Chao Ning was moved to tears on the spot and immediately pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes.
“Nongnong! Brother! I’ve missed you both so much! It’s been so long—come here, give me a hug, give me a hug.”
“Hey! Brother, what happened to your hand?”
Yu Lingxin stood in front of Jiang Nong and said flatly, “Accidentally cut it.”
Chao Ning scolded him gently: “Then be more careful.”
He wiped his tears and examined Jiang Nong carefully through his misty eyes. She hadn’t lost weight—fair and clean, good color, seemed quite at ease too. At least she could say what she wanted without watching others’ expressions, without people finding fault in everything she did.
Good, good, good—as long as the two of them were happy.
He wasn’t an ambitious man. Besides eating, drinking, and having fun, he wasn’t particularly skilled at anything else. Yet his father favored him, which naturally made him a thorn in some people’s eyes.
In his previous life, when he’d played the hero and married Jiang Nong, his brothers’ wives had also taken a disliking to her. At every palace banquet or social gathering, they would find excuses to pick fights and nitpick, glaring at each other like fighting cocks.
Jiang Nong had to choose every word with utmost care. Over time, apart from unavoidable palace events, she rarely went out.
She was always somewhat unhappy—detached about everything, not talkative. She passed her time tending flowers and plants or reading books.
There was only one exception: when she heard Yu Lingxin’s name, she was caught off guard and dropped her book. Only then did he learn that Jiang Nong and Yu Lingxin had once had a history. But by then, the people and circumstances had changed.
Jiang Nong had died of poison in her previous life, and he didn’t think Yu Lingxin was behind it. After all, why go through the trouble of taking her back only to poison her? Yu Lingxin had made enough enemies to circle the five kingdoms with room to spare—anyone could have been responsible.
He patted Yu Lingxin’s shoulder, his gaze finally settling on him for a proper look. He found it strange: “Why so quiet? Not smiling either. If something’s bothering you, tell your brother—I’ll help if I can.”
Yu Lingxin still didn’t smile. Jiang Nong kicked him from behind, and only then did he say, “My wound hurts.”
“Ah, well, I really can’t help with that. Hope it stops hurting soon. Come on—let me show you the wedding gift I brought!”
The guards carried in a man-sized object draped in red silk. Chao Ning swept the silk away with a flourish, revealing a pair of gleaming golden goose statues.
“Look! Pure gold! Geese are a great symbol—flying together, nesting together, loving couple! I thought about it forever—what to give that’s both beautiful and useful. In the end, money’s the most practical. Just put them in your bedchamber, and when you get tired of looking at them, melt them down and spend them!”
Chao Ning spread his arms wide, presenting them with grand ceremony. With his own golden outfit, he looked exactly like a newly rich country squire.
Dang Kingdom had barren soil—unsuitable for farming or grazing—but its mineral resources were abundant, with several enviable gold mines. For a wealthy prince like Chao Ning, gold was the easiest and most impressive gift to give.
Truly rich! Truly practical!
Jiang Nong applauded enthusiastically, giving Chao Ning all the face he deserved. She nudged Yu Lingxin. He said, “My hand hurts—I can’t clap…” He paused, then added, “If you insist on me making some noise, should I do a little dance for your lover?”
So sarcastic! Calling him “lover” at every turn! So rude! Acting like a jealous first wife catching her husband in the act.
Yu Lingxin believed that Chao Ning, despite his innocent facade, was a deeply calculating man. After all, men understood men best—he could see exactly what kind of person Chao Ning was.
Just like when he had taken that arrow for her, and Jiang Nong had second thoughts about murdering him—Chao Ning, not wanting to go against her wishes, had backed down gracefully, winning her favor.
In their previous life, they had been married for years. How could Chao Ning possibly not love Jiang Nong?
It was simply that Yu Lingxin had gotten there first.
Now here he came—his letter sounded nice enough, but wasn’t he really here to seduce Jiang Nong and undermine Yu Lingxin?
Pretending to be so innocent—it only fooled Jiang Nong. She fell for that act every time.
While they were running around for the national treasury, Chao Ning showed up with golden geese—wasn’t that just rubbing it in Jiang Nong’s face, making her compare Yu Lingxin’s poverty to Chao Ning’s wealth?
While Yu Lingxin was stewing in dark thoughts, Chao Ning was already gleefully admiring the golden geese with Jiang Nong.
Chao Ning tried to lift one—couldn’t—and grinned at Jiang Nong: “Over five hundred catties each. Full weight.”
Yu Lingxin walked over and extended his hand to Chao Ning while his guard was down. Chao Ning, without thinking, took it reflexively—about to ask how his hand was—when Yu Lingxin let out a muffled grunt of pain from his throat.
The bandage on his wound was stained red again.
Chao Ning panicked, immediately letting go and raising both hands: “I didn’t do anything!”
Yu Lingxin bit his lower lip in pain and shook his head considerately: “It’s nothing. Prince Chao Ning couldn’t have meant it.”
Chao Ning, taking his words at face value, nodded repeatedly and apologized: “I really didn’t mean to! How does just touching it make it bleed again? It’s that deep? Will it leave lasting damage?”
The look beneath Yu Lingxin’s long lashes was cold. He was still stirring trouble—pretending to be concerned in front of Jiang Nong while implying he might end up crippled.
Yu Lingxin had a long record of misdeeds and no credibility left in Jiang Nong’s eyes. She knew he must have reopened his own wound deliberately.
She ignored his still-bleeding hand—merely summoning the imperial physician to deal with it—and instead comforted Chao Ning, telling him not to worry about it.
Yu Lingxin had never lost in his confrontations with Chao Ning—largely because he had once held some standing in Jiang Nong’s heart.
Now, even if he bled dry in front of Chao Ning, Jiang Nong would probably only feel sorry for Chao Ning’s eyes. In her heart, Yu Lingxin was now less than a weed.
Why continue to humiliate himself like this?
If he wasn’t happy, then no one would be happy.
He lifted his eyelids to look at the two of them and said softly to Jiang Nong, “Nongnong, my hand hurts.”
He had never used Jiang Nong’s childhood name before. Early on, he called her “sister,” then later just “Jiang Nong.” When Jiang Nong heard it, she didn’t even realize he was addressing her at first.
He repeated it: “Nongnong, my hand really hurts.” His voice was watery and pitiful.
When Jiang Nong’s gaze turned to him, he raised an eyebrow at her—we’re supposed to be a loving couple now. You don’t want Chao Ning to find out, do you?
Jiang Nong was truly in his grip. Rolling her eyes inwardly, she picked up Yu Lingxin’s hand, blew on it gently, and said with feigned sympathy: “Does it hurt that much? Let me blow on it—it won’t hurt after that. You must be more careful in the future.”
Yu Lingxin nodded: “But it still hurts. Nongnong, could you kiss it better? One kiss and it won’t hurt anymore.”
Jiang Nong felt her hair practically stand on end with rage. No end to this—give an inch and he takes a mile!
“Cousin is still here.”
“Oh.” Yu Lingxin looked somewhat disappointed.
Chao Ning was already biting his nails and smiling dreamily, his expression utterly delighted. He waved his hand hastily: “It’s fine, it’s fine—pretend I’m not here. Kiss, hug, do whatever. Nongnong, look how pitiful he is—quick, comfort him!”
He looked like he wanted to give hands-on instructions, to make them cuddle up. Golden boy and jade girl, a match made in heaven. Their relationship was so good—he was so happy right now.
Jiang Nong was thoroughly disgusted by him, yet had no choice but to put on an act in front of Chao Ning. Yu Lingxin felt a modicum of satisfaction.
But Chao Ning—truly a deep and calculating man, a master of performance—could still smile after seeing them like this.
Yu Lingxin kept Chao Ning for the evening meal, which was laid out in the Eastern Warm Pavilion of Xuan Shi Hall. Since they were relatives, there was no need for excessive formality—just a few extra dishes beyond the usual fare.
Yu Lingxin was determined to see his torment through to the end. Throughout the meal, he acted as if both his hands were broken, pathetically waiting for Jiang Nong to feed him. If she didn’t, he wouldn’t eat a single bite.
Jiang Nong had dug this hole for herself. Now she had no choice but to jump in with tears in her eyes. Whatever nonsense Yu Lingxin put on, she had to play along.
Naturally, she didn’t feed him kindly. She took a chopstickful of venison, dipped it so heavily in sauce that it was unbearably salty, and shoved it into Yu Lingxin’s throat. If the chopsticks had been longer, she’d have rammed it straight into his stomach.
With her back to Chao Ning, her eyes were already flaying Yu Lingxin alive. She hissed under her breath: “Don’t push it.”
Yu Lingxin covered his mouth, swallowing down an uncomfortable gag reflex. He looked up with teary eyes—tears of physiological reaction—bright and glistening, and said he wanted more.
Jiang Nong’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. She had a flash of that time she’d slapped Yu Lingxin and he’d asked why she didn’t make it even—and she couldn’t help shivering.
Could Yu Lingxin have some kind of masochistic tendency? Did pain excite him?
So twisted!
Gritting her teeth, she squeezed out a line that sounded almost affectionate: “Alright, be good. Wait a moment, I’ll feed you more~”
Then she stabbed her chopsticks into the dish with a thump.
She picked up a Sichuan peppercorn, thinking to numb that dog Yu Lingxin’s mouth—but then she thought of his wound, softened, and put it down, avoiding that dish altogether.
The attendants on both sides looked as if they’d seen a ghost. Weren’t these two having one minor fight every two days and a major one every five? Just this morning they’d been arguing—arguing so badly that His Majesty had crushed a cup and bled all over.
True, they usually made up after their fights—sometimes the attendants would come in and find His Majesty lying in Her Highness’s lap, twirling her hair around his fingers—but this level of affection was downright eerie.
As for Chao Ning—he couldn’t eat a single bite. Propping his chin on his hand, he stared at the pair, his face glowing with springtime warmth, his eyes gleaming with green envy, his mouth stretched all the way to his ears.
Who raised these two lovebirds? So happy, so sweet, so in love—I love it.
Yu Lingxin was also observing Chao Ning from the corner of his eye.
Sure enough—too upset to even eat, yet pretending nothing’s wrong, even using a smile to mask his jealousy.
So what? Even if you two had a marital bond in your past life—even if Jiang Nong hates me, has no room for me in her heart, and likes you more—she is now my wife, forever unable to escape Fengye. All you can do is watch us be loving.
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