Upon arriving at the palace, Yang Ning slipped into her nightgown and wearily settled onto the bed. The crazy events at the carnival had left her so drained that she skipped going to the dining room, lacking any desire to eat. She also instructed Xiaowei not to bring dinner to her chamber, as she had no appetite for the time being.
She remained gloomy and perplexed by the cryptic words of the mysterious woman throughout their journey to the palace.
'You cannot change your fate, no matter how hard you try.' Why had she said that? What did this stranger know about her to make such a claim? Does the woman know anything about her secret that she hasn't told anyone about yet? These complicated thoughts have occupied her attention.
With a weary sigh, Yang Ning rested the back of her hand on her forehead, her eyes wandering to the sheer canopy above. Deep in thought, she pondered, "If there's truth to her words, does it mean all my struggles will be for nothing, and my destiny is to face death in the end? And worse, at the hands of my beloved husband, Zheng Liang?"
A sharp pain pierced her heart at the thought of events unfolding as they did in the novel. At this point, her fear wasn't just about the possibility of falling to Zheng Liang's sharp blade. It was the idea that he might develop feelings for the story's female lead, Hou Wei.
The thought of being overshadowed, of becoming a forgotten wife, and then meeting a tragic and bloody end weighed heavily on her.
Unbeknownst to her, tears began to form in her eyes, conjured by the painful imagery of Zheng Liang declaring his love to Hou Wei and them finding their happy ending together. "That's why I have been pushing him away. Everything's become so complicated now." She sniffled, closing her eyes tight in an attempt to hold back her tears.
She had always tried to remain emotionally detached from Zheng Liang, but things had taken a turn ever since she began to see him as more than just a character, more than just the male lead she needed to win over. She loved him, more deeply than she had ever loved anyone in this world or her past life.
The fear of death paled in comparison to the thought of leaving him alone in this world without her.
Above all, the mere notion of him falling for someone else felt like a dagger to her heart. It was an agony she couldn't bear.
While she was sobbing silently, her eyes closed and lost in a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts, the chamber door creaked open. Zheng Liang entered, dressed in his comfortable night pajamas and a silk robe, held together by a delicate string. His muscular chest was alluringly visible, peeking through the folds of the soft material.
He carried a golden tray in his hands, on which rested a glass of warm milk, delicately sprinkled with nuts and infused with strands of saffron for her. Aware that she hadn't finished her lamb skewers earlier and had skipped dinner, he wanted to make sure that she wouldn't retire for the night on an empty stomach.
She was so delicate and fragile. The idea of her lying awake, restless from hunger, and haunted by the unsettling events of the night, was more than he could bear.
Yang Ning felt a surge of emotions in her heart. His words gave her assurance and made her feel better. After taking a deep breath, she asked again, "What if you develop feelings for another woman in the future, will you take her as your consort? Will you love someone else more than me?" She asked hesitantly, her voice laced with vulnerability.
Zheng Liang's face darkened at her question, and he asked in bewilderment, "Why are you asking such questions? Did you forget that I promised you that in this world, you will be my one and only Princess? I will not take another consort." He assured her.
"Push aside whatever doubts running in your mind. Remember this - I only have you and will forever love you. Understand?" Zheng Liang said, his words filled with love and certainty, soothing Yang Ning's heart.
Her eyes widened in surprise at his words. These were the same words he had used in the novel to assure the female lead of their strong and unwavering relationship, expressing his deep feelings for her.
This time, it was her in place of the female lead from the story. It meant that the story was changing, but what about the ominous words of the mysterious woman? Would the ending of the novel also change, or was it still destined to unfold as written? Everything was becoming so confusing and uncertain.
After hearing Zheng Liang's heartfelt words, she decided to put aside her gloomy thoughts and concentrate on the present. She knew that she couldn't live in constant fear of the story's ending, and it was important to cherish the love and commitment she had with him at this moment.
After gaining assurance from Zheng Liang, Yang Ning was feeling better. She took a deep breath and wiped her face with the back of her hand, looking at him with pouty lips as she complained, "I am tired."
He smiled, noticing her childishness returning, and replied, "Is that so? Drink this glass of warm milk, and let's go to bed."
Yang Ning shook her head and insisted, "I feel hungry now. I want to eat something spicy."
Zheng Liang narrowed his eyes at her and cautioned, "Master Jiang advised you to refrain from eating spicy foods at night. It might cause you discomfort during sleep. I'll ask the maids to prepare something light for you. Alright?"
She frowned, but before she could protest further, he cupped her face and said, "If you behave and eat a light dinner, I'll get those lamb skewers for you tomorrow as well. Alright?"
Yang Ning's eyes lit up at his words.
She had been so disappointed when the skewers she had wanted to eat badly fell from her hands and got ruined. "Make sure to keep your promise," she said, giving in to his tempting offer. "Fine, I'll have a light dinner, as you say. How can I deny my handsome husband's words?" She leaned towards him, hugging his neck and nuzzling her face against his, acting like an attention-seeking cat.
Zheng Liang chuckled and patted her head, saying, "Good girl."