FRGNM -Chapter 51 Playing Tricks

Clutching her silk handkerchief tightly, Ling Huiru stared at the figure outside. Only when Nangong Mo appeared did she pounce like a tiger.

“Your Highness, where have you been? Don’t you know yesterday was our wedding day? If so, why leave me alone in this empty room?” Before Nangong Mo could speak, Ling Huiru shouted as if he owed her a debt.

Nangong Mo despised this kind of unreasonable behavior. He pushed her away and said coldly, “Where I went is none of your business. It’s not like it’s the first time—you’re in such a hurry for what?”

“You!” Ling Huiru’s face darkened. She stepped back, clenching her teeth. “Did you go see that slut?”

“Ling Huiru, I already warned you. Ruoxi is your real sister. Do you really have to target her like this?” Nangong Mo slammed the table and glared at her.

Laughing mockingly, Ling Huiru sneered, “Real sister? How laughable! How do you know she’s my real sister? I’ll tell you—she’s just a little bastard, not born of our father. A girl we adopted. And yet you arranged a marriage with her? Do you know how much I hate her? I wish I could eat her flesh and drink her blood!”

“Ling Huiru, have you lost your mind? For the position of Crown Princess, you dare to speak such nonsense?” Nangong Mo’s face grew even darker. He coldly looked at the frenzied woman and turned to leave.

Ling Huiru grabbed him, teeth clenched. “It’s true, Your Highness! She really is an adopted child, not Father’s daughter!”

“Silence!” Nangong Mo raised his hand sharply, pushing her away. He looked at her with disgust. “Ling Huiru, remember this—you are merely a woman I was ordered to marry. I can divorce Ruoxi, and I can just as easily divorce you!”

“Your Highness!” Sitting on the cold floor, Ling Huiru’s heart had died inside. Watching him leave was like a knife to her chest.

Her enraged eyes stared ahead, hands gripping the floor. “Ruoxi, I will never let you be happy. Never!”

On the Crown Prince’s wedding day, Ling Huiru became the laughingstock of the entire Beining Kingdom. The Crown Prince had chased the formerly divorced Ling Ruoxi, and rumors swept through the capital.

Many speculated whether the Crown Prince was the father of Ruoxi’s child. The sudden appearance of the young master from Qiongyu Immortal Island only complicated things.

When Huangfu Xuan arrived, the two children even called him “Dad.” The people, unaware of the truth, could only treat it as a joke.

Huangfu Xuan sent his guards away and stayed. He had promised to remain by Ling Ruoxi’s side until she cured his illness.

Even with controlled doses of medicine, Huangfu Xuan could feel his body slowly recovering. Even three days without medication caused no abnormality.

“Uncle Huangfu, I heard you were once the strongest Blue Dou Qi Master in Eastern Ling. How did you become like this?” Children’s minds were always direct. Yizhu and Yimeng sat on stone benches, staring at him.

Huangfu Xuan’s heart trembled. He smiled faintly. “Life in the palace is full of intrigue. People always plot behind your back. So, Yizhu, Yimeng, you’re lucky—you don’t live in such an environment.”

“Uncle Huangfu, Mommy said the palace is ruthless. There, siblings kill each other for a cold seat. Uncle, were you also betrayed?” Seeing his frail figure, even Yizhu shook his head.

A normal man wouldn’t be so weak. Clearly, Huangfu Xuan had been poisoned and sabotaged, leaving him with his current ailments.

He nodded and let go of the past. Smiling gently at the children, he said, “It’s fine. I’m much better now. Soon, I’ll be able to carry both of you around myself.”

“Hehe, Uncle Huangfu is the best!” Yimeng laughed, clinging to him. Yimeng preferred Huangfu Xuan, while Yizhu leaned slightly toward Luo Mingyu.

Perhaps it was due to personality or time spent together. When Luo Mingyu appeared, Yizhu ran to him and hugged his neck. “Uncle, you’re here! I was so bored.”

“You little thing, always bored. Did you finish your homework?” Luo Mingyu smiled faintly, raising an eyebrow.

Yizhu nodded repeatedly, jumped from Luo Mingyu’s arms, and struck a martial pose. His movements flowed smoothly; he had learned quickly.

“Is this what you taught him?” Ling Ruoxi sneered, unimpressed. The techniques here were shallow—though people had Dou Qi, it couldn’t compare to Earth’s martial arts.

Hearing her mockery, Luo Mingyu raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Did I teach it wrong?”

“No, it’s just that these techniques are too shallow. Luo Mingyu, dare you make a bet with me?” Ling Ruoxi raised her brow, snorting disdainfully.

Luo Mingyu frowned but smiled faintly. “Speak.”

“If you don’t use Dou Qi and can catch me within twenty moves, you win. Dare to try?” Ling Ruoxi said, smiling lightly.

Not using Dou Qi? Luo Mingyu didn’t mind. “Alright, watch out. With just fists and feet, you can’t beat me.”

“Who knows who will win? How can you be sure you’re stronger than me? Come on, try!” Ling Ruoxi snorted and dashed into the courtyard.

Her mind unleashed the “Nine-turn Eight-trigram Steps” from the Poison Manual. She floated unpredictably, appearing like dozens of figures moving across the courtyard.

Luo Mingyu watched with interest. If he used Dou Qi, he could catch her immediately. But for now… fine, he’d test his speed.

He advanced, locking his gaze on Ling Ruoxi. As she moved, he rushed forward to grab her shoulder.

“Hmph!” She didn’t dodge. Luo Mingyu caught her squarely.

Smirking, he said, “So much for twenty moves. Now—uh…”

Before he could finish, she pressed his arm, shifted her position, withdrew her left foot past his, braced her shoulder against his waist, and with a forceful push from her calf, launched him into the air.

Damn…

Luo Mingyu didn’t expect such a move. She landed gracefully, facing him with a calm smile.

“One move.” Ling Ruoxi tapped her hands, raising her eyebrows.

“Again!” Luo Mingyu refused to accept defeat and lunged at her. She was like a roly-poly toy, skillfully avoiding him. Worse, if his hand touched her, a strange force would drag him away, leaving him trapped.

If one touched her hands, it was a dead end! Luo Mingyu knew but had no way to counter it. Instinctively, he unleashed Dou Qi to force her back.

“Uncle is cheating!” Yimeng shouted, pouting at the courtyard.

Huangfu Xuan’s face darkened. That burst of Dou Qi—purple? The young master from Qiongyu Immortal Island was a purple-level Dou Qi master, the legendary Purple Respect?

Clenching his fists, Huangfu Xuan lowered his head, silent in thought.

Luo Mingyu finally realized, looking at the retreating Ling Ruoxi. “Are you okay? I…”

“You only used Dou Qi because you couldn’t beat me.” Ling Ruoxi rolled her eyes, rubbing her tingling hands. Dou Qi was powerful—even with Tai Chi to deflect force, repeated hits would fracture her arms.

Yizhu clapped. “Awesome, Uncle! When can I become a Purple Dou Qi Master like you?”

“You? Not anytime soon.” Luo Mingyu smiled, patting his son’s head. The more he looked at them, the more they resembled each other.

These days, he had been persistently teasing Ling Ruoxi, finally winning her favor. He was happy—he could now openly stay by her side. But any move, and she kicked him off the bed.

Have you ever been kicked off the bed by your own wife?

“I’ll go buy something. Stay here, nowhere else. Huangfu Xuan, come with me.” Ling Ruoxi wiped sweat from her brow, eyeing the distracted man beside her.

Huangfu Xuan immediately got up and followed.

“Uncle, teach me Dou Qi too—I want to learn!”

“No, girls don’t learn Dou Qi. Your brother will protect you. Uncle, continue the next lesson…”

On the bustling street, Ling Ruoxi walked with a white veil, side by side with Huangfu Xuan. The man beside her stayed silent, head lowered, deep in thought.