Qushui City was raining.
Every year in September, as autumn arrives, Qushui City experiences a continuous rain that lasts nearly a month, usually extending into early October. Last year, Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an visited Qushui City in November, missing the rainy season. This time, however, they were not so fortunate.
The rain made the roads slippery, making it inconvenient for the carriage to travel. Since they were not in a hurry, they decided to stay and wait for the rainy season to pass. Thus, they had already been in Qushui City for half a month.
Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an chose to stay at the Tidal View Inn again, in the same room, and even the inn's staff remembered them. Their exceptional looks and their extended stay last year made a deep impression on the inn's staff.
The rainy weather made the air damp and cold, with dim light even during the day, so candles were lit in the guest room.
Jiang Ning stood by the window, watching the fine rain threads drift into the vast sea, and slowly placed her hand on her stomach.
Her menstrual cycle had been delayed by five days, something that had never happened before. Since arriving in this world, thanks to the spiritual spring water, Jiang Ning's health had been excellent, never falling ill, and her menstrual cycle had been remarkably regular.
But this time, it was delayed by five days. Jiang Ning knew what this meant.
She watched the rain for a while, feeling increasingly restless. Turning her head, she saw Liu Ming'an sitting on the small couch, fiddling with a chessboard, now holding a chess piece, pondering where to place it.
"Liu Ming'an!"
The voice, filled with anger, came from the window. Liu Ming'an flinched, the chess piece falling onto the board with a "click," and looked up in surprise. Jiang Ning had already rushed to his side, pushing him down and pinning him on the couch.
The chess pieces scattered noisily on the floor, but Liu Ming'an paid no attention, only focusing on the face so close to his.
"Ah Ning, do you... want to sleep with me?"
Seeing her posture, Liu Ming'an reasonably guessed, his eyes sparkling with obvious anticipation.
Since Jiang Ning had a premonition of pregnancy in Jinzhi City, they had not had intimate relations for half a month. Liu Ming'an would hold her every day, kissing and caressing her, even teasing her until her face turned red, but at the crucial moment, he would always be stopped. He had endured for half a month.
Now that Jiang Ning was the one initiating, Liu Ming'an's heart leaped with joy, his mouth curving into a wide smile. Before the person on top could respond, he continued on his own: "Alright! I agree!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, his hands had already quickly untied Jiang Ning's belt.
"What do you agree to? Do I need your permission to sleep with you?"
Jiang Ning mercilessly pulled out the two hands that had slipped into her clothes, pressing them firmly on the couch, not allowing Liu Ming'an to move further.
Liu Ming'an, pinned like a piece of meat on a chopping board, became even more excited.
His body couldn't move, but his mouth didn't stop: "You're right, Ah Ning. You're my wife, it's natural for you to sleep with me, no need for my permission. Come on, don't be shy, I'm ready, absolutely cooperative..."
Jiang Ning was about to be driven mad by this man. Her mood was already bad, and he kept babbling, full of lewd thoughts.
Thinking about how she had been seduced into losing track of time, resulting in an unwanted pregnancy at this age, Jiang Ning was furious. Seeing that never-ending mouth, she lowered her head and bit it fiercely.
"Ouch!" Liu Ming'an winced in pain: "Ah Ning, be gentle, I'm your husband..."
Seeing him in pain, Jiang Ning couldn't help but soften, gently licking the bitten lip.
Liu Ming'an's breathing immediately became heavy. He broke free from the hands holding him down, pulling her tightly into his embrace, and his hot lips and tongue pressed forward.
Jiang Ning obediently nestled in Liu Ming'an's arms, allowing him to kiss her. The kiss seemed to have a soothing power, gradually calming the unease and irritation in her heart.
After the kiss, Liu Ming'an lifted her horizontally and walked towards the bed, but she tightened her arms around his neck and whispered, "My period hasn't come this month."
Liu Ming'an stopped in his tracks, all his passion fading in an instant.
He looked down, seeing Jiang Ning's head resting on his shoulder, her eyes drooping, slightly biting her lip, her expression somewhat dazed.
"Ah Ning..." Liu Ming'an gently kissed her forehead, not knowing what to say, his heart filled with joy, confusion, worry, and melancholy.
Liu Ming'an placed Jiang Ning on the bed as if she were a priceless treasure, then got on himself and pulled her into his embrace, remaining silent for a long time.
Jiang Ning couldn't argue with him and had to agree.
The journey from Qushui City to Lingshan Town, without any rest, would take about half a month. But given Liu Ming'an's current level of concern, the trip was likely to take nearly a month.
Since the rain had stopped, Jiang Ning, feeling bored at the Tidal View Inn, decided to take Liu Ming'an to Lan Xu's courtyard to see the lily of the valley plants that had been planted especially for her.
Ever since Jiang Ning brought Lan Xu to Jinzhi City, no one had set foot in this courtyard.
Before sending Lan Xu to Fuling Temple, Jiang Ning had informed her that their journey would pass through Qushui City and asked if there was anything from her old home that she wanted to take back to Jinzhi City, considering she had lived there for over a decade.
Lan Xu had waved it off casually, "What could there be? Ling'er, that was just a temporary stop. There's nothing worth missing. Now, Jinzhi City has my daughter, son-in-law, and the abbesses at Fuling Temple. That's my home now. You can just sell that courtyard. The deed is in the bottom drawer of the bedside cabinet."
The courtyard, left unvisited for over half a year, showed signs of neglect. The lock on the door had rusted a dull red, and weeds had grown on the steps on either side.
Jiang Ning looked at the closed gate, remembering the day she had locked it after carrying the drugged Lan Xu out of the house. The key had long since been lost.
"Jiang Ning, how do we get in?" Liu Ming'an asked, looking at the lock with concern.
Normally, Jiang Ning might have kicked the door open, but now that she was pregnant, she couldn't be so rough. Instead, she pointed to a nearby stone and instructed Liu Ming'an to smash the rusty lock with it.
The stone clanged against the lock, and Liu Ming'an glanced around nervously, feeling a strange sense of guilt despite breaking into his mother-in-law's property. Fortunately, after a few hits, the lock "clicked" and half fell off, dangling from the door. Liu Ming'an pushed the door open and followed Jiang Ning inside, closing the door behind them.
The courtyard was as Jiang Ning had expected, with grass growing between the cracks in the stone tiles. The plot where the lily of the valley had been planted was also a mess.
"There's nothing to see," Jiang Ning muttered, then stood in the courtyard for a moment before pulling Liu Ming'an away.
"Do you want to sell this courtyard?" Liu Ming'an asked.
"No, we don't need the money now. Let this courtyard stay here," Jiang Ning said, glancing back at the secluded place, which had been Lan Xu's home.
Liu Ming'an suggested, "We should have Qi Feng fix the lock later."
Jiang Ning nodded, ready to return to the inn with Liu Ming'an, when a distant bell rang.
"It's Universal Blessing Temple," Liu Ming'an said, looking in the direction of the sound, though the walls of the alley blocked most of the view, revealing only a corner of the temple.
Hearing "Universal Blessing Temple," Jiang Ning's eyes flickered, and some memories flashed before her: in the dimly lit Eternal Life Hall, Lan Xu kneeling before rows of eternal life tablets, murmuring, "May Ling'er be safe and sound every year..."
"I want to visit Universal Blessing Temple," Jiang Ning told Liu Ming'an.
"Alright, let's go."
Liu Ming'an assumed she wanted to revisit the place, but he didn't expect Jiang Ning to head straight to the Eternal Life Hall, leaving him in the pavilion outside to wait.
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The Eternal Life Hall remained as quiet and dim as ever, with the scent of lamp oil slightly overpowering.
"Are you here to request an eternal life tablet?"
The same monk from last time stood at the entrance of the hall, seeing Jiang Ning enter, he clasped his hands together and said "Amitabha" before starting his business.
Jiang Ning ignored him and walked to the spot where Nangong Ling's tablet had been. As expected, since Lan Xu had left and no one was paying for the lamp oil, the tablet and the lamp had been removed.
"Can the removed tablets be found?" Jiang Ning asked the monk.
"Those within a year are still kept. May I ask whose tablet you are looking for?"
The monk had seen this many times. The monthly cost of a lamp oil for an eternal life tablet was not something everyone could afford continuously. If someone couldn't afford it, the tablet would be removed and stored in a small warehouse at the back of the hall for a year. If not renewed within that time, it would be chopped up for firewood.
Hearing that the tablet was still there, Jiang Ning felt relieved. She reached into her robe and pulled out a palm-sized token, dangling it in front of the monk with a golden thread: "Do you recognize this?"
The monk looked closely and saw a gold-inlaid jade token, square with phoenix feathers carved around the edges, and the words "Hening" engraved in the center.
"Princess Hening?" The monk looked at the person in disbelief.