The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 13

As a woman born to a princess, Ning Fu’s dowry was extremely rich, so it took some effort to find “Scorching Radiance.”

Scorching Radiance was made of sandalwood. It was much heavier than an ordinary bow, yet its elasticity was even better. Its entire body was a deep red color, and the dark jade inlaid on the bow limbs was translucent. Common jade was either as clear as lake water or as brilliant as the sun, or it was various shades of yellow. There were very few with a pure black color. These few pieces of jade alone were priceless.

This time, Ning Fu didn’t see the private, illustrated book on a couple’s intimate acts. When she had just been reborn, she had even added annotations after admiring it. If an outsider had seen it, she would have been too embarrassed to face anyone, and Zong Si would have been furious, his face probably as dark as ink.

But Ning Fu didn’t think much about it. The storeroom was heavily guarded, and no one would dare to enter. There were so many things there that it was probably just hidden in some corner.

It was almost the beginning of winter. Ning Fu wanted to visit the Lu estate, but she had to wait until after winter’s start. Meanwhile, Ning Ran, the second Miss of the Duke of Ning’s estate, who had married out, had returned. It was not easy for a married woman to return to her family, but Ning Ran had married well. Her mother, Madam Wei, was a daughter of the Wei family, making the marriage a “union of kin.” Her husband’s family doted on her.

Ning Ran was exceptionally beautiful, like a plum blossom in the cold winter, with an air of arrogance and haughtiness. Now that her life was going smoothly, she had filled out a bit, but her grace and charm had not diminished; they had only become more alluring.

Ning Ran truly looked down on everyone and had an equal disdain for all people. There wasn’t a single noble lady in the capital she liked. If there was an exception, Ning Fu was barely it. When Ning Fu was a child, she was often bullied by Ning Ran and was maliciously made to cry countless times. But if Ning Ran had something good, she would only think of Ning Fu.

Looking at Ning Ran’s husband, Wei Xiao, his appearance was not outstanding, but he was dignified and sturdy. As the legitimate eldest son of the Wei family, he had a certain air of grace. Wei Xiao also glanced at his sister-in-law. When he saw Ning Fu clearly, he was stunned. He hadn’t expected Ning Fu to have grown so beautiful.

Ning Ran looked at him with displeasure. Wei Xiao awkwardly looked away and quickly composed himself. He cupped his hands and bowed. “Grandmother, Aunt, I have to be on duty tonight, so I’ll take my leave.” He had always been respectful of Ning Ran. He considered himself lucky to have married the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ning’s estate, and his future depended on the duke’s family. He was willing to endure Ning Ran’s occasional temper.

Madam Wei was about to see him off, but Ning Ran stopped her. “Mother, you don’t have to bother with him. He can go back on his own.”

Wei Xiao also said the same. He then told Ning Ran, “I’ll come pick you up in two days.” The couple had only been married for a short time, and their relationship was very good. Even a two-day separation was hard for them. Madam Wei and Old Madam Ning were both very pleased. If a man’s heart wasn’t with his wife, it would be with another woman. Wei Xiao’s attitude showed that he was devoted to Ning Ran.

When Ning Ran returned to the estate, she first caught up with Old Madam Ning and Madam Wei. Ning Fu could only have a private chat with her the next day. Ning Ran had a maid come early to invite her. The Orchid Garden of the main branch was much livelier today. Even the fifth Miss, Ning He, came today, but she was sent away after just a simple greeting. Ning Ran didn’t like her illegitimate sister, Ning He.

“Sister Ran,” Ning Fu greeted her.

“I heard about the meeting between the Prince Xuan’s Consort and Grandmother. You don’t have to take it to heart,” Ning Ran said with a smile. “The Crown Prince told me a long time ago that he likes the second Miss Xie and won’t marry anyone else. No matter how beautiful other women are, they are all the same to him.” Zong Si had never actually said that to her. He hadn’t even bothered to talk to her on the day she went to see him. But she could lose to Xie Ruyi, since Xie Ruyi was superior in family background and appearance, but she couldn’t lose to anyone else.

Ning Fu said, “I haven’t taken it to heart at all.”

Ning Ran didn’t believe her, thinking the young lady was just being stubborn to save face. It was just like her; she still hadn’t completely let go of being rejected by Zong Si, but she had to pretend she was over it. Women also had a desire to conquer. Who wouldn’t want to see a man with power and influence fall for her? But in the end, it was often they themselves who fell in love.

“Grandmother also thought that since you got first place in archery, the Prince Xuan’s estate would look at you differently. She didn’t expect…” Ning Ran sighed.

Ning Fu didn’t say anything. The one thing she disliked most about her second sister was her self-centeredness. When others were unhappy, she felt better. She seemed to be feeling sorry for Ning Fu, but in reality, she was feeling great. A mindset of “if I’m not doing well, no one else should” would only create countless enemies.

But she didn’t try to advise Ning Ran. A person’s character couldn’t be changed overnight. She would learn after she suffered some losses.

“What has Aunt been up to recently?” Ning Ran asked, getting to the point.

Ning Fu was careful. Normally, Ning Ran wouldn’t bring up her mother. Just as she wouldn’t bring up her eldest aunt, Madam Wei. When she did, it meant something was up. Could it be about the matter that Grandmother mentioned, about helping Eldest Aunt manage the estate?

“She’s been busy supervising my studies,” Ning Fu said. This wasn’t a lie, and it was a very reasonable excuse. There were several assessments after the new year, so Ning Fu’s studies were more important. Ning Ran didn’t ask any more questions.

In the afternoon, she personally went to the Lotus Pavilion Garden to deliver some new Longjing tea. “I know Aunt doesn’t lack good tea, but since I got some, I wanted to give you a share.”

Madam Ning smiled. “I’m very happy that you thought of me.”

Ning Ran politely stated her purpose. It was indeed about the financial management of the estate. Madam Ning didn’t give a definite answer. She just said with regret, “I’m afraid I won’t have the time before the new year.”

“Aunt should naturally focus on Ah Fu’s matters first. It would be enough if you could help out next year,” Ning Ran said. “My mother is too embarrassed to trouble you, but as her daughter, I can’t stand seeing her worry about the estate every day, so I took the liberty of coming to bother you.”

In reality, given Madam Wei’s pride, if she were truly too embarrassed to bother anyone, she would have stopped Ning Ran from coming. Furthermore, Madam Wei wasn’t worrying about the estate; she was worrying about the benefits. With the family finances in her hands, she had probably profited quite a bit over the past ten years.

Ning Ran’s words not only praised Madam Wei but also dug a hole for Madam Ning. If she didn’t help, it would mean she didn’t care about the Duke’s estate.

“Sister Ran, the reason my mother is personally supervising my studies is that she is afraid I will lose face for the Duke’s estate,” Ning Fu said with a smile. Who isn’t doing it for the Duke’s estate? And who doesn’t know how to give a compliment?

Ning Ran couldn’t help but look at Ning Fu. She had become much more mature and worldly than the last time she saw her. She sat in the Lotus Pavilion Garden for half an hour before taking her leave.

“It seems Sister Ran came back to the estate just for this,” her eldest aunt was too proud to ask herself, so she sent Ning Ran as her messenger. Madam Ning didn’t care. If Madam Wei didn’t come to her herself, no one else’s visit would be effective.

“Mother, what if Eldest Aunt holds on until she creates a huge deficit?” Ning Fu reminded her tactfully.

“If it comes to that, it will be easier to negotiate.”

Ning Fu, however, was reluctant to use the second branch’s money to fill the hole. She said, “Mother, how about you let me try my hand at business?” The scar-removing medicine she gave the Prince Xuan’s Consort was not from a small source. It was a good product. If she opened a shop, she might be able to make a fortune.

Madam Ning, however, frowned. “I advise you not to have any strange ideas.” Great Yan society looked down on merchants and valued agriculture. An unmarried woman from an official family becoming a merchant would be looked down upon. Ning Fu sighed inwardly. I wonder how Mother would feel if she knew that the woman my brother will love in the future is from the prominent Fu merchant family of Great Yan?

After the start of winter, Ning Ran was picked up by Wei Xiao. He couldn’t wait another day. After finishing his duty, he went straight to the Duke of Ning’s estate without even returning home first. Ning Fu felt a little touched. She knew all too well that Wei Xiao had been this way for six consecutive years. When she and Zong Si had just gotten married, she had returned to her family’s estate alone, and Wei Xiao had even wondered why Zong Si hadn’t come back with her. Later, she was always alone, and Wei Xiao understood the reason and never asked again. And Ning Fu’s pride from marrying Zong Si had gradually been worn away.

On the day Ning Fu went to see Lu Xingzhi, she specifically wore a light pink, straight-sleeved, high-waisted dress. The fabric of the dress was thin, so it wasn’t too bulky in winter. Her waist was still very slender, and the light pink color made her look both charming and added a touch of color to the plain season. The white fox fur cloak she wore over it highlighted the subtle beauty of the pink underneath, giving her the vibrancy of a lotus and the elegance of a peony.

Ning Fu was invited by Madam Lu. Her fifth sister, Ning He, who hadn’t shown up in a long time, was with her.

The Lu family had very few people, as most of them were on official duties in other places. In the current generation, only Lu Xingzhi was in the capital. This was the first time Ning Fu had met Madam Lu. She was different from any other woman she had seen, wearing simple clothes with no makeup, tending to the flowers.

“Greetings, Madam Lu,” Ning Fu said softly.

Madam Lu glanced at her and said amiably, “The fourth Miss is here to thank Xingzhi for teaching you archery, right? He is in the study. You can go find him yourself. The one at the end of the hall on the left is his.”

Ning Fu thought for a moment and said, “I was supposed to come with my mother to thank you last time, but you had gone back to your family.”

Madam Lu looked at the well-behaved and beautiful young lady in front of her and smiled. “I was the one who told your mother not to come. I don’t like socializing.”

Ning Fu’s impression of the Lu family grew even better. With a personality like Madam Lu’s, she must be easy to get along with.

The Lu estate was only half the size of the Duke’s estate, and the study was not hard to find. Ning Fu looked at the Scorching Radiance in her hand and knocked on the study door. “Master Lu.”

Lu Xingzhi was talking to Zong Si about the case of Grand Secretary Song’s bribery. He stopped when he heard her voice. Ning Fu’s voice was very recognizable.

“Don’t keep the fourth Miss waiting,” Zong Si said after a moment of silence.

Lu Xingzhi looked at him for a while before getting up and opening the study door. Zong Si was in the study and could see the outside. Even the most foolish person would know that the young lady had put a lot of effort into dressing up today.

When Ning Fu saw Lu Xingzhi, her mood lifted. She happily shared with him, “I got first place in archery.”

Lu Xingzhi and Zong Si had been discussing a very tense matter. Seeing her joyful expression, his face gradually softened. He said, “I heard.”

“It’s all thanks to you. Thank you for teaching me so patiently.”

Ning Fu held the Scorching Radiance she had set aside in front of him. “This bow is called Scorching Radiance. It was the personal weapon of General Shen Tu from the previous dynasty. It’s for you.”

This sentence made Zong Si in the study pause slightly, reminding him of his dream from the other day.

Lu Xingzhi’s expression was complicated. It was hard to tell if he was happy or not. He was stunned for a moment, then looked into the study, and then said, “This gift is too valuable.”

“I don’t want to give it to anyone else. I only want to give it to you,” Ning Fu said.

After saying it, Ning Fu felt a little embarrassed. The words she used to coax Zong Si to consummate their marriage were similar. She hadn’t come up with anything new.

Lu Xingzhi stared at her, pursing his lips. Just as Ning Fu thought he would decline, he took Scorching Radiance. “Okay.”

“However, I heard that the Crown Prince has also always wanted Scorching Radiance,” Lu Xingzhi said to Ning Fu. “If you give me Scorching Radiance, the Crown Prince will be disappointed.” He then looked directly at the person in the study. Although he was calm and composed, Zong Si still felt a sense of challenge.

But a moment later, Lu Xingzhi looked back at Ning Fu, waiting for her answer.

“The Crown Prince’s disappointment is not my concern. I only consider your feelings,” the young lady outside the door said.