The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 12

“This student and the fourth Miss Ning have not had such contact,” Zong Si said calmly. Master Guanyang naturally didn’t doubt him. If something were going on between him and the fourth Miss Ning, the Duke of Ning’s estate would have already come knocking for an explanation.

“This is a strange matter indeed,” he said, also at a loss.

Zong Si didn’t seem to care. He said in a deep voice, “If something happens, it is always man-made. It’s just that the opponent is more skilled.” As long as he found the opponent’s goal, the reason Ning Fu knew his archery techniques would naturally surface.

Ning Fu sat in the school for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and then Zong Ning returned after her exam.

“Sister Ning, you did so well today,” Zong Ning said, uncharacteristically taking the initiative to greet her. She had heard that the competition between Ning Fu and the princess at the autumn hunt was spectacular, but she hadn’t believed it. Now that she had seen it herself, she was completely convinced. Among the noble ladies, no one was better at archery than Ning Fu.

“Sister Ning, could you do me a favor?” Ning Fu asked.

“It depends on whether I can do it,” Zong Ning replied.

“At the autumn hunt, I got drunk with the princess and may have offended the Crown Prince. But it was absolutely unintentional. Could you please convey my apology to the Crown Prince?” Ning Fu said sincerely.

Zong Ning couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister Ning, my third brother isn’t that petty. Don’t worry about it.”

Ning Fu thought to herself, That’s because you’re his sister. If it were anyone else, Zong Si wouldn’t be so forgiving. She still remembered his sinister look in front of his subordinates in her previous life. Now, he was just a little better than he was after their marriage.

“You must convey it to him, Sister Ning,” Ning Fu insisted, still worried.

Zong Ning agreed, then asked her curiously, “Sister Ning, are you perhaps a little afraid of my third brother?”

Ning Fu wasn’t afraid of him, but there was no need to offend the Prince Xuan’s estate. She had waited specifically for Zong Ning. After entrusting her with the task, she planned to return to her family’s estate.

The area outside the school was still bustling. Ning Fu glanced at the field and saw Zong Si from a distance this time. He was introducing Xie Ruyi to Master Guanyang. The young man was as noble and refined as jade, elegant and handsome. The young lady was as tall and graceful as an orchid, with beautiful eyes and eyebrows. Just standing together, they had a harmonious and beautiful presence.

“I heard that the second Miss Xie performed exceptionally well,” her carriage driver said, having overheard some gossip.

Ning Fu knew this already. Xie Ruyi’s riding and archery skills were far inferior to her talents in etiquette and music, but in her previous life, she had still taken first place in this archery assessment. But she was hardworking and intelligent, and she deserved the result. Heaven always favored those who put in the effort.

On the way back, Zong Ning began to ask Zong Si for a reward. “Third Brother, if I get an excellent score in archery this time, please give me Gale.” Gale was a blood-sweating horse that Zong Si had captured during a campaign in the northern territory with the Prince Xuan last year. It had a fierce and untamed nature, and he had spent some effort to tame it.

Zong Si said, “We’ll see what your score is.”

His reply meant he agreed. Zong Ning was very pleased. She then remembered Ning Fu’s request. “Sister Ning asked me to tell you that if she unintentionally offended you at the autumn hunt, she hopes you’ll be forgiving.”

Zong Si’s expression was indifferent, and he didn’t respond. He had never intended to pursue the matter anyway. It wasn’t the first or second time the fourth Miss Ning had offended him.

Zong Ning then said mysteriously, “I think Sister Ning is quite nice. How about I introduce her to our second brother? It’s about time he got a wife.” She liked Sister Ning.

Zong Si frowned. “You’re not even old enough for a hairpin ceremony, and you spend all day thinking about these things?”

Zong Ning knew she was in the wrong and wisely shut up. But in her heart, she still felt that her second brother might like someone like Sister Ning. Sister Ning was excellent at riding and archery, and her second brother liked noble ladies who could hunt with him. It wasn’t just a wild guess either. Her second brother had a history of taking her riding and hunting, and people’s natures don’t change. A while ago, when Zong Ning was talking to her maid about Sister Ning and the autumn hunt, her second brother listened to the whole story, which was a first for him. Normally, he had no interest in anything concerning noble ladies.

That night, Zong Si had a strange dream.

In the dream, a woman was living in his Tranquil Grandeur Residence. Although he didn’t enter the residence, he was clearly aware of the woman’s movements. Sometimes she would sit at the door and read, sometimes she would do some needlework, and sometimes she would take care of the flowers and plants in the courtyard. The woman was not intimate with him, but she also didn’t feel like a stranger.

She brazenly took over his territory, placing all sorts of small trinkets everywhere, making his Tranquil Grandeur Residence completely unrecognizable. Yet he was never angry. Instead, he gave her the bedchamber and slept in the study himself.

Then one day, the woman pushed open the door to his study, holding a famous bow called “Scorching Radiance,” which had been used by the former general Shen Tu and was sought after by all men. The woman was devastatingly beautiful, with flawless skin. She was as enchanting as a blossoming peach tree in March, and her eyes were full of affection. It was clearly a more mature version of the fourth Miss Ning.

She said in a sweet voice, “Before I got married, many men asked me for Scorching Radiance, but it’s my dowry. I only want to give it to my husband.”

His eyes flickered as he watched her silently.

“But I’m not giving it to you for free. Starting today, you have to move back to the inner court,” she said, blushing and unable to look at him, biting her lip. “We have been married for three months, husband. I don’t want to sleep alone.”

She was boldly and directly inviting him to consummate their marriage, but her expression was demure and charming. Even the most hard-hearted man would probably be unable to resist her advances, especially since her words elevated him to the sole special person in her heart.

…

Zong Si woke up and rubbed his temples. Although the night was cold, there was a faint heat in his lower abdomen.

The dream was too absurd. So when he heard Ning Fu’s name from the Prince Xuan’s Consort a few days later, his motion of drinking tea paused almost imperceptibly.

“I heard that the first place in this archery assessment went to the fourth Miss Ning,” the Prince Xuan’s Consort said, her voice filled with disbelief.

Zong Si wasn’t surprised at all. He had known this since the results came out yesterday. Xie Ruyi was in second place, and Zong Ning was third. Only these three had received an excellent score.

The Prince Xuan’s Consort then said worriedly, “Old Madam Ning has invited me to the Cold Incense Temple to pray to Buddha tomorrow. I wonder if her intentions are what I think they are.” As she said this, the Prince Xuan’s Consort couldn’t help but get a headache. Although everyone hoped that the women in their family would marry well, scheming against the Prince Xuan’s estate like this made her look down on the Duke of Ning’s estate.

“You can just refuse, Mother,” Zong Si said without looking up.

“The palace is watching you, and it will be difficult for you to find a wife for a while. Why don’t I arrange two maids for you?” the Prince Xuan’s Consort suggested. It wasn’t good for a man his age to not have anyone by his side.

Zong Si replied, “I have to go to the north after the new year. You don’t need to worry about this.” The political situation was tense, and he didn’t have the energy to deal with women.

He was stubborn, and the Prince Xuan’s Consort couldn’t persuade him. She knew he wasn’t a womanizer, so she had to give up.

Over at the Duke of Ning’s estate, everyone was enveloped in joy over Ning Fu’s first-place win in archery. Even Ning Fu herself had never expected such a result. Her swollen wrist for over half a month was all worth it.

Madam Ning was so happy that she rewarded all the servants in the courtyard. She also wrote letters to Ning Zhenyuan and Ning Zheng, who were away on business, as well as to Princess Kanyang, eager to tell everyone the news.

Old Madam Ning was also in high spirits, glowing with joy and looking several years younger. “How should we arrange the banquet?” The old lady also wanted to spread the news widely.

Madam Ning laughed. “There’s no need to rush. There’s still the music and etiquette assessment after the new year. Let’s not make people think our estate is too impatient.”

“Very well. The estate’s income and expenses are already tight this year, so it’s good not to be extravagant,” the old lady said, sighing. “Madam Wei’s talent in managing finances is truly mediocre. I think you should help her.”

“Old Ancestor, I don’t know anything about that. It’s better to let my sister-in-law continue to manage it,” Madam Ning said, politely declining, without saying a single bad word about the main branch.

Ning Fu, however, was guessing whether her eldest aunt was struggling with the management, which made her grandmother bring it up. In the past, her eldest aunt had refused to give up control of the family finances, and her grandmother favored her eldest aunt, so her mother hadn’t gained any advantages in this matter.

Since Madam Ning refused, Old Madam Ning couldn’t force her.

When Ning Fu returned to the Bamboo Garden, she said to Madam Ning, “Mother, helping Eldest Aunt manage the Duke’s estate is not a bad idea.” First, Ning Fu didn’t want to see the estate fall into a deficit in her eldest aunt’s hands. Second, holding money in her hands was holding power. It didn’t matter when her father and eldest uncle got along, but the bond between brothers might not last forever. If her mother managed the estate, the main branch would have to consider the pros and cons of any schemes they might have.

“It’s not that it’s a bad idea, but now is not the time. Your eldest aunt is not willing to share any of her power right now,” Madam Ning said. She didn’t want to do thankless work. She had to wait for Madam Wei to come to her for help, so she would have the upper hand in the negotiation.

Ning Fu thought about it. Her eldest aunt was proud and never liked to admit her shortcomings, which was why the estate’s treasury was strained for the coming year. Originally, she wanted to interfere in this matter earlier, but now, it seemed like a good opportunity to make her eldest aunt bow her head. But if so, she would have to prepare the money in advance to help the estate through this crisis. Ning Fu certainly wouldn’t use her mother’s savings, so she had to think of a way to earn money.

Early the next morning, Old Madam Ning and Madam Wei went to the Cold Incense Temple to pray to Buddha, and they brought Ning Fu along. The red maple leaves on Cold Incense Mountain were already withered and covered the entire path. The lake beside the mountain sparkled, looking serene and distant.

When they ran into the Prince Xuan’s Consort, Ning Fu paused, then said, “Greetings, Consort.” When the Prince Xuan’s Consort saw Ning Fu, she remembered the medicine for scars that Ning Fu had recommended. It was indeed very effective, just as she had said. But she was afraid that Old Madam Ning would think she was getting close to Ning Fu, so she didn’t open her mouth to thank her.

“Old Madam, what is the matter that you wanted to see me today?” the Prince Xuan’s Consort said, getting straight to the point.

“Ah Fu, your grandmother and I are going into the temple to pray. You wait here and don’t wander off,” Old Madam Ning instructed.

Ning Fu nodded, but she felt a bit uneasy. She had a vague idea of why her grandmother wanted to see the Prince Xuan’s Consort, and she was already clear about the result. With nothing to do, she went to the temple to pray and, seeing the fortune sticks for marriage and a person’s future, she decided to get one for each. Ning Fu didn’t really believe in this, but since she was bored, she figured she’d see what they said. If they were good, she would believe them. If not, she would pretend she never got them.

Both were good fortunes. The one for her future said that her life would get better and better. The one for her marriage was great luck and said, “Destined people can be united even if they are a thousand miles apart.”

Ning Fu thought to herself, Could it be that my husband isn’t from Great Yan? But she didn’t want to marry far away. Even if she had a perfect man, she didn’t want to be too far from the Duke’s estate. Her husband’s family was nothing but superficial; only her own family was her true support. After thinking about it, Ning Fu decided not to believe the marriage fortune and only believe the one for her future.

Just as she was thinking, she suddenly heard someone call out, “Sister Ning.” Ning Fu turned her head and saw it was Zong Ning. She was with Xie Ruyi. “Sister Ning, Sister Xie.”

“Sister Xie and I came with my mother to pray. I didn’t expect you to be here. What fortune sticks did you get?” Zong Ning asked curiously.

Xie Ruyi looked at the sticks in Ning Fu’s hand.

Ning Fu was a little embarrassed but told the truth. “I happened to be passing by and decided to get one for my marriage and one for my future.” Many noble ladies came to get marriage fortune sticks, but they almost always hid it. It was rare for someone to be as open about it as she was.

Zong Ning’s affection for her grew even more. She smiled. “Just now, I asked Sister Xie to get a marriage fortune stick too. The master said hers was a one-in-a-million good marriage, a match made in heaven.”

Ning Fu said, “Sister Xie is a perfect person. It would be a great blessing for whoever marries her.” Xie Ruyi was good enough on her own, and she also had a good family background. No matter who she married, it would be a good marriage. It was the man who married Xie Ruyi who would be blessed. If Ning Fu were a young master who could marry Xie Ruyi, she would probably cherish her.

Zong Ning’s smile was more obvious. The marriage stick Xie Ruyi got was for her and Zong Si, but since Ning Fu was there, she couldn’t tease her about it.

“Congratulations on getting first place in archery, Sister Ning,” Xie Ruyi said.

Ning Fu said sheepishly, “I didn’t expect to get first place this time either.”

The three young ladies chatted for a while until Ning Fu saw Old Madam Ning, Madam Wei, and the Prince Xuan’s Consort walk out of the inner court. She said her goodbyes to them.

In the carriage, the atmosphere was more serious than when they came. Ning Fu didn’t ask any questions and just quietly read her book. When they arrived at the Duke’s estate, she obediently bowed to Old Madam Ning and went back to the Bamboo Garden.

“Old Ancestor, don’t get so angry,” Madam Wei said, trying to comfort her after Ning Fu left.

Old Madam Ning was furious. “Look at her arrogant attitude! I was just discussing things with her, but it was as if I was giving Ah Fu to her to be trampled on.”

“Ah Fu is so beautiful and she is now first in archery. She can choose any husband in Great Yan. We don’t have to consider the Prince Xuan’s estate,” Madam Wei said. Old Madam Ning was very concerned with her pride. After this incident, she gave up on the idea of a marriage alliance with the Prince Xuan’s estate.

Madam Wei felt more balanced. The Prince Xuan’s estate didn’t look down on just her daughter, but the entire Duke’s estate, so her daughter wasn’t embarrassed. A few days later, when she went to her daughter’s house to visit, Madam Wei told Ning Ran about this.

“Before, that Madam Liu made a fool of herself, and now her Ah Fu is in the same situation,” Madam Wei said, feeling a little smug.

“Did the Crown Prince himself refuse the marriage proposal?” Ning Ran asked, confirming. Ning Ran hoped Ning Fu would marry well, but not to Zong Si. She wanted Ning Fu to marry into the Prince Xuan’s estate, as it would be beneficial for the futures of the Duke’s estate and her father and brother. However, Ning Ran’s preferred choice was the Prince Xuan’s second son, Zong Duo. Although Zong Duo was obsessed with martial arts, he wasn’t a womanizer, and Ning Ran thought he was a good match for Ning Fu.

“According to the Consort, the Crown Prince has someone in his heart,” Madam Wei said. She asked, “Ah Fu likes the Crown Prince. I wonder how sad she is to be rejected.”

Madam Wei said, “She’s probably sad. We haven’t seen her for a few days.” A young lady who was about to turn 15 would naturally be aware of these things. Her silence in the carriage showed that she knew what was going on.

In the Bamboo Garden, Ning Fu was mindlessly reciting poems from the Book of Songs. A moment later, Madam Ning came into the room. As she braided her hair, she said, “You don’t have to dwell on this. When a man and a woman get married, they are choosing each other. It’s normal for one to not take a liking to the other.” Madam Ning had already guessed Old Madam Ning’s purpose for going to the Cold Incense Temple, and she had just gone along with it to put an end to her mother-in-law’s plan.

What saddened Ning Fu was not being rejected by the Prince Xuan’s estate, but thinking about the Prince Xuan’s estate’s attitude towards her. In her previous life, it must have been so difficult for her mother to secure that marriage for her. She still couldn’t understand why Zong Si would have agreed to the marriage in her previous life.

“Mother, are you also worried about my marriage?” This was the first time she had talked about this with Madam Ning.

Madam Ning said, “Although I am worried, I am more afraid that you will not have a good marriage, so I’m not in such a hurry.”

Ning Fu lowered her eyes and asked, “What kind of man do you like, Mother?”

“As long as he is good to you and a dependable person, I don’t care about the superficial things,” Madam Ning said, opening up her heart. “A prominent family background is great, but it’s not the most important thing. I think the second Master Lu is a good man.”

If her mother thought he was good, then he must be decent. After the archery results came out, Ning Fu was supposed to thank Lu Xingzhi. But after the autumn hunt, he had been sent away by Zong Si to handle some business.

Half a month later, Ning Fu finally heard from Ning Yu that he had returned. Ning Fu planned to give the world-renowned bow, “Scorching Radiance,” to him. Although her archery foundation was mostly due to Zong Si’s efforts in her previous life, Lu Xingzhi had also taught her with all his heart. She was genuinely grateful to him. Furthermore, she wanted to get closer to Lu Xingzhi, so she didn’t mind spending a large amount. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Whoever wants to get closer to someone must make the effort.

In her previous life, to convince Zong Si to consummate their marriage, she had given him Scorching Radiance. That night, Zong Si performed exceptionally well. And he used Scorching Radiance as his main bow from then on, so she knew how attractive Scorching Radiance was to men. As for Zong Si seeing her give it away, it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t know that Scorching Radiance had been a “token of love” she had given him.