this body as Xiao Chengyan’s side consort.
The original owner had a gentle and self-tormenting nature. After being rejected several times in her attempts to fulfill the Empress’s task of producing an heir, she fell into a depression.
Furthermore, because she was beautiful and from a good family, she became the target of Zi Sangli’s jealousy. Zi Sangli plotted to ruin her reputation, and after she was placed under house arrest, poisoned her. In the end, she was killed less than a year after marrying into the manor.
But the original owner’s death once again enraged the Empress. After finding fault with Zi Sangli, the Empress forcefully stuffed a group of concubines into the manor and ordered Xiao Chengyan to favor all of them within a few days, or she would have Zi Sangli killed.
To save her own life, Zi Sangli could only personally push Xiao Chengyan toward those women.
After that, she became suspicious and sharp-tongued.
The two began to argue constantly, their relationship fluctuating between good and bad.
Seeing that the children of those around him were already old enough to run errands, Xiao Chengyan also began to feel expectant.
He was overjoyed when a concubine became pregnant, promising that the child would be raised under Zi Sangli’s name.
But by then, Zi Sangli had already been drugged by the concubine. With the slightest provocation, she lost all reason and kicked the six-month-old fetus away, simultaneously kicking away the last shred of affection between them.
In a great rage, the Empress demoted her from wife to concubine.
At the end of the book, Xiao Chengyan, who had become the Crown Prince, married another high-born lady as his Crown Princess.
As for Zi Sangli, on the day of their grand wedding, she set herself on fire and committed suicide.
Lin Nong gently lowered her eyes.
The original owner possessed beauty but was weak and incompetent.
But since she had transmigrated, she had to change the rules of the game.
She would make Zi Sangli die sooner!
That would count as avenging the original owner.
Lin Nong looked at the man before her.
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a handsome face, the legitimate son of the Empress, and an extraordinary air. Compared to the other nobles in the book, he could be considered magnanimous and cultured… It was just a pity he was dirty.
But there was no other way.
After transmigrating, her several attempts to change the plotline of entering the manor had all failed.
Unable to accept sharing a husband, she had even committed suicide, only to be reborn and returned to the very moment she had first arrived. It was as if she had entered a game system where only by clearing the stage could she get a different outcome.
So… she could only endure. Endure this bullshit plot and become this side consort.
Lin Nong’s voice was soft, like a powerless cloud, carrying a trace of humiliation and a hint of stubbornness. “To win a man’s heart, and never be apart till our hair turns white. Your Highness and the Princess Consort share such a beautiful love. Who could have the heart to destroy it?”
“Please rest assured, Your Highness. I… will know my place.”
Xiao Chengyan found it very hard not to be suspicious. How could she accept this so easily?
No tears?
No fuss?
His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.
He fixed his gaze on her eyes, as if trying to see through her.
But aside from a hint of hurt tears and clarity, he found nothing.
He couldn’t help but think that if she truly behaved herself, he would definitely treat her like a dear sister in the future.
He would ensure she wanted for nothing and was not bullied.
Feeling indebted, he made another promise. “Aside from affection, this prince will not be stingy with the dignity you are due. If you need anything, you can tell A Li. She will certainly do her best to satisfy you.”
Lin Nong calmly let him stare. “Yes, I thank Your Highness and the Princess Consort in advance.” Then she lowered the tuanshan fan covering her face and curtsied. “It is getting late. I respectfully send Your Highness off.”
Only then did Xiao Chengyan see her face clearly.
He was momentarily stunned.
In the glowing candlelight, that small face was truly dazzlingly beautiful, like the most beautiful Wenjun Fuchen, an immortal fairy in a pond.
A line of poetry he had once learned echoed in his mind: A single glance among the crowd, and all worldly beauties turn to dust.
A flash of amazement crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
Suspicion rose in his heart again.
She wasn’t even trying to find an excuse to make him stay!
For a woman to have her husband not stay on their wedding night was a great humiliation. Did she really not care?
Or did she have some other scheme in mind?
Lin Nong knew what he was waiting for, and she knew what he was suspicious of.
But she only looked at him with a sleepy, puzzled, and urging gaze. “…” Aren’t you leaving yet?
Xiao Chengyan suddenly felt as if he were being disdained.
A subtle displeasure stirred within him.
He cleared his throat and said, “This prince knows that people have sharp tongues. Most of your sisters at home are not yet married. If you are not respected in Chen Wang Manor, their reputations will also be implicated. This prince will stay here tonight to preserve your and the Lin family’s dignity!”
His tone shifted.
“But if you develop any improper thoughts, don’t blame this prince for being unkind to you!”
Lin Nong looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected him to offer to stay.
Inwardly, however, she was secretly pleased.
After all, it was she who had arranged for her father to have someone persuade him that “even if you don’t touch her, you must stay the night,” “you must give Minister Lin face,” and “the support of the Lin father and son is crucial.”
She hadn’t come here to be a celibate widow!
And him!
He made it sound so nice, as if he were thinking of her and the Lin family, but in reality, he just couldn’t bear to lose the support of her father and brothers!
Humiliating the Lin family’s most beloved legitimate daughter with one hand while trying to win their allegiance with the other. He was truly… a hypocrite who wanted to have his cake and eat it too!
It was a perfect reflection of the true face of those in power—clearly selfish and cold-blooded, yet acting as if they were bestowing a great favor.
Taking a graceful step back to maintain an absolute distance from him, her voice remained as soft as a cloud. “I understand and will not overstep. Please, Your Highness, bathe and change first.”
The two washed and changed separately.
By the time Lin Nong was ready, Xiao Chengyan was already lying in bed.
Without a sound or a word, and without giving him an extra glance, she carefully climbed onto the bed from the foot in her conservative nightclothes, doing her utmost to avoid any contact.
Seeing this, Xiao Chengyan felt a trace of discomfort.
Was she taking him a little too lightly?
The wedding bed was not very large, and auspicious items were placed on the inner side, so when Lin Nong pulled over the other quilt and lay down, their arms inevitably brushed against each other.
Xiao Chengyan noticed her arm was cool and very smooth, and then… the bed curtains began to sway!
Creak~ Creak~
The sound was extremely suggestive.
Xiao Chengyan was a normal man, after all. The suggestive atmosphere made him restless and agitated. “What are you doing!”
The maid shaking the bed from outside the curtains replied dryly, “There are people eavesdropping outside. We have to make the act convincing. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”
Then she added two soft whimpers of pain for effect.
She was really getting into her performance.
It made the newlywed couple lying together feel incredibly awkward.
To make matters worse, Xiao Chengyan could clearly smell the unique, sweet fragrance from the woman beside him, which drilled into his nostrils, wisp by wisp, causing his body to have the most primal of reactions.