Story of Kunning Palace - Ep 41
" Now that the scar is gone….the wound is healed"
Writer Jiang Ning has been conflicted in how to properly finish her daring tale of lost love, redemption and second chances now that it will be made into a book novel.
Call from the Chief Editor: Ning….. Darling… I just met with Editor in Chief Xie Ju'An and he is quite impressed with you… with just one meeting he has brought a side of you that I thought didn't exist… That wedding night was to die for…What do you think of him?
Writer Jiang: Chief is this your way of coaxing me to write more gratuitous sex in my writings… because that's not happing unless their is a real reason for it. As for Editor In Chief Xie ….. Even though he looks like a nerdish book worm… he does offer some insightful understanding of what I'm trying to achieve.
Chief Editor: So you like him.
Writer Jiang: Let's not get carried away here…. He's good at what he does and he was able to get me to see things that I've overlooked.
Chief Editor: I wanted to share this with you… I've been told that if the Book Novel becomes as successful as the Web novel…. he has the connections into having it made into a Television Drama Series…. Ning… you've created a little gold mine…. So be nice to him and please don't piss him off with your usual stubbornness.
Writer Jiang: I'm not stubborn… what makes you think that?
Chief Editor: Ning …..Darling … I love your talent… but I always have to watch what I say…. You're like a firecracker ready to explode.
Writer Jiang: I'm not that bad …..Am I?
The Story of Kunning Palace has reached it's final act…. Writer Jiang Ning returns justice for all the injustice the Xue Family imposed during their quest for power in their 20 year reign left unchecked…. Duke Xue now dead ….. having fallen into the trap laid by his own son that he tried to kill. Empress Dowager Xue banished into isolation never to return to the imperial palace that she wanted to control…..Xue Shu's sense of entitlement remained until her dying last breath only to realize how insignificant she always was. Xue Ye banished to the farthest northern province …having to learn to fend for himself without any influence from his once powerful family.
With the death of the Emperor and the elevation of Xie Wei to the post of Prime Minister to aid in the governing of the country until which time the crown prince can take control…. Jiang Xue Ning is not happy especially now that she has found out she is pregnant.
Writer Jiang decides to instill a little angst to the reality of being married and expecting parenthood.
Jiang Xue Ning has a conversation with Shen Zhi Yi
Shen Zhi Yi: The Palace is a buzz with the news that another baby will be born in the palace…. Poor thing another one will be poor in this cage, trapped for ever… but your mother, father and sister are certainly happy….. enjoying all the perks of the palace.
Jiang Xue Ning: I'm glad that somebody is happy.
Shen Zhi Yi: What's the matter…. You seem distraught.
Jiang Xue Ning: I found out I'm pregnant… I thought this would be my happiest day , but I'm miserable thinking about my baby having to live in this place.
Shen Zhi Yi: Have you told Wei yet?
Jiang Xue Ning: No ….. he has so much to do…. now that he is Prime Minister… How do I tell him I don't want to remain here?….This is the last place I want to be…. especially now. Zhi Yi… what do I do?
Shen Zhi Yi: You can't keep this from him… I'm so excited... I'm going to be an aunt.
Jiang Xue Ning: You're already an Aunt … to the crown prince.
Shen Zhi Yi: That doesn't count… The royal staff would never let me get near him ….let alone cuddle and spoil him or her like Intend to do with yours. What do you want …..a little girl or a little boy?
JIang Xue Ning: Either is fine with me…. What I'm certain of is that I'm going to give either of them the childhood I didn't have.
Shen Zhi Yi: Wei has always been good at giving you what you want… but if he doesn't … you can tell him you'll stop having sex with him.
Jiang Xue Ning: You're mean….. I like it as much as he does.
Xie Wei comes walking into the house
Xie Wei: What are you two talking about?
Shen Zhi Yi: I better leave now…Oh….. You better be good to her or I'm going to make your life miserable.
Xie Wei: What's going on…. Why would she make my life miserable?
Jiang Xue Ning: Wei...We need to talk.
Xie Wei cringes his face and realizes that Ning is not happy: What's the matter… have I done something to upset you?
Jiang Xue Ning: Yes and no…. You've known how much I don't want to remain in this palace….. I hate it hear… but I'm starting to feel trapped. I wanted this day to have been our happiest … Wei….. we're going to have a baby but I don't want to raise it in this awful place. I was the happiest on our wedding day….. with just the two of us….. do you understand me?
Xie Wei: We're really going to have a baby… you're sure this isn't a trick.
Jiang Xue Ning: I would never trick you with something like this…. The physician took my pulse and clearly stated that I was pregnant…. I was overjoyed with happiness but then became sad when I realized that we would have to raise our child in this place that has become a battleground of competing forces…. Wei…. promise me we won't have to raise our child here….. This place almost destroyed both of us … we can't let that happen to our baby.
Xie Wei: I promise you that I will find a place that you …. We will love. …. Just give me a little time to find it… I'm really going to be a dad.
Jiang Xue Ning: Wei…take me to bed…..I need to release some of this stress I caused on myself.
Back to modern time
Writer Jiang reads what she has just written and thinks: I wonder if Editor in chief Ju'An will approve….. I'm starting to get to where this can become the happy ending this story deserves.
Writer Jiang sends a text to Editor in Chief Xie: Ju'An …. I've written more ….. do you want to come by and read it?
Editor in Chief Xie response: I would but I can't just now…. I need to return to my country home to take care of an emergency…. Can it wait or will it hamper your inspiration?
Writer Jiang: I feel that I'm on a roll right now and that I can close all the loose ends to this story.
Editor in Chief Xie: In that case … would you like to come with me…. I can read and you can continue to write….. My country house is a perfect place to write… that's why I bought it.
The Country House
As they head out of the city ….. Writer Jiang looks to Editor in Chief Xie : Thank you for inviting me ….. I've wanted to just pick up and leave the city, but my writing always seemed to hold me back…. What made you want to buy a country house?
Editor in Chief Xie: I like to hike the trails in these woods…. One day I stumbled upon this abandoned estate … it's remote but not to remote… It was run down since no one has lived in it for sometime…. I saw a great deal of potential and I thought it would be fun in restoring it to it's original grandeur….. the construction crew ran Ito a little glitch that why they wanted me here.
Writer Jiang thoughts: There is more to this guy than what meets the eye…. I wonder if this isn estate or just a cabin in the woods?
Editor in Chief Xie takes a turn off the main road and begins driving up a winding road that follows a wide stream with its running water. Writer Jiang can't believe how quiet and peaceful it is …. The trees line the road and the stream and the only noise that can be heard is the cracking water flowing down and the many sounds of different birds chirping … whether it's mating calls or simply showing the sounds of the forest.
Editor in Chief Xie makes another turn and his Country House is now very visible….. it's not just a cabin in the woods….. resting on a plateau overlooking the running stream of water the house is a combination of different structures that were conveniently assembled to become one house….. Whomever originally started this did have a vision of it's final outcome but did it in piece meal.
Editor in Chief Xie: Welcome to my little abode
Writer Jiang: Little… you have to be kidding me…. This place is fabulous … it takes my breath away… This was actually abandoned.
Editor in Chief Xie: Yes, that's why I got so cheap…. I wanted the restoration to comply with the original concept, but I also wanted to bring the outside….. inside , that why I had all of these glass walls put in. I wanted to enjoy all the seasons that this forest gives and the different colors that it generates. The animals of the forest love seeing their reflections. There still a few finishing touches to be made but it soon will be completely livable.
Writer Jiang: So your plan is to live here?
Editor in Chief Xie: As much as I can… Are you hungry…. I think there is some instant ramen that I stock up on.
Writer Jiang: I lived on instant ramen in college… that would be fine…. I'll do it you've done all the driving.
Editor in Chief Xie: Water or Wine?
Writer Jiang: This place deserves wine….. read this while I make the ramen.
Editor in Chief Xie grabs a bottle of Chardonnay and fills two glasses and then begins to read.
Writer Jiang brings the two tubs of Ramen and hands him the chop sticks: Where are you at so far?
Editor in Chief Xie: first a toast to our joint collaboration….. They both clink these glasses
Writer Jiang: Tell me the truth … you designed this place to get women… right?
Editor In Chief Xie: Wrong…. You're the first woman that I've ever brought here.
Writer Jiang is left speechless but her mind is racing: I'm in trouble….. do I make a move on him or do I just accept the move he makes on me?….. I must be crazy… why am I even thinking like this… was Fang Yin right… he turns me on and I want to have sex with him?…. To get her mind off of her thoughts Ning begins slurping the ramen so as to not have to do a follow up.
Editor in Chief Xie: Actually I'm finished it…. I liked how you found away to get him out of the palace… with him becoming Prime Minister …. The two of them have all the power but your making Jiang Xue Ning reject what she spent two lives trying to get.
Writer Jiang: "Be careful in what you wish for " certainly applied to Jiang Xue Ning….. her life long wish killed her…. What a wake up call. Even in her second life when she managed to change the destinies of the people she cared for….. she still couldn't change the pain and suffering they each had to go through. Her biggest regret was not being able to save You Fang Yin who didn't deserve any of the suffering but because she remained steadfast loyal to Jiang Xue Ning accepted it without any complaints. If there is a third life ….You Fang Yin will live a life that she deserves.
Editor in Chief Xie: So are you considering a third life installment?
Writer Jiang: I'm still not finished with this second life…. I will need your help if we do go for a third life but I don't want to think about that know. However, what I am thinking is that the design and layout of this house is what needs to be in the final scene. Picture this house and this setting back then….. Jiang Xue Ning will feel like she has gone to heaven on earth.
Editor In Chief Xie : I guess you really like this place.
Writer Jiang: You sir have become as big of surprise to me as Xie Wei became to Jiang Xue Ning. I have no explanation for why I'm even thinking this …. But the only line that comes to mind is that which Jiang Xue Ning spoke to Zhang Zhe
" Mr Zhang, do you believe in predestination from the previous life? "
Editor in Chief Xie: What are you trying to imply? …. you and I are predestined for each other and cannot escape our destinies.
Writer Jiang : Let me put it another way…. Ever since you came to my door and we both looked at each other…. You wanted to fuck me …. But you knew I could be a real bitch and wouldn't let you even get to first base… so you've been coy about the moves you would make…. At first I decided to play with you and let you think you were making head way…. But guess what…. I want you as much as you want me… are you going to keep on thinking or are you going to fuck me?
The passion that was implied in Ep 36 becomes the reality in this third life. Xie Ju'An picks up Jiang Ning as she wraps her legs around his waist and they begin kissing in almost animalistic fashion as Jiang Ning is biting and sucking on his lower lip while sticking her tongue into his mouth so their two tongues can dance with each other. Xie Ju"An pulls out his hard and erect penis out of his pants and then slides her panties to the side as he gives a hard thrust upwards making Jiang Ning gasp with pleasure filling her vaginal opening. While holding on to his knack she begins rocking and gyrating her ass in unison with his thrusts. To get better leverage he walks her over to the glass wall and pins her back against it as he continues to thrust harder and harder making her squeal with each.
She whispers into his ear: Take me to bed …. I want that tongue in my pussy
Without missing a beat he carries her into the master bedroom and lays her down on the bed and begins removing her cloths exposing her beautiful body.
Writer Jiang: Do you like what you see ….. I haven't changed have I ?….. Now let me see what I have been missing.
Xie Ju'An removes all of his cloths and lets his erect penis stick out …. She pulls him into the bed and pushes him onto his back and then pivots her legs so that her thighs are straddling his face….. He pulls her ass cheeks closer and begins licking and sucking on her clitoris making squeal and jerk with each touch. She begins rocking and gyrating her ass so that his tongue can go in and out of her vaginal opening giving her even more pleasure. With his hard penis in hand… she begins squeezing and stroking it until she sees his penal lubricating fluid coming out of his penal head. She lets her tongue give a little taste before she begins swirling and licking all round it. She allows her lips to engulf it and proceeds to take it deep in her mouth while squeezing making it swell in size. The sensitivity of her clitoris begins reaching maximum intensity she begins tightening her thighs against his face and her stomach muscles tighten as she jerks and quivers while releasing one orgasm after another. His mouth is filled with her climatic juices … he …. on the other hand can no longer control himself his throbbing penis begins releasing and his semen flys out.
She lifts herself off of his face and lays next to him and begins cuddling in his arms.
Writer Jiang: Ju'An …. Tell me what your thinking now… did I push you to fast?…. You probably think I'm crazy….. Tell me what you're thinking.
Editor in Chief Xie: Do you really want to know?
Writer Jiang: Tell Me
Editor in Chief Xie: Let's get married
Writer Jiang: What did you say...Are you serious?
Editor in Chief Xie: I'm dead serious…. A woman like you will only come once in my lifetime.
Writer Jiang: I must be as crazy as you are... Now that I'm to be your wife…. Let's only make love and live in this house.
They spend the rest of the night consummating their new relationship. When morning comes Writer Jiang still feeling amorous reaches out her hand to feel her new love only to find that he isn't there… her thoughts start to ramble as she runs through the house still naked.
Writer Jiang Thoughts: Where did he go?…. did he have second thoughts and just left me here?…How could he do this to me? I will take my revenge when I see him again…that bastard… he's still the same Xie Wei from the first life…. I will never forgive him.
Editor in Chief Xie walks in carrying food for breakfast: You're up…. I didn't want to wake you since you were sleeping so peacefully and you had such a pretty smile on your face. Why are you still naked? …. The construction workers will be here soon.
Writer Jiang immediately tries to cover herself and runs to the bedroom. Xie Ju'An begins preparing breakfast and waits to see an embarrassed Ning sheepishly walk out of the bathroom fully clothed.
Editor in Chief Xie: Did you actually think I had left you?
Writer Jiang: Well ….what was I too think? …I wanted to love you some more but you weren't there.
Editor in Chief Xie: Now that we'll be living together … we need to establish some ground rules.
Writer Jiang: So last night wasn't a mistake… you still want to marry me.
Editor in Chief Xie: Rule Number 1… I mean what I say and say what I mean… got that.
Writer Jiang: yes sir...I tend to jump to conclusions without proper explanations…. I promise I will work on that…. When will we get married?… I don't expect anything fancy… as long as it's just the two of us.
Editor in Chief Xie: Once we return to the city we'll apply for a marriage certificate and we'll hold our marriage ceremony here once all the finishing touches are completed…. So if there are anything you want to add to make this your home now speak up while the construction people are here.
Writer Jiang: This is really going to be our home…. I'm starting to love you more each day.
With her modern day personal life now being placed in order…. Writer Jiang returns her thoughts to completing the " Story of Kunning Palace " ….. Writer Jiang decides to cover the five year time jump that she had originally done by submitting several mini time jumps.
First time jump
Her priority has now become her baby... she follows up with the royal physician to examine how her pregnancy is developing
The Royal Physician with a surprised look on his face as he is checking her pulse: Oh my…How did I ever miss this… The Prime Minister will surely have my head.
Jiang Xue Ning: Royal Physician….. What did you miss …. Is my baby alright… nothing has happened to my baby… Tell me or I'll have your head..
Royal Physician: The babies are fine…. You and the Prime Minister are not having just one baby but two…. I'm so sorry that I didn't see this sooner… you will have to take special care now that you are carrying two babies…. I will monitor you more closely….. again I'm so sorry.
Jiang Xue Ning: you're positive …..there are two babies inside of me… Ning's thoughts immediately go to : I won't let my babies be raised in this palace…. Wei and I will have a heart to heart talk this evening.
Prime Minister Xie Wei returns in the Evening full of questions: Ning what happened today….. The Royal physician kept apologizing to me every time I ran into him…..Is the baby alright….. did something happen that I don't know about.
Jiang Xue Ning: You can say that…. He misdiagnosed me….. We're not having one baby …but rather two… can you believe that?
Prime Minister Xie Wei: You're happy about that… so why is the Royal Physician sorry about it.
Jiang Xue Ning: That's why I hate this place… if a mistake is made everyone thinks their head will be taken….. Wei you promised me to take me out of here…. Now that we're going to have two children when are you going to find our own home away from here….. I want our children to live free and be happy being who they are. I know you're busy with matters of the state….. but our children must take precedent. If you don't find us that house I will take our children to the country myself… I'm serious about this.
Prime Minister Xie Wei : I know your serious…..I'll assign Dao Qin and Jian She to find places that you might like…. I won't renege on my promise.
Dao Qin and Jian Shu have put the word on the street that the Prime Minister is seeking a country home… those that help in this search will garner great favors with the Prime Minister. The search is eventually reduced to three locations….. Jiang Xue Ning will have the final say.
Jiang Xue Ning rejects the first two choices but then is mesmerized once she see the plateau house…. As she did in the third life Jiang Xue Ning immediately fell in love with this house that would be there home.
Jiang Xue Ning: Wei…. This is the house I want our children to be born in …. Without a doubt this is the house that will be our home.
Prime Minister Xie Wei: I'll have the royal designers bring this place up to your specifications and assign a staff to help you.
Jiang Xue Ning: Once the twins are born I'll want only two attendants… I'm there mother and you're their father…. We will do what most parents do in raising them.
Next Time jump
Jiang Xue Ning's belly has gotten rather large and the two attendants are getting concerned that she will deliver any day now.
Attendant # 1: Madame Ning… shouldn't we get a midwife from the village to come and stay with us…. You're on the verge of delivering any day now.
Jiang Xue Ning: The twins were very restless last night… go get the midwife ….. I think they are both ready to meet their mom and dad.
Prime Minister Xie Wei receives a message by way of carrier pigeons sent by the Attendant telling him that Madame Ning is on the verge of delivering the babies… He drops everything that he's doing and gets on horseback to rush home. When he arrives he sees Ning holding both babies as they are nursing on her breasts.
Jiang Xue Ning with a smile on her face: You made it…. This one one my right breast is your son ….Xie Tian and this one on my left breast is your daughter … Xie Yun….. aren't they beautiful…. Wei …..we are now a complete family.
Prime Minister Xie Wei: Ning….. I'm sorry ….I couldn't be here sooner… I promise I'll will find a way to be home more… you and the kids are the most important to me….Are you alright… you didn't have any complications…. I'll have the Royal Physician come and check on you and the babies.
Jiang Xue Ning: The village midwife took good care of me… she said the twins and I are in good shape so you needn't worry…. You don't want that Royal Physician to make anymore mistakes. Come and hold your children …. I need a little break.
Once Shen Zhi Yi heard that Jiang Xue Ning was about to deliver the twins….. she ordered her attendants and guards to bring everything she had ordered so that they can go to the Xie Country House. When they arrive at the house she takes charge in having meals prepared and the attendants taking turns holding and cuddling the new borns so that their mother can have some rest. She and Ning have a girl to girl talk
Shen Zhi Yi: Ning….. did it really hurt… I've only heard the screaming when the different consorts gave birth…. How could those beautiful babies come out of that little opening…. It had to hurt…. You know I don't like pain.
Jiang Xue Ning: the day will come when you too will want to experience the joy of motherhood as long as you find the right man to help you.
Shen Zhi Yi: that creep they married me off to made me want to stay away from men… I'm so glad he's out of my life…. What a disgusting animal he was….. he wasn't even cute….. you've had three men that loved you and all three of them were cute.
Jiang Xue Yi: Don't go there…. I've only had one that I truly love and gave myself too….. When You find that someone for yourself….. everything will be worth it.
Xie Wei smiles: Are you two talking about me again?
Third Time Jump
The twins are now five years old enjoying making their first snowman by themselves as their parents gleefully watch and listen to the competing banter between the bother and sister.
Xie Yun: Brother, the eyes are wrong.
Xie Tian: Yes, Mother said that Father has eyes like peach blossoms.
Xie Yun: But this is a plum blossom.
Xie Tian: It's the same….. He'll listen to Mother anyway.
Xie Yun: But , what if Father doesn't like it?
Xie Tian: You're still young…. You don't understand… others listen to Father…but others also listen to Mother and Father also listens to Mother…. So Mother must be more powerful.
Jiang Xue Ning smiles and looks to her husband with the air of superiority
Xie Yun: Brother, I was only born 30 minutes later than you.
Xie Tian : You're still younger than me.
Xie Yun : I don't want to here it.
With the arrival of their guests Shen Zhi Yi, Yan Lin and Zhang Zhe …. The Story of Running Palace comes to and end.
Return to modern time
Writer Jiang: Ju'An…..I think I'm finished… tell me what you think?
As Editor in Chief Xie continues reading his face shows some approval features and then a scowl.
Writer Jiang: Why the scowl look on your face…. It certainly got a reaction from you… what was it?
Editor In Chief Xie: I especially liked how you managed to transcend the time that was missing and getting Jiang Xue Ning to get her way in leaving the Palace, but I didn't understand why the Nightmare scenario… Jiang Xue Ning…. Got everything she had wanted…. Unconditional love, beautiful children, a home away from the palace…. So why the nightmare with Xie Wei killing himself… what was your thinking with this?
Writer Jiang: Jiang Xue Ning has lived with fear all of her life….. her parents abandoned her, her birthright was changed….. she was raised by someone that didn't love her… so now that she has gained the happiness that she sought …. How quickly it can be taken away from her….. no different than her becoming Empress….. no sooner did she get it it was taken away and her only choice left was to commit suicide…. Her wounds can't be healed with the simple elimination of the scars that were inflicted in both lives.
Editor in Chief Xie: Though I'm troubled by it I can see some use for it if the company would want to extend the outcome to a third life. C Dramas today seem to find away of instilling tragedy when happiness has been reached.
Writer Jiang: What are you suggesting…. Would you have me kill them so that they can be reborn in another time under different circumstances.
Editor In Chief Xie: If this were to be made into a television drama that wanted to have a long series run … a third life would have it's appeal…. The caption could read " Third Time Is the Charm"
Writer Jiang: Are you sure you're not the reincarnation of Xie Wei ….. you can come up with a plan for everything.
Editor In Chief Xie: Not everything….. how are we going to explain us, our sudden marriage, conflict of interest….. you know those kind of things.
Writer Jiang: We haven't been the first and we certainly won't be the last to have a spontaneous marriage … my best friend Fang Yin saw that I had the hots for you from the first moment. Chief Editor was worried that I was going to piss you off… will he be in for a surprise. Any way…You owe me a tour of our new home and surroundings plus a redo of what didn't happen this morning.