Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 83: No Divorce, Only the Loss of a Husband!

When Xie Yuan woke up the next day, Ning He was already sitting by the window doing her hair.

Seeing Xie Yuan's somewhat awkward expression, Ning He smiled and said, "If you're tired, you can sleep a little longer."

These words made Xie Yuan's face turn red instantly to the roots of his ears.

She simply rolled over and got out of bed, saying, "You've misunderstood, I'm not tired."

Xie Yuan's eager tone made Ning He giggle.

Regardless of one's status, a man's dignity is something he must strive for.

"Yes, yes, you're not tired, you're the best."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuan's face showed suspicion.

Is this still the same vulnerable Ning He from last night?

Why does it feel like Ning He is a scumbag who got away with his ways, and I am the woman who was deceived?

Ning He exuded a sense of satisfied relaxation, giving Xie Yuan a feeling of emptiness that he couldn't grasp.

He asked with slight trepidation, "He'er, will you divorce Lu Zhiyan?"

Ning He, drawing her eyebrows, said without turning her head, "You want me to divorce him?"

Xie Yuan didn't know how to answer; given his status, it seemed that no answer would be appropriate.

But after last night, Xie Yuan felt a strange, unspoken expectation.

Perhaps because she hadn't heard a reply for a long time, Ning He turned around.

Seeing Xie Yuan's conflicted expression, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Xie Yuan, I will not divorce Lu Zhiyan."

Ning He's resolute words caused Xie Yuan to feel a pang of sadness for no reason, but he forced himself not to let his emotions show.

Having known Xie Yuan since childhood, how could Ning He not know what Xie Yuan was thinking?

She stood up and took Xie Yuan's hand.

“In my life, Ning He, there is no divorce, only the loss of her husband.”

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Xie Yuan's dim eyes instantly came to life.

Ning He gently patted the back of his hand, her tone tinged with self-deprecation and teasing.

"Xie Yuan, we are both walking on the edge of danger right now."

"According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, if the two of us are discovered, we will be drowned in a pig cage."

"You, a refined gentleman, have been dragged down by a harlot like me. It is I who have wronged you."

“I need a child, so I tried to lure you into this, and I don’t want to hide it from you.”

"You may pretend that what happened today never happened..."

Before Ning He could finish speaking, Xie Yuan's expression turned extremely angry.

He gripped Ning He's arm tightly and said, word by word, "Ning He, do you intend to start something and then abandon it?"

What do you mean by that?

Ning He was both amused and exasperated; why did Xie Yuan seem a little aggrieved?

"Xie Yuan, I am a married woman. If you continue to entangle yourself with me, I'm afraid you will not have a good end..."

"Ning He, how bad do you think I could be?"

Xie Yuan's eyes welled up with tears, and his tone became somewhat melancholic.

"My entire Xie family was executed, and I am the only one who survived."

“I am the son of a disgraced official, a lowly speck of dust in the mud. If I am found hiding in this brothel, I will only face death.”

"Even if our affair is discovered, it will only be another crime added to the list."

Xie Yuan spoke, looking at Ning He with utmost seriousness.

"But is the fault solely yours? If you are a harlot, then what am I?"

Ning He's eyes welled up with tears, but she forced herself to suppress her emotions.

"Xie Yuan, I have always regarded you as the bright moon in the sky, and that has never changed since we met in our childhood."

Xie Yuan shook his head, his arm gripping Ning He's shoulder tightening.

"I have never been a bright moon, much less a refined gentleman."

“I am a despicable person who covets a married woman, a hyena hiding greed, anger, ignorance, and jealousy towards Lu Zhiyan.”

"You said last night's events were a deliberate seduction, but how do you know I wasn't half-heartedly resisting?"

"Ning He, if you don't want me, Xie Yuan will never exist in this world again."

Ning He looked up and saw Xie Yuan's eyes were as black as ink, like a bottomless pool of spring water.

The emotions contained within were so profound that Ning He could sense them even without him saying them.

That intense and fiery emotion seemed capable of burning through one's soul!

But Ning He is no longer the Ning He of the past.

When a man's emotions are intense, even heaven and earth are moved.

When it retreats, it's like ice and snow melting under the warm sun, impossible to hold back.

Xie Yuan may be deeply in love now, but Ning He cannot guarantee that he will remain so in the future.

and so……

"I'm sorry, Xie Yuan, I can't promise you anything."

“Even without Lu Zhiyan, I am still the rightful wife of a general. I possess power, status, and wealth, and I have the Prime Minister’s mansion behind me.”

"Even without relying on any man, among the nobles of the Great Zhou, no one dares to look down on me."

Xie Yuan's grip on Ning He's shoulder gradually loosened, and a sense of powerlessness spread throughout his body.

As the descendant of a disgraced official, he had no ability to protect Ning He.

Having Ninghe briefly yesterday felt like a dream.

Just as Xie Yuan felt as if he were falling into an abyss, Ning He suddenly changed the subject.

"However, if you are willing, I will not seek any other man besides you."

Ning He meant that she could not give Xie Yuan any official title.

He can maintain the relationship if he wants.

If you're unwilling, then let's part ways amicably!

Ning He felt that most men would not accept such a suggestion.

Since ancient times, it has always been women who have flattered and fawned over men in order to gain a formal status.

What man would willingly compromise and stay with a woman?

Unexpectedly, after a brief silence, Xie Yuan said sincerely, "I am willing."

Ning He was taken aback, thinking she had misheard.

"Xie Yuan, this matter is utterly undignified for you... How could you..."

Xie Yuan interrupted her, saying, "I'm willing, simply because it's you."

"Life is only a few decades long. As long as I can stay with you, I don't care about anything else."

This……

Ning He was truly at a loss for words.

Xie Yuan seemed to be even more affectionate than she had imagined.

However, the feeling of being moved was fleeting, and Ning He quickly banished it.

Ning He agrees with a statement made by Zhou Wei.

Better to be a bad woman than to be a bad woman.

After what happened with Lu Zhiyan, Ning He felt even more deeply.

After saying these words, Xie Yuan seemed to have let go of all his burdens.

Since Ning He was unwilling, all he could do was accompany her.

Perhaps one day, after Ning He gradually forgets the hurt she suffered at Lu Zhiyan's hands, she will truly accept herself!

"He'er, you said you wanted a child..." Xie Yuan said, his ears turning red again, "...I'm afraid once isn't enough...would you like to come for a few more days?"

Xie Yuan's shy yet expectant demeanor sent shivers of pleasure through Ning He's heart.

"Of course, we'll have more..."

After saying this, the two looked at each other, their eyes filled with a hint of panic.

Ning He was speechless with himself.

You were completely honest with each other yesterday, so why are you still acting like a shy bride getting married today?

Ning He lowered her head, and her eyes inadvertently glanced at the few pages of Xuan paper on Xie Yuan's desk.

While trying to dispel the shyness in her heart, she unconsciously recited the words on the rice paper.

As Ning He continued reading, she realized something was amiss.

She walked past Xie Yuan to the table, picked up the few pages of Xuan paper, and examined them carefully.

After a long pause, he asked in confusion, "Xie Yuan, this seems to be an essay for this year's imperial examination? Did you write it?"

Xie Yuan also came to his senses and casually said, "It was written by me, but it was just a piece I made out of boredom before the imperial examination."

"No!" Ning He pondered the words repeatedly, her expression growing increasingly shocked.

"What's wrong?" Xie Yuan asked, puzzled.

Ning He pointed to the sheets of Xuan paper: "Your policy essay is almost identical to that of Chu Tiance, the third-ranked scholar in this imperial examination."

"During this year's imperial examination, His Majesty personally set the questions, and Chu Tianze almost became the top scholar based on his essay."

"Later, because the princess was to be betrothed to him, he was changed to the third-ranked scholar!"

"His policy essay is still hanging at the entrance of the Imperial College, for students from all over the country to see, which shows his high level of scholarship."

"Have you shown any of these things you've written to outsiders?"