The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

"Then what do you want to do? Make her a concubine and establish a new empress?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"Mother doesn't need to worry about this."

"That......"

"Let's talk about it after the coronation ceremony. If Mother really can't hold back, she can send a message to the Ruan family."

"But... Nian Nian can't go back."

The Empress Dowager has achieved her goal today; as long as everyone is safe, that's all that matters.

After leaving the council hall, I hurried to the Nguyen family residence, where I heard the sound of shattering cups and saucers coming from the main hall.

"This is outrageous!"

Ruan Boheng slammed his hand on the table, his face cold and stern.

"The Ruan family has devoted itself to the Great Zhou. To avoid suspicion, my father sent half of his students and friends back to their hometowns. Even my mother stayed in our old home in Mingzhou for many years and rarely came to the capital. The late emperor could not tolerate the Ruan family, and the new emperor has kept the Ruan family's daughters in the palace. Is this an insult to our Ruan family, that they have no one to rely on?"

Ruan Boheng was furious. The usually refined man had become quite ruthless today.

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Don't be anxious. His Majesty likes Niannian, so he won't hurt her."

"But... he's currently in the palace, so I'm afraid he can't come back."

Ruan Boheng said coldly, "Isn't he afraid I'll impeach him for being an unrighteous ruler who forcibly seized the families of his subjects? Let all the civil and military officials see that this new emperor has done such despicable things right after ascending the throne!"

The Empress Dowager rubbed her forehead, her head throbbing. "What are you accusing me of? Whether Niannian is alive or dead, whether she is here willingly or forced, who can know? His Majesty only needs to say that Lady Ruan voluntarily stayed in the palace to serve, and that will silence all the gossip."

"Even if you risk your official reputation and future to stubbornly bang your head against this wall, what will you achieve? Besides making the matter public knowledge and ruining Niannian's reputation, what else can you change?"

"But... Niannian has been locked up in the palace for so long, she must be terrified. That brat might do whatever he wants to her."

They were about to get married, but he disappeared on their wedding day. The young man from the Cheng family has been listless these past few days, constantly clamoring to go find him.

"Father." Ruan Zhaolin couldn't hold back any longer. "Now that you know where my sister is, I'll go to the palace right now and bring her back."

"Do you think you can even get into the palace?" Ruan Boheng was angry, but he hadn't lost his temper.

"But I can't just watch my sister suffer in the palace! Even if I have to force my way in, I'll bring her back!"

"Brother, calm down." Ruan Zhaoyu stopped him. "If you rush in like this, you won't be able to save your sister, and you'll get yourself killed too."

Ruan Zhaolin slammed his fist on the pillar in anger, "That Xie Chengyan, I used to think he was some kind of upright gentleman, I even admired him before."

Ruan Boheng looked at his son, "Now that we know where he is, there's no need to search anymore. I'll figure out the rest. You should visit Cheng Qing more often when you have time."

Ruan Boheng entered the palace that very day and knelt outside the Fengtian Hall, hoping to see his daughter.

Cao Shen came out to dissuade him, "Prime Minister, His Majesty is busy with the enthronement ceremony and has no time to see you. You should go back."

"I do not wish to see Your Majesty, but my daughter."

Cao Shen didn't know what to say either. Wasn't it the same thing?

His Majesty now spends his time either dealing with court affairs or accompanying Miss Ruan.

Even he couldn't see anyone, let alone others.

Knowing His Majesty's temperament, even if I kneel here to my death, he won't even blink an eye; there will be a new prime minister the next day.

"Please heed my advice, go back first. Given time, you'll be able to see her again. Miss Ruan is doing well in the palace."

Ruan Boheng remained unmoved, while Cao Shen sighed, "As the Prime Minister, you have many affairs to attend to at court. The results are about to be released; are you not going to take care of them?"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Boheng was indeed moved.

Cao Shen pressed on, saying, "The provincial examination concerns the future of countless scholars, and you are always involved in these matters. If something goes wrong, you will be heartbroken."

Ruan Boheng valued scholars highly and could not bear to see people with real talent and learning lose their ambition. Over the years, he has recommended many pillars of the court.

"Waiting like this won't do you any good. You might as well do something practical; maybe then His Majesty will grant your request?"

Ruan Boheng wasn't one to be stubborn, and upon hearing this, he truly refused to kneel.

At this time, Ruan Xianrong was unaware that her father had just left. After she finished her meal, Hongjian brought up some pastries and a bowl of soup.

At least it's not something dark anymore, and even the taste is different.

Hongjian opened the lid. "This was specially stewed by His Majesty's orders to the kitchen. Would you like to try it, young lady?"

Ruan Xianrong drank it down sip by sip, staring at the spoon, when a crazy idea came to her.

Should she follow the movie example and dig a secret passage with a spoon to escape?

Then she thought about it and decided against it. She didn't have that much perseverance; she would never be able to dig it out in her entire life.

She just wanted to know how Cheng Qing was doing; judging by the time, the results of the provincial examination would be coming soon.

If it weren't for the accident, once Aqing passed the provincial examination, they could have returned to Jiangnan to settle down. He could then take the metropolitan examination next year. Even if he didn't pass, they could still settle down after three more years.

But plans can't keep up with changes, and Xie Chengyan, that madman, messed things up.

Doing that kind of thing with her every day, aren't you afraid of dying in bed?

However, in the past two days she has also figured out Xie Chengyan's temperament: he responds better to gentle persuasion than force.

She hit him and scolded him, but he remained unmoved, only resorting to violence against her in bed.

If she listens, things are a little easier during the day; if she doesn't, things get even worse.

She's been very obedient these past two days, so we've allowed her to go outside the palace gates for a walk.

After staying inside the palace for so long, seeing the sun outside is a rare treat.

He listlessly fiddled with the flowers in his hand, unaware that everyone around him had left.

The person behind her leaned in, sniffed her neck, kissed her earlobe, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "It's getting cold, why don't you go back?"

Ruan Xianrong instinctively wanted to dodge, but in the end she held back, only slightly turning her head and whispering, "It's not cold."

"Your hands are so cold, yet you say you're not cold."

His large, warm palms completely enveloped her icy hands, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy, yet an inescapable grip.

Ruan Xianrong rolled her eyes at him with her back turned, trying to pull away, but she gripped him even tighter.

"I know you're feeling stifled here. If you'd like, you can come see me at the Council Hall in the future."

What are you looking at? Serving him in the Hanzhang Hall isn't enough, does she also have to go to the Council Hall to serve tea and water, grind ink, and lay out paper?

Just as I was about to refuse, I paused, thinking, "Wait a minute, it doesn't seem like a bad thing."

If she goes to the Council Hall, she might even run into her father.

"Then thank you very much, Your Majesty."

He held her tighter. "How will you thank me?" His voice held a barely perceptible longing, as if he wanted to hear her obedient and soft words, yet feared that such obedience might not be genuine.

He lowered his head, his lips brushing against her earlobe, his voice extremely low, "All you can do is talk the talk?"

Ruan Xianrong's ears burned, her body stiffened, and that fear returned.

She was genuinely terrified; this person was tireless and had incredible stamina.

As expected of the male lead, the god of war who can have sex seven times a night.

"Niannian," he called to her, his thumb stroking her lower lip, where there were still tiny scabs from the kisses he had given her a couple of days ago.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked, his fingertips, calloused, gently pressing on the spot.

Ruan Xianrong's eyelashes trembled even more violently, and she shook her head.

"That's good."

The next second, he lowered his head and kissed her.

Unlike his previous fierce kisses, this one was gentle, lingering on her lips, tentatively sucking, his tongue occasionally brushing against the small scar.

Just when she thought this person had changed his ways, Xie Chengyan's kiss suddenly deepened.

He pried open her teeth, curled her tongue around, and sucked on it. Her pretense vanished in an instant, leaving only domineering possession.

"Mmm..." Ruan Xianrong was breathless from the kiss and put her hands on his chest.

After a long while, her legs went weak and her breathing became erratic, and Xie Chengyan slowly stepped back a little.

A deep lust surged in his eyes as he stared intently into her misty, watery eyes.

"Thank me like this," he said, his voice terribly hoarse. "Only then will I be satisfied."