Chapter 2

Chapter 2

That night, I slept in the East Warm Pavilion within Ning Huai’s bedchamber.

I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. When I woke the next morning, there was no concealing the two dark patches beneath my eyes.

Xuanfeng pushed Ning Huai’s wheelchair toward the front hall.

I walked beside Ning Huai, weighed down by my thoughts and looking thoroughly dejected.

The wheelchair rumbled over the flagstones. Ning Huai glanced at me, then suddenly cleared his throat and spoke.

“Marrying you was never my intention. Once we divorce, all the betrothal gifts previously sent to Wei Manor will be yours. We can part on good terms. You’re quite pretty, so it shouldn’t be difficult for you to remarry. I could even introduce you to some of the better officers in the army…”

What a hypocrite!

If I was cast aside after only one day of marriage, my reputation would be completely ruined!

Holding back my anger, I replied, “Wei Manor is a respectable household too. If you could divorce me, you would’ve done it long ago. We’re on our way to see the Marquis now. I refuse to believe he’ll indulge you and allow you to divorce me.”

My words were forceful, but inside, I felt miserable.

Even the fiancé Wei Wan had rejected didn’t want me.

The thought sent wave after wave of heartache surging through me.

“Oh? Are you crying? You’re actually crying?”

Ning Huai tilted his head and peered up at my face. I glared at him and turned away.

“Whoosh-”

A feathered arrow grazed my cheek.

“Watch out-”

It happened so suddenly that I had no time to react. My sash was abruptly hooked and yanked, sending me tumbling into Ning Huai’s wheelchair.

My face struck his chest, and for a moment, my entire world seemed filled with the overpowering medicinal scent clinging to him.

His proud, austere face was mere inches away. His features were clean and sharply defined, his skin a healthy wheat-gold without being dark, his nose straight and high, and his lips vividly red.

Only then did I notice the tiny mole hidden between his brows.

Good heavens…

He was so handsome!

Ning Huai gripped the arrow in one hand. With the other, he gave my back a reassuring pat, then casually plucked the gold hairpin from my bun.

The lazy look vanished from his eyes. His hawk-sharp gaze locked on a nearby pavilion. Holding the arrow in his left hand and the hairpin in his right, he released both at once. They tore through the air like twin bolts of lightning.

I stared at him in awe. “Husband, you’re incredible…”

Oh no. Why had I said that out loud?

Ning Huai cast me a languid sidelong glance. “Well? Aren’t you going to get off me?”

My face burned crimson. As though my backside had caught fire, I sprang to my feet.

“Even crippled, Elder Brother hasn’t lost any of his old skill.”

A mocking, insolent voice drifted over.

I turned and saw a tall young man emerge from the pavilion.

A golden crown secured his hair, Tangni Armor covered his body, and a Shiman Treasure Belt encircled his waist. With a curved bow in hand, he looked strikingly handsome, almost godlike.

Beads of blood welled from a fresh cut on his cheek, seemingly inflicted by the gold hairpin.

He paid it no mind and smiled with wild, rakish charm.

“Little sister-in-law, do you like my greeting gift?”

Had he fired that arrow?

He had to be Ning Ze.

Ning Huai’s mother, Lady Song, had been frail and died young. The Marquis of Changning later married Lady Song’s younger sister, and she gave birth to Ning Ze.

Both Ning Huai and Ning Ze had inherited the Old Marquis of Changning’s extraordinary martial prowess. They had once served in the army together.

Last autumn, Ning Huai injured his leg on the battlefield and lost the ability to walk.

In that same battle, however, Ning Ze retook Yangcheng. At only eighteen, he was appointed Commander of the Palace Guard by the emperor, and for a time, no one could rival his glory.

This man was undoubtedly Ning Ze.

I had always been forgiving toward beautiful people, but Ning Ze had gone too far.

He was frivolous and rude. Not only had he shot an arrow at me the first time we met, but he had also called my Husband a cripple.

“I don’t like it. You’re extremely rude. From now on, kindly address me as Elder Sister-in-law.”

What was with “little sister-in-law”? It sounded utterly improper.

Ning Ze held out my gold twin-flower hairpin, smiling pleasantly. “I heard Sister-in-law intends to divorce Elder Brother. Once you do, why not marry me instead? Your name is Wei Yanqing. May I call you Qingqing?”

He was openly flirting with me.

Humiliation and fury churned in my chest. Just as I was about to lose my temper, Ning Huai caught hold of my hand.

“Show your sister-in-law some respect, or you can say goodbye to the other half of your face as well.”

With that, he took the gold hairpin from Ning Ze’s hand and flung it into the lake.

“It’s filthy.”