The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 37

Although Ning Fu didn’t want to see Zong Si, she was unwilling to delay important business. After contemplating briefly, she said, “I trouble Sister Fu to lead the way.”

Fu Jiahui looked at her with growing understanding in her eyes, yet she smiled: “Handling matters for the Heir Apparent is never that easy. It is understandable that Sister Ning is annoyed with the Heir Apparent.”

Ning Fu silently agreed in her heart but remained silent verbally.

“However, the Heir Apparent is ultimately good to his own people,” Fu Jiahui added another sentence.

He was indeed good to his subordinates, but becoming one of his “own people” was no easy task. Moreover, once the matter concerning Divine Doctor Mu was settled, Ning Fu and he would go their separate ways, minding their own business; she certainly wouldn’t become one of his own people.

The two chatted as they walked to Fu Jiahui’s carriage, where Ning Fu quieted down. As she was getting into the carriage, she saw Zong Si lift the curtain, giving her a brief inspection up and down. The ruqun (a type of skirt) she was wearing today had a narrow hem, making it quite inconvenient to mount the carriage. He extended his hand toward her. Zong Si’s hand had distinct knuckles, and due to practicing martial arts, there were fine, thin calluses on his finger joints.

Ning Fu bit her lip but avoided his hand. She gathered strength with her foot and boarded the carriage. Even if her movement wasn’t graceful, it was certainly better than having physical contact with Zong Si, a man about to be engaged.

“Does the Heir Apparent wish to discuss the matter of Divine Doctor Mu with me?” Ning Fu stated her purpose directly. “He agreed to give me the Jade Hibiscus antidote so easily; he must want to test the person behind me. I just don’t know which distinguished noble he is close to.”

Zong Si withdrew his hand, glanced sideways at her, and his tone was the usual cool indifference: “Given his status, even if he is friendly with several people, he is a guest of honor to all of them.”

Before Ning Fu could speak, they suddenly heard Cheng Shuang’s voice from under the carriage: “Sister Fu, I just saw Sister Ning with you. Is Sister Ning currently in the carriage? I have something to say to her. If you are leaving, please take me along too.” As soon as she finished speaking, her hand was already lifting the curtain.

In the time it takes to utter a word, Ning Fu stepped forward two paces, blocking the carriage door with her body. She glanced at Fu Jiahui, who was about to help Cheng Shuang up and whose expression had changed, then fixed her gaze on Cheng Shuang’s face and smiled: “Sister Cheng, I am changing my dress inside the carriage. What is it you need?”

However, Cheng Shuang still managed to catch a glimpse of the corner of a man’s robe inside the carriage. She thought Ning Fu was truly shameless, being so bold about meeting a man in private. She just didn’t know the identity of the man in the carriage; that scrap of cloth suggested the material was excellent, meaning his status must be high. It was likely he wasn’t truly sincere toward Ning Fu, otherwise, given Ning Fu’s age, she could have arranged to discuss an engagement officially.

“I was in a rather poor mood just now and wanted to confide in Sister Ning, but it seems Sister Ning has matters to attend to,” Cheng Shuang retracted her thoughts. Among the young ladies, Ning Fu was the one who disliked gossiping.

“It is inconvenient today, I’m afraid. My dress is stained with filth, and I must go to Hongxiu Pavilion to buy a new outfit,” Ning Fu replied. After saying this, she clearly felt the gaze from behind her linger on her back for a moment.

Cheng Shuang peered into the carriage again, but this time, she couldn’t see anything: “Then Sister should hurry.” Fu Jiahui followed closely into the carriage, and then the carriage pulled away from the Duke of Qing’s Residence.

After another yixiang (about 30 minutes) of travel, the cries of street vendors sounded, indicating they were already quite far from the Duke of Qing’s Residence.

“Today, I was not careful enough. I didn’t expect Miss Cheng to follow us,” Fu Jiahui said, admitting fault to Zong Si. In truth, she couldn’t be entirely blamed for letting her guard down; previously, the young ladies never crowded around her. Who knew Cheng Shuang would suddenly change her demeanor today? Fortunately, Zong Si showed no intention of holding her accountable.

“After obtaining the Jade Hibiscus antidote, how you use it must also be cautious,” Ning Fu finally spoke up.

“Even if it’s not cautious, what of it?” Zong Si countered.

Upon hearing this, Ning Fu understood. Zong Si probably intended to let Mu Ruheng know that he was the one who truly wanted the Jade Hibiscus. One must enter the tiger’s den to catch the cub. He didn’t need to bring Divine Doctor Mu under his command; as long as he could make the doctor willing to help him, it was enough. Wise people knew the importance of not offending a divine doctor like Mu Ruheng, and they also knew they couldn’t control him—they could only build a connection, not make him a subordinate.

“In Linglong Terrace, interests are complexly intertwined. Even Lord Ning has informants there. Miss, every word and action inside must be cautious,” Zong Si suddenly added.

Ning Fu was startled inwardly but maintained her composure: “Thank you for the reminder, Heir Apparent. I know what I am doing.”

Zong Si looked at her and said flatly, “If Lord Ning were to learn that Fourth Miss is keeping a male favorite in Linglong Terrace, Lord Ning would likely not let Fourth Miss off lightly.”

Ning Fu knew the matter of Murong couldn’t be hidden from him; Zong Si’s informants were certainly watching everywhere. However, engaging in pretense with Murong was for the sake of serving him, so he surely wouldn’t tell her father. She playfully retorted, “The Heir Apparent doesn’t know Murong’s beauty.”

Zong Si paused: “How can you judge the beauty of a wayward young gentleman whose face you haven’t even seen?”

“Why must the Heir Apparent look down on people?” Ning Fu looked up at him, defending Murong with indignation.

“Fourth Miss speaks correctly; I should not look down on people,” Zong Si paused, his indifferent tone seemingly carrying a deep meaning. “However, if pretense goes too far, putting yourself in danger in front of a man is what a female ruler like Fourth Miss faces.”

Fu Jiahui paused, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two, a hint of complexity in her eyes. While Sister Ning didn’t know, she did know who that Murong actually was. Ning Fu’s intuition vaguely sensed that the danger he spoke of wasn’t about true physical danger, but rather a lapse in propriety between a man and a woman. Could that Murong be pretending to be reserved?

But regardless of whether Murong was feigning reserve or not, discussing such things with Zong Si was quite inappropriate. Ning Fu lowered her eyes and stopped arguing with him: “Thank you for the reminder, Heir Apparent.”

Zong Si observed her action and calmly stated, “Since Fourth Miss is handling matters for me, I will naturally pay attention to Fourth Miss’s safety.”

Fu Jiahui felt he was somewhat unhappy, but analyzing why he was unhappy was not easy. His interaction with Ning Fu was proper in every aspect yet carried subtle differences in every way. The Heir Apparent’s attitude toward her was very complex. But it wasn’t love. It was more like a sense of responsibility toward a concubine he didn’t like but belonged to him. When he met with Ning Fu, he seemed to dislike her being distant, and his attitude was slightly more intimate than when he was with others—as if he didn’t habitually extend his hand to help everyone onto a carriage. Fu Jiahui kept her confusion to herself, burying these thoughts. However, if she also had a reborn husband, she could understand Zong Si’s feelings. After all, who could remain completely unmoved by someone who might have been their wife in a past life?

The carriage finally stopped at Hongxiu Pavilion. Ning Fu had mentioned going to buy dresses to Cheng Shuang, so they naturally had to make a stop. Ning Fu had planned to go choose dresses with Fu Jiahui, but unexpectedly, Zong Si also got out of the carriage, causing her to frown. She politely said, “The Heir Apparent can wait for us in the carriage.”

“Sister Ning need not worry; this place also belongs to the Heir Apparent,” Fu Jiahui said with a smile. Hearing this, Ning Fu relaxed and said no more.

Hongxiu Pavilion had three floors. The ground floor housed jewelry and ornaments, while the upper floors were entirely dedicated to clothing. Countless types of silk were available: robes, brocades, gauze skirts, and satin skirts—everything was there.

“Sister Ning, choose whatever you like,” Fu Jiahui said to Ning Fu after glancing at Zong Si. Every single dress here was worth ten purchased outside.

“Thank you, Sister Fu,” Ning Fu smiled sweetly. The person she truly should thank was Zong Si, but thanking Fu Jiahui, a female ruler, was the most appropriate gesture at this moment. Although she could afford it herself, sometimes it was impolite to refuse a favor offered by others, as it would make them lose face. Showing the proper respect was necessary for her to be able to return the favor later.

As soon as Zong Si entered Hongxiu Pavilion, he was led away by an attendant. Ning Fu browsed with Fu Jiahui. In fact, having clothes that were too intricate and varied wasn’t necessarily a good thing; it could easily overwhelm the buyer.

“Young Lady, this is the Snow-Colored Hundred Butterflies Piercing Flowers Cloud Satin Skirt newly made by Yue Niang. Please try it,” moments later, the manager brought over a new skirt. The satin was light as gauze and clear as snow, hence the name “snow-colored.” Despite being a plain color, it stood out among all the other colors.

When the skirt was on Ning Fu, it was truly the perfect complement to both Ning Fu and the cloud satin itself. Ning Fu’s waist, already slender, appeared even more delicately curved, with a hint of serpentine allure. Her already flawless skin seemed even more translucent; with delicate eyebrows and dark hair, the look was simple yet strikingly beautiful.

“This must have been custom-made for the Young Lady,” the manager couldn’t help but exclaim, praising how well the dress suited Ning Fu.

Fu Jiahui smiled brightly: “Sister Ning truly brightens one’s eyes every time. It was worth Yue Niang’s effort over several months.”

“Who is Yue Niang?” Ning Fu asked curiously.

“She is an embroiderer whom the Heir Apparent brought back from the Northern Territory when he just came of age. Her parents were killed by the Hu people, and she was on the verge of death on the road. Unexpectedly, she encountered the Heir Apparent, who took pity on her and brought her back, giving her a chance to earn a living.”

Fu Jiahui did not mention that the Princess Consort of Xuan, after meeting Yue Niang, had suggested Zong Si take the woman in as a secondary wife (tongfang). As for anything else, she dared not speak nonsense to Ning Fu; she only knew what she had heard through the grapevine—that Yue Niang, though three years older than the Heir Apparent, was gentle and considerate, and a rare great beauty.

After the two finished selecting clothes, they returned to the Duke of Qing’s Residence, only to find that Zong Si had arrived earlier than them. He was currently sitting in a nearby pavilion with First Young Master Xie, the two conversing very pleasantly.

“Sister Ning, you are finally back,” Cheng Shuang rushed over excitedly upon seeing her, taking a couple of glances, and said enviously, “This dress is so beautiful. Why didn’t I see this cloud satin skirt the last time I went to Hongxiu Pavilion? Do you have connections there?”

This remark caused Zong Si, sitting in the pavilion nearby, to look over. He spared her a glance—his expression unchanged—before turning his attention back to First Young Master Xie and continuing their conversation.

“Sister Fu took me there,” Ning Fu replied, thus denying having connections there. Cheng Shuang couldn’t say much more. Normally, she looked down on Fu Jiahui as a merchant’s daughter, and she didn’t have the nerve to ask her for help or backdoor favors now.

Not far away, Rong Min pouted, about to complain to Xie Ruyi, but then she recalled the event from moments earlier and became embarrassed, giving up her plan to complain. Ning Fu keenly noticed that Cheng Shuang’s mood now was much better than when she had left the Duke of Qing’s Residence earlier.

“What did Sister Cheng need to tell me?” Ning Fu was pushed by her to sit in a corner seat.

“The Heir Apparent just arrived. Rong Min teased Sister Xie, but Sister Xie said her marriage with the Heir Apparent is not yet settled, so she shouldn’t speak carelessly,” Cheng Shuang recounted.

Ning Fu couldn’t help but feel a little surprised, then she understood: Xie Ruyi also had the Fourth Prince as a suitor. If the Prince of Xuan’s Residence didn’t show enough sincerity compared to the Duke of Qing’s Residence, this marriage wouldn’t be finalized so easily. Although Ning Fu knew Xie Ruyi favored Zong Si slightly more than the Fourth Prince, such a broad-minded ruler would never disregard family interests for the sake of a man.

“Even if Sister Xie doesn’t choose the Prince of Xuan’s Residence, she can still find someone good,” Ning Fu commented.

Cheng Shuang didn’t care about that. She whispered, “The Duke of Qing’s Residence has always wanted to place Fourth Young Master Xie in the Northern Army to earn military merit on paper, so he can be arranged an official post upon returning to the capital, making future promotions easier. However, Fourth Young Master Xie is incompetent, and the Prince of Xuan’s side is likely unwilling to accept this proposal, so the marriage is delayed.” Every battle the Prince of Xuan fought was earned with his life, and he never favored those who took crooked paths. Ning Fu felt this reason wasn’t baseless but did not comment rashly.

“I have something to tell the Heir Apparent. Accompany me later,” Cheng Shuang couldn’t approach Zong Si alone, and she trusted no one else, so she could only consider Ning Fu, who was best at keeping secrets.

When Zong Si and First Young Master Xie started to leave, Cheng Shuang pulled Ning Fu along. The two blocked the path of Zong Si and First Young Master Xie in the long corridor.

“Heir Apparent, we have something to tell you,” Cheng Shuang pulled Ning Fu in as a shield; together, they could avoid the issue of her meeting a man alone.

“I shall leave first,” First Young Master Xie said, stepping away. He trusted Zong Si’s character and believed no trouble would arise.

“What matter do Miss Cheng and Fourth Miss Ning have?” Zong Si spoke faintly, but his gaze landed on Ning Fu.

Cheng Shuang was too embarrassed. She pushed Ning Fu forward again: “Sister Ning, wait for me around that corner.” Ning Fu nodded.

Cheng Shuang looked at Zong Si. Facing the man she liked, her heart pounded violently: “I…”

“Even if my marriage to Miss Xie does not happen, I will not consider you,” Zong Si interrupted her first, distantly and coldly.

“I am willing to be a secondary wife,” Cheng Shuang quickly said.

“I have not the slightest affection for Miss Cheng,” he looked at her ruthlessly.

Cheng Shuang’s face instantly turned pale, her heart shattering instantly. Just as she was about to ask why, her gaze fell on the corner of his robe. At first, it looked familiar, and moments later, she remembered the scrap of cloth she had seen in Ning Fu’s carriage earlier. Cheng Shuang felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

“Miss Cheng, please return,” Zong Si, carefully avoiding impropriety, turned to leave.

“If Sister Ning is willing to be your secondary wife, the Heir Apparent surely would be willing, right?” Cheng Shuang asked, unwilling to let go.