Volume Five: Those Years When I Was the Prime Minister
Expressing Love
Unable to perform human relations1!?
The banquet instantly froze over, as if an ice-cold, bone-chilling current had frozen everyone in place.
Had it been any other reason, the crowd might have thought Ling Wen Nuan was trying to fool Xia Xi. But to use such a discreet, private matter as being unable to perform human relations as a reason for refusal was putting too much on the line; it forced people to question the authenticity and reliability of this excuse.
Xia Xi’s jaw dropped, and he said in disbelief, “Un… unable to perform human relations?”
The joys of the bedchamber were a great fortune in life. If one was unable to perform human relations, wouldn’t that mean losing out on a great deal of pleasure?
Thinking of this, he said with some regret, “That is truly… a great pity.”
Wen Nuan sighed. “It is a great pity indeed. I wish Prince Xia Xi and Prince Zhuo Ran an early success in finding a beautiful partner and tying the knot.”
Xia Xi could only give up. He bowed slightly, “Many thanks, Lord Prime Minister Ling.”
Zhuo Ran bowed in salute. “Many thanks, Lord Prime Minister Ling.”
After the disturbance, a strange atmosphere descended upon the birthday banquet. Everyone wanted to look at Wen Nuan’s expression, but none dared to look directly, only sneaking furtive glances. But when they saw Wen Nuan give them a slight smile, a smile that was clearly gentle, it sent a chill down their spines, and they huddled together in fear.
Wen Nuan poured a cup of wine and sat quietly to the side, drinking.
Sheng Tingwan’s thoughts were in chaos. The fragments in her palm fell to the floor.
Seeing the bloody wound on her palm, Shen Zhijin passed over the handkerchief from his robes. “Your Majesty, wipe it.”
Sheng Tingwan clutched the handkerchief in her palm. “She’s lying.”
This was a certainty.
Shen Zhijin understood the meaning behind Sheng Tingwan’s words and said with astonishment, “The Lord Prime Minister would joke about such a thing just to refuse the two princes?”
That was too ruthless!
“Do you still not know what kind of person she is?” Sheng Tingwan tightened her grip on the handkerchief, a flash of viciousness in her deep eyes. “She has never been a benevolent person.”
Just like back then, when Ling Wen Nuan, in order to push her to the top, was adept at using strategy and force.
This person’s schemes ran deep, and her methods were ruthless. She held the entire Tianyang Kingdom firmly in the palm of her hand, manipulating power and devising strategies within a command tent, nearly becoming a demon-god in the hearts of the people of Tianyang, someone they were furious with but dared not speak out against.
No matter what Ling Wen Nuan did, everyone agreed, not daring to hold a dissenting opinion. Even when she pushed a seventh princess with little influence, who was constantly bullied, had no presence, and lacked any background, onto the imperial throne, everyone still praised Ling Wen Nuan’s unique insight and discerning eye. They endured their inner shock and contempt to praise her as a woman of great talent and extraordinary bearing, capable of shouldering such a great responsibility. They insincerely said that she was the one and only choice for an eternal emperor, and that her becoming the Empress Regnant of Tianyang was to follow the will of heaven, as it should be.
It was utterly hypocritical, to the point of being nauseating.
In everyone’s eyes, she!
Sheng Tingwan was merely a chess piece manipulated by Ling Wen Nuan, her life and death decided by her.
But after Ling Wen Nuan resigned from her post and left Tianyang, everyone assumed that she had been pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger2, that she had killed Ling Wen Nuan to seize back the supreme power.
From that moment on, no one dared to look down on her anymore. They feared her, were terrified of her…
So, people had to be ruthless. Only then could they possess everything.
Sheng Tingwan looked at Wen Nuan, who was drinking calmly, and lowered her eyes. The coldness that surfaced at the corners of her eyes was easily concealed by her, so much so that even Shen Zhijin didn’t notice.
The System exclaimed in shock: 【Holy sh#t!】
Wen Nuan’s hand, holding her wine, paused. “What’s wrong?”
【The blackening value rose!】 the System shrieked. 【The female lead’s blackening value is now 6.2!】
“…” Wen Nuan looked toward Sheng Tingwan and saw her looking back with a smiling gaze. “Do you know the reason?”
【There are too many reasons for the blackening value to increase. I think the most likely one is that those two princes confessed their love to you, which made the female lead jealous and caused the blackening value to rise.】 the System guessed.
Wen Nuan said thoughtfully, “Jealousy, is it?”
She gave Sheng Tingwan a slight smile and, hearing the System shriek again that the blackening value had risen, she murmured in a low voice, “This isn’t something that simple jealousy can affect, you know?”
Seeing Wen Nuan’s confident, all-knowing look, the System worriedly tried to dissuade her: 【What are you going to stir up now? My dear ancestor, can we just properly eliminate the blackening value? Can we not pull any of that fancy, messy stuff?】
Wen Nuan tilted her head back and drained the wine. “I won’t make a move on her.”
That doesn’t mean she won’t make a move on me, though.
I’m rather looking forward to seeing what lengths she’ll go to in order to get me.
Does she love her that much?
Thinking of this, Wen Nuan couldn’t help but smile with gratification.
【What are you smiling about?】 The System saw Wen Nuan’s strange smile.
Wen Nuan smiled faintly and sighed, “She must love me very much.”
System: 【??】
“She loves me so much the blackening value is rising.”
Wen Nuan had never been loved so passionately by anyone before. Only now did she realize that the changes in this blackening value were all expressions of “her” love for her.
When it decreased, “she” loved her. When it increased, “she” loved her.
Wen Nuan felt very happy, as if she were soaking in a hot spring, warm both inside and out.
The System couldn’t help but roar in exasperation: 【Are you f#cking crazy? A rising blackening value means she loves you? If the female lead’s value shoots straight to the max, we’ll both be expelled from this mission world! By that logic, does she f#cking love you so much she wants to slaughter you?】
“She wants to kill me because she loves me?” Wen Nuan smiled foolishly, then shook her head to clear it. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop messing around. It was just a joke, why are you so angry?”
The System looked at Wen Nuan in terror. 【You just smiled!? Are you really thinking of maxing out the blackening value?】
Wen Nuan: “…No.”
【You hesitated!】 the System roared.
“…” Wen Nuan pouted. “Fine, I thought about it for a split second, but I promptly reined in the horse at the edge of the cliff3.”
The System immediately started wailing: 【My points! Ahhh, a full five hundred thousand points! Ahhh…】
Wen Nuan: “…I was wrong.”
【If you have that thought again, I’ll electrocute you!】 the System said viciously. 【No more having a love-addled brain!】
“…”
The birthday banquet didn’t end until nearly the Hour of the Pig4. Everyone returned to their own residences, and the envoys from the two kingdoms also took their leave from the imperial palace.
Shen Zhijin said he had drunk too much and asked Ling Wen Nuan to help escort Sheng Tingwan back to Qianyang Palace.
Ling Wen Nuan looked at Lu Yan. Lu Yan immediately waved her hands. “Lord Prime Minister, Her Majesty instructed that this servant personally escort Noble Consort Shen to his bedchamber and take good care of him, so… I can only trouble you to escort Her Majesty.”
Wen Nuan: “…Alright.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Yan immediately supported Shen Zhijin and left the imperial garden with the speed of flight.
Wen Nuan: “…..”
The acting is really a bit fake.
Wen Nuan looked at Sheng Tingwan, who was already slumped over the table, looking dead drunk. She had intended to help her up, but on second thought, she simply scooped her up with both arms, carrying Sheng Tingwan horizontally.
In an instant, Sheng Tingwan’s body suddenly stiffened, but it very quickly relaxed again, as if that reaction had never occurred.
But Wen Nuan had noticed. She smiled, a hook in her lips.
The walk from the imperial garden to Qianyang Hall took about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea5.
Wen Nuan held her by the waist. The further they walked, the softer Sheng Tingwan’s body became. By the time they reached the entrance of the bedchamber, she was completely flushed and panting lightly in her arms.
There wasn’t a single person in Qianyang Hall. The palace attendants and maids who usually cleaned the palace were nowhere to be seen, as if they had been deliberately sent away. The silent night lent this palace a particular atmosphere.
Wen Nuan looked down at Sheng Tingwan, who was feigning sleep with her eyes closed, and stepped into the bedchamber.
Walking right into the trap.
She carefully placed Sheng Tingwan on the bed. Just as she was about to get up, a pair of slender arms wrapped around her neck, preventing her from rising. Wen Nuan braced her hands on either side of Sheng Tingwan and coaxed in a low voice, “Tingwan, we’re in the bedchamber. Let go and get some rest.”
Sheng Tingwan frowned, letting out a hoarse moan. “…Mmm.”
She must have drunk a lot of wine as well. Whether she was deliberately pretending to be drunk or was genuinely unwell, Wen Nuan raised a hand to stroke Sheng Tingwan’s cheek. “Be good, Tingwan. You’ve had too much to drink. You don’t have to attend morning court tomorrow, you can rest well.”
Sheng Tingwan’s arms tightened, pulling Wen Nuan down.
Wen Nuan’s arms bent, and the two were so close their breaths mingled.
“Tingwan, let…”
A patch of warmth covered her lips.
Wen Nuan’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She’s testing me, yet she’s trembling. Her lips are shaking terribly, like a frightened little deer in the forest.
She’s clearly hunting me like a wild beast, yet she’s scared to death.
Wen Nuan feigned surprise, her thin lips parting slightly.
An opportunity not to be missed.
Sheng Tingwan easily conquered the city and seized the high ground.
She was a little frantic. Even though she could feel Wen Nuan’s calm and indifferent gaze and attitude, Sheng Tingwan still acted on her own, wanting Wen Nuan to respond to her.
Even just a little bit would be good…
But—Sheng Tingwan continuously tried to stir a reaction from Wen Nuan, yet received not a single response.
She grew flustered and anxious, using both her hands and feet, attempting to use some actions that Jinjiang (JJWXC) doesn’t allow to get Wen Nuan to cooperate and be intimate with her.
“…”
Wen Nuan felt her movements and knew she wanted to do some things that Jinjiang (JJWXC) doesn’t allow.
She turned her head, dodging Sheng Tingwan’s pursuing kiss. Her voice was light, yet it pressed down heavily on one’s heart, making it hard to breathe. “Does Your Majesty plan to act promiscuously under the influence of alcohol?”
Sheng Tingwan’s body stiffened. She opened her hazy eyes, which were already filled with desire and fervor.
The frantic movements stopped.
Wen Nuan turned her head back to meet Sheng Tingwan’s hazy eyes—one was clear and cool, the other was misty.
“Has Your Majesty mistaken this commoner for Noble Consort Shen?”
Sheng Tingwan’s pupils widened slightly.
“Or has Your Majesty mistaken this commoner for one of Qianyang Palace’s attendants?”
Sheng Tingwan opened her mouth, wanting to explain.
“Your Majesty…” Wen Nuan pulled her down, their lips touching. Neither made a rash move. “Look and see who I am.”
Sheng Tingwan looked at Wen Nuan’s limpid eyes. The “Ling Wen Nuan” on the tip of her tongue was forcefully swallowed back down.
A sudden panic seized her. She was afraid that if she blurted out “Ling Wen Nuan,” it would completely drive her away.
If Ling Wen Nuan knew I harbored such filthy, base, and private feelings for her, she would surely detest me, maybe even wish she could kill me, right?
Wen Nuan pinched Sheng Tingwan’s chin and said softly, “Sheng Tingwan, who is the person beneath you?”
“Who were you just kissing?”
Sheng Tingwan lowered her gaze, burying her head in Wen Nuan’s shoulder. Her entire body was alarmingly hot.
She closed her eyes, feigning drunken misconduct.
Sheng Tingwan kept tearing at Wen Nuan’s clothes, kissing her, wanting Wen Nuan to respond.
But Wen Nuan ignored her, and Sheng Tingwan felt a little disappointed.
Seeing her deliberately not answering, Wen Nuan grabbed her roaming hands and sighed lightly. “…That’s enough.”
She didn’t like Sheng Tingwan avoiding her. She had originally thought that as long as Sheng Tingwan said her name, she would give her anything she wanted.
Unfortunately, Sheng Tingwan retreated.
Wen Nuan pushed Sheng Tingwan off her, stood up, and tied her sash. “It seems Your Majesty has mistaken me for someone else, mistaking this commoner for Noble Consort Shen. If Your Majesty wishes to relieve your desires, this commoner can help you call for Noble Consort Shen.”
Sheng Tingwan, using the alcohol as an excuse, got up and hugged Wen Nuan’s waist. “…I want you.”
Wen Nuan looked at the hands around her waist. “Who does Your Majesty want?”
Still, silence.
Wen Nuan pulled Sheng Tingwan’s hands away and said coldly, “Your Majesty, you can play by yourself. This commoner will not keep you company.”
She turned, looking at Sheng Tingwan’s instantly sobered eyes. “After all, Your Majesty also knows that this commoner is unable to perform human relations, right!?”
Sheng Tingwan’s eyelids trembled.
Wen Nuan caressed her cheek. “I practically raised you. You think I wouldn’t know if you were drunk or not?”
A trace of shock crossed Sheng Tingwan’s eyes. She lowered her gaze and said nothing.
“The night is late. This commoner will not disturb Your Majesty’s rest.” Wen Nuan turned to leave. “This commoner takes her leave.”
Sheng Tingwan watched Wen Nuan’s departing back, her hands hanging at her sides clenching into fists. That ray of light vanished into the darkness, gradually disappearing from her sight.
The System sighed: 【The blackening value has increased. The female lead’s blackening value is now 6.8!】
Wen Nuan smiled faintly. “It’s almost time.”
The System was surprised: 【What’s almost time?】
Having spent four lifetimes with her, Wen Nuan had gradually come to understand her temperament. She was actually very good at hiding her emotions; otherwise, she wouldn’t have blackened, and Wen Nuan wouldn’t have had her points frozen.
Although Wen Nuan could guess what she was thinking, she hoped even more that she would take the initiative to fight for it.
Just as she had fought to pull her out of her comfort zone, she couldn’t let her remain stagnant after she herself had stepped out.
“She’s about to say she loves me,” Wen Nuan looked at tonight’s moon and smiled faintly. “I’m looking forward to it.”
How her love will be expressed.
✨ Unlock Early Access to Chapters! ✨
Choose your perfect membership at bamboopandatl.net:
📚 Full Access ($4.99)
• Advanced chapters of ALL ongoing novels
• Access to complete finished novels
• Ad-free reading experience
📖 Single Novel Access ($1.49)
• Advanced chapters of ONE specific novel
• Ad-free reading for chosen novel
PayPal is the only current payment option!