The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 2

A cold autumn rain and a heavy morning frost cover the ground.

A short while ago, the Fourth Young Lady of the Duke of Ning’s Estate, Ning Fu, woke from her coma after falling into the water a few days prior. The estate was bustling with people that morning.

“I heard they caught the person who pushed the Fourth Young Lady into the water. Lord Ning interrogated him all night yesterday, beat him to a pulp, but couldn’t get him to reveal the mastermind.”

“So what if he gets beaten to death? If the Fourth Young Lady hadn’t been so lucky… that person has a wicked heart, and they deserve it!”

The servants were chattering outside, but inside the room, Ning Fu’s heart was filled with complex emotions, though mostly joy. She had returned to six years ago, to a time before her engagement to Zong Si. She no longer had to endure the loneliness of being neglected.

Furthermore, although her past life had been relatively smooth, she had many regrets she couldn’t let go of. Now, she had a chance to fix them all.

“You’re still weak. Why are you sitting up without a cape?” Lady Ning said as she brought in the medicine. She frowned when she saw her daughter sitting on the edge of the bed in only her inner clothes. She put the medicine down, picked up a pure white fur cloak from a hook nearby, and bent down to drape it over Ning Fu. But before she could, two hands wrapped around her.

“Mother,” Ning Fu choked out, tears welling up in her eyes.

She had no deep attachment to her past life, but the thought of her death, and the pain her mother, who had already suffered the grief of losing a child, would have to endure, was something she couldn’t bear to think about.

Lady Ning stroked her hair, her eyes reddening. After a moment, she held her daughter tighter. “No matter who harmed you, I will find them, my Fu’er. Don’t be afraid.”

Ning Fu’s body stiffened. In her past life, her mother had discovered the culprit was her father’s concubine, Lady Yu. However, the only witness was silenced by Lady Yu. Fearing further attempts on Ning Fu’s life, her mother dealt with the concubine despite a lack of concrete evidence. At the time, her mother’s family, though in some decline, was still quite powerful. Her father, the Duke of Ning, had no choice but to let the matter rest, but he resented his wife’s use of her family’s influence. From then on, there was no peace between them.

Later, Ning Fu’s only full-blooded brother died, and her mother’s health declined day by day. She was aloof and lifeless, only showing a hint of a smile when she saw Ning Fu. The honors her brother had earned were all taken by the first branch of the family.

As for the man who was caught, he was Lady Yu’s lover from before she entered the Ning Estate, which was why he refused to implicate her. This was something Ning Fu only found out after she married Zong Si, but by then it was too late. Even with the truth revealed, her parents’ relationship could never be mended.

Thankfully, this time, Mother will not have to go through that.

“Mother, I want to see Father,” Ning Fu said, looking up at Lady Ning.

“Your father is on his way back after hearing you’ve woken up. You’ll see him soon, just drink your medicine first,” Lady Ning said coaxingly.

Ning Fu took the medicine bowl. Just as she finished the contents, she heard the sound of steady footsteps. It was her father. The man was in his forties, tall and still wearing his official robes from court. He looked imposing, but his eyes were filled with gentleness.

“My Fu’er.”

“Father.” Ning Fu smiled at him, but her eyes were teary.

“You’ve suffered so much,” Ning Zhenyuan said, his heart aching at her much thinner face. He was a man who wouldn’t even blink at a sword wound, yet he had shed tears multiple times over his daughter. “This time, we must thank the Crown Prince of the Xuan Estate and the Second Young Master of the Lu Estate. If they hadn’t intervened…”

Ning Zhenyuan couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. He was so close to losing his daughter forever.

When Ning Fu heard Zong Si’s name, memories of her past came flooding back, causing a sharp, painful pang in her heart. He didn’t love her, but she had truly regarded him as her husband. She then heard the name of the Second Young Master Lu, a person she had no memory of. In her past life, she was sick for a long time and only remembered being saved by Zong Si and a young man from the Lu family. She never met the man from the Lu family when she went to thank them. “Second Young Master Lu?”

“Second Young Master Lu just returned to the capital this month, so of course you don’t know him. Once you’re feeling better, I’ll have your mother take you to the Xuan Estate and the Lu Estate to thank them,” Ning Zhenyuan said.

Ning Fu wanted nothing to do with Zong Si, but this was a matter she couldn’t put off. She nodded, then asked, “How is the interrogation of the person who pushed me, Father?”

“He’s quite stubborn, but I have my ways,” Ning Zhenyuan said with a cold laugh.

Ning Fu hesitated.

Ning Zhenyuan noticed her hesitation. “Don’t be afraid to speak your mind with me, my child.”

Ning Fu lowered her eyes. “Father, that man is Lady Yu’s lover. Could it be that she was the one who harmed me?”

By speaking first, no one could blame her mother for the outcome. Furthermore, the private affair between Lady Yu and the man was true. Even if she couldn’t prove Lady Yu tried to harm her, the concubine would not be able to escape punishment. Ning Zhenyuan’s expression darkened.

“What evidence do you have?”

“I saw that man embracing Lady Yu,” Ning Fu said. In her past life, she hadn’t realized the people she saw embracing were Lady Yu and the man. She only heard the man call out “Yan’er.” Ning Fu didn’t know who “Yan’er” was before, but after living an extra lifetime, she knew it was Lady Yu’s former name. Lady Yu had tried to silence her because she feared their affair would be exposed.

Ning Zhenyuan also thought of this possibility, and his face became even more grim. Not only did she have an affair, but she also tried to kill the apple of his eye. If it was true, he would not let Lady Yu go unpunished.

Lady Ning scoffed coldly, “The people around you, my lord, are truly good people.”

Ning Zhenyuan’s face turned red. Lady Ning was the daughter of a princess, so he dared not argue with her. His own upbringing meant he wouldn’t fight with his wife. He had to respect her. Even though it was his mother who had forced him to take Lady Yu as a concubine, Ning Zhenyuan couldn’t say a word in his own defense and could only endure his wife’s mockery.

With the new lead, the investigation into Ning Fu’s fall moved quickly. Ning Zhenyuan’s trusted aide traveled south to Lady Yu’s hometown and discovered she and the man were childhood sweethearts. Later, Lady Yu was sold by her parents, and the old madam of the Ning Estate saved her, keeping her close as a personal maid. Seeing her cleverness, the old madam later gave her to Ning Zhenyuan as a concubine. Ning Zhenyuan used Lady Yu as leverage, and the man, thinking he already knew everything, finally confessed. The truth was just as Ning Fu had said: Lady Yu, fearing their affair would be exposed, had tried to silence her.

Ning Zhenyuan couldn’t believe such a wicked woman had been living at his side.

Before Ning Fu had even recovered, Lady Ning, as the matriarch of the household, had already dealt with Lady Yu. Although Lady Yu had been a favorite of the old madam, this time, even the old madam did not intervene. Lady Ning didn’t speak of it in front of Ning Fu, but Ning Fu could already guess what Lady Yu’s fate had been.

Ning Fu was forced to stay inside to recover from a cold she caught from her fall. Her only full-blooded brother was still away at the border. Aside from the members of the first branch of the family and her grandmother visiting her a few times, she hadn’t seen any outsiders, which gave her a quiet respite. It wasn’t until half a month later that she was finally able to get out of bed.

“In a few days, we’ll be holding a banquet for you at the estate. I wonder if you’ll gain some weight by then,” Lady Ning sighed.

“Are you saying I’m not pretty now, Mother?” Ning Fu asked in return.

“How could you not be pretty?” Lady Ning said.

It’s just that Ning Fu was about to come of age, but she was still growing, a late bloomer among young women. Being so thin only made her look younger. Lady Ning was truly worried that the young men they had their eyes on would already be snatched up. The two young masters of the Xuan Estate, Zong Si and Zong Duo, were pursued by every family, and even the Duke of Qing’s Estate was interested in them. Lady Ning didn’t want to compete for them and didn’t consider them an option. The young master of the Wei family had a good background, but Lady Wei was too domineering, and Lady Ning couldn’t bear to see her daughter marry into such a family. As for the Lu family, their status was a bit lower, and she wouldn’t let her daughter suffer. Lady Ning was about to dismiss the thought when she suddenly remembered the Second Young Master Lu who had saved Ning Fu. She fell into thought.

I heard he’s talented and well-mannered. He doesn’t have the arrogance of other noble sons, and he’s humble and polite. He should be easy to get along with.

Lady Ning was interested in the Second Young Master Lu, but she didn’t mention it to Ning Fu. She would investigate him herself first, and only tell her daughter if he was suitable. If not, the matter would quietly disappear.

In a flash, the day of the banquet arrived. Ning Fu had narrowly escaped death, and the old madam wanted to make the banquet lively to bring some happiness to the estate. This was Ning Fu’s first public appearance since her fall.

Although she was a bit thinner, she was still beautiful, with skin like porcelain and a tall, slender figure. Her eyes were captivatingly charming, and when she smiled, they were as pure as a clear spring. The light green and emerald-patterned dress she wore suited her perfectly, making her look radiant, like a lotus emerging from the water. As a result, she immediately attracted many eyes.

Ning Fu first accompanied the old madam and Lady Ning to greet the guests, and then looked over at the table for her peers. The young ladies from various estates in the capital were all beautiful in their own unique ways, truly a field of blossoming flowers.

“You’ve blossomed a lot lately. In less than half a year, suitors will be breaking down the doors of the Ning Estate,” Wei Ziyi teased as Ning Fu took her seat. She was the third young lady of the Wei family and was engaged to Ning Fu’s elder brother, Ning Yu. She and Ning Fu were the closest of friends.

“Why are you making fun of me when you have nothing to do?” Ning Fu said.

“How did it feel to be saved by Zong Si that day?” Wei Ziyi whispered in her ear. “Did you fall for him even more?”

Ning Fu paused for a moment before looking down without a word. Aside from Wei Ziyi, no one knew she had a crush on Zong Si. In her past life, she had secretly rejoiced for a long time after being saved. Now, however, her feelings were far more complicated.

She looked at the woman across from her. Her face held a gentle smile. This was Xie Ruyi, the second young lady of the Duke of Qing’s Estate and Zong Si’s true love. She was a famous beauty in the capital, with a good family background, outstanding looks, and exceptional skill in all six arts. She was also the woman Ning Fu admired the most.

Although the Great Yan Dynasty was not completely conservative, men and women usually sat at separate tables. Ning Fu unconsciously looked toward the men’s side, searching for a familiar figure. Zong Si had been her husband for three years, and they had shared a bed. Even though the Zong Si in front of her had just come of age and his body was different from what she remembered, she easily found him.

Zong Si wore a dark-colored brocade robe. His nose was high and straight, and his handsome features and chiseled face gave him a refined and aloof look. His gaze was intentionally and unintentionally directed towards the women’s side. If one looked closely, they would find he was only looking at one person, as if the world only held her.

In her past life, Ning Fu had no idea Zong Si was in love with Xie Ruyi. She had been sitting behind Xie Ruyi and had always thought he was looking at her. Ning Fu felt terrible now. She hadn’t completely let go of her identity as Zong Si’s wife. Now, all she felt was that her husband was having an affair. She also thought of their wedding night when Zong Si didn’t consummate their marriage until three months later. Even then, when she had sweetly called him “my lord” afterward, he hadn’t immediately responded.

“Is Zong Si looking at you?” Wei Ziyi suddenly asked.

It was as if Ning Fu had been doused with a bucket of cold water. All the grievances from her past life suddenly rushed back, making her heart feel cold. Yet, she smiled sweetly and whispered, “Sister Wei, there are too many people who want to enter the Xuan Estate, but it will absolutely not be me. Please don’t tease me with this anymore.”

She didn’t want to suffer any more grievances. In this life, she would not lower herself to beg for a marriage.

There were plenty of other men to choose from.