In her sleep, an itch rose in her throat, causing her to cough uncontrollably.
As usual, Wen Qiao woke up coughing.
She curled up, covering her mouth with her hand as she coughed. Her frail body trembled in the bedding, and the sound of her coughing came intermittently.
A hand rested on her back, gently patting her trembling body, soothing the severe spasms caused by the cough.
The coughing gradually subsided. Wen Qiao blinked, her thick, slightly upturned eyelashes fluttering like a butterfly’s wings. Turning her head to look at the person patting her back, her expression was somewhat blank, as if she hadn’t fully woken up.
“Feeling better?”
She dumbly nodded, still dazed.
The man in a moon-white robe rose from bed, his chest slightly exposed at the collar, revealing delicate collarbones and a small portion of his chest. His jet-black hair cascaded smoothly over his chest, with a few strands slipping into the folds of his robe, accentuating his skin, fair and smooth like jade.
His handsome face bore a gentle, warm smile, like a soft morning breeze brushing tenderly across one’s heart.
“Good morning, Ah Chuo. Do you want to get up?” Ning Yuzhou asked.
Wen Qiao nodded. She suddenly remembered that she had gotten married yesterday, married to the seventh prince of the Dongling Kingdom. This was no longer the Wen family’s Jishui Courtyard.
Ning Yuzhou helped her out of bed, his movements careful and exuding an indescribable tenderness, just like the impression he gave to everyone.
Wen Qiao stared at him for a moment, sitting on the edge of the bed. She tucked her fingers into the wide sleeves and softly said, “Could you let Lian Yue in?”
With a smile, Ning Yuzhou agreed, then went behind the screen to change his clothes before stepping out to call for someone.
A short while later, Lian Yue entered with a few maidservants to assist Wen Qiao with washing and dressing.
Once she was properly dressed, Wen Qiao, guided by the maidservants, arrived at the flower hall for breakfast, where Ning Yuzhou was already seated.
The table was laden with spiritual delicacies, all made from ingredients imbued with spiritual energy. Not only were they rich in Yuan spiritual power, but they also tasted exceptional—far beyond what mundane ingredients could offer.
Ning Yuzhou invited her to sit down and placed a bowl of porridge made from purple spiritual rice in front of her, along with a pumpkin-shaped bun on the plate beside her.
“Eat and see if it suits your taste,” he said softly, his tone extraordinarily gentle.
It was naturally to her taste.
This table of spiritual delicacies, meticulously crafted by a spiritual chef, was a luxury even the Wen family head could not afford. It clearly reflected the Ning family’s wealth and extravagance—so much so that even a prince who couldn’t cultivate enjoyed such luxury.
Of course, Wen Qiao speculated that it was likely Emperor Chenghao’s favoritism that brought all these fine things to the Seventh Prince’s residence.
Wen Qiao didn’t eat much, stopping when she was about half full.
Ning Yuzhou asked, “Is it not to your liking?”
“No, it’s delicious. It’s just that I don’t eat much,” Wen Qiao explained, deeply appreciative of his thoughtfulness. Yet, she couldn’t help feeling as if he wished to immediately fatten her up.
As this thought crossed her mind, she noticed a look of regret indeed flash across the man’s face. He said with concern, “You eat too little. These spiritual foods have gentle Yuan spiritual energy. Eating more would be beneficial for your health.”
Wen Qiao thanked him and promised to try harder next time.
Ning Yuzhou found her earnest expression amusing and was about to say something but stopped when he noticed how obediently she was sitting and watching him. In the end, he simply reached out and gently stroked her slender, frail back.
After breakfast, they entered the palace to pay their respects to Emperor Chenghao of the Dongling Kingdom and the Ning family members.
Although the Seventh Prince’s residence was only a short distance from the imperial palace, the attendants still prepared a beast-drawn carriage. The Seventh Prince helped Wen Qiao onto the carriage, and the two rode it to the palace, disembarking in front of the Zihuan Hall.
Inside the Zihuan Hall, the Ning family members, led by Emperor Chenghao, were present—about twenty in total—all direct descendants of the Ning family.
Wen Qiao glanced around but did not see Ning Huayuan, who had visited the Wen family to negotiate the wedding date.
She quickly understood. The Ning family members present today were likely from Emperor Chenghao’s generation and Ning Yuzhou’s peers. Although Emperor Chenghao valued this marriage and wanted to bring honor to his youngest son, there were limits to the importance the Ning family could place on someone like Ning Yuzhou, who could not cultivate. The number of people present in the hall today was already a gesture of respect for Emperor Chenghao.
Ning Yuzhou led Wen Qiao to stand before Emperor Chenghao and perform their salutations.
Emperor Chenghao, a man with dignified and stern features and an imposing presence, had cultivation so profound it was unfathomable. He bore little resemblance to Ning Yuzhou but was strikingly similar to the Fifth Prince, Ning Pingzhou, who stood nearby.
With a look of satisfaction, Emperor Chenghao presented Wen Qiao with a meeting gift and said, “As long as you two live harmoniously, I’ll be happy.”
“Thank you, Father Emperor. We will,” Ning Yuzhou replied with a smile.
Wen Qiao also expressed her gratitude.
Next, they paid their respects to other Ning family members, starting with Emperor Chenghao’s generation, followed by Ning Yuzhou’s peers.
The Ning family members treated Wen Qiao with politeness. While their attitudes were somewhat distant, they at least maintained decorum and did not slight her.
A young girl dressed in a pale green silk dress, as delicate and charming as jade, stepped forward with a cheerful smile. “Seventh Sister-in-law, I’m Ning Yaozhu, ranked ninth. You can call me Ah Jiu. Seventh Sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful. I feel like we’re kindred spirits. Can I visit you at the Seventh Brother’s residence in the future?”
Wen Qiao blinked and looked toward Ning Yuzhou.
Ning Yuzhou smiled faintly. “It’s better not to. Ah Chuo’s health isn’t good; she’s different from certain people.”
Different how?
Hearing this, the older Ning family members remained impassive, but the younger ones couldn’t hold back their laughter.
Ning Yuzhou was as blunt as ever, showing no consideration for anyone’s feelings.
Princess Ning Yaozhu’s delicate face stiffened. Before she could retort, Ning Yuzhou had already led Wen Qiao to meet the next Ning family member, completely disregarding her. She flushed red with anger, pouting furiously.
After meeting the Ning family members, Ning Yuzhou escorted Wen Qiao back to the Seventh Prince’s residence, and the other family members also dispersed.
—
Ning Yaozhu followed her elder brother Ning Pingzhou to the Ning family’s martial arts training ground, venting her frustration. “What’s so special about Ning Yuzhou? He’s just a useless person who can’t cultivate. If Father Emperor didn’t favor him, does he think he could even stand in the Ning family?”
Ning Pingzhou remained indifferent, showing no interest in engaging.
Among the Ning family members gathered at the Zihuan Hall today, not all were Emperor Chenghao’s children. According to Ning family rules, all direct descendants, including the emperor’s children, were ranked as princes and princesses and shared the resources allocated to the Ning family’s direct line.
Ning Pingzhou and Ning Yaozhu were biological siblings, but they were not Emperor Chenghao’s children. They were the offspring of Emperor Chenghao’s brother.
Though they referred to Emperor Chenghao as Father Emperor, they knew full well he was not their father. While they respected his cultivation prowess, they had no reason to extend that respect to the Seventh Prince, who was deemed a useless individual incapable of cultivation.
Why should Ning Yuzhou, someone who couldn’t cultivate, occupy the Ning family’s resources? What’s more, he squandered valuable treasures on an outsider, seemingly using the Ning family’s assets as personal favors.
This was what Ning Yaozhu resented most.
In the Dongling Kingdom, Yuan spiritual energy was scarce, and cultivation resources were limited. To the cultivators of Dongling, the Ning family seemed affluent and powerful. However, outside of Dongling, they were insignificant. Among the Ning family’s disciples, only the exceptionally gifted Third Prince Ning Zhezhou and Fifth Prince Ning Pingzhou had access to abundant cultivation resources. The rest had to fight for their share through effort and merit.
Thus, for Ning Yuzhou to freely give away the Ning family’s cultivation resources to someone with no connection to the family infuriated Ning Yaozhu. How could she possibly be happy about it?
This wasn’t just Ning Yaozhu’s opinion; many other Ning family members thought the same.
However, due to Emperor Chenghao’s presence, even if they were dissatisfied, they wouldn’t dare express it as openly as Ning Yaozhu.
As they neared the martial arts training ground, Ning Pingzhou suddenly said, “In half a month, the Lintai Hunting Valley will open. I heard Ning Yuzhou will also be going.”
Ning Yaozhu froze for a moment, then asked suspiciously, “Are you sure? What would a useless person like him do there?”
“I’m not sure. I overheard Father Emperor mention that a squad of Qianlin Guards will be assigned to accompany him into the Lintai Hunting Valley to protect him,” Ning Pingzhou said. Then, in an uncharacteristic moment, he advised his sister, “Ah Jiu, there’s no need to go out of your way to target him. Ning Yuzhou cannot cultivate. Even if he has access to an endless supply of heavenly treasures, he’ll live for only a few short decades. Besides, with his love of flaunting, it’s only a matter of time before he brings trouble upon himself. Let’s see where he ends up in a hundred years.”
Ning Yaozhu understood this logic, of course. But the very fact of his existence before her, like an undeniable mistake, made her unable to swallow her anger.
Her dislike even extended to Wen Qiao, who had married Ning Yuzhou.
—
The number of people Wen Qiao met today was overwhelming, and by the time she returned, she had forgotten most of them.
Back at the Seventh Prince’s residence, she dismissed the surrounding maids and cradled a flowerpot on the windowsill, checking on the freshly sprouted Zhuyan Flower.
Ning Yuzhou wasn’t there, having been called away by the steward of the residence as soon as they returned.
Seeing that there was nothing pressing, Wen Qiao began to cultivate again, simultaneously gathering Yuan spiritual energy and nurturing the newly sprouted Zhuyan Flower.
With the continuous flow of Yuan spiritual energy, the Zhuyan Flower grew slowly, reaching about an inch tall and sprouting two tender leaves. Its delicate and fragile appearance was surprisingly similar to the little sapling in her palm.