Lin Nong shook her head.
Yi Ran immediately stepped forward and said, “How could it not hurt? The effects of the Mafeisan have worn off, and you clearly woke up from the pain!”
“Go check if the parrot outside has been fed.” Lin Nong sent her away and then said to Xiao Chengyan, “Your servant is fine. Please don’t listen to Yi Ran’s exaggerations. The Imperial Physician just came by and said that as long as there’s no fever, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Xiao Chengyan had been injured before and had seen how Zi Sangli behaved when she was hurt—how could he not know how much pain she was in?
Zi Sangli would amplify her pain and weakness in front of him to win his concern. Meanwhile, Lin Nong, who appeared even more delicate, was more restrained and not at all spoiled.
Of course, Lin Nong knew the principle that overly sensible children don’t get candy.
She caught a chill and coughed lightly.
Taking the opportunity, she gently pressed her wound but bit her lip hard, refusing to cry out in pain.
Xiao Chengyan supported her and said, “There’s no need to endure like this in front of me.”
Lin Nong tried to pull away but tugged at her wound, losing her strength and collapsing into his arms.
“Your servant knows that Wangye needs an heir, but since childhood, I have been taught by my mother not to contend for anything that does not belong to me. I truly… cannot ignore Wangfei’s sorrow and anger.”
Anger!
Xiao Chengyan’s expression darkened slightly.
If it weren’t for Zi Sangli’s obsession with the Taoist’s words, insisting on waiting until she turned eighteen to consummate the marriage, how could these troubles have arisen today?
When she was angry and willful, did she ever consider the difficulties faced by her husband?
“This is a matter between me and her, not something you should concern yourself with. In the past, she saved me from danger, and today, you have done the same. I give her affection and tolerance, and naturally, I will give you the same.”
These words were half-truth, half-lie.
He acknowledged the sentiment behind her risking her fragile body to save him, and the favor he would show her would naturally be greater than what he had previously promised in words.
But as a man of his status, how could he suddenly develop feelings for her just because she took an arrow for him?
It was merely sweet talk to give himself an excuse to naturally sleep with another woman.
Of course, it was also to coax her into thinking he was sincere, so she would willingly offer everything!
Looking at the handsome, noble face of the man before her as he spoke these words, Lin Nong felt… not the slightest bit moved!
But if it were the original host, she would surely have fallen for it immediately, wouldn’t she?
She gazed at him with shimmering eyes for a moment before lowering her head. “Your servant is injured and unable to attend to Wangye. I fear I might disturb your rest. Please return to Luoyang Hall to catch up on sleep.”
A man like Xiao Chengyan would never inconvenience himself.
After sitting for a short while, he left.
Yi Ran checked her mistress’s wound and, assured that it wasn’t bleeding, felt relieved. “By refusing like this, might you offend Wangye?”
The wound was swollen, and Lin Nong couldn’t lie down flat. She could only half-recline against a pillow, a confident curve tugging at her lips. “Once a man’s desire to conquer is stirred, it’s not so easily extinguished.”
Just wait and see!
Let’s see who conquers whom first!
Yi Ran believed in her mistress’s charm and waited excitedly to see what would happen.
Chang Tian entered and said, “Wangfei has requested to go to the temple for quiet reflection. Wangye has granted permission, and she is preparing to leave now.”
Go to the temple for quiet reflection?
Lin Nong frowned.
Her intuition told her that Zi Sangli was up to something!
If she were truly that magnanimous, she wouldn’t have repeatedly schemed to make Xiao Chengyan despise her, leading to the Empress punishing her with kneeling and copying scriptures—she’d be confined for at least three months. Yet she shows no urgency and even voluntarily avoids him?
Impossible!
“Tell our spy that every move Zi Sangli makes must be reported to me daily.”
Since transmigrating into this world, she had been cultivating her own agents. Given the original host’s status, no matter whom she married, it would inevitably be into a powerful family.
Such households were always populous, and for the sake of status and wealth, scheming against one another was unavoidable.
After failing to change her fate and enter the Wangfu, she naturally found a way to plant a pawn in Wutong Hall, to be used at a critical moment.
Yi Ran responded, “Yes, I understand.”
…
Lin Nong recuperated from her injuries.
Xiao Chengyan visited her daily when he wasn’t busy, but he spent his nights in his own hall.
Five or six days passed like this.
Then news came from the temple.
“The Wangfei was attacked and injured.”
Lin Nong raised an eyebrow. “The assassination attempt and injury are fake. She wants to lure Xiao Chengyan over. Any discoveries?”
Yi Ran replied, “On the second day at the temple, her elder brother visited with a group, accompanied by a tall, elderly woman.”
Lin Nong was familiar with this trope from novels and TV dramas. “A man disguised as a woman?”
Yi Ran’s almond eyes widened, and she lowered her voice. “Yes! I heard that woman stayed in the Wangfei’s room for a full day and night.”
Lin Nong’s eyes sparkled.
Zi Sangli was so jealous and unwilling to let other women bear Xiao Chengyan’s children—could she be planning to borrow a seed?
This is getting lively!
No child, no crown, but the green hat comes first!
And this person cuckolding Xiao Chengyan even staged a fake assassination and injury to lure him over and witness how “weak” she was, unable to leave her bed… How outrageous, the green hat is shining bright!
“What about the adulterer?”
Yi Ran was also excited. “The Wangfei sent someone to silence him. When our people arrived, he was still breathing. We’re trying desperately to save him. If he wakes up, the Wangfei’s good days will be over!”
Lin Nong wasn’t optimistic.
Borrowing a seed was no small matter—if exposed, it meant a death sentence by white silk.
The silencing attempt would surely target vital points.
The chances of saving him were slim.
But now that they knew about Zi Sangli’s plan to borrow a seed, they could always find clues!
If all else failed, once the child was born, they could arrange a public blood test!
Lin Nong clicked her tongue.
If the novel hadn’t mentioned that Xiao Chengyan later had children, she’d really worry whether he was incapable!
Yikes!
What if the child mentioned in the novel wasn’t his biological one?
How dreadful!
Without a child, she’d essentially lose her biggest bargaining chip. How could she kick out that troublemaker Zi Sangli and take her place as the legitimate wife?
She couldn’t possibly go borrow a seed herself, could she?
This was quite a dilemma…
“Don’t alert the enemy yet, just keep watching. Has Wangye already gone over?”
Yi Ran winked and grinned. “Our messenger came down from the mountain. I heard Wangye was very anxious and rushed over on horseback directly from his office.”
Lin Nong sighed. “After all, she’s his first wife—their bond runs deep!”
Yi Ran whispered, “Should we find a way to bring Wangye back?”
Lin Nong wouldn’t do such a thing. It would only give Zi Sangli an opportunity to accuse her of fighting for favor.
“Send someone to deliver a calming and fatigue-relieving soup. Let Wangye know I’m concerned about his health.”
Yi Ran smiled and said, “This servant will go and take care of it right away.”
…
By the time Xiao Chengyan arrived at the temple, dusk had already fallen.
He hurried to the side chamber, only to find that Zi Sangli had suffered a shallow cut on her leg, with just a bit of blood loss.
Seeing that she was not seriously injured, Xiao Chengyan breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt somewhat displeased.