FRGNM -Chapter 214 Ambiguity

Her eyes brimming with tears, Lin Zi’er clenched her teeth, turned around, and ran off.

Lin Hu was stunned as well. He subconsciously looked at his own hand, then smashed his fist hard against a tree trunk. Lowering his head to look at the person still clinging to him with tears on her lashes, he had no choice but to bend down, lift her into his arms, and walk outward.

“Why did you suddenly think of slipping that girl a note, hm?” Luo Mingyu chuckled softly as he looked ahead into the forest.

Ling Ruoxi rested her chin on one hand and said indifferently, “The Hu family is also one of the noble families supporting Nangong Mo. But don’t you find Lin Zi’er strange? She wasn’t afraid at all—almost as if she did it on purpose. What surprised me even more was that the poison in Hu Qiao’er’s body was left there years ago. Someone tried to harm her several years back.”

Was this really just an accident?

“So what did you write? Told her to watch out for Lin Zi’er?” Luo Mingyu smiled calmly. Then, noticing the traces on the ground, his expression changed slightly.

“Not good—the wild boar’s been taken by those beasts!”

“What?” Ling Ruoxi froze, then hurried forward. Looking at the large pit in the ground, she saw fox paw prints beside it. Long drag marks stretched into the distance, then abruptly disappeared not far away, making it impossible to tell where they had gone.

“See? Those foxes are way smarter than you,” Luo Mingyu said with a helpless smile. “Let’s go. With that wild boar, they won’t show themselves for the next seven days. We’re heading back.”

They arrived at the imperial city just as the gates were closing. As soon as Ling Ruoxi and Luo Mingyu returned to Hanyu Pavilion, they saw Nangong Mo walking out, his face dark and livid, moving at great speed.

“What’s wrong with him?” Ling Ruoxi asked in surprise, unaware of what she had missed.

Before she could ask more, a black-clad figure appeared like a ghost. His face was pale, fists clenched tightly, looking like a furious Asura as he stormed out.

“Something’s not right. What’s going on with them? Why was Nangong Mo here? And wasn’t that Qian Yi just now—what was she doing here?” Still confused, Ling Ruoxi could only watch the two figures disappear in opposite directions, one heading left, the other right.

Luo Mingyu closed his eyes slightly, already knowing the outcome. He pulled Ling Ruoxi closer into his arms and chuckled. “Their matters are something only they themselves understand. Let’s go upstairs first, haha…”

Bang!

Nangong Mo smashed his fist hard into a vermilion pillar. His face was darker than ever. Blood flowed down from his hand, yet he seemed completely numb to the pain.

Thinking of that boneless-soft body beneath him, of that seductive, gentle voice, his mind was in utter chaos. How could this have happened? He had only brought Qian Yi to look for Luo Mingyu—how had things turned out like this?

And at that time, he had thought she was Ruoxi… not—

He grabbed his hair fiercely and sat down. Staring at the letter before him, he had no mood to open it. Sitting there blankly, as if suddenly realizing something, he abruptly stood up and was about to head out.

“Your Highness, the thirteen ministers have already been waiting. Please—”

“Not going. Send them back. Today’s meeting is canceled!” Nangong Mo said coldly as he turned and left.

The guard beside him froze. What was going on with His Highness? Gathering thirteen ministers was no easy task, yet he had changed his mind so suddenly. Had something happened?

“Princess, this is the latest long dress from the clothing shop, made according to your order. And now—”

“Princess, there’s also this—”

“Princess, all the garments from the shop have arrived. In one month, at the former emperor’s birthday banquet, you will surely—”

“Enough! You’re so noisy—get out, all of you!” Qian Yi slammed her palm on the table and stood up irritably, her brows tightly knit and her complexion dreadful.

The maids were startled. The princess rarely raised her voice at them. Now that she was angry, she must have something weighing heavily on her mind. At once, the maids holding the dresses put them down and quietly withdrew.

Recalling what had happened in that room, Qian Yi’s face grew even uglier. She suddenly swept a vase off the desk. Damn it—who exactly was that man? Why had she—

Rubbing her temples, she thought of the room again, then of the tea she had drunk. Could someone have secretly drugged her? Hanyu Pavilion had always been tightly guarded—such a thing shouldn’t have happened.

But then how was she supposed to explain how she had kissed that man…?

The thought made her feel nauseated. She nearly threw up. Clenching her fists tightly, she muttered, “Zhao Han… using poison in secret. Damn it—could it have been him?”

Thinking it over, only that man named Zhao Han could have resorted to such means. Qian Yi’s face darkened completely. She picked up her brush, about to write, then froze. No—if she arrested Zhao Han just like that, wouldn’t her reputation, and everything about that man, be exposed?

Though she had lived in military camps for years, she still possessed a woman’s sense of chastity. Thinking that before marriage her body had been taken by a strange man, she wanted nothing more than to cut him down with a sword.

Crack!

The brush snapped in her hand. She threw it aside viciously, murderous intent blazing in her eyes. She would kill that despicable Zhao Han—then… no matter the cost, she would find that man!

Damn it, she only remembered that his surname was Nangong. Could he be a young lord of the Nangong family? But the Nangong family supported General Lieyun—there was no way she could ever be with such a man!

No. She had to drag that man out!

In that instant, killing intent surged in Qian Yi’s eyes.

“Come out!!”

Her mood was foul. If someone had been lurking in secret at another time, she would have attacked when they least expected it—but now…

Gripping her sword, she flung it with force. The blade plunged deep into a nearby red pillar.

A purple-clad figure rushed into the room. Bang! The door slammed shut. The handsome face was twisted, awkwardly meeting Qian Yi’s gaze.

It was as if something exploded in her mind. The moment Qian Yi met his eyes, her body trembled violently. Without waiting for him to speak, she slammed one hand onto the desk, spun around, and kicked straight at his groin.

“You! Stop! I didn’t come here to fight you!” Nangong Mo’s face sank. He quickly sidestepped, grabbing Qian Yi’s right leg with both hands as he shouted, “Stop! Calm down! This wasn’t something I wanted either!”

“Shut up, you despicable wretch, shameless lecher! You think I’ll believe you? You barged into my private chambers— I’ll fight you to the death!” Her fury blazing, Qian Yi paid no heed to his explanation. Her slender body twisted, fists whistling through the air as she struck fiercely.

Nangong Mo retreated again and again, blocking her punches. “Woman, you’ve gone too far! In Hanyu Pavilion, wasn’t it you who took the initiative? And now you’re blaming me! I came today just to reason things out!”

“Reason? How ridiculous. What reason is there to talk about? Even if I forced myself on you, my loss is far greater than yours. Tell me—what man would want a woman whose reputation is ruined, whose purity is unclear?!” Her eyes burned with rage as she threw another punch.

Nangong Mo’s expression changed. He stared blankly at Qian Yi, and in that instant, he saw Ling Ruoxi’s shadow. Back then, they had been engaged—yet hadn’t he abandoned her, chosen to cast her aside?

Yes… what man would want such a woman as his wife? Back then… he had been wrong…

Thud!

The punch landed. Qian Yi’s expression shifted slightly as she looked coldly at the man who didn’t fight back. “Why aren’t you returning blows? You’re capable of blocking them!”

“It’s my fault. What’s a few punches anyway…” Nangong Mo slowly turned his head, clenching his fists. “What happened between us was a misunderstanding. But… I will take responsibility. I won’t let you lose face. In the future, I will marry you—”

“Dream on! You think I’d marry you? I, Qian Yi—even if I end up accompanying a lone lamp and ancient Buddha, will never marry someone who supports that bastard Lieyun! Take this!”
She struck out again in fury.

Nangong Mo froze and hurriedly dodged. He knew just how much power was behind those fists—if he took a solid hit, he’d be bedridden for days.

“Bastard!”

Seeing him keep dodging, Qian Yi’s face grew uglier. Her legs ached so badly she could barely stand, yet this damned man still dared to evade her!

Her foot slipped. As she reached out reflexively, she stepped on her own skirt and toppled toward the ground.

“Careful!” Nangong Mo frowned and hurriedly caught her by the waist. But in that instant, the person in his arms seized his neck and pressed him down onto the bed.

If my fists can’t kill you, my hands can strangle you!

“Enough! Let go!” Nangong Mo’s face darkened. He quickly pried her hands away. The woman, seemingly crazed, sat astride his waist, her body writhing like a nimble snake. If he hadn’t restrained her wrists, she would have scratched countless marks into him—just like in Hanyu Pavilion. A wildcat indeed.

“I won’t! I’m killing you today, you stinking man!” Roaring, Qian Yi lifted herself and slammed down onto his waist again. Crushing him to death like this would be satisfying enough.

Nearly driven mad by her, Nangong Mo’s expression worsened. “Move again—move again and I won’t be polite!”

“What politeness do I need from you? If you’ve got the guts, kill me! I dare you—ah!” She cried out as the man beneath her suddenly rolled over, pinning her wrists to the bed. “Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re a woman. I—”

“Yi’er, what are you throwing such a tantrum for? The whole courtyard can hear you making a scene. You… you two—what are you doing?!” The door was shoved open. The man standing outside looked even more grim.

The scene before him was indescribably ambiguous.

Nangong Mo hadn’t even realized their position. Man above, woman below—and to restrain her, he had pinned her wrists, wedged between her legs. The posture was unmistakably intimate.

Clang!

Pulling the sword from the pillar, Qian Guang glared furiously at the pair. “In broad daylight, what are you doing?! Yi’er, get up and speak!”