The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 35

Inside Linglong Terrace, the door to the exquisite room was slightly ajar, and the suggestive music drifted in at just the right moment, adding a touch of romantic allure to the present atmosphere.

Ning Fu withdrew the fan handle from his collar, then touched his chest. She traced it slowly downward, continuing to openly tease him through his clothing—a demeanor that appeared more proper but was actually more effective at stirring the heartstrings. What a truly dashing young rake he is.

“Murong,” [Zong Si] glanced, not stopping her: “If the Young Master acts like this, how will you explain it when you return home?”

“You need not worry. The wives and concubines at home always listen to me; no one will dare cause you trouble,” Ning Fu assured him.

The man then reached out and pressed down the restless fan handle, a cold curve forming on his lips: “Since you have a family, you still come out to flirt? If you have someone beside you, you should cherish them properly, otherwise, that person will eventually grow cold-hearted.”

“So what if they grow cold-hearted?” Ning Fu looked at his mask. The green-faced, rough pattern did not look ugly on his face; rather, it possessed a somewhat strange and alluring beauty. She wondered what lay beneath the mask, but his tall build and elegant temperament meant that even if his facial features were ordinary, it would only be icing on the cake if they were handsome. She smiled, “You are so handsome; having you accompany me makes everything worthwhile.”

“Murong” then pushed away her fan handle, and the previous mood of sensual lingering vanished completely. In the previous life, he was her family. This action was no different from her deceiving him and being unfaithful, so he felt no sense of being flattered. Zong Si felt only annoyance that the “red apricot” [a metaphor for a wandering woman] was becoming too restless. He looked at her and said faintly, “Young Master, show self-respect. Those who dare to tease my person never meet a good end.” No one dared to tease him; even several imperial princes dared not joke with him.

Ning Fu was already aware of this in her heart; such a beautiful person would naturally be protected by someone.

“Young Master!” Only Dong Zhu panicked, growing anxious, fearing her young mistress was in danger.

“If Murong is in an inconvenient situation, I will just switch to someone else,” Ning Fu said with a smile. She only came to handle business; she only needed an excuse; it made no difference who accompanied her.

Murong looked at her but said, “Today, besides me, I fear no one else in Linglong Terrace would be convenient.” He stood up, poured Ning Fu another cup of tea, and then walked to the side to begin playing the qin (a zither-like instrument).

Ning Fu pondered for a moment. Linglong Terrace had countless beauties, so there certainly should be others. However, since Murong didn’t want her to find someone else, it would save her trouble.

The qin music was clear, melodious, and serene—truly calming to the heart. Every string and every note was enough to quiet the mind and subdue the spirit. Ning Fu closed her eyes and admired it for a moment, thinking that just this skill in playing the qin was exceptional enough; it was no wonder he was protected by a noble patron.

When the piece ended, Ning Fu said, “Young Master’s skill at the qin is outstanding. This young scholar has greatly benefited his ears today. If I return next time, I must trouble the Young Master again.” She took out an ingot of gold and added, “I will not treat the Young Master unfairly.”

Murong slowly replied, “You still want a next time? Do you truly think the one at home won’t hold a grudge?”

Ning Fu calmly met his gaze, internally weighing his meaning. She figured that if he truly disliked her, he wouldn’t have stayed this long.

Murong stood up and walked step-by-step toward her. She certainly could not lose her composure; she remained standing without moving until he reached her and gently tugged a strand of her hair. Ning Fu was dressed as a man, so this action felt very strange, but she still did not move.

“What do you want to do to my Young Master?” Dong Zhu nervously asked.

Murong paid no heed, instead leaning down in front of Ning Fu and saying, “If you want another time, if you wish for my favor, it is not difficult to arrange. However, you must clean up those flirtatious women surrounding you.”

As soon as the words fell, the door was pushed open. The woman who had led her into Linglong Terrace said, “Young Master, please come with me.” Upon seeing the two nearly pressed against each other, and Murong displaying an unusually dominant posture, the woman couldn’t help but pause.

Murong straightened up without glancing at the woman, and Ning Fu followed the woman.

“It seems the Young Master is very favored by Murong,” the woman said as they approached the upper pavilion.

Ning Fu put on an expression of lingering fondness: “Murong is so noble and handsome; Linglong Terrace must have countless beauties vying for him.” The woman frowned; Murong had always been gentle and timid, which didn’t align with being noble. However, whatever the guest said, she accepted; she didn’t argue.

At the doorway, the woman stopped moving forward: “The distinguished guest has been waiting for a long time.” A figure like Divine Doctor Mu, no matter which of the imperial princes he was friendly with, was certain to receive preferential treatment. However, if he had a backer, she needed to be more cautious.

Contrary to Ning Fu’s imagination, the room was extremely simple—only a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf. The bookshelf held not books, but various fresh medicinal herbs. Divine Doctor Mu sat upright within it, seriously writing something.

“I have long admired the Great Divine Doctor’s name,” Ning Fu cupped her fists and bowed.

“The young lady and I are not acquainted,” the Divine Doctor said after glancing at her, having understood the situation.

Song Bo’s expression turned very ugly. He said respectfully, “Master, this must be a scheme. I will handle her and take you away.”

“It doesn’t matter,” the Divine Doctor said. “Although I don’t know the young lady, since she possesses the medicinal formula, she must have some connection to me.”

Song Bo could not settle down but dared not disobey his master’s wishes.

Ning Fu stated, “The medicinal formula I hold was indeed obtained from the Divine Doctor.”

“In what manner did I tell it to you?”

“By word of mouth,” Ning Fu replied. She remembered it perfectly, which is how she was able to copy the formula down.

A hint of a smile appeared in the Divine Doctor’s eyes. “You are quite honest. And this is truly the only way. I formulated those prescriptions when I had nothing else to do; they were neither recorded nor mentioned to anyone. It can be said that besides me, no one else knows them.”

Song Bo stared intently at Ning Fu with sharp eyes: “Master, but you have never met her. How can this be explained? Moreover, there is another formula, one whose ingredients even you have never seen.”

Ning Fu pondered for a moment: “I can explain the reason to the Divine Doctor, but could Minister Song leave first?”

Song Bo naturally refused; he could not rest assured leaving his master alone with a strange woman. The Divine Doctor, however, said, “You may go down first.” Seeing this, Song Bo had no choice but to leave, though he didn’t go far; Ning Fu could still see his figure just outside the door.

Ning Fu calculated in her mind: the Divine Doctor was engaged in saving lives and was accustomed to seeing life and death. He might believe her if she spoke of rebirth. However, she now suspected he might be involved in the court affairs, making her worry that telling him the truth might bring disaster upon herself.

“Divine Doctor, can I say that I dreamt of this medicinal formula?” Ning Fu paused in thought before deciding to hide the truth for now.

The Divine Doctor looked at her and said, “I trouble the young lady to fetch the medicinal herb from the third compartment on the left of the shelf.”

Ning Fu complied.

“This is the Floating Splendor Dream. Legend claims it has the effect of reviving the dead. Initially, I thought the young lady was resurrected from death herself,” the Divine Doctor stated.

This short sentence shocked Ning Fu immensely.