That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

Zheng Shuangning stepped forward quickly, raised her hand, and slapped Xiao Yan hard across the left cheek.

The force was greater than last time.

Xiao Yan was slapped so hard that his head turned to the side, and blood immediately appeared at the corner of his lips.

"You're despicable, shameless, and vile! I hate you. If anything happens to Adu, I will kill you!"

Xiao Yan slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and smiled, "Ningning, the fact that you hate me means that I am still in your heart. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin."

From the primordial chaos came the two polarities, and hatred is the ultimate form of love.

Zheng Shuangning scoffed coldly: "Stop trying to glorify yourself."

"I look exactly like the person in that painting. You've mistaken me for her substitute, not because... you'll never have her, Xiao Yan, I curse you..."

Losing my beloved forever.

Before she could utter the last few words, her lips were fiercely sealed.

The surrounding guards and palace servants all lowered their heads and fell silent.

Zheng Shuangning trembled with anger, desperately punching his chest, but unable to push him away, she bit his lip hard.

The taste of blood instantly filled their mouths and teeth.

Xiao Yan released her and gently pressed his forehead against hers.

Zheng Shuangning felt the temperature on his forehead; this madman still hadn't recovered from his fever.

"There is no substitute. Come back with me, and I will explain everything to you, telling you the whole truth."

After returning to Yaohua Palace, Xiao Yan gently unfurled the painting and placed it flat on the table in front of Zheng Shuangning.

He gazed at her intently, his eyes filled with seriousness, and slowly said, "Ningning, you are not a substitute for anyone, because the person in this painting is you."

"Ha." Zheng Shuangning felt it was utterly absurd, her brows furrowed tightly, full of disbelief.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan continued, "Do you remember when I asked you if you believed in reincarnation?"

"I remember our past life together."

"In your past life, you were mistakenly given to an ordinary Song family. When you entered the palace, you were not the daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei. After you entered the palace, you fell in love with me, and we had a lovely child. I named him Xiao Hongheng, and you gave him the nickname Yu Tuotuo. We went through countless storms together, Ningning, I remember all of this."

"In this life, I still retain those memories. I once wondered if it was all a dream, but the memories of the previous life were too real. Every smile, every word, every action of yours is etched in my mind, leaving me no room for doubt. Perhaps it is heaven's mercy that allows me to still remember the memories of the previous life, so I have come to find you."

"Ningning, believe me, I have never treated you as a substitute. This may sound absurd, but it is all true. I have not lied."

Zheng Shuangning remained silent for a long time after hearing this, her mind in turmoil. She hesitated before speaking, "How do I know this isn't a story the Emperor made up to deceive me? Besides, how could anyone have memories of a past life?"

Looking at the doubt in her eyes, Xiao Yan thought the story of reincarnation was too far-fetched; no one would easily believe it.

He used to keep it from Ningning because he was afraid that these fantastical memories of his past life would seem absurd to her and that she would not want to believe them, and he was even more afraid that they would cause her distress.

Therefore, he kept the secret and dared not speak out.

Xiao Yan said in a deep voice, "Not only do I remember, but Tinglu also remembers her past life. Ningning can go and ask her to see if what she says matches what I say."

Seeing her still hesitant expression, Xiao Yan leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "I remember all of Ningning's likes and dislikes. Ningning has a red mole on her buttocks, and Ningning loves reading explicit novels..."

Zheng Shuangning's expression was complicated. She covered his lips and said, "That's enough, don't say anymore."

"Give me some time to calm down."

"Okay." Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but as soon as he took a step, everything went black and he collapsed to the ground.

"Ah Yan!" Zheng Shuangning blurted out, even she was surprised.

……

Xiao Yan woke up again two days later.

Zheng Shuangning sighed softly, "The imperial physician said that Your Majesty almost lost your life this time, so Your Majesty should continue to disregard your own health."

Xiao Yan laughed, "If I were too concerned about my health, my wife would disappear without a trace."

"Ningning..."

Xiao Yan wanted to ask her if she was willing to believe what he had said.

Zheng Shuangning spoke first: "Your Majesty, I believe what you said, but... I still need time to accept it."

Xiao Yan was overjoyed: "Very well, I'm willing to wait!"

He stood up and kissed Zheng Shuangning on the corner of her lips.

Zheng Shuangning stormed off, muttering, "You lecherous scoundrel."

Xiao Yan smiled.

If you're shameless, your wife won't run away.

……

Seven months later.

When Madam Zheng fell ill, Zheng Shuangning personally went to Chengtian Temple to pray for her grandmother. However, Xiao Yan was unable to attend to state affairs, so only Zheng Shuangning went.

She knelt before the Buddha, praying sincerely, and asked for a sachet for her grandmother to bring her peace.

Just as she was about to leave, Abbot Mingzhan of Chengtian Temple approached her gently and said, "This old monk sees that Your Highness is troubled. Would Your Highness like to have a divination performed?"

"Simply keep your thoughts quietly in your heart."

Zheng Shuangning's mind stirred slightly. Since she was already here, she took the divination tube and shook it gently, silently asking herself about her past life with Xiao Yan.

One of the tickets fell to the ground with a thud.

Mingzhan, presiding over the reading, smiled and said, "This is an excellent fortune. Whatever Your Majesty asks, things will turn out for the better."

A glimmer of hope after despair?

Zheng Shuangning smiled faintly. The moment she stepped out of the palace gate, countless memories surged up. Fragments of her past life flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern. She froze and reached out to hold onto the door frame.

After a long while, a single tear silently slid down her cheek.

Xiao Yan was waiting for her at the palace gate.

Zheng Shuangning got off the carriage, and she had been sobbing all the way, but the moment she saw Xiao Yan, she burst into laughter through her tears.

She ran into Xiao Yan's arms.

"Ah Yan, I'm back."

Xiao Yan seemed to realize something and hugged her tightly.

*

Two months later was Zheng Shuangning's coronation ceremony.

On the eve of the grand ceremony, Lou Du requested permission to enter the palace, and Xiao Yan tacitly agreed.

After bowing, Lou Du looked at Zheng Shuangning with reluctance and asked softly, "A'ning, are you truly determined to stay in the palace and become his empress?"

Zheng Shuangning knew she had let him down, and said, "I'm sorry."

Lou Du smiled with relief, "It's alright, as long as you're safe and sound, that's enough."

"I have resigned from my post and will not be able to attend the ceremony tomorrow. I would like to congratulate Your Majesty on your ascension to the position of Empress. May Your Majesty and Your Majesty enjoy a harmonious and long-lasting marriage. I take my leave now." He cupped his hands in greeting.

He turned and walked away dejectedly.

Zheng Shuangning called out to him, "Where are you going?"

Lou Du said in a carefree tone: "The world is vast, I am just a man and a horse, and I make the world my home."

He suddenly turned around, forcing a smile: "A-Ning, I wish you a smooth life."

Ah Ning, best wishes to you.

The following day, the coronation ceremony was held as scheduled, with music and ceremony filling the air and the ceremony being held with great majesty.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye, and the eldest prince, Xiao Hongheng, was born, causing a great deal of joy in the palace.

[The End of the Forced Takeover Extra Chapter]

-

Some random thoughts:

This was a draft I had discarded, but because I couldn't bear to part with the story, I revised it and made it Ningning and Ayan's story. Ningning and Ayan made the story complete and gave it meaning.

At first, I thought Lou Du was just a regular NPC in this story, but I couldn't help but cry when I typed out his ending.

The world is vast,

Lou Du, I hope you will be happy too.