The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 40

Zong Si looked over at her almost the moment her words fell, his expression remaining unchanged, as always, somewhat indifferent.

However, he himself knew that he felt an inexplicable displeasure.

“I wonder how the matter of the engagement between the Shizi and Sister Xie has progressed. However, with Sister Xie being such an excellent nü jun (lady/wife-to-be), she is perfectly suited for the Shizi; the Shizi will certainly not let her slip away,” Ning Fu mused, then added.

Mentioning Xie Ruyi was meant to calm him—he hadn’t even married his beloved yet, so why ponder concubinage? Right?

Zong Si raised his head to look at her.

Ning Fu remained silent.

Since Zong Si currently had the intention of making her his concubine, she felt compelled to keep her distance.

Zong Si stared at her thoughtfully and said faintly, “Since the Fourth Miss has found the Divine Physician Mu for me, you naturally need not come to my residence again in the future. However, does the Fourth Miss’s demeanor suggest that she is somewhat afraid of me?”

He hit the nail on the head: she was afraid of interacting with him, afraid of deviating from the proper course, which would lead to future trouble. She did not want to step into the same pit a second time.

Ning Fu could only revert to the main topic: “My father was able to safely go to Liangzhou this time; the Shizi must have also spoken well of the matter before His Majesty. I am extremely grateful.”

“What is the Fourth Miss afraid of?” Zong Si pressed unreasonably. Clearly, at this moment, he did not intend to discuss whether his interference was the reason for Ning Zhenyuan’s safe departure.

Ning Fu lowered her gaze, feeling extremely vexed at the moment.

Yet, no one spoke.

When Zong Si was patient, remaining motionless for hours was routine. Forcing her to speak now meant he could remain silent, but his imposing aura made even the sound of one’s breathing involuntarily restrain itself.

“The legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ning’s residence will not serve as a secondary wife,” after the time it took for a cup of tea to brew, Ning Fu finally could not bear the pressure and stated directly, lowering her eyes, “Otherwise, I will certainly be the subject of idle gossip.”

Zong Si looked at her. Indeed, she was very perceptive. The reason he hadn’t explicitly stated it when Cheng Shuang asked him was precisely because he had considered this aspect—it wasn’t because he was particularly fond of her. Given Ning Fu’s appearance, her future path would not be smooth; if her husband’s family were ordinary, they might struggle to protect her.

In the previous life, she was his wife/concubine. He held some old affection and pity. Seeing her perish due to marrying the wrong person was worse than keeping her close under his protection. The position of a secondary wife would be enough to keep her free from worry, and the Prince of Xuan’s residence would not need to be drawn into the Duke of Ning’s household matters. At that time, Ning Zhenyuan, for his daughter’s safety, certainly would not refuse.

However, for now, the Duke of Ning’s residence was secure, and he had not yet made a final decision. Zong Si had no intention of mentioning this matter today; if Ning Fu hadn’t brought it up, he wouldn’t have discussed it with her within a year.

“If not a secondary wife, then you wish to be the primary wife?” Zong Si asked softly.

There was a faint hint of mockery in his tone.

Forget the primary wife; she didn’t even want to be his ancestor. Being his woman was a thankless task.

Ning Fu stood up, smoothed her dress, performed a curtsy before him, and stated sincerely, “The Shizi sees clearly; I have no such intention. My heart is as clear as a mirror. Sister Xie and Sister Cheng are both far more suitable for the position of Shizi Fei than I, so how could I harbor improper thoughts?”

She paused, then added, “To be frank, I am considering families like the Lu Residence or the Lin Residence as future husbands. I am not very intelligent; only a family with a simple background would allow me to barely manage.”

Seeking a match in a family of ordinary standing was rare, and in the words of Old Madam Ning, such a wish to marry down showed a complete lack of ambition.

“Marrying into the Lu or Lin Residences would not be a good thing, as their families’ status is not high enough to protect you in the future,” Zong Si remarked.

Ning Fu’s thoughts differed from his. Moreover, both the Lu and Lin Residences were quite good. Lu Xingzhi, especially, was a rare handsome man, hardworking, and a decent person. With future advancement, he might very well be able to protect her. In terms of daily life, Zong Si was far inferior to Lu Xingzhi.

Zong Si understood her apprehension; his expression turned cold and distant, as if he were somewhat angry.

Actually, from Fourth Miss Ning’s attitude, one could guess that she had no attachment to the Prince of Xuan’s residence, nor to him. Otherwise, why would she never mention past events in front of him? Perhaps in the past life, she married him for benefit, not necessarily out of affection.

It was he, the one who didn’t remember the past life, who lately could occasionally step into the role of her husband, paying more attention to her than before.

Zong Si retracted his thoughts, watching her silently, his feeling of displeasure intensifying. He disliked her pretense of knowing nothing, leaving him to guess. Zong Si disliked this feeling of losing control.

However, he was not bothered by her refusal.

Ning Fu said, “The Shizi must understand me. As the nü jun of a Duke’s residence, forgive me for being unwilling to bring shame upon the Duke of Ning’s residence; otherwise, I would rather die.”

“I do not like to force people, nor am I as you imagine, wanting you to become my secondary wife,” Zong Si glanced at her. If it weren’t for the previous life, he wouldn’t have conceived such a plan, nor did he have any particular interest in her.

Ning Fu finally relaxed and slowly sat down on the silk chair opposite him. “The secret chamber of the Qing Tian Pavilion, if I have guessed correctly, should be located beneath the Prince of Xuan’s Residence’s Hanting Lake.”

Zong Si did not respond.

“The difficulty of constructing a secret room underwater is immense, so it is likely an artificial channel. Few residences in the capital have artificial rivers. Those with some insight could guess it easily, so perhaps only the Shizi’s close confidants know about such a place in the Prince of Xuan’s Residence,” she recounted her conjectures one by one.

Zong Si then realized that she hadn’t known about this location in her previous life. It seemed that although they were husband and wife, they were far from being candid with each other; they were not a couple who had weathered storms together.

“Go back now,” he said.

Just as the stick of sandalwood incense burned out, Fu Jiahui walked in and said, “Little Sister Ning, let me escort you back.”

It was unclear how Zong Si managed to pass the message to Fu Jiahui, but she arrived at the perfect time.

Ning Fu walked out with Fu Jiahui.

“Did you quarrel with the Shizi?” Fu Jiahui suddenly asked.

“The Shizi is of noble status; how would I dare to be so disrespectful,” Ning Fu denied it.

“Although Liangzhou is not large, there are many local tyrants. If Lord Ning encounters threats, he can seek help from the person mentioned in this letter. If Lord Ning can stabilize the various forces in Liangzhou, upon returning to the capital in the future, he can certainly advance further,” Fu Jiahui handed her a letter.

Upon returning, Ning Fu read the letter. It mentioned several individuals who were, in fact, mountain bandits.

After a moment of thought, she understood.

The officials in Liangzhou were inevitably connected to various figures in the capital. If the officials protected one another, her father might have difficulty handling the situation. However, the mountain bandits possessed ample manpower; even the highest official would fear the unpredictability of blades and swords and would not dare to offend them. Using the bandits to carry out bloody deeds was most suitable.

No wonder Lu Xingzhi’s bandit suppression efforts took so long. Perhaps Zong Si was using these very bandits to balance the various forces in Liangzhou. As long as the various factions remained, why would he allow these bandits to be completely wiped out? Furthermore, Lu Xingzhi’s friendship with Zong Si was not insignificant; perhaps the speed of the bandit suppression was deliberately slowed.

Ning Fu sent the letter using Zong Si’s name, naturally. What he wanted was stability in Liangzhou, and his willingness to offer assistance this time meant her father likely wouldn’t be suspicious.

Half a month after Ning Zhenyuan requested his transfer to an external post, the Duke of Ning, Ning Zhenxiu, was promoted from the Fourth Rank, Grand Master of Ceremonies to the Third Rank, Grand Minister of the Imperial Stud. The main branch of the family was naturally overjoyed.

Ning Fu and Madam Ning knew the reason behind Ning Zhenyuan’s request for the external post.

However, others only believed that Ning Zhenyuan had been demoted, and the future prospects of the second branch of the Duke of Ning’s residence were worrying. For a time, the young masters from families who previously showed interest in Ning Fu withdrew their intentions and stopped trying to get close to the Duke of Ning’s residence.

“Everyone is so materialistic; I look down on such families,” Old Madam Ning snorted.

It must be said that Old Madam Ning’s remark was somewhat hypocritical; the families she favored were also considering benefits, weren’t they?

Ning Fu fed her the medicine and remained silent.

After her father left, the grandmother became ill from worry and caught a cold, but she was recovering quickly.

“Your father in Liangzhou will probably have to endure some hardships,” Old Madam Ning sighed again. Liangzhou was a hard bone that even two generations of emperors couldn’t easily chew through. Although her son requested the transfer himself, it was no different from a demotion.

“Grandmother, rest assured, Father will take good care of himself,” Ning Fu replied.

Later in the evening, Madam Ning also arrived at the Qinyuan garden. Seeing her looking spirited and showing no sign of worry, Old Madam Ning felt a touch of dissatisfaction. How could a wife not follow her husband to such a harsh and cold place where he would be stationed for at least a year? In Old Madam Ning’s mind, Madam Ning should have gone with him to care for his daily needs.

However, recalling her son’s words when he left—telling her not to trouble Liu Shi—she dared not criticize Madam Ning despite her dissatisfaction.

“Truly, it is quite desolate for Zhenyuan to be alone in Liangzhou,” Old Madam Ning hinted indirectly.

Madam Ning replied, “I actually wanted to go with him, but my husband wouldn’t allow it. If the Old Ancestor wishes for me to go too, perhaps you could send him a letter.”

Old Madam Ning dared not offend her and changed the subject: “The Prince of Wang’s residence also needs you to manage it now; it is better for you to remain here.”

“The revenue from several shops in the Wang Residence began to improve this month. Starting next month, after expenses, there should be a surplus,” Madam Ning stated.

Only then did Old Madam Ning show a genuine smile, mixed with regret: “If the Wang Residence had been managed by you for these past twenty years, its situation would likely be much better than it is now.”

Madam Ning, however, sneered internally. She wouldn’t be overly grateful now that the old madam, who previously favored the main branch, was saying this. After the previous commotion, her relationship with the old madam was now only superficially passable.

Feeling guilty, Old Madam Ning did not say more.

Wei Shi arrived a little late today and was also polite to Madam Ning, saying with a smile, “If sister-in-law is busy, you can leave first; I will attend to the Old Ancestor.”

If one considered the beginning when she handed over the household management, Wei Shi felt a bit of heartache, worried that the second branch would retaliate against her. But seeing how well Liu Shi managed the Duke’s Residence, and realizing she hadn’t been targeted, her resentment faded. If Ning Zhenxiu hadn’t managed his connections well with the money Liu Shi brought in, he wouldn’t have achieved his promotion today.

Since her husband started favoring her, Madam Ning’s life had become much smoother. Whether it was the main branch or Old Madam Ning, they now thought three times before speaking, never again mentioning offending her.

“Alright then, I will leave first,” Madam Ning only sat down to drink a sip of tea before rising to depart.

Wei Shi then looked at Ning Fu and said, “Young Miss Ran has been bored at home recently and was thinking of asking you over to keep her company, but it depends on whether you wish to go.”

Ning Fu pondered for a moment. Since Ning Ran was pregnant, her request to see her meant she genuinely wanted to see her. After all, she was her older sister, so Ning Fu did not refuse.

Upon arriving at the Wei Residence, Ning Ran’s pregnancy was already showing—a small, round shape. However, her husband, Wei Xiao, was not by her side today.

“It’s a relief I waited for you; I was about to grow mold from boredom recently,” Ning Ran said, gripping her hand.

“Where is brother-in-law?” Ning Fu asked.

Ning Ran let out a cold laugh: “I don’t want to see him, so I drove him away.”

Marital quarrels were normal, so Ning Fu didn’t think much of it. “Second Sister, you must take care of your body now; don’t allow yourself to get unnecessarily angry.”

Ning Ran’s eyes reddened. “I cannot share a room with him. After only a month, he returned to his other residence. They are so intimate in private, almost as much as when he is with me.”

Ning Fu was quite surprised. She had always thought Wei Xiao was a model husband, but she hadn’t expected this.

“However, all men are like this. But his concubine is ambitious and deliberately tries to make me unhappy. So, in front of your brother-in-law, I sent her away. Your brother-in-law didn’t say a word, letting her see clearly what she is—nothing more than a plaything,” Ning Ran said bitterly.

Ning Fu remained silent. Zong Si wanting to take her as a secondary wife—perhaps the primary wife of Zong Si would view her as Ning Ran views a concubine.

“Ah Fu, love is illusory; only power held in your hands is real. Don’t be foolish for a man in the future,” Ning Ran’s words were extremely sincere. “And don’t be sad because a man has someone else. If he has someone, so be it. But for anyone who tries to surpass you, they must be dealt with early. It’s best if those concubines are your own people.”

After dealing with the concubine, Ning Ran arranged for her own trusted people to ensure no ripples were created: “I gave Xia Yun to Wei Xiao.” Xia Yun was her dowry maid.

Even though she willingly gave Xia Yun away, Wei Xiao’s lack of refusal still hurt her feelings, which is why she drove Wei Xiao away and hadn’t seen him for several days.

Ning Fu felt complicated. Although she had heard of dowry maids becoming concubines, she never expected it to happen to her own sister. In the previous life, Zong Si had been very observant, always avoiding the two maids in her room, never even glancing at them. He almost undressed himself. That was why she thought this was an isolated case.

“Now that Second Uncle has gone to Liangzhou, your marriage is also a matter that causes worry. Grandmother must be very anxious,” Ning Ran then worried about her.

“For now, I can only let nature take its course,” to avoid making her think she wasn’t concerned about her marriage, Ning Fu had to pretend to look troubled.

Ning Ran didn’t want to pressure her too much, so she dropped the subject. The two visited the elders of the Wei Residence and also met Wei Furen’s youngest son, Wei Lin, who was only four or five years old, mischievous, and crying because he wanted to go out and play.

“I’ll accompany him,” Wei Furen valued Ning Ran and was overly enthusiastic toward her. Ning Fu正好 needed some fresh air.

“Then I trouble Fourth Miss,” Wei Furen said.

“Thank you, Sister; let’s go,” Wei Lin said.

Ning Fu took his hand and walked out, Ning Ran following. Ning Fu was quite skilled at using a slingshot among ladies, completely captivating Wei Lin.

“Sister, you are amazing,” Wei Lin exclaimed. “I want to recognize you as my big brother.”

Ning Fu pinched his chubby cheek: “I don’t accept little brothers.”

“Can you come play often in the future? Then we can play with the slingshot every day, and we can also play cuju (kicking ball), fight crickets, and wrestle,” Wei Lin looked forward to it.

Ning Fu smiled. Ning Ran couldn’t help but chuckle, “These are things young masters play, Ah Fu is a nü jun (lady), she won’t do these things.”

Ning Fu began teaching him the slingshot, but Wei Lin had no talent in this area and showed no improvement after a long lesson.

“Sister, why am I so clumsy? Will you dislike me for being a clumsy child?” Wei Lin rubbed his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

“No, I like children,” Ning Fu took his hand to guide him, but the stone shot from the slingshot went wide, landing right in front of a group of people who were walking over.

Ning Fu had already recognized the people. She lowered her eyelids and said, “I apologize for the intrusion.”

The young men in front of her, besides Wei Xiao, were Zong Si and Zong Duo.

Zong Si’s gaze fell upon the hand she held in Wei Lin’s, and even that simple gesture conveyed a gentle meaning, perhaps carrying a hint of maternal tenderness. Maybe in the past life, she looked the same when holding their child. Thinking of this, his heart stirred slightly, though he showed no sign of it.

Meanwhile, Zong Duo, standing beside him, had much more complicated feelings upon seeing Ning Fu again. Although he hadn’t thought of her much recently, seeing her again brought an inexpressible, sour feeling. Do not covet Lu Xingzhi’s person, Zong Duo warned himself internally: A friend’s wife must not be deceived, and neither should a friend’s beloved!

“Sister was playing the slingshot with me, so we accidentally disturbed you brothers,” Wei Lin was also observant.

Zong Si picked up the small stone that had fallen near his feet and walked toward the boy, “I will teach you.”

Ning Fu moved aside to make room and remained silently to the side.

Zong Si glanced at her, handed the extra stones to her, and said faintly, “I’ll trouble the Fourth Miss to hold these for the time being.”

His tone was cold and distant.

Ning Fu quietly took them.

Zong Duo frowned slightly, wondering when his Third Brother had become so enthusiastic about children.