She Is Such A Jerk, And Yet She’s The One Crying! - Chapter 47

Lin Dongruan said, “When have I ever uttered the word ‘no’? A-Ning, do not overthink things.”

“No, you have always been hesitant and half-hearted; you have never truly loved me.” Qiang Ning bit her lip and looked at her. “Sister, ask your own heart—how many parts of your affection for me are genuine?”

Lin Dongruan knew that further explanations would be futile, so she turned instead to pick up the Xi-Qing List from the floor. “If you are determined to find guilt, any pretext will do.”

“Throw this thing aside—” Qiang Ning snatched it away and flung it out the window.

Lin Dongruan had not expected her to throw things like that. In an instant, she disregarded everything else and moved to go outside to retrieve it.

Qiang Ning said in a fury, “What are you picking it up for? I won’t allow you to pick it up! Is that object more important than me?”

“This concerns the great matters of all the people under heaven; it cannot be outweighed by a single person.” Lin Dongruan did not look at her again, insisting on going to retrieve it.

Qiang Ning grabbed her, then flung her away. “Lin Dongruan, you… good for you, Lin Dongruan! That day, you held me and said you were sorry, yet today you have become this cold-hearted. Your apology was fake, your sincerity was fake, and the only thing you love is the world. Since that is the case, go live your life alone!”

Lin Dongruan did not respond; she moved to step out the door.

“You actually dare to leave?” Qiang Ning’s patience was completely exhausted. She slammed the door shut and pushed Lin Dongruan’s shoulder. “If you step out of this door today, don’t blame me for being unkind.”

“Bring it back.” Lin Dongruan stood in place, her gaze quiet and desolate as she looked at her. “A-Ning, bring it back.”

Qiang Ning: “I treat you as my primary wife, yet you treat me like a dog to be ordered around?”

Lin Dongruan: “…”

“Do you still remember what you said to me that day? You said I am a princess of noble status and should not humble myself to waste time on you. You also said that you hadn’t done well enough before and made me suffer a lot… You even promised you wouldn’t treat me like that anymore? But what are you doing now?”

Qiang Ning was incensed to the extreme, blocking the door to prevent her from leaving. “Right now, at this moment, you, Lin Dongruan, are angry with me. If you aren’t a heartless person, then what are you?”

“Matters have priorities. In the face of the affairs of the world, all personal emotions and matters must yield.” Lin Dongruan upheld the principles she followed and refused to back down. “The object outside is extremely important. It represents the lives and the loyal blood of many people; the oaths within it cannot be abandoned.”

“What does any of that have to do with you or me? I only want to discuss our marriage properly with you. Don’t put on that high-and-mighty posture to judge and pressure me.” Qiang Ning did not understand how that broken thing could be so important. Was it even more important than their marriage? Did it have to be handled right this second?

“Please step aside.” Lin Dongruan could gamble everything she owned, but she could not risk the lives of other loyalists. If that seditious object were discovered, it would implicate many people and cause numerous casualties; the years of endurance and concealment by the former court officials would all be in vain.

She could allow A-Ning to throw away anything else—even if the other girl wanted to burn down a house for fun, it would be of little consequence—but this Xi Qing List was truly vital. She would not allow it.

Qiang Ning said coldly, “And if I refuse to move?”

“Then I have no choice but to go out.” Disregarding Qiang Ning’s warning, Lin Dongruan was determined to step outside. She raised her hand and sealed Qiang Ning’s acupoints, simultaneously taking a step forward—

“Song Luo, burn the thing outside.” Qiang Ning was immobilized, but she did not panic in the slightest. She spoke lightheartedly, deciding the fate of the object outside.

The moment Lin Dongruan opened the door, she saw that the Xi Qing List was already in Song Luo’s hands. Hearing Qiang Ning’s command immediately after, she was struck with shock.

“No!”

Song Luo held the Xi Qing List steadily, took out a fire starter, and asked, “Your Highness, shall this subordinate truly burn it?”

“A-Ning, you cannot burn it!” It was rare for Lin Dongruan’s breath to be unsteady; her emotions were visibly fluctuating. “That is a relic of the late Empress. If you burn it, it would be an act of great filial impiety.”

“Seeing that you can’t stop me, you use my Mother Empress to pressure me. Lin Dongruan, you are quite capable.” Qiang Ning remained where she stood, her face full of indifference. “Unfortunately, I won’t believe it. Don’t even think about deceiving me.”

Lin Dongruan: “I have not deceived you.”

“Lin Dongruan, don’t take me for a fool. I won’t be led around by your lies anymore. I can’t possibly trust you again. You have no heart; you don’t even know what love is.” Qiang Ning sneered. “It’s a pity I treated you so sincerely before, yet you don’t cherish it at all.”

At this critical juncture, Lin Dongruan’s eyes were fixed entirely on the Xi Qing List in Song Luo’s hand. She could not hear Qiang Ning’s talk of love and affection; her brow was filled with tension and worry.

“You care that much about this thing?” Seeing this expression, Qiang Ning’s mood naturally grew worse. “Lin Dongruan, come here and release me, or else I will immediately have someone burn this.”

Hearing this threat, Lin Dongruan quickly moved to unseal her points.

Qiang Ning stretched her aching arms and walked toward Song Luo to take the Xi Qing List into her own hands. “Song Luo, have you obtained the wine I asked you to get from Jiang Weilan?”

Song Luo said respectfully, “This subordinate will fetch it for Your Highness immediately.”

“It’s not for me.” While correcting him, Qiang Ning walked toward Lin Dongruan. “This wine warms the passions. I wouldn’t bear to drink it myself; such a good thing should naturally be offered to the Imperial Preceptor to enjoy.”

Song Luo did not dare to listen to the rest; after hearing a few words, he hurried away. When he returned, he very thoughtfully brought both the wine and some ropes.

Qiang Ning glanced sideways, then looked at Song Luo with a strange sense of approval in her gaze. Song Luo bowed his head. “This subordinate has withdrawn all the hidden guards. Please enjoy yourself, Your Highness. No one will disturb you this time.”

Qiang Ning nodded and tossed the Xi Qing List in her palm.

During this time, Lin Dongruan remained reluctant to look at her, appearing to be angry as well. But what did that matter? Qiang Ning laughed inwardly.

Ever since the quarrel began, she would never again be as humble or centered on the other person as before. After all, Lin Dongruan was not someone who deserved to be treated well. Her own sincerity had been entirely wasted, and the other person didn’t feel a shred of heartache.

Qiang Ning threw the wine to Lin Dongruan and shouted at her, “Drink it.”

Lin Dongruan held the wine, her face calm, but her eyes were filled with sorrow and desolation.

“I told you to drink it, can’t you hear me?” Qiang Ning waved the Xi Qing List in her hand threateningly. “Do you still want this thing or not?”

Only then did Lin Dongruan move, slowly beginning to drink the wine.

Qiang Ning watched her and added, “Drink it all.”

Lin Dongruan drank only a little before she was unwilling to continue. “This wine is potent; one must not…”

She was cut off halfway through as Qiang Ning forcibly interrupted her. Qiang Ning pinched her chin and, disregarding her struggle, forced the wine down her throat. “Lin Dongruan, you are just a piece of wood without a heart. So, you knew that drinking this wine would be miserable. That day, you watched me with open eyes as you tricked me into drinking so much… so much passion-warming wine… Do you know how I endured it? You don’t know my suffering; you only know how to be a hypocrite… a fake benevolence, a fake righteousness, a fake saint… I hate you to death…”

After Qiang Ning finished forcibly pouring all the wine, Lin Dongruan’s dark hair was damp, revealing a few hints of fragility and disarray.

The moment she was released, Lin Dongruan nearly collapsed to her knees, coughing uncontrollably. “A-Ning, this wine can… nourish the body.”

“Then you should nourish yourself more.” Seeing her in such a state, although Qiang Ning felt uneasy in her heart, she felt much more relieved. “Your body is prone to desire; drinking more wine suits your constitution better. How am I not doing this for your own good?”

The wine flask was empty. Qiang Ning tossed it aside, and the shattered porcelain pieces sprayed across the floor, as startling as this quarrel itself.

Qiang Ning dragged Lin Dongruan from the floor and coldly led her back into the room, a manic vengeance brewing in her eyes.

“I graciously asked to marry you in front of the civil and military officials, yet you weren’t happy at all. Since that’s the case, I take back what I said.” Qiang Ning looked displeased, the strength with which she dragged the woman not light at all. “If you are able to leave the bed in one piece within three days, then I, Qiang Ning, am incompetent.”