In the thirty-fourth year of Yuan Feng, Yang Ruoning had completely adapted to ancient life without any modern conveniences. She didn't seem to miss her past life very much; in fact, she had almost forgotten it. Yet, unexpectedly, Luo Yuan would occasionally complain about why all those things had been sent back. He was particularly dejected about returning the computer, lamenting the loss of a worthy Go opponent since he often played against AI on it.
However, she had kept a pair of walkie-talkies, one for herself and one for Luo Yuan, carried at all times. After several dangerous encounters, she seemed to have developed PTSD. Being able to contact Luo Yuan at any moment made her feel secure, though they had agreed to use them only when absolutely necessary.
Beyond that, Yang Ruoning found her life in Bianliang over the past year to be quite fulfilling. Everything had gone smoothly, and the lives of everyone she loved seemed to be on the right track, allowing her to finally leave with Luo Yuan with peace of mind.
Qing Ye had also finally completed the selection of the Empress. Qing Ye's Empress was Li Xiangyi, the daughter of Councilor Li Zhun. It was said that she was "docile and humble from childhood, understanding etiquette, knowing propriety, with a reserved and gentle disposition, never speaking more than necessary." Luo Yuan considered her the ideal candidate for Empress.
Yang Ruoning saw the fifteen-year-old girl for the first time at the Empress's investiture ceremony. The still-youthful girl, adorned in the most noble phoenix robe in the land and wearing a crown studded with countless gems and pearls, possessed a solemnity and gravity unbefitting a maiden in her prime. She slowly ascended the white jade steps of the great hall to accept Qing Ye's investiture.
It all felt like a déjà vu, with only Luo Yuan and Luo Qianqiu in the wormhole replaced by Qing Ye and Li Xiangyi.
Before the investiture ceremony, Yang Ruoning had asked Qing Ye if he liked Li Xiangyi. Qing Ye told her that he had never met the Empress but had heard she was beautiful and gentle, and the most suitable candidate. Yang Ruoning then asked if he would at least choose a concubine he liked. Qing Ye replied, "An emperor is a solitary being. As you said, you gain something and lose something. One cannot be too greedy. In truth, as long as you are by my side, I desire nothing more."
Another significant event in these past few months was the relocation of Jiang Xian Pavilion. The small shop she and Susu had initially rented could no longer accommodate their increasingly booming business. For days, she and Susu had been searching for a suitable location. A month ago, they finally found a large storefront in the most prosperous commercial district of the West Market. After several negotiations, the deal was concluded at three thousand gold. After Qing Ye ascended the throne, trade and commerce in Bianliang became even more prosperous, and property prices naturally rose. Although three thousand gold was a sky-high price, given the current booming economy, Yang Ruoning anticipated that property prices in the capital would continue to climb. So, after discussing it with Susu, they gritted their teeth and decided to purchase the shop.
Of course, the three thousand gold price was beyond Jiang Xian Pavilion's revenue alone. Originally, Yang Ruoning and Susu intended to borrow some money from Qing Yuan Bank, but Luo Yuan said that this sum was a mere drop in the bucket for him. "My dear wife, take whatever you need, whenever you need it."
"No, business is business. Besides, this business isn't entirely mine; it belongs to Susu," Yang Ruoning countered.
"I doubt Susu would mind if the money came from me?" Luo Yuan retorted. He didn't understand why Yang Ruoning was being so meticulous. "My money is your money."
"Hey, you can't do business like that. This is a matter of principle!" Yang Ruoning firmly refused.
"Why? This money isn't difficult for me, and it can help you out of a tight spot," Luo Yuan asked, confused.
"I know it's not difficult for you; it's merely what Huiniang earns in one night," Yang Ruoning said, a hint of ancient jealousy in her tone, her voice full of pique.
Luo Yuan was taken aback, then shook his head and smiled helplessly. "I thought we had cleared up the Huiniang matter. I didn't expect you to still be jealous."
"No! I'm not jealous at all." Yang Ruoning's flushed face made her loud denial seem even more unconvincing.
Luo Yuan, understanding her immense pride, knew she would never accept money for free. So, he said, "How about this: when your Jiang Xian Pavilion makes money, you can pay me back then."
Luo Yuan's suggestion immediately sparked an idea in Yang Ruoning. "Hey, that's right! I can let you invest! Consider it your investment in Jiang Xian Pavilion, and then Jiang Xian Pavilion will pay you annual returns. However, Susu will still be the major shareholder, and Jiang Xian Pavilion will still be under her command."
Luo Yuan dotingly flicked her forehead with his finger. "Oh, when have I ever interfered in your affairs? There is truly no other husband like me to be found in the entire Great Song dynasty."
And so, with the property deed secured, Jiang Xian Pavilion officially began its move.
A few days before the move, Yang Ruoning was packing in her room on the second floor. She rarely used this room, mostly employing it as storage.
As she moved aside a pile of stacked fabrics on the floor, a small backpack appeared.
It was the backpack she had used to carry candy on her last trip from the modern world. "Ha, so you were here," she picked up the backpack and dusted it off.
She opened the backpack; it was empty. The bag full of candy she had brought had long been eaten by Qing Ye, Luo Yuan, and Susu. She then proceeded to open each pocket to check if anything else was inside. As she unzipped an inner pocket, she saw a yellow envelope made of kraft paper. "Hmm, what's this?" Yang Ruoning took the envelope out of the pocket.
She opened the envelope and pulled out a document. "Ah... it's Qing Ye's genetic test report." Yang Ruoning only remembered when she saw the English title at the top of the document. Kinsey had given it to her as she was leaving. After so long, she had completely forgotten about it.
The document comprised four pages. The content was too technical and difficult to understand, so Yang Ruoning only skimmed through it. When she turned to the third page, she noticed a section highlighted with a fluorescent pen. Yang Ruoning read, "...Chromosomal disorders...caused by a deletion of a single gene with pleiotropic effects...deletion causes haploinsufficiency of a gene or genes in the region,...haploinsufficiency for specific genes has been identified in several syndromes, including Williams syndrome, Langer–Giedion syndrome, Miller–Dieker syndrome, and DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome."
Yang Ruoning's heart sank. The report indicated that Qing Ye had a chromosomal abnormality, appearing to be a deletion of a single gene in a specific region of his DNA. While she had never heard of the syndromes listed afterward, their names alone sent shivers down her spine.
Yang Ruoning quickly flipped to the last page.
The last page of the document was a table listing Qing Ye's deleted genes and their manifestations. Every word on the table was enough to make her heart race. Yang Ruoning's hands trembled as she held the document, and she couldn't help but cover her mouth.
"Common features: dysmorphic facial features (deep-set eyes, flat nasal bridge, asymmetrical ears, and pointed chin), seizures, cardiomyopathy, developmental delay, and hearing impairment.
1p36 microdeletion common manifestations: abnormal facial features (deep-set eyes, flat nasal bridge, asymmetrical ears, and pointed chin), epilepsy, cardiomyopathy, developmental delay, and hearing impairment.
Common features: speech delay, postnatal growth retardation, heart defects and hand, foot and limb abnormalities.
17q23.1q23.2 microdeletion common manifestations: speech delay, postnatal growth retardation, heart defects, and abnormalities of hands, feet, and limbs."
The document slipped from her trembling hands.
According to the report, Qing Ye was clearly a person with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Yet, Qing Ye... Yang Ruoning suddenly realized something and rushed out of the room, sprinting towards the imperial palace without hesitation.