The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 4

In the following days, Ning Fu still rarely went out, spending most of her time in her study to catch up on her lessons.

She did not attend several gatherings for young ladies.

These gatherings would have her running into many young masters, and Ning Fu did not want to see Zong Si.

Moreover, the archery and charioteering exams were a little over a month away, and she needed to save time to practice her riding and archery skills.

Young ladies of the Great Yan Dynasty were required to pass the six arts. Although they didn’t have to be top-notch, they had to at least pass. Anyone who failed the six arts would be considered an uneducated slacker, bringing shame to their family. Those who excelled would be selected as the top “talented lady” every two years, which would bring great honor to their household.

Ning Fu had inherited her father’s intelligence and was very diligent. But in her previous life, she was so weakened by the near-drowning incident that her archery and charioteering skills suffered, causing her to lose the chance to be nominated as a “talented lady.”

However, she had mastered her riding and archery skills in the first few months after her marriage to Zong Si. This time, she might have a shot at becoming a “talented lady.”

Ning Fu thought that the only benefit she had gotten from marrying Zong Si was improving her riding and archery skills. It seemed this marriage was not entirely useless.

If she could become a “talented lady,” the emotional suffering she had endured in her past life would be worth it.

A few days before her visit to the Prince of Xuan’s residence to express her gratitude, she went with Lady Ning to the Garden of Tranquility to pay her respects to the old matriarch.

The Garden of Tranquility was the old matriarch’s living quarters. On both sides, there were osmanthus trees. Although the flowers had withered, they still emitted a faint, refreshing fragrance, living up to the garden’s beautiful name.

“Grandmother,” Ning Fu called out before she had even entered the room.

“A-Fu, come and have some pastries,” the old matriarch said cheerfully.

As soon as Ning Fu sat down, a maid serving the old matriarch handed her a hand warmer.

The old matriarch examined her for a few moments and then said, “You look rosy today. You can start practicing your archery.”

After all, the honor of the Duke’s residence was at stake. Not only did the old matriarch remind her, but her mother, father, and brother also pressured her.

“Don’t worry, Grandmother. I’ll get a good grade on my exam,” Ning Fu promised with a smile.

The old matriarch nodded in satisfaction and had Ru-Yi take her to a side room to have some refreshments.

She then looked at Lady Ning and said, “I heard you are visiting the Prince of Xuan’s residence tomorrow. I have also prepared a gift of gratitude.”

“Thank you, Old Matriarch,” Lady Ning replied.

The old matriarch said, “Your husband has not inherited the dukedom, and for him to have a promising future, he can only take the path of an official. The Prince of Xuan has been graced with the Emperor’s favor, so for Zhen-Yuan and third young master to have a smooth career, they cannot ignore the Prince of Xuan. How can we be negligent when dealing with the Prince of Xuan’s residence? It will show our sincerity if I prepare the gift myself.”

The “third young master” the old matriarch mentioned was Lady Ning’s son, Ning Fu’s brother, Ning Zheng.

“The old matriarch is too kind,” Lady Ning said. However, she knew that the old matriarch was not only making plans for her second branch, but the first branch likely wanted to befriend the Prince of Xuan as well.

It was an undeniable fact that the Duke of Ning’s residence was in decline.

The first branch had wanted to marry Ning Ran into the Prince of Xuan’s residence and had gone to great lengths to do so, but the Prince of Xuan’s household, which had always been conceited, had turned them down. The Crown Prince’s son had clearly not taken a liking to A-Ran.

Ning Ran was the legitimate daughter of Duke Ning Zhen-Xiu and was extremely beautiful, nearly as beautiful as A-Fu. She had always been a proud person, but she had humbled herself to write a letter begging Zong Si to meet her. He hadn’t even bothered to reply.

Ning Ran was crestfallen for a long time afterward and later married into the Wei family.

Although the first branch had kept the matter a secret for Ning Ran’s sake, Lady Ning had still heard some whispers.

“A-Fu will be of marriageable age next year. Do you have any plans for her marriage?” the old matriarch suddenly asked.

Lady Ning dodged the question and said, “Old Matriarch, A-Fu’s archery skills are giving me enough trouble right now. How can I have the heart to think about anything else? It’s not too late to consider it after she has reached her marriageable age.”

The old matriarch said meaningfully, “A-Fu’s marriage is extremely important to the entire Duke’s residence. You should give it some serious thought.”

Lady Ning agreed on the surface, but she would never let A-Fu become a stepping stone for the Duke’s residence.

If her son and husband were not successful, it was their own incompetence. Lady Ning found it shameful to exchange her daughter’s happiness for their success.

The morning chill was biting. Ning Fu only felt some warmth after she got into the carriage.

Lady Lu had gone to visit her parents, so today, she only needed to visit the Prince of Xuan’s residence.

“My little lady looks so clean and pure,” Lady Ning said, feeling more and more pleased as she looked at her daughter. In this life, the thing she was most grateful for was giving birth to a daughter.

“Mother, your beauty is also very attractive, and Father loves to see it,” Ning Fu hoped her mother and father’s relationship would improve so that no one could take advantage of them.

Lady Ning sneered, “Your father’s heart is not on me. He is only wary of the Princess’s residence behind me.”

Ning Fu said, “Mother, Father is handsome and refined. If he liked Lady Yu, then how could Lady Yu have had a lover? Father was forced by Grandmother to take Lady Yu in as a concubine. If your relationship with Father is not good, Grandmother will definitely force Father to take another concubine in the future.”

She knew that her father had never entered Lady Yu’s bedroom, but if she were to say this, it would probably shock her mother.

Ning Fu said, “Mother, if you give Father a single look, he will surely be happy.”

“Don’t think about these useless things anymore,” Lady Ning said. She had taken Ning Fu’s words to heart. She knew that her husband had to be on her side for her to be able to make better plans for her children’s future.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Prince’s residence.

The Prince of Xuan’s residence was a mansion personally bestowed by the Emperor, located at the end of Chang’an Avenue, the most bustling street in the capital. The intricate carvings on the eaves and the glazed tiles sparkling in the sunlight gave it a grand and elegant appearance.

A servant welcomed Lady Ning and Ning Fu into the residence, and they passed through a small garden. The flowerbeds on both sides were a riot of color, and the fresh floral scent was refreshing and uplifting.

As they walked further, they reached the Rippling Pavilion, where Ning Fu saw the Princess of Xuan. The woman next to her was the wife of the Prince of Xuan’s younger brother, the mother of the second young master Zong Duo, Lady Zong.

The Princess of Xuan was in her forties and dressed very simply, yet her features were stunningly beautiful. Zong Si had inherited her beauty.

The Princess of Xuan was also examining Ning Fu. After half a year of not seeing her, the once-young girl had blossomed like a peony in the morning, and her graceful figure already had the feel of a weeping willow swaying in the wind. In another two years, she would be breathtakingly beautiful.

However, it was not a good thing for a woman to be too eye-catching. Men were driven by lust, and as a woman with experience, the Princess of Xuan knew all too well how much her husband’s infatuation with her had caused him to make mistakes. It was a sweet memory for her, but she did not want her son to fall into the same trap.

“A-Fu has become more and more exquisite,” the Princess of Xuan said with a smile.

“Your Highness is too kind,” Lady Ning said, though she felt a bit proud.

In her past life, Ning Fu’s mother-in-law had been kind to her, perhaps as a way to compensate for Zong Si’s indifference. Ning Fu was sincere in her affection for her, so she asked with concern, “I heard that Your Highness had a rash a while ago. Has it recovered?”

The Princess of Xuan did not reciprocate Ning Fu’s warmth. In her eyes, this was nothing but a calculated attempt at flattery. She calmly replied, “It’s almost healed. How did you know I had a rash, A-Fu?”

Ning Fu had already prepared her answer and said, “The imperial physician for the king took my pulse and mentioned that he had just come from the Prince’s residence. I asked him about it and found out about the matter.”

The Princess of Xuan did not ask any more questions and started chatting with Lady Ning.

Lady Zong smiled kindly and said, “If the fourth Miss is bored, she can have a look around with the maid.”

“Chun Ying, lead the fourth Miss around,” the Princess of Xuan instructed.

Ning Fu thanked them and followed Chun Ying to the back garden.

The Prince of Xuan was especially fond of the variety of flowers and trees in his residence, which were even more abundant than in the palace. Even though it was autumn, the residence was full of life. However, since Ning Fu had lived there for three years, she didn’t find it to be anything new.

Ning Fu only took a couple of extra glances as she passed by the Garden of Flourishing Scenery, the place she had stayed in her past life. For a moment, her mind was full of thoughts.

“That’s the Crown Prince’s son’s sleeping quarters,” Chun Ying said with a smile. “The Crown Prince’s son doesn’t really like peace and quiet, but he personally chose this secluded courtyard. The Princess often teases him and says that he chose it for the future Crown Princess.”

Ning Fu did not like the Garden of Flourishing Scenery. The one who would like this style of courtyard was probably that Xie family girl. It was clear that neither the Princess nor Zong Si had expected that the one who would eventually enter the residence would not be that person.

“Fourth Miss Ning, would you like to go up the rockery?”

Ning Fu was stunned and looked up at the familiar rockery in front of her. She hadn’t expected to walk this far.

She had fallen here, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

“Fourth Miss Ning?” Chun Ying called out with concern when she saw her get distracted.

“I won’t go up,” Ning Fu said, putting away her sadness. She smiled kindly and said, “I have a phobia of falling from heights.”

Not everyone had the chance to live a second life. She had to cherish her life.

…

On the rockery, Zong Si and his brother, Zong Duo, were playing a game of go.

The stone table was in a position that gave them a clear view of the fourth Miss Ning’s retreating back.

“Was the fourth Miss Ning sad just now?” Zong Duo asked, confused. What in the residence could make her feel a sense of loss, especially since she hadn’t been here many times?

Zong Si placed a white stone on the board and said calmly, “I’m curious as to why she is so familiar with the layout of the residence.”

Zong Duo also remembered that when the fourth Miss Ning entered the garden, she had walked ahead of the maid and had not taken a single wrong turn. He couldn’t help but frown.

When Zong Si was not yet of age, there had been a woman who bribed a servant to get a map of the residence. She used the opportunity of a banquet at the residence to go to Zong Si’s sleeping quarters, attempting to accuse him of “impropriety” and force him to take responsibility. Fortunately, it was discovered early, so it did not cause any harm.

“The Duke of Ning’s residence is determined to send a girl your way. One Miss Ning is not enough, and now there’s another fourth Miss Ning,” Zong Duo said.

Zong Si looked at him and said coldly, “I’m not the only young master in the residence.”

Zong Duo couldn’t help but straighten up a bit. He thought, what does he take me for? Is he so easily tempted?

From the day he was born until now, he had never been tempted by a woman! Women were not as attractive as weapons!

He said with a serious expression, “I’ve never been interested in women, and you should be wary as well, so you don’t fall for her tricks.” The Emperor did not favor Ning Zhen-Yuan, and he was also a consultant to the fourth prince. It was only a matter of time before he was dealt with. The Prince’s residence could not, under any circumstances, get involved with him.

“But what is the Duke of Ning’s residence thinking? The second Miss Ning is, after all, the Duke of Ning’s legitimate daughter, while the fourth Miss Ning is only from the second branch and not as talented as the second Miss Ning. You didn’t even agree to marry the second Miss Ning, so how could you possibly agree to the fourth Miss Ning?” Zong Duo asked again.

Zong Si remembered the vulgar book of illustrations.

Perhaps the fourth Miss Ning had some tricks when it came to men, and she wanted to provoke him in such a bold manner, deliberately saying he was not good in bed. But it was strange that a young lady from the Duke’s residence would do such a thing.

And whether or not he was good in bed was not for her to test, and he could not prove it to her.

Zong Duo thought for a moment and suggested, “I think you should settle your marriage with the second Miss Xie first, lest you have a change of heart later.”