Chapter 540   Who Is Ning Qingshan?

“Even if you’re a princess of the previous dynasty, you’re still the only I want.” His warm breath was right beside her ear, bringing with it a temperature that made her heart race. Unable to hold back her tears anymore, they fell down her face. Her body trembled, but Ao Chenyi simply held her even tighter, giving her the impression that she was being truly and deeply loved.

She had been so worried lately, fearful of reliving her past. She was afraid that she would suffer yet another tragic end after she lost her worth. Even if a voice in her head kept telling her that Ao Chenyi wasn’t Xia Yuhang, it couldn’t calm her panic and anxiety.

Ao Chenyi sighed when he felt the woman in his arms tremble. He led her behind a tree for privacy and gently caressed her hair. His thin lips curved into a smile and gentleness surfaced in his unfathomable eyes. “If there’s something I want, I’ll fight for it myself. I won’t exploit my woman for it.”

Something in Ning Xueyan’s heart fell after hearing his words and she felt as if she had escaped something. She relaxed. “Will... Will I bring you any trouble?”

Ao Chenyi’s smile deepened. He moved his hand from her hair to her face, gently rubbing her delicate skin and wiping away her tears. His voice was so gentle it was almost a whisper. “Yan’er, are you worried about me?”

Ning Xueyan bit her lower lip and leaned her head on his chest. She lifted her hands from the sides of her body and wrapped his thin but robust waist. This was such a cold-hearted man, and yet his warmth was blazing hot at this moment. So hot, it was as if there was a blazing fire threatening to burn them both.

Was she worried about him? Naturally. Whether in the past or present, her life seemed plagued with troubles.

“I... I’m worried.” Her voice was so soft that Ao Chenyi wouldn’t even hear it if he wasn’t listening attentively. His smile widened uncontrollably. She was as weak as a flower in his arms, yet she was able to easily soften his heart into mush. Before, all women were the same to him.

She was the only difference. She was the only one who could pique his interest from their first meeting. That thin girl, so young that she couldn’t even be called a teen, immediately caught his eye and slowly entered his heart.

“Yan’er,” he whispered gently. It was as if a voice any louder than this would scare her. His unfathomable eyes burned with intensity. Sunlight fell on Ao Chenyi through the gaps in the leaves, landing on his unbelievably handsome face. A few strands of black hair danced in the wind, blowing across his beautiful and elegant face.

His extremely mesmerizing face lacked its usual coldness and bloodthirstiness. His lips were curved into a beautiful arc, making him look not like Asura from hell, but as beautiful as God.

He used to think that he would never fall for any woman. Everyone assumed that he kept delaying his marriage because of his heartbreak over his previous engagement. Nobody knew that he never had eyes on any woman and the delay had his handiwork in it.

Things were different now. This young woman, so delicate that she seemed like she would break without even touching, had entered his heart in her tenacious, decisive way.

“Your Highness, I...” His embrace was so tight that Ning Xueyan was getting out of breath. She twisted slightly in his arms, indicating for him to relax.

“Call me Chenyi!” he whispered in her ear, making her entire body burn and turning her face red.

“... Chen... Yi...” she uttered, albeit with difficulty. She buried her head deep in his arms afterward. She wasn’t a dense person. Ever since he married both his princess and consort on the same day for her sake, she had the inkling that he had different feelings for her. But, she never dared to hope for anything.

In her past life, her heart was set on marrying Xia Yuhang. She thought that he was the gentlest and kindest person on earth, the person who treated her the best. The end—the bloodstained sky by the lotus pond—proved otherwise. Her heart had died at that moment. Even after she was reborn, she kept warning herself that all she should do was protect the people she wanted to protect and avenge herself.

Even so, she couldn’t help but wonder about his intentions and thoughts sometimes.

Did he really not care about the many worries and troubles in her heart? Did he not have other considerations?

But at this moment, his clear answer made nearly all of her worries vanish. She could only hear his low, warm voice in her ears. “Yan’er!”

His voice carried an indescribable sentiment.

He raised her chin lightly, but powerfully and a burning kiss fell on her face. First, her forehead, and then her cheek. Finally, her pale lips...

Under the willow tree caressed by the spring breeze, a beautiful couple embraced and kissed...

After the kiss, they continued to stand behind the tree, still locked in an embrace. Ning Xueyan closed her eyes slightly, her long lashes sweeping her cheeks and leaving two jagged shadows. Her pale lips had been dyed with a fiery red. Ao Chenyi’s smile became even gentler and more charming.

The beautiful man with shapely brows raised his almond-shaped eyes, revealing a pair of deep pupils that carried traces of affection and love as he looked at the young woman in his embrace. His lips were curved into a smile. Every feature on his face was exquisite. When he looked up again, his frighteningly dark eyes became as sharp as a blade. They carried a terrifying coldness.

The guards and eunuchs had already stopped a distance away a long time ago, keeping to themselves as they pretended to be invisible.

Neither Ning Xueyan nor Ao Chenyi said anything. It felt as if no words were necessary and it was enough to snuggle up to each other.

It was the peak of spring, with bright colors everywhere that lent everyone a layer of charm.

Ao Chenyi, in his ink-black clothes, and Ning Xueyan, in her light pink clothes, were like a beautiful pair amidst a paradise of mountains and rivers. Willow leaves would flutter by now and then, making the scenery look all that more breathtaking. The haziness was enough to make one feel drunk. For a long time, neither could calm their racing hearts.

After a long time, Ning Xueyan finally raised her head from Ao Chenyi’s chest and looked at him with her beautiful watery eyes. “I... I think I’m really not Ning Zu’an’s biological daughter.”

She thought she would never be able to bring herself to say this, and yet it felt so natural to tell him now. It was as if the words had merely slipped out from her mouth. She didn’t have to rack her mind to test the other person, nor tentatively sounding the other person out after a long consideration.

Ao Chenyi sighed. He looked at her shapely brows knitted into a frown and said softly, “I know.”

“How... How did you know?” Ning Xueyan asked, dumbfounded. A trace of confusion flitted across her vibrant eyes, making her look a little dazed. Ao Chenyi found her to be too adorable for words and gently kissed her hair.

“I don’t know the specifics. All I know is that your mother was very close to the Empress of the previous dynasty until she suddenly broke off contact. When the fire started at the former palace, someone saw the fleeing Empress once coming to your manor to meet your mother. She went missing after.”

Ao Chenyi had no plans to keep the truth from her. Even so, he kept holding her in his arms, greedily taking in her softness and gentleness as she laid in his embrace. He told her everything because he knew that she was investigating this. He didn’t want her to know the full story at first, but since she had gotten involved, he didn’t want to hide from her anymore.

Ning Xueyan didn’t stay surprised about Ao Chenyi knowing this for long. Even though it was difficult, he was capable enough to find out a clue or two.

“Do you think that I’m my mother’s...” Ning Xueyan gulped. She didn’t think Madam Ming would have children with other men. Such a proud lady from a distinguished family would never commit herself to a man so easily. And that man seemed to have appeared only once in the Ning Manor.

“Yan’er, don’t think about it anymore. Your mother wasn’t a person like that. How could a daughter of a noble family in the previous dynasty, a true and proper lady, do something so unruly? Only someone like Ning Zu’an would judge another person with his perception. He kept thinking that Madam Ming would inevitably betray him, which made him constantly suspicious of you both. That was why he allowed you and your mother to fend for yourselves without any concern.”

Ao Chenyi sneered. A trace of coldness appeared in his deep eyes.

Ning Zu’an was truly a fool. He would rather abandon his wife and treat his mistress as his treasure. In the end, he even went so far as to pamper his mistress so much that he ruined his wife. Ao Chenyi still had a lot of incriminating evidence against him.

“Should I ruin Ning Zu’an’s Lord Protector’s Manor so that he’ll never make a comeback again?” His cold voice was filled with sinister anger. Anyone would be able to tell that he wasn’t making an empty threat.

“Not for now. Ning Qingshan wants to rely on the Lord Protector’s Manor to marry the Third Prince, doesn’t she? We’ll let her get married first,” Ning Xueyan said softly, shaking his arm. “Help me investigate her identity. She seems to be related to Grand Tutor Ya’s family. And she seems to think that she’s the eldest princess of the previous dynasty.”

This made Ning Xueyan really confused. She was the actual princess of the previous dynasty in her past life, so why did Ning Qingshan firmly believe that she was the one?

Although Ning Yuling appeared to be fully responsible for trying to frame her this time, the mastermind was definitely Ning Qingshan. Ning Qingshan had simply acted behind the scenes. Naturally, Ning Xueyan wouldn’t just let her go.

And now wasn’t the time to spread rumors about Ning Zu’an’s affairs. She was the first wife’s daughter of the Lord Protector’s Manor after all. Ning Zu’an was right; a married daughter like her wouldn’t be implicated in the event that the manor was punished, but it would be incredibly detrimental to her. Commandery Princess Xianyun would definitely use this opportunity to give her trouble. She must not inconvenience Ao Chenyi further.

Besides, she had evidence against Ning Zu’an. She could ruin him any time she wanted. It was to the point that he wouldn’t even dare to offend her now.

“I’ll help you investigate Ning Qingshan. You don’t have to ask Yu Jian if you need anything. Just come to me. Don’t make me worried. If you’re ever unhappy or troubled, you can tell me.” She felt her soft hand fall into his large, warm hand. In his voice, she could hear gentleness and mirth.

Who would have thought the arrogant and overbearing Prince Yi would have such a gentle side to him? Ning Xueyan obediently let him stroke her hand gently.

“All right. I’ll deal with the petty things and leave the big ones to you.” Ning Xueyan nodded. Her heart was warm.