Married First, Love Later with the Love-Brained Regent - Chapter 4

It wasn’t just her gaze—Ning Huanyi shifted her entire body away, as if desperate to avoid standing anywhere near Liu Jingming.

Liu Jingming was accompanied by a few dubious friends, likely here at Ruyi Pavilion to pick out jewelry to charm some other woman. Ning Huanyi’s blatant look of disdain was so obvious that the men around him couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Just moments ago, Liu Jingming had been boasting to them, claiming that the capital’s most delicate beauty, Ning Huanyi, had been hopelessly in love with him, pining away to the point of illness—and that yesterday’s broken engagement had only worsened her condition.

But now, it looked more like Ning Huanyi couldn’t get away from him fast enough.

Liu Jingming’s face darkened. He was just about to say something to save face when a woman of equally stunning appearance appeared at the staircase landing.

His expression instantly brightened, and he moved to approach her—only for the woman to step past him and head straight for Ning Huanyi.

Ning Huanyi noticed her too, recalling how she had accidentally stumbled into this woman’s arms in this very place just the day before. Her expression shifted subtly.

Today, the woman had shed her military attire, now dressed in a deep red gown. With early summer approaching, the outer robe draped over her shoulders was sheer, faintly revealing the dress beneath. A red silk sash cinched her slender waist, accentuating its delicate curve—enough to stir restless thoughts in any onlooker. Yet the woman herself seemed oblivious to such allure, her face as cold and unapproachable as ever, as if veiled in an air of mystery.

Ning Huanyi, too embarrassed to keep looking, averted her gaze, her cheeks slightly lowered. Unaware of how endearing the gesture was.

Xiao Ning’an could tell there had been some exchange of barbs between the two. Instinctively, she stepped in front of Ning Huanyi, raising a hand to smooth the furrow between her brows.

The sudden touch left Ning Huanyi momentarily stunned, though she didn’t recoil. Xiao Ning’an seemed to realize the impropriety and quickly apologized, “Sorry… I—”

Before she could finish, Liu Jingming, now humiliated and furious, sneered. “Oh? The two of you seem awfully close. Who’s this, some bosom friend of yours? Now that same-sex marriage is legal—”

Though his mouth was more gossipy than any woman’s, Liu Jingming had inadvertently struck upon Ning Huanyi’s hidden thoughts, making her flush crimson.

Ning Huanyi wasn’t one to rush into feelings, but having even the slightest hint of them exposed in front of others would unsettle anyone.

“See? There’s a reason I called off the engagement!” Though the law had been passed, many still disapproved of such relationships. Liu Jingming, his mind poisoned by such prejudice, was now determined to smear Ning Huanyi’s reputation in front of his friends, if only to vent his spite.

Xiao Ning’an’s face betrayed her impatience with Liu Jingming, and seeing Ning Huanyi’s distress only worsened her mood.

Could it be… that Ning Huanyi also despised the idea of marriage between women?

A flicker of disappointment crossed Xiao Ning’an’s eyes. She turned to explain—only for Ning Huanyi to grab the hem of her sleeve and, right in front of Liu Jingming, lean in to press a kiss to the corner of her lips.

After that, she didn’t dare to look at Xiao Ning’an and only faced Liu Jingming with forced composure: “You’re absolutely right. This person is indeed my fiancée. But I had no idea that the son of a mere Xianyang Marquis would dare to speak to me so insolently. Or perhaps you have some grievance against the laws of the court?”

At the mention of this accusation, Liu Jingming’s face turned ashen. Ning Huanyi rarely used the status of the Yongchang Marquis’s household to intimidate others, but today she had truly been provoked.

Xiao Ning’an lowered her gaze, watching Ning Huanyi, who stood a head shorter than her, hands on her hips. The light blue dress fluttered slightly in the summer breeze drifting through the private room’s window, like the shimmering ripples of a lake blending with the sky.

A flash of admiration crossed Xiao Ning’an’s eyes, but she remained silent, standing there as Ning Huanyi declared her to be her fiancée, savoring the lingering warmth on her lips.

Just now… Ning Huanyi had kissed her?

She had really… kissed her?

Xiao Ning’an felt something explode in her mind, leaving her no time to process what Ning Huanyi’s actions meant. All she could hear was Ning Huanyi repeatedly emphasizing the word “fiancée”…

Liu Jingming’s face flushed red and then paled. His family, the Xianyang Marquis’s household, couldn’t bear the weight of the accusation Ning Huanyi had just leveled. With no choice, he stormed off in a huff.

With that, the second floor of Ruyi Fang finally quieted down. Liu Jingming and his friends had left, and the waiter didn’t dare to come upstairs.

Only Ning Huanyi and Xiao Ning’an remained. Ning Huanyi lowered her eyes meekly, aware that she had just borrowed someone else’s name to act—something that might tarnish the woman’s reputation.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t think it through just now. Liu Jingming is the pettiest of men, and now your reputation might be ruined because of this…”

But whatever Ning Huanyi said now, Xiao Ning’an couldn’t hear it. Dazedly, she followed Ning Huanyi into the private room, where an exquisite food box sat on the table, faintly exuding the sweet fragrance of locust flower pastries.

Rich yet refreshing, Xiao Ning’an had never been particularly fond of sweets, but now her appetite was stirred.

Seeing the woman’s gaze fixed on the pastry box, Ning Huanyi finally remembered why they had arranged to meet here in the first place. With delicate fingers, she lifted the lid of the box, releasing the full aroma of the pastries. The scent, sweet but not cloying, filled the room, bringing immense delight.

Xiao Ning’an picked up a piece and took a bite. The pastry melted in her mouth, smooth and delicious.

Ning Huanyi smiled as she watched her eat, easing the earlier awkwardness. She pushed the box forward slightly and offered a sweet, obedient smile. Though illness lingered between her brows, it couldn’t overshadow her grace.

Xiao Ning’an had no idea how to respond in such a situation. Blankly, she closed the food box and picked it up. “There are matters to attend to at home. There’s no need to thank me for yesterday.”

With that, she stood up. Her mind was already racing with plans—she would arrange the highest standard of betrothal gifts, propose that very afternoon, and then issue an imperial decree to bring Ning Huanyi into her household with the utmost grandeur.

However, Ning Huanyi was naturally unaware of all this. Watching Xiao Ning’an’s hurried departure, she felt an overwhelming loneliness in her heart.