Some things, once started, are hard to stop.
This was exactly the case with Zhou Yi and Nangong Muyan.
Although they had already been intimate before, that first time had been reluctant for both of them, and they hadn't experienced the wonderful taste of passion.
Now things were different. Their hearts were connected, and when their bodies intertwined, their hearts clung tightly together, both lost in the deep affection given by the other.
Zhou Yi was only twenty-two, at an age when his blood ran hot, and he was most susceptible to temptation. During the day, when clear-headed, he would always remind himself that Nangong Muyan was still carrying their child, and that some things should be done in moderation. After all, they would spend their whole lives together after marriage - there was plenty of time.
However, at night, when Nangong Muyan would persistently entice him, a few words from her would defeat his resolve, and they would fall together into the abyss of passion.
The couple spent their nights in passionate embrace, almost forgetting about all matters in the Capital City.
It wasn't until mid-May when Li Jiu arrived with Nangong Chenfeng that they suddenly remembered their wedding was only a little over a month away.
"Brother?" Nangong Muyan looked at Nangong Chenfeng in surprise. "Why are you here? Have you come to fetch me?"
Nangong Chenfeng glanced at her slightly protruding belly, his tone rather helpless: "Muyan, you've been gone for over twenty days without sending any word home. Father wanted to call you back long ago, but Mother kept persuading him to wait until today."
"Mother is so good!" Nangong Muyan said sincerely.
The four of them set out for the capital that day. Zhou Yi sat with Nangong Muyan in the carriage, while Nangong Chenfeng rode his horse, and Li Jiu sat as the coachman.
As the wheels rolled forward, Nangong Muyan lifted the curtain to look outside, watching the lush green fields slowly recede behind them. She felt a touch of reluctance in her heart: "Zhou Yi, I like this place."
Zhou Yi immediately responded: "We can come back after we're married."
Nangong Muyan gave a soft laugh and lowered the curtain to look at him.
Having been nourished by love during this time, she had bloomed like an exquisite flower in full bloom. Nangong Muyan's features were naturally alluring, and this glance was full of charm, her eyes containing endless waves of tender affection that instantly made Zhou Yi's breath catch.
Zhou Yi pulled her into his embrace, letting her straddle him, holding her still-slender waist as he tilted his head up and coaxed softly: "Muyan, give me a kiss."
For some reason, Nangong Muyan suddenly remembered that day at the Jun Yue Restaurant when she had playfully kissed Zhou Yi's face.
Back then, Zhou Yi had been angry like a bristling cat, rubbing his face red and pretending to be fierce as he warned her never to kiss him again.
That huffing "Do you think you can just kiss me whenever you want?" still echoed in her ears. The man who had once avoided her like the plague was now looking at her with eyes full of love, asking for a kiss.
Nangong Muyan burst into laughter, cupped Zhou Yi's face in her hands, and closed her eyes to kiss him.
She loved this man, loved embracing him, kissing him, and doing even more intimate things with him.
The carriage moved slowly, and this stretch of road was uneven. Nangong Chenfeng rode his horse in front of the carriage, making casual conversation with Li Jiu. Their voices drifted into the carriage, giving the kissing couple a feeling of doing something secretive.
Zhou Yi gently licked those tender lips, feeling as if the emotions filling his heart were about to overflow.
"Zhou Yi, do you know why I like Mulberry Leaf Town?"
A soft moan escaped from between Nangong Muyan's teeth, audible only to the two of them.
Zhou Yi caught her escaping tongue, entangling with it for a while before reluctantly moving away, then nibbled on her jade-like earlobe: "Because in Mulberry Leaf Town, you completely possessed me, isn't that right?"
The person in his arms giggled, her body soft as water: "Zhou Yi, when did you become so clever?"
"What? Did you always think I was stupid?" Zhou Yi pretended to be angry, taking the opportunity to bite her neck.
"Ouch~ Who taught you that move?"
Nangong Muyan pushed away the face buried in her neck, quite surprised. This gesture was quite provocative; if it had been at night, she would have definitely pressed herself against him.
"You taught me!" Zhou Yi's eyes were full of deep laughter as he held her in his arms.
Zhou Yi knew the answer about Mulberry Leaf Town because occasionally, in moments of intense passion, Nangong Muyan would cling to him at the height of pleasure, her eyes filled with almost crazy possessiveness: "Zhou Yi, you're mine, you're mine alone!"
When Nangong Muyan said these words, her possessiveness, like a beast guarding its territory, startled Zhou Yi. When he met her gaze, he always felt as if she would devour him whole.
Although Zhou Yi could never understand where Nangong Muyan's obsession with him came from, he didn't mind it at all, and even rather enjoyed it.
After all, who could resist a woman whose heart and eyes were filled only with thoughts of you?
"I am yours, yours alone," Zhou Yi would later answer Nangong Muyan.
And usually after saying this, that night would not end early.
"Zhou Yi," the person in his arms called out softly again, still unsatisfied as she pressed her lips against his once more: "One more kiss, it won't be so convenient once we're back in the Capital City..."
Zhou Yi laughed helplessly: "Alright, whatever you want."
The carriage entered the Capital City at dusk. Nangong Chenfeng instructed Li Jiu to take a detour through Xichun Road to drop Zhou Yi off at home first.
"Alright, alright, stop looking. You've been together for over twenty days, can't you bear to be apart even for a moment?"
Nangong Chenfeng glanced at his sister who was hanging by the carriage window, gazing longingly after Zhou Yi, and though he complained, the question rose in his mind again.
What was it about Zhou Yi that made Nangong Muyan like him so much?
Besides being of similar age and looking good together, these two had nothing in common. It was bewildering how they had ended up together.
And it was Nangong Muyan who had pursued him - truly inconceivable!
Zhou Yi had already disappeared from view, and Nangong Muyan heard Nangong Chenfeng's teasing, lowered the curtain, and made no response.
Upon returning to the Prime Minister's Mansion, as soon as she stepped through the main gate, Nangong Muyan found Luo Siyi and Nangong Ya waiting there.
"So you still remember to come back? Have you forgotten your surname?"
Nangong Ya looked at his daughter who had been chasing after a man for half a month without returning home, and made a cool, sarcastic comment.
"Father, my surname is Nangong, I haven't forgotten," Nangong Muyan responded playfully, successfully making Nangong Ya's face darken a few shades.
Luo Siyi came forward to hold her hand, looking her over from head to toe before smiling gently: "Muyan, is everything well?"
Nangong Muyan nodded obediently and exchanged a few words about family matters before suddenly remembering something: "Oh right, Father, Mother, I'm carrying twins."
"Twins?"
The couple was shocked in unison. Nangong Muyan made an affirmative sound: "Li Jiu checked, everything is fine, just that I might show earlier than others. The wedding dress probably won't be able to hide it."
The wedding was set for the twenty-first of June. Originally, they thought that at four months, the loose traditional wedding dress would completely hide the pregnancy from the guests, but with twins, the belly would be quite noticeable after a month, making it difficult to conceal.
"If it shows, then it shows," Nangong Ya said unconcernedly. "Even if you walk down the aisle with a child in your arms, what of it? This marriage was blessed by the Emperor himself - who would dare to gossip?"
Nangong Muyan cheerfully responded with a "good."
"Let's not talk about this now, go eat first, then rest early. Pregnant women tire easily."
Luo Siyi led Nangong Muyan toward the main courtyard, while also calling for Nangong Chenfeng to follow.
During the meal, Luo Siyi asked about Nangong Muyan and Zhou Yi's relationship: "Muyan, does Zhou Yi still dislike you? How have you been getting along these days?"
Nangong Ya and Nangong Chenfeng also looked over, and they watched as Nangong Muyan started playing with the bracelet on her wrist, grinning foolishly: "Oh my, Zhou Yi loves me the most now, we get along wonderfully!"
Seeing that they seemed unconvinced, Nangong Muyan quickly finished the food in her bowl, and without further explanation, just said she was tired and wanted to sleep, then returned to her own courtyard with a smile.
There were again a few leaves scattered on the steps. As usual, Nangong Muyan sent Xiaoru away and went in by herself. Jiang Ning was sitting at the table, drinking a cup of cold tea, lost in thought.
"Sister-in-law, why do you keep coming here instead of staying with Liu Ming'an?" Nangong Muyan sat down at the table and teased Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning set down her teacup, her eyes lingering on Muyan's belly with a conflicted expression.
Knowing her too well, Nangong Muyan's smile faded and her tone grew serious: "What is it? Is it about Zhou Yi?"
Jiang Ning looked straight into her eyes and asked with unusual seriousness: "Do you like Zhou Yi?"
Nangong Muyan raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Do you like him?" Jiang Ning asked again, adding, "Not the way you say you like me, but romantic love between a man and woman."
"Do you like him?" Jiang Ning persisted with the question.
Nangong Muyan knew she wouldn't have come here without reason. After a moment's thought, she answered candidly: "My feelings for him go beyond mere liking..."
The person before her wore a faint smile, with a tender light in her eyes like flowing water - an expression Jiang Ning had never seen on that face before.
"I love him!" Jiang Ning heard Nangong Muyan declare with absolute conviction.
Jiang Ning let out a heavy breath, her expression softening.
"Now can you tell me what's going on?" During their conversation, Nangong Muyan had considered all possibilities but still couldn't guess why Jiang Ning had come.
"Zhou Yi came to see me and Liu Ming'an," Jiang Ning said slowly, watching Nangong Muyan. "Just recently. He said he'd just returned with you from Mulberry Leaf Town."
Nangong Muyan nodded to confirm this but wondered internally why Zhou Yi would seek out Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an immediately upon return.
"Zhou Yi came to apologize on behalf of Nangong Muyan."
Nangong Muyan's eyes flickered - she knew which "Nangong Muyan" Jiang Ning meant.
"In Zhou Yi's mind, Nangong Muyan was someone who hurt Nangong Ling - which means he believes you hurt me." Jiang Ning felt a headache coming on thinking about these complicated relationships. After all, who could have guessed that both of them had switched souls?
"And then?" Nangong Muyan's voice sounded strange, almost trembling.
"Zhou Yi said he loves you, that he will become your husband and the father of your child. So he wanted to take responsibility for your past mistakes."
"I told him it was all in the past and didn't matter, but Zhou Yi insisted... He knelt before me and, despite my attempts to stop him, kowtowed three times."
Jiang Ning struggled to say these words. She viewed Zhou Yi as an older brother, and remembering that scene pained her deeply.
Nangong Muyan suddenly felt her eyes stinging, everything before her becoming blurry.
"Why is he such a fool?" Nangong Muyan's voice was tight, as if squeezed out.
Seeing her tears, Jiang Ning sighed and raised her sleeve to wipe them away: "Thank goodness you love him too."
This explained why Jiang Ning had been so insistent on asking that question earlier. She had feared Nangong Muyan might just be toying with Zhou Yi, playing with his feelings while he offered such sincere devotion.
Fortunately, Zhou Yi's genuine feelings hadn't been misplaced.
"Zhou Yi promised me that after marrying you, he would never let you do evil again."
Nangong Muyan gave a bitter laugh, feeling resentment toward the previous "Nangong Muyan" for the first time: "Why is he such a fool? That wasn't even me..."
After a moment of silence, waiting until the tears had stopped, Jiang Ning suggested: "Why don't you tell him the truth? Tell him you're someone else, that the real Nangong Muyan is dead, that you didn't do those things."
Nangong Muyan refused without hesitation: "It's too late now. It would just sound like an excuse to avoid responsibility."
Besides, was her previous identity any better than Nangong Muyan's?
An assassin with blood-stained hands, bearing the weight of so many lives - even more contemptible than Nangong Muyan.
"So you'll let him believe you're a malicious woman?" Jiang Ning couldn't understand Nangong Muyan's choice.
Nangong Muyan closed her eyes, touching the bracelet on her wrist, recalling her moments with Zhou Yi. After a long while, she made her decision: "If he has a preconceived notion of me as a bad woman, then I can spend a lifetime showing him that I'm not that person."
Jiang Ning knew she couldn't change this woman's decision. To be fair, if she were in Nangong Muyan's position, she wouldn't know what to do either.
"It's your choice," was all Jiang Ning finally said before leaving.
Nangong Muyan sat motionless for a long time, until Xiaoru came to knock and tell her the hot water for washing was ready.
Later, lying in bed, Nangong Muyan stared at the canopy above in the darkness, Jiang Ning's words echoing in her mind.
She could picture the scene: Zhou Yi, face filled with guilt, kneeling straight before Jiang Ning, then bending forward to touch his forehead to the ground...
Nangong Muyan felt her heart aching.
She couldn't bear to see Zhou Yi like that.
"Zhou Yi..."
The soft whisper echoed in the darkness. As Nangong Muyan finally drifted off to sleep, touching her bracelet, she had only one thought:
She would be good to Zhou Yi for the rest of her life.